fate

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?.

The Neverending Story

Posted on February 3, 2014

This week on Novel Ideas, we discuss The Neverending Story by Michael Ende, a fantasy/YA classic that many people remember fondly from their childhood. Of course, we never read it as children. Listen to the episode to hear us talk about classic v. modern YA, Mary Sue characters, fate and luck and how they effect problem solving, and world building. And possibly feminism. We also discuss generic hero boys, Fantastican revisionism, unannoying Tom Bombadil, and the power of love.

The music bump is Frank Mantooth’s version of “Imagination,” a tune that I used for a previous episode but didn’t remember until it was too late. If you never listen again, I won’t blame you.

The Neverending Story – Three Dub

Recommendations:

A story full of ideas and imagination that isn’t fully developed and ultimately goes nowhere.

Gabs: 6/10 for the first half, 3/10 for the second half.

Ben: 3/10 for going 200 pages past the point where I cared.

This entry was posted in Episodes and tagged 3 dub, classic v. modern YA, deus ex machina, Ende's Game, Fantastican revisionism, fate, friendship, gender balance, generic hero boy, high v. low fantasy, imagination, luck, Mary Sue, Michael Ended, motivations, Novel Ideas drinking game, overpowered characters, power of love, pride, reader requests, set up without resolution, SO MANY IDEAS, static characters, The Neverending Story, translations, unannoying Tom Bombadil, unintended consequences, unnecessary half a book, world building, year in review.