Novel Gaming!

Doug and Katie reminisce about the past ~10 years of the PS4 - the memories, the features, and the games. Conversation starts around 23:40. Before that, they talk about what they've been reading, watching, and thinking about lately. Reading ‘Murder Your Employer: The McMasters Guide to Homicide’ by Rupert Holmes ‘The Scourge Between Stars’ by Ness Brown Watching The Super Mario Bros. Movie (20...

Wow, this podcast smells so nice and relaxing... like a freshly opened bar of lavender soap. But wait! It also smells like... MURDER? This month we read 'Lavender House' by Lev AC Rosen, a queer murder mystery that takes place in the 1950s. Full-spoiler conversation starts at 35:20. But of course, before we get into that, we check in on everything we've been playing, watching, and thinking about l...

Everyone loves a trilogy, especially when it means everything gets a little bit gayer! It's our third Q&A episode, and this time we're focusing on gayming. We prepared three questions related to playing games as a queer person and queerness in video games! If you find yourself answering them as you listen, be sure to let us know, and we'll read your answers next time! As always, be...

Aliens and invasions and lessons, oh my! We read and discussed 'The Lesson' by Caldwell Turnbull. Conversation starts around 39:00. Before then, Dug and Katie check in on what we've been playing, watching, and thinking about lately. Playing: Pokémon Violet (2022) Descenders: Extreme Procedural Free Riding (2018) Hi-Fi Rush (2023) Watching: Dragon Ball (Hulu) Junior Bake Off (Netflix) T...

Join Doug and Katie in a gaming galaxy far, far away! That's right - they're talking Star Wars! Conversation about the games starts around 25:50, but the force is strong throughout this episode. Before then, they discuss what they've been reading, watching, and thinking about. Reading: 'Star Wars: The Legends of Luke Skywalker - The Manga' by A. Himekawa, A. Fukaya, T. Kisaki,...

What do you get when you mix deep space, the far future, stonebending (like in Avatar: The Last Airbender), alien mecha, and... a Messiah named Misery? You get our latest book club pick: the 2022 book ‘The Genesis of Misery’ by Neon Yang! But before we get into one of our deepest book discussions yet, we stop to chat about what we’ve been playing, watching, or thinking about. Playing: Pupperazzi (...

We like books. We like video games. And sometimes there are books IN video games, and we like that too! In this episode we're talking about some of favorite books, book-related moments, and generally bookish things in video games. But of course, before we get all up in it, we check in on some of the things we've been reading, watching, and thinking about! Reading: 'The Genesis of Miser...

Did Katie unknowingly choose a romance book for this discussion? Maybe! The only way to find out is to listen to our discussion around 'Wintersong' by S. Jae-Jones, which starts around 27:50. Before then, we check in on what we've been playing, watching, and thinking about lately. Playing: Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection (2018) PowerWash Simulator (2021) Watching: Game Chang...

We're doing a sci-fi video game club episode! Doug and Katie rolled the dice and played the 2022 game Citizen Sleeper. That conversation starts around 15:33. Before we get into all of that, we check in on all of the media we've been engaging with lately. Reading: 'Pet' by Akwaeke Emezi 'Bitter' by Akwaeke Emezi 'How Far the Light Reaches' by Sabrina Imbler Watching: Alien (1979 Film) Aliens (1986...

Have you heard? The edge is a shantytown filled with gold seekers...! It's a book club episode, and we’re discussing the 2022 book ‘Now Is Not the Time to Panic’ by Kevin Wilson, a novel about a viral moment that happens in a time before everyone knew what the word “meme” meant. But before we get ourselves swept up in a panic, we stop to chat about what we’ve been playing, watching, or thinking ab...

Y'all ever seen a video game character and thought, "Dang, what if I could go on a date with them?" You're in luck—lots of games nowadays just let you do it, and for some, it's the entire point of the game. That's right, we're talking about some of our favorite and noteworthy dateable characters in video games! But before we turn down the lights and set the mood, we check in on some of the things...

What year is it? How old am I? These are questions you definitely would ask yourself if you were the protagonist of our most recent book club pick - 'Oona Out of Order' by Margarita Montimore. Discussion starts around 25:05. Before then, there's the usual check in on what we've been playing and watching lately. Playing: Speed Dating for Ghosts (2018) Danganropa: Trigger Happy Havoc...

Sometimes things change. Sometimes those things are video games, characters, or franchises! Doug and Katie reflect on some of the gaming transformations that left a mark. Conversation starts around 27:00. Before then, there's conversation on what they've been reading, watching, and thinking about! Reading: 'Heartstopper' by Alice Oseman  'Blue Period' by Tsubasa Yamaguchi  'The Book Woma...

Grab your favorite warm drink and get your snapping fingers ready, because we're reading some poetry for this month's Book Club episode! The year is coming to a close and December can be hectic, so instead of a book, Doug selected four winter-y poems (links below). But of course, before we slap on our berets, we catch up on some of the games we've been playing, shows we've been watching, and thoug...

We're rapidly approaching the end of 2022! Holy smokes! As usual, we close out the year by talking about the best stuff we played, read, watched, listened to, and followed! But as always, before we dive in, we check in on some media we've consumed lately. Reading: 'Empire of Wild' by Cherie Dimaline 'Akata Woman' by Nnedi Okorafor Watching: The Big Brunch (HBO Max) The Mole (Netflix) Dimension 20:...

How would you react to losing some of society's luxuries? That's the question Vicki, Doug, and Katie have been asking themselves after reading the slow-burn thriller/horror/post-apocalyptic book 'Moon of the Crusted Snow' by Waubgeshig Rice. The conversation for this 2018 novel begins around 27:15. Before that Vicki makes an announcement and we check in on what we've been playing and watching late...

There once was a game from Nantucket...? This week we're creating limericks about some of our favorite video games and video game characters. None of us were quite sure how it'd go, but these may be some of our best writing samples yet! But of course, before we get literary, we check in on everything we've been reading, watching, and thinking about! Reading: 'The Witch King' by H. E. Edgmon 'Breat...

This week on the pod, our caffeniated trio read 'Before the Coffee Gets Cold' by Toshikazu Kawaguchi, a recent Japanese translation. Although Sci-Fi light, our friends try to untangle the clear cut, yet messy, rule system in these deeply impactful stories. Before they sit in the magical seat, Doug, Vicki, and Katie chat about their recent gaming and watching escapades.  Playing Super Ghouls a...

Villains, amirite? Love to hate 'em and hate to love 'em! We discuss those fiendish friends that we enjoy beating and sometimes being. Conversation starts around 30:20. Before then, we touch base about what we've been reading, playing, watching, and thinking about lately. Reading 'Before the Coffee Gets Cold' by Toshikazu Kawaguchi' 'The Lost Apothecary' by Sarah Penner Playing Spiritfarer (Switch...

Field, field, field! Podcast, podcast, podcast! It's a book club episode, and this week we read Quan Barry's 'We Ride Upon Sticks', a book about witchcraft, field hockey, and... Emilio Estevez? It's a dense book with a huge main cast, and we had plenty to say about it all (discussion begins at ~32:45), but before we get into all the witchy goodness, we catch up on everything we've been playing, wa...

What more could you ask for than a whole podcast dedicated to cats? Well if you love cats as much as our three hosts do, you're in for a real crunchy treat. Join Vicki, Doug, and Katie as they discuss the pawsitively delightful game Stray as well as check in on their usual round up. Spoiler, cat puns abound. Reading: Marvel Meows (Doug) Reverie, Ryan LaSala (Katie) Traveling Cat Chronicles, Hiro A...

What do you need? Well, if it's a book club episode about 'A Prayer for the Crown-Shy' by Becky Chambers we've got you covered! We'll start discussing this gentle second entry into the Monk & Robot duology around 27:36. Before that, we check in on what we've been playing and watching lately. Playing: Stray (PS5) Dark Pictures Anthology (PS4) Final Fantasy X (Vita) Watching: Ted Lasso (Apple TV...

Have you ever seen a game and thought, "We were meant to be together," but then never took the chance to... say hello? This week we're writing Craigslist-inspired Missed Connections posts for video games and video game characters! And honestly, it might just be our toughest game yet. But before we get into guessing those games, we chat about all the stuff we've been reading, watching, and thinking...

Do you love British humor, 1970's sci fi, hard to pronounce names, improbable situations? Well join us this week as we discuss The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams. Join us as we delve deep into the nerd classic! Playing LumbearJack, Nintendo Switch Neon White, Nintendo Switch God of War (2018), Playstation 5 Watching Spectacular Spider-Man, Netflix Only Murders in the Building, H...

Lying is especially fun when it's about video games! Join us for a game of two truths and lie and see if you can suss us out! The game starts around 38:40. Before then, we touch base about what we've been reading, watching, and thinking about lately. Reading 'The Dark Forest' by Cixin Liu 'No Ashes in the Fire: Coming of Age Black and Free in America' by Darnell L. Moore 'Fuzz: When Nature Breaks...