Podcast Guys Talking ErraticErrata: Recent Episodes
The Long Price
Do you love a Practical Guide to Evil? Have you felt the urge to do a reread ever since Pale Lights started up and you remembered the sweet sweet ambrosia and nectar that is EE's every word? Is overwrought analysis and faux-erudite discussion right up your alley? Then tune in for a weekly podcast series, Podcast Guys Talking Erratic Errata! PGTEE is a whirlwind reread of a Practical Guide to Evil where a historian and a literature scholar tackle the big questions about one of the greatest novels of the age!
Follow us at twitter.com/thelongprice or write in at thelongprice@gmail.com
People talk about stop drop and roll making them think fires would be more common, but I can't be the only one who thought I'd run into more plateaus?
Against all odds, we make absolutely no off-color jokes regarding the title of this chapter, and honestly we are so brave for that.
Sulia isn't very good at this. And, based on our audio quality, neither are we. It's gonna be some months more of this, but we're striving for solution!
In which Catherine gets back to creation and everything is probably fine don't worry about it.
Hm. So apparently my other podcast was posted in this space for about half a week. Mortifying.
The audio on this one has been heavily worked, but our issues are back. With luck, this is gonna be much improved by the next one. Pray for us.
Join us as we don't discuss nominal determinism, carcinization, and the philosophical foundations of syncretic theologies.
We haven't FIXED the audio issue, but we've arranged for real patching. Things should be much better now.
We've lost a lot to the audio gremlins, and the scars are still clear here. Thank you for bearing with us. We think we have at least a temporary fix for next week. HUGE thanks for your understanding.
We're having some big audio issues. If that's a dealbreaker, check back in TWO weeks and it might be better. Sorry fam
The episode opens in peace and closes with violence. Much like the year. See you in 2026!
Sorry about the rough recording. We had some real software failure. The episode is merely mangled, not dead, but we're hoping for better next time. Thanks for understanding bye
So, um, it seems like the Watch is actually a significant force. Do you think that's why no one really messes with the Duchy other than that time Grem messed with the Duchy? Ain't bad, is all I'm saying. Oh, also, Catherine has a sick duel this chapter and at one point there's a fun surprise that straight throat ruptures her, so that's fun.
This is such a well named chapter, at least at first, because they do be in tent. That's how armies tend to house themselves.
Injunction Junction, what's your function? Freeing all the slaves thanks to the priestess' unction!
In which the Fae fall like chaff and also reap like scythes. It's impressive and terrifying.
I actually have played M. Kart at this point. I was the cow and honestly the character delights me.
Ranker is a nasty little thing, but then we meet Kegan who is a nasty little thing. It's a good chapter.
Governing, it would seem based on this chapter, is the art of letting other people govern while you go meet yet other people where they are governing. Truly a delicate practice.
Isn't a SKU like some kinda think when shopping? I'm gonna check it out, maybe we'll all learn something.
I did research. It's a Stock Keeping Unit, so it's like a barcode. It's prolly relevant to this chapter because money has serial numbers and it's kinda about the treasury. Cool stuff!
"Thank the gods you're awake! It's been months!"
"Oh boy, I'm so excited to walk through Laure under a fractious combo of martial law and Praesi coup!"
It's only fair to assume that the title is a reference to John Darnielle's hit song "Sudden Oak Death" wherein the lyric When the crack sounds in the woods, you will know that I'm down for good. Because this is the chapter where Catherine's pair a' more is down for good.
This is the kind of intertextuality you can only get on PGTEE.
I pledge allegiance
To the Horse
Of the occupied Kingdom of Callow
And to the Knights
For which it neighs
One quadruped
Under the gods
Full of strings
With broken legs and panic for all
I'll be real: it sounds very wrong to me to say "a shambles." It's "in shambles." This is another big L for the Brits, who are also wrong about The Magna Carta. "There's no 'the' in Latin!" Yeah, so? That's not how languages work. Do you not say "the" Kremlin? Grow up.
Now goblins are cruel, wicked, and bad-hearted. They make no beautiful things, but they make many clever ones. They can tunnel and mine as well as any but the most skilled dwarves, when they take the trouble, though they are usually untidy and dirty.
BOW, FOOLISH MORTALS, BEFORE THE INEXORABLE MIGHT OF WINTER. ALL SHALL CRACK AS THE ICE ITSELF BEFORE THE BIG GUY WITH THE DEADWOOD CROWN. COWER. SHIVER. BE WEARY AND COOL. READ TO BUILD A FIRE BY JACK LONDON. I GUESS.
This is one of those zany chapters with like a billion perspectives but all that matters is Mommy.
Ngl, this is mostly an answer to the question "Why isn't this chapter just called Catherine's Plan (Redux)?"
This chapter is an affront to the gods, so we implore you to cover your face while reading it and your ears while listening.
What do you get when you have a lie but plural? You guessed it: an episode of PGTEE! This one is especially special because it has discussions AND comments.
Look, ma'am
An invitation—
Here, ma'am
Delivered by hand
And, ma'am, I notice the stationery's
Engraved and very grand
I'm just saying, if he really wanted to beat them, why didn't Black simply ask Ranger really nicely?
Disemboweling, disarming, and disquieting, this has all the hallmarks of a classic episode. Featuring special guest: not anyone actually!
Join us for what is at once an interlude chapter before interlude chapters were commonplace and also an enormous plot point with almost no previously known characters. Just what you expect from PGTJRRT!
Look, if you had one shot, or one opportunity
To seize everything you ever wanted, one moment
Would you capture it, or just let it slip?
Yo
Once upon a time, there was a young girl, a monstrous orc, and a kindly sorcerer's Apprentice. You won't believe what happens next!
Things are getting Unfortunate here, and the mystery is only beginning. Will Cat survive to the end of the chapter? Yes.
I'll be real with you: I think we did very well not getting too weird too much about Cordelia, so give us some credit.
Do you like minesweeper? Mazes? Meeting new friends? Well this chapter has stuff that kinda matches. Check it out!
HERE- HERE- HERE WE GO
SO HE'S FINALLY HERE
PERFORMING FOR himself
IF YOU KNOW THE WORDS
YOU CAN run! in! terror!
PUT YOUR HANDS TOGETHER
IF YOU WANNA beg for mercy
AS WE TAKE YOU THROUGH
THIS rise of a new and terrible Tyrant in the free cities
Kai-ros!
The-o-do-sian!
Kai-ros!
The-o-do-si-an!
A meditation on the glories of Ranger. Because goodness, she ain't bad. Also the worst.
We have made good on our threat. Tremble, o ye mighty, for the fan is cast and your fates are sealed!
She's here she's here she's here she's here she's here she's here she's here she's here she's here
In the first half of this two-part episode, we meet a perfect little boy from the viewpoint of a real Good Citizen. Everything is good and just. Don't worry about it. Part two next week!!!
The Empress comes to town, and she's not getting along with Black. And she looks good doing it.
- In this chapter we discuss
- A list of things that
- Goes to 3.
- Actually a few lists and a few threes oops
Three Named enter. None Named leave. Because the leaving part isn't really part of this huge climax. Have fun.
We're going B E A S T M O D E and we have no gods but one master. Let's lust over the prequel never written together.
Find out whether infanticide is right for you! And somehow it's not in the part where we mention the Grilgrim doing it. Which is not an event that's relevant in this episode. But it comes up anyway. Also, Woeful_Imp and Compass are cool. Tell them we said hi.
Shapes! Vaccines! Calvinism! This is an on topic episode, in all ways and forms. And a long one! You're welcome!
A Truce? Is this the end of the war? Does Cat make peace? Of course not! Come and see what all the fuss is about!
Incubi, terrorism, allusions to the Hebrew Bible...we cover a bit of ground this time. Special thanks to Wekesa for being tall and thus good.
There was a Mountain Goats reference in this episode. It's five words long. If you find it, I'll give you a shout out.
Today, Akua proves not to have been a gracious host. Oopsie! Hungry mouths is the devils' playground, as no one has yet said.
Join us as we discuss whether Bill is as bad as we make him out to be (yes), whether Compassion is as good as it sounds (unclear) and whether the Bard is a good character (yeh).
Join us for a long discussion on certain mores among peoples both in and out of the world. Also: what to say to cops (answer: nothing)!
Not gonna lie to you; this one's like 90% talking about Catholicism. Hope you like ecclesiastical hierarchy and hamartiology!
A real whodunnit this time! Who could be the traitor? Is it Ratface himself? Let's find out!!!!!!!!!1!!11! 1
Throat surgery, sororicide, and lingual seduction. And that's just in the first few paragraphs!
Content Warning: Hune is in this chapter. Catherines Foundling may wish to skip this episode.
How do you feel about birds? How do you feel about genocide? If you are not a fool, you will find your views echoed by your beloved cohosts, this week in Podcast Talking Erratic Guys Evil!
Learn a bit about our bodies, a bit about Black's past, and a bit about the source of Praes' problems
Today we get more unsolicited parenting advice, some anti-rich commentary, and so many words spilt over a Name power that just kinda vibes.
In this chapter, they all go get a broom and sweep, they pick things up, they dust around the edges, Zeze invents a vacuum, and everything is made clean and nice. I assume. I've never read this book.
Fresh off of his accidental victory, how will Nicky deal with living legends? What does this mean for his current problems? And what about his family? Have we even met them yet? All this and more, this week on PGTAW!
Heiress saves the day, and Catherine is appreciative and not just like a huge jerk about it just kidding.
Wanna hear us slander horses? Lust over heroes? Debate how corruption who gets how fast? Join us!
Join us as we pretend this episode published on time. I don't know what happened and I apologize. I blame Bill
It's time for PGTEE to take a stand. For too long have we been silent on the issues our readers most care about. Issues like: horse urine, cool anime, and, of course, if fictional goblins would give us permission to say mean words.
WAIT WAIT WAIT! This is the first time an interlude is neither Heroic nor Villainous. We got more of those coming up, but let's savor something new!
Can you eat your podcast hosts? How should you raise your child? And how quickly can credits music cut out? Find the answers here!
Donate to Wikipedia sometime, why don'tcha? Also, you know, Catherine and soul surgery, and a discussion of tall as a sound.
Catherine's leapt in headfirst without a real plan and despite the warnings of people who know better. Could it possibly go well? Find out here, on PGTEE!
It's called Wake but the big twist is Catherine takes a nap. Science can't explain that!
A new kid comes to school! Will she be a bully or a friend? What does this mean for Catherines chances of making the field hockey team? And who will Nauk ask to prom? All these questions answered and more, this week on PGTEE!
Today we discuss Zoboomafoo, the various slimes encapsulating various objects, and, of course, etymological connections. And that's before we get to the deicide.
Ok, it's been a bit, but remember that demon situation? Yeah, Cat's gonna cut and run, like a coward. But first she's gonna save her people, like a heroine.
Brace yourselves! Today, William shows us that even from the worst place (him) can come great good. Be ye not deceived: he's still so so bad, but he does do one of the coolest things ever. Also: Deicide and Applied Blasphemy, this time with an inventory of demons. Don't say we never do anything for you.
You know what sounds terrible? Listening to a 13-year-old explain how world politics should be and what the problems with the leaders are. And yet.
A victory lap of a chapter, Catherine takes the city that is rightfully hers. Join us as we look into Praesi funereal ritual and talk about an unfortunate hatching.
It's the end of the first battle and it went...less poorly than we feared. The legion as a whole survived the day, but not everyone did.
With a title like "Flame," why is it the color green that comes to mind? Eh, maybe we'll find out as we read along.
It's going down; we're yelling Tinder! Watch as things go from great to good, with a lot of struggling to keep it that way!
The first hour of our hard hitting two hour interview with the foremost expert on the Guide, Erratic Errata! Thanks for taking the time to talk with us!
Join us as Catherine meets and...greets her counterpart on the field of battle. Hey, we all gotta shoot our shot sometime, right?
Catherine has a secret meeting with an assistant and they say some things that the Empire might not like. All this and more, only on PGTEE!
In celebration of our 50th episode, we discuss another chapter of everyone's favorite best web serial ever! Join us as we discuss imperial law, informed consent, and vulpine footwear!
Join us as we discuss Taylor Swift, the Golden Bloom, and inaugurate the Naux Box! Also, there's just such a cute scene here.
Catherine puts the moves on Pickler, to little effect, but wait until a special someone puts the moves on her!
Mommy and Daddy are fighting again, and we are the lucky souls who get to spectate! This is the last interlude before we resume Catherine's journey!
A whiplash episode where we are torn from Cordelia's motherly embrace into the wicked prejudice of William's world and his crimes past but not forgotten.
This week, blood is spilled and a fate worse than death is threatened. Despite that, it's a surprisingly chill chapter.
Dead hands, dead soldiers, and dead assassins! Let us revel in the morbid for this spooky episode, seasonally placed at the start of September!
In this episode, the Hunter is beside himself, Billy is crushed, and the Bumbling Conjuror loses his head.
Join us as we again dunk on horses, dunk Billy, and watch Hunter get dunked on by manual amputation!
This week, we discuss owls, sparging, and bring back everyone's favorite segment: D&AB!
A dinner party...GONE WRONG? A traveling troubadour...GONE BAD?? A combat with the enemy...GONE MAGICAL??? All this and more, this week on PGTEE!
As dedicated hosts who stay wholly on topic, join us as we discuss Lao Tzu, numismatics, ethical boundaries within romantic relationships in a hierarchical structure, and a pop star.
Catherine. Hakram. And now, the newest member of the party: Masego. Find out Hakram's Nominal nascence, deal with a porcine problem, and meet a very attractive man, this week on PGTEE!
Back in Callow, back in Summerholm,. back in danger. Cat's got a whole lot waiting for her as she returns to the scene of her crime.
Remember when interludes were aligned with the gods? We do. Join us as we, much to our chagrin, join BIlly and his squad. A few characters make their debuts.
Remember the first chapter where Catherine determined her fate by killing two guys?
Hm. Wonder what brings that up again. Wink.
Join us this week for a discussion of classicly intellectual PGTE topics like the relative hotness of various monarchs, how cool people we hate are, and the language of George W. Bush.
Catherine's back, and this time, she brought a legion. Join us for the literary equivalent of doing inventory by way of violence. Isn't this series great?
It's a whole new book! And stepping onto the scene is the most powerful of all mortals, the nameless and glorious Hasenbach, the mighty one herself!
We've done it! We've made it through the entire book! Thanks to everyone who joined us. This is 1/7th of the whole thing, so we're FLYING.
A deeply philosophical episode this time. Join us for exploding goats, matching footstools, and fae transformatio--oh no, she's good, never mind. The book proper is done, but there's one episode left before we go to the next thing.
It's over Catherine! Juniper holds the high ground! This week, we investigate the depths of despair, the heights of friendship, and the inferno of chaos.
With a discussion of names (uncapitalized), a confusion of knames, and a the further adventures of a particular Named, it's a tense week for Catherine.
We discuss the joys of towers, the difficulties of communication, and the foreshadowing of formations!
An episode of revelation and callbacks, join us for a discussion of magery, of battle reports, and of general tomfoolery!
The war game begins! But there's no battle yet. Join us, as we discuss long sticks, brain freeze, and magery!
Join us this week as we discuss the English history of tea, our admiration of Robber, and the book we're all here to admire: Ender's Game!
Join us this week as we discuss one of the greatest monsters of the age, watch our protagonist struggle to succeed despite her meager powers, and fully commit to the bit (as is both our right and our rite)!
Despite the chapter name, Catherine doesn't fall off of the tower, though it probably wouldn't be too big of a deal since she pretty casually described 30-foot falls before, and I can't imagine the difference between 30 and A Whole Buncha feet is that much, y'know?
Join us as we join Catherine as she joins a group as it joins a party! We get our first glimpse of one of the most major players on the world stage, discuss the Burj Khalifa, and reference tabletop gaming! A pretty normal week.
Cat's in trouble! Join us this week as the Hellhound sniffs out [dog pun] Catherine's secrets, we bear witness to Praesi teleconferencing, and an exciting invitation is passed along!
Death pits called lillies and point-blank shot crossbows / Falling from wall tops and fireball death blows / Cracking of chest bones (and this one sure stings) / These are a few of our favorite things!
Contusions, concussions, breaks, and burns! It's time for the first pitched battle of the entire series!
The [Chapter Title] is afoot! Join us for a bout of extreme violence, torturous methods of prisoner taking, and vicious munitions--all in the name of good, clean fun! This week, we amend previous statements about goblin research and learn wisdom at the foot of Monty, a Listener Like You!
We meet the best orc, the best goblin, a bunch of old friends, and just enjoy it while we can. Join us, won't you?
A blessed island, an enchanting Heiress, and a free cruise! This chapter really has it all!
Much like Sigmund Freud before us, we interpret a dream. Unlike Sigmund Freud before us, we then spend a while examining what honestly is perhaps the lowest point in Catherine's entire career, somehow.
In this week's discussion, we address the key philosophical underpinnings of the story: goblinfire, chaos, and autonecromancy.
In a series first, we discuss chapter 11! Join us as we laud Lemony Snicket, make a very good joke with a punchline about flight, and call the Lone Swordsman mighty! And also weak!
Narratives, nascent Names, and nemeses! We begin counting clenches, we see what gems piglets merit, and we read way too far into that which we ought not.
Join us as we discuss the greatest plan ever hatched, the worst sci-fi book ever written, and the relationship of Praesi to tables!
Join us this week as we discuss one word foreign policies, inflated senses of self worth, and the mascot of the Philadelphia Flyers.
Join us as we talk about the Romans, the scale of Name powers, the Romans, Captain's history, and, of course, the Romans.
Join us as we get into the weeds about languages, apologize for mistreating the Pilgrim, and have a microphone go funky for the credits!
Deicide and Applied Blasphemy Notes:
Shaun writes: There's an angle that I believe you may have missed. EE seems to be taking a lot of influence from the Middle East, for example:
In Jerusalem, you are only allowed to build with stone from a certain quarry (Jerusalem Stone), which has since run dry. This has been updated to allow Caesaria stone as well. But the parallel for Laure is very clear.
Arargh seems to be Arak, a middle Eastern liquer.
Keter, Neshamah. These are both Hebrew words, Crown and Soul respectively.
Ardy returns in wisdom: Follow up on your Name discussion in chapter 4, you guys forgot Hierarch, who chose to be the Hierarch long after he was forced to be the Hierarch against his will. He even got an aspect (Receive) before the Bard pushed him over the edge. He refused it, explicitly to the bard and implicitly by refusing to be the Hierarch of the free cities in any sense, not to mention just closing his eyes and pretending his visions didn't exist as best he could because the very core of who he is does not acknowledge a hierarch or Hierarch as something that exists.
Black was wrong in that sense, and you guys talk about Cordelia refusing her name as if something that ever happened before or since and wasn't done explicitly by the Augur outplaying the Bard. Fate (in the form of the Bard) really can make you a Named, it's just that she can be stopped by someone else (and in the only known case, another Named) stopping fate from forcing the choice.
You could argue that Black is correct in that Fate (as a concept) doesn't make you a Named, but Fate (as the Bard manipulating stories through Calernian history) can do so.
You could also argue that Black's anger at "Fate" the concept is his unknowing anger at Fate (the Bard) because, well, every single time he gets into a story he gets killed, because he's a Villain and thus disagrees with Good and therefore is not allowed to win, so he never allows a story to form. And as we see that's not a problem with Fate (the concept) but Fate (the Bard). As we see in the last non-epilogue chapter, and when Tariq discusses her after the Graveyard, when she has a choice she picks Good, and that's what Black really really hates.
Join us this week as we discuss Cat somehow both under-and over-estimating Name power, foreshadowing in far too much detail and with far too much weight, and, of course, everyone's favorite mass-murdering hero(es)
This week, join us as we discuss sexy blood, ttrpg movement rules, and make our first reference to Mushu, which will somehow happen twice this month!
This week, we discuss what not to image search, Deicide and Applied Blasphemy, and Chloë the Armor Polish Maiden!
Catherine settles into her new life as a murderer, Scribe shows up (but probably isn't important), and we begin a new tradition: doing our best to alienate any listener who has a positive opinion of the Grilgrim.
The story starts out with Catherine scrapping in the mud and it never really changes. Join us as we discuss orc anatomy, revel in radical commitment to equality of the sexes and genders, and reference Joseph Campbell even though he was terrible!
The story begins, as all the best stories do, before the beginning. Join us as we find parallels between the Calamities and the Woe, discuss elements of the last chapter during the first, and pronounce the Fields of Streges in at least three different ways!