agency

The Fifth Season

Posted on November 5, 2015

This month Novel Ideas discusses The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin. This is a recently published fantasy novel, released this summer, so those of you who are inclined to worry about spoilers: There will be spoilers. In this episode we talk about interesting narrative structure, justifiable anger, cast diversity, and slavery parallels. We also mention that Atlantis is not a thing, pirates with ambiguous sexuality, systematic oppression (and why it is bad), and why one shouldn’t ignore a floating amethyst Washington Monument outside of their window.

The music bump is “Lava Lands” by Jeff Lorber, created by his brain, but not violent enough to sunder a continent. Kinda funky though.

99 – The Fifth Season – Brain Volcanoes

Our rating: We were in agreement that this might be the best thing we’ve read this year and not just limiting that to books read for the podcast.

Ben: 10/10. Great world building with deep and complex characters. Not to mention a heavy dose of badass.

Gabs: 9/10 Rings. Lots of unanswered mysteries, but cast diversity is greatly appreciated.

This entry was posted in Episodes and tagged agency, Atlantis is not a thing, cast diversity, choice, EEEEEEEEK, epic fantasy is humorless, fantastical racism, genre confusion, giant floating obelisk, interesting narrative structure, John Scalzi's Big Idea, justifiable anger, mystery, N.K. Jemisin, name changes, non-white non-male authors, oppression is bad, POV shifts, sexually ambiguous pirates, slavery parallels, spoiler alert, systematic oppression, The Fifth Season.

The Subtle Knife

Posted on April 10, 2014

Novel Ideas returns with the first episode of year three, or Season 3, if you prefer. This week we are discussing Philip Pullman’s The Subtle Knife, sequel to The Golden Compass, second book in the “His Dark Materials” trilogy. In this episode we talk about trust, power, corruption, and moral ambiguity. We also touch on trilogy naming conventions, Sir Charles’s creepy vibe, trope subversion, and references to other things we have read and/or podcasted.

This week’s music bump is “Under the Knife” by Kansas because “Mack the Knife” seemed too obvious.

The Subtle Knife – EVIDENTLY

Recommendations:

This book contains excellent world building and interesting characters, as well as adding to the universe of the story rather than rehashing what was popular the first time around. Read it. But first read The Golden Compass.

Gabs: 9/10 I love this damn book.

Ben: 9/10 All of those things.

This entry was posted in Episodes and tagged absolute power corrupts absolutely, agency, anti-religion?, atheism, Atticus!, choice, compassion, corruption, fate, Gabs has a cough, historical context, hubris, Lee Scoresby's death chapter, many sides, moral ambiguity, Mrs. Coulter is scary, naming trilogies, not quite cotagonists, Philip Pullman, references, religion, resourceful characters, shaman things, Sir Charles's creepy vibe, street smart to the max, The Subtle Knife, trope subversion, trust, universe building, weaknesses?.