Thumbing Through Yesterday

The Andromeda Strain, Michael Crichton's first novel published under his own name, is a techno-thriller set in the earliest days of space exploration about an extra-terrestrial microorganism coming to Earth. It's a trope today, but this is the book that defined it, and it's one of Tony's favorites.

John Steakley's Armor is the definitive book about smashing hordes of bug-eyed aliens while wearing powered combat armor... and so much more! Join us as we revisit a classic much-beloved by both of us. Also, language warning for this episode.

Gateway by Frederick Pohl is a favorite from Tony's youth, and a first-read for Tom. A little book with a lot of big ideas, Gateway was written as a stand-alone novel, but went on to become the opening to an epic saga. 

The Star Trek Logs are a series of novelizations of the animated Star Trek series, written by Alan Dean Foster. Tom grew up with a collection of these on his shelf, reading them over and over as a child. How well has the book held up? Does it match those precious childhood memories? Join us and find out!

Nine Princes in Amber by Roger Zelazny is a favorite for both Tom and Tony. In this first book of the Chronicles of Amber, we meet Corwin, a man who wakes up in the hospital with no memory of who he is or how he got there. We both discovered this book early in life, and appreciate how well it stands the test of time.

The opening to an epic sci-fi series, The Real Story is an example of Stephen R. Donaldson doing what he does so well. A favorite of Tom's, and a first-read for Tony, The Real Story focuses on one of the most irredeemable characters you're likely to ever encounter, and the dark world which spawned him.

A choice from Tony's youth, and a first-read for Tom, Neal Stepehson's Zodiac is "a fast ride on a rough road." We discuss what worked, and what didn't, in this tale of the self-appointed "toxic-spider-man" as he uses his wits, his Zodiac, and some questionable morals to fight against illegal industrial waste. Is he an eco-terrorist, or an eco-hero? Help us decide!

One of Kurt Vonnegut's quirky rides to the end of the world. Join us as we follow the life and adventures of Jonah as his desire to write a novel leads him on a path that includes mad scientists, 3rd world tyrants, the philosophy of Bokononism, and the apocalypse. It turns out that both Tony and Tom remembered little about this novel before picking it for this episode!

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is a classic tale by CS Lewis, and the introduction to the Chronicles of Narnia, where we spend seven novels exploring that fantastic magical realm. A favorite of both Tom and Tony, join us as we revisit this cherished tale.

Hobbits and dragons and dwarves, oh my! We talk about The Hobbit , the fantasy classic by JRR Tolkien, and a favorite of both Tom and Tony.

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card is one of Tony's all-time favorites, and the subject of our discussion.

Join us as we discuss Douglas Adams' Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, the first book of the five (or is it six?) book comedy sci-fi phenomenon.

We explore one of Tony's favorite novels from his youth, Have Spacesuit -- Will Travel by Robert A. Heinlein.

Welcome to the premiere episode of Thumbing Through Yesterday! We talk about Watership Down by Richard Adams, quite possibly the finest adventure tale ever told about rabbits, and also a contender for Tom's favorite novel.

Enjoy this little teaser for Thumbing Through Yesterday, the podcast where we pull our favorite books down from the shelf, dust them off, and remind ourselves why we love them.