Dad Lit: Recent Episodes
Connor Boyle and Chris Ludwig
If it has at least one submarine and one helicopter, it's Dad Lit. Join hosts Chris and Connor as they explore Dad Lit classics by authors such as Tom Clancy, Clive Cussler, and Lee Child, as well as some of the genre's more obscure titles. Book reviews, author deep dives, interviews, and more.
Chris and Connor finish their plot summary of Michael Crichton's 'Congo,' run the book through the Dad Lit Checklist, and cast off.
Chris and Connor discuss Michael Crichton's fifteenth novel, 'Congo.' The guys are divided on their opinion of this book. Connor provides a brief primer on the political history of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Chris reviews some other texts from the "Lost World" genre. A plot summary follows.
Connor provides a summary of Jack Higgins' The Valhalla Exchange,' the fictional (?) story of Martin Boorman's attempted escape from Europe in the final days of World War 2. Chris fills in some historical details and considers if this is a book he'd like to read, and reminds Connor that 'The Valhalla Exchange' and 'Valhalla Rising' are two separate books. Chris also offers more knife fighting information.
The holiday season is a wonderful opportunity to send lethal weapons through the US mail system. Chris and Connor open up gifts from each other, debate knife fighting best practices, and discuss what they've been reading lately.
It's the 2023 Dad Lit Holiday Gift Guide! Chris and Connor offer gift book suggestions for each item on the Dad Lit checklist.
Chris and Connor discuss the twenty-third book in the Jack Reacher series, 'Past Tense.' The guys consider how they might fare in a most dangerous game scenario.
Chris and Connor investigate the the "wanted man" trope in dad literature and film. Chris discusses his recent foray into the Parker Series and Connor talks about the author Scott Von Doviak. The guys read the biographies of fictional Dad Lit authors they came up with: Wes Noth, aristocrat horseman/survivalist/novelist; Don Gibson, author of the Sarajevo Cantos series and valor thief.
The boys review three spooky stories for Halloween: "The Maypole of Merry Mount" by Nathaniel Hawthorne, "Adrift Just Off the Islets of Langerhans: Latitude 38° 54' N, Longitude 77° 00' 13" W" by Harlan Ellison, and "The Vaults of Yoh-Vombis" by Clark Ashton Smith.
Connor and Chris discuss Alistair MacLean's 1967 novel 'Where Eagles Dare,' a classic in the World War 2-mountain top-ski lift-secret mission-buddy cop-adventure genre. The guys compare 'Where Eagles Dare' to 'The Eagle Has Landed,' and debate who is the better protagonist: Smith or Steiner?
In part 2 of their discussion of 'Bad Luck and Trouble,' the guys discuss some of the book's themes, how it measures up to the Dad Lit Checklist, how they would cast a film adaptation.
The guys discuss Chris' favorite Jack Reacher novel, 'Bad Luck and Trouble.' Part 1 of this 2 part series provides a plot summary of the book and a discussion of Jack Reacher's method for illegally purchasing handguns in blue states (you just steal them from shady characters).
It's been a whole year since the boys began their in-depth exploration of Dad Lit. Chris and Connor reflect on the dad literature they've read so far, discuss their favorites books and characters, and talk about future plans for the podcast.
Part 1 of 1 of part 2 (titled Part 3) of our 2 part series on Tom Clancy's 'The Hunt For Red October' explores the origins of Clancy's landmark novel. Chris recounts the real life story of Valery Sablin and his defection from the Soviet navy aboard the frigate Storozhevoy. The guys also discuss Project Azorian - a secret CIA project to recover a sunken Soviet sub in the early 70s.
Works cited: 'The Last Sentry: The True Story that Inspired The Hunt for Red October'by Gregory Young and Nate Braden
Connor and Chris summarize the climax of Tom Clancy's 'The Hunt for Red October,' discuss the emotional gravitas of the film 'E.T.,' then compare and contrast the command styles of the Soviet Navy and the US Navy. Finally, the guys go over the Dad Lit checklist and each describe their dream cast for a 'Red October' film adaptation.
Chris and Connor give their initial impressions of 'The Hunt for Red October' and discuss how much technological exposition is too much technological exposition. They begin their plot summary and cover most of the book. Plot summary to conclude in part 2.
Intro music is "Enemies" by Serge Quadrado.
Outro music is "Russian Dance" by Yair Yona.
Chris and Connor recap the Dad Lit Checklist, clarifying and refining the Dad Lit indicators before setting them in stone. A game of Dad Lit This or That follows.
In this very spooky Halloween special, Chris and Connor examine the intersection of Horror and Dad Lit, looking at the works of Michael Crichton, Dan Simmons, and Nick Cutter. The boys do a deep dive on a few Stephen King short stories, including "Lawn Mower Man" and "Cain Rose Up," and talk about their favorite Halloween season movies.
Chris and Connor return to Clive Cussler's 'The Chase' and discuss how they would cast a film adaptation. The boys also examine S. Paul O'Hara's non-fiction book 'Inventing the Pinkertons; or, Spies, Sleuths, Mercenaries, and Thugs,' and see how the fictional Van Dorn Detective Agency compares with the real-life Pinkertons.
Chris and Connor review the first book in Clive Cussler's Isaac Bell series: 'The Chase.' Lots of train talk. The boys discuss the history of the Gentleman Detective in literature, as well as Jack London's role in the San Francisco Earthquake of 1906. Big question: Did he do it?
The boys discuss how they would cast a 'Die Trying' movie, the glaring lack of diner food in the second Reacher book, movie ass movies, and the careers of the DeLuise children.
Hosts Chris and Connor review the most vehicular of Lee Child's Jack Reacher books: 'Die Trying.' Other topics of discussion include the rise in US militia activity in the 90s and the possibility of a new standardized math test based on Reacher-Think.
Chris and Connor discuss Elmore Leonard's short story "Fire in the Hole" and non-Western Western stories. Chris provides an overview of Clive Cussler's various book series, including NUMA and the Isaac Bell books. Connor talks about alien abductions and Whitley Strieber,
Chris and Connor discuss a medley of Dad Lit topics, including the 'Reacher' tv show, the 'Jackie Brown' movie, and the most Florida people they've ever met. Plus corrections, further thoughts on anti-heroes, and the 87th Precinct series.
The boys continue their discussion of Jack Higgins' 'The Eagle Has Landed,' this time focusing on the book's themes of "synchronicity" and "the game." The subject of reploids is also broached.
Chris and Connor discuss 'The Eagle Has Landed,' Jack Higgins' 1975 novel about a covert German mission to parachute into England and kidnap Winston Churchill. The guys summarize the plot, all while considering the question: who are the good guys in this book?
Chris and Connor react to Amazon's 'Reacher' trailer, predict how well Alan Ritchson will perform in the role, and discuss that other guy who played Reacher. Then... the hosts spin the WHEEL OF REACHER!
Chris and Connor consider their own criminal potentials while reviewing the classic 1970 Boston crime novel, George V. Higgins' 'The Friends of Eddie Coyle.'