Words About Books

Words About Books is back with another exciting episode this week! Nate & James (aka New Ben) discuss a long-running book series: James Bond. We run through every single book there is in the franchise, starting all the way back with Dr. No. The Bond franchise is unique in that its books are moving pictures with sound added to them. Oh crap I think we just watched every film in the Bond franchi...

Today is a very special episode of Words About Books. We do our first LIVE EPISODE BAYBAY! We recorded this a few days ago and are putting it up today. I know it's coming out on April 1st but that's coincidental. This is a deadly serious episode. We honored a great man who did great things and Nate had the honor to be part of that. Hope you enjoy! Support the show Blue Sky - https://bsky...

Ben convinces Nate to Read Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree. That's right! Our resident expert on horror and human misery has decided to take a break from the hellish nightmare he insists on living to enjoy a pleasant, slice-of-life, low stakes fantasy novel about an Orc who wants to open a coffee shop and the friends she makes along the way.  Support the show Blue Sky - https://bsky.app/...

Last year on Words About Books we got on the Halo Infinite coattails by talking about Halo: The Fall of Reach. This year there's a Paramont+ Halo show so WE'RE BACK BAYBAY! This week on Words About Books Nate reads Halo: First Strike and it becomes very apparent that Ben doesn’t get the fundamental underlying concept of early Halo. Let me make it easy for you: humans good, aliens bad. Th...

We conclude our discussion of Leviathan Wakes by James SA Corey. Ben and Nate are well on their way to becoming some sort of Joker figure as Ben's hatred of Holden turns into a kind of stygian madness and Nate nearly dies laughing at his own jokes.  Support the show Blue Sky - https://bsky.app/profile/wordsaboutbooks.bsky.social Discord - https://discord.gg/6BaNRtcP8C Threads - https://www.th...

Ben and Nate continue their discussion of Leviathan Wakes by James SA Corey.  The boys really dig into the philosophical meat of The Expanse series on this one. The previous sentence was intended to be sarcastic. Support the show Blue Sky - https://bsky.app/profile/wordsaboutbooks.bsky.social Discord - https://discord.gg/6BaNRtcP8C Threads - https://www.threads.net/@wordsaboutbookspodcast Instagra...

The boys read Leviathan Wakes by James S.A. Corey. We're finally taking a look at the much hyped Expanse series. A number of hard questions must be answered. Does it live up to the hype? Can a book still work for you if you hate its main character? Are lawful good players in D&D the actual worst?  Support the show Blue Sky - https://bsky.app/profile/wordsaboutbooks.bsky.social Discord - h...

This week we discuss 14 by Peter Clines. Ben attempts his first podcast ever without the assistance of caffeine. Nate struggles to imagine what it would be like to live in an apartment building filled with people who like and respect him. Support the show Blue Sky - https://bsky.app/profile/wordsaboutbooks.bsky.social Discord - https://discord.gg/6BaNRtcP8C Threads - https://www.threads.net/@words...

Ben and Nate at last reach the end of their journey. Not just to this book but to this series of books. We get to look back and examine what it was all about. What was the purpose of all of this? What did we learn? What was the takeaway message? Is it okay to burn a village of your own people for fun? Is colonialism bad? It's bad right? It's bad? Right? Perhaps the most important questio...

The boys continue their discussion of The Burning God by R.F. Kuang. Ben defends Part 2 from Nate's relentless onslaught, but even Ben must admit that mistakes were made. Another question is raised. Would Daji be a better protagonist than Rin? Support the show Blue Sky - https://bsky.app/profile/wordsaboutbooks.bsky.social Discord - https://discord.gg/6BaNRtcP8C Threads - https://www.threads....

It's finally time to put Thrawn to rest. Here's 5 episodes of our podcast over a 100 episode timeframe supercut and smashed together. If Thrawn studied this art, he'd give us a goddamn medal. Hope you enjoy! Support the show Blue Sky - https://bsky.app/profile/wordsaboutbooks.bsky.social Discord - https://discord.gg/6BaNRtcP8C Threads - https://www.threads.net/@wordsaboutbookspodcas...

Ben and Nate discuss The Burning God, R.F. Kuang's conclusion to The Poppy War trilogy. The boys are shocked to find that The Burning God is not quite the slam dunk they thought it would be. Nate asks an uncomfortable question. Does this book ruin the series?  Support the show Blue Sky - https://bsky.app/profile/wordsaboutbooks.bsky.social Discord - https://discord.gg/6BaNRtcP8C Threads - htt...

We discuss The Superior Spiderman by Dan Slott, with artwork by Ryan Stegman, Humberto Ramos, and Giuseppe Camuncoli.  The boys are swerving out of their lane and discussing graphic novels once again. For science. It has nothing to do with a certain property that is smashing box office records... Support the show Blue Sky - https://bsky.app/profile/wordsaboutbooks.bsky.social Discord - https://dis...

Welcome to episode 100! We wrap up our discussion of the Thrawn Trilogy that we started ONE HUNDRED EPISODES AGO! Thanks everyone for sticking with us this long. Hope you enjoy one last dive into Thrawn as we discuss The Last Command by Timothy Zahn. Hello there. Prepare to go to a galaxy far far away one more time. Here we go again! Thrawn has the high ground! But our heroes have turned <the N...

A long long time ago, in an alternate reality. Star wars had a different episode 9.  Here we go again! Words About Books is in for one last adventure in the Star Wars Universe. This time we discuss Star Wars: The Last Command, the final book in the Thrawn Trilogy. We discuss  all your old favorites, some of your new favorites, an insane Jedi Master, and the white-clad Grand Admiral himself. We als...

The boys discuss Aliens Infiltrator by Weston Ochse. Nate invents a fascinating new product that turns him from a lowly, virgin caterpillar into a beautiful, masculine butterchad. Look, I won't lie to you, we threw this together real quick and then went on Christmas break.  Support the show Blue Sky - https://bsky.app/profile/wordsaboutbooks.bsky.social Discord - https://discord.gg/6BaNRtcP8C...

It's the End of the Year Holiday Episode! A special time where the Bookmen look back on this past year and reflect on all the crap they put one another through. This year especially has felt like half a decade so there's plenty to reminisce about. Then we get a look ahead at next year and all the changes coming to the podcast as well as life in general. Also Nate drinks. It should be a f...

Ho-ho-ho it's Santa Nate. I'm giving you all a special gift this year: MORE WORDS ABOUT BOOKS! That's right! If you were interested in hearing some of the best bits of this year from the 12 big books we read, Nate has you covered. If you missed an episode or weren't sure it was for you but you like what you heard here, go have a listen. It's the gift that keeps on giving!...

 We discuss Starcraft: Firstborn by Christie Golden.  After our Halloween episode, the luggage carrying Nate vanished. Ben assumed he was dead. Ben was wrong. Nate is back, and this time, it's personal.  The boys are talking about Starcraft, again, whether Ben likes it or not... Support the show Blue Sky - https://bsky.app/profile/wordsaboutbooks.bsky.social Discord - https://discord.gg/6BaNR...

Words About Books is discussing Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson this week. Nate wanted a heartwarming, fun, and light book just in time for the holidays. Join us on this adventure as we discuss main character lady raising children that nobody wants because she's in love with definitely-not-Hillary-Clinton-we-swear. I hope you're ready for a heart-felt discussion of raising children,...

Thanks to the folks over at Boneyard Soup, Ben was able to force more horror content into the podcast! This episode we take a look at the first year of Boneyard Soup's publication. There are thrills! There are chills! And after all is said and done you'll be left wondering...did a sociologist hurt Ben and Nate? Support the show Blue Sky - https://bsky.app/profile/wordsaboutbooks.bsky.soc...

At last we end our discussion on The Dragon Republic by discussing the exciting conclusion to the War for Freedom and Democracy. In the blue corner: the Bringer of Freedom, the King of Liberty, the Sultan of Sovereignty, you know him, you love him, put your hands together for your beloved lord and savior (and mine) VAAAAAAAAAAISRA! And... in the red corner. The reigning and defending champion. A t...

Ben and Nate cover part 2 of RF Kuang's The Dragon Republic. Welcome to The Dragon Republic. We're a representative republic here to liberate The Empire of Nikara from the tyrant Daji. Now, I know what you're thinking. Is this really the right time for a war? Do I really need freedom more than I need to not be killed by bandits while trying to salvage what's left of the harvest...

Nate and Ben are back again, this time to talk about the fantastic sequel to the already great book The Poppy War. Yes, the guys are discussing The Dragon Republic and the ongoing story of the teenage-girl-equivalent of Mao Zedong: Fang Runin "Rin". What happens when a rage-monster opium addict gets the power to immolate her enemies? Freedom, freedom happens. Will Rin kill the Empress in...

Ben and Nate are joined by the gravy man, himself to discuss Denis Villeneuve's Dune: Part 1 Support the show Blue Sky - https://bsky.app/profile/wordsaboutbooks.bsky.social Discord - https://discord.gg/6BaNRtcP8C Threads - https://www.threads.net/@wordsaboutbookspodcast Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/wordsaboutbookspodcast Blog - https://blog.wordsaboutbooks.ninja/