The Socialist Shelf: Recent Episodes
The Socialist Shelf
A podcast where we care about two things: good fiction and changing the world. From your favorite pseudointellectuals, Jacob Dallas-Main and Joss Olson.
Follow us on Twitter @SocialistShelf or shoot us an email at TheSocialistShelf@gmail.com
Yeah. We read Kash Patel's book for kids. It's about as good as you expect.
The now FBI Director's 2022, "Plot Against The King" is an allegorical tale sure to delight and amaze...or something like that.
Episode art is the book's cover but with that epic Kash Flare
We’re delighted to welcome author and journalist Talia Lavin to the show to discuss her book, “Wild Faith: How the Christian right is taking over America.”
This is a broad topic that we know a lot of you are interested in. We touch on the rise of the Moral Majority, the mainstreaming of the Satanic Panic, the unwavering faith of true believers, and we throw up a peace sign over James Dobson’s grave.
Go buy Talia’s book! It’s phenomenal!
“1984 is a great fiction novel to read but it seems like it is becoming the reality we are currently living under more and more each day”
—noted genius Madison Cawthorn
Today we get into THE dystopian giant, Georgia Orwell’s 1949 novel, “1984.” We have mixed feelings.
Learn about the very earnest and very annoying George Orwell, a man of often good intentions even more often ridiculous blunders and baffling choices.
Then, get into the world of Oceania, with beautiful writing and…a complete lack of any useful political analysis whatsoever,
This one’s complicated! Bring your popcorn and let’s enjoy it together.
Article Brain returns!
Once again, we try to drive each other insane with articles, and this time both comes from close to home…
Yeah scrapping all our institutions of public health is bad, but have you considered maybe they deserve it because sometimes doctors try to be trans inclusive? That’s what our first article seems to think.
And then we talk about “The Department of War” name change and how words matter…so much that calling it “The Department of Defense” meant we hadn’t been doing anything bad before.
It’s a bonus episode!!
Lenore sat down with Alec Karakatsanis, civil rights lawyer and author of the book, “Copaganda” and a newsletter by the same name, to talk about his writing, the deeply violent nature of the American police state, and the way our media plays an active role in carrying out police terror
Get Alec’s book here!
Read Alec’s newsletter here!
Cover art is the book’s cover.
The Sleepers? Yeah, I sure do feel sleepy trying to get through this damn book!
The great Josh Boerman returns to the pod to talk about Matthew Gasda’s truly heinous 2025 novel, “The Sleepers.”
We discuss the hack nature of the “post left,” the long 2016, and the strange enduring rage a certain type of guy holds for Chapo Trap House. We also get really, really mad because this book SUCKS dude.
Josh is one of the podcasting GOATS, and as he’s now joined us five times we have elected to honor him with his own Socialist Shelf Bust. Shout out to @WeetleBeetle on Instagram for the art.
Check out Josh’s show, Worst of All Possible Worlds.
Also check out Josh’s other show, Ill Conceived.
It’s Iowa time.
Josiah Sutton of Fruitless joins us to discuss John Darnielle’s (of “The Mountain Goats” tame) Midwestern Gothic semi-horror, “Universal Harvester.”
Themes: Iowa, corn, VHS tapes, beer, loneliness, more Iowa.
If you like our show, you’ll like Fruitless. Check it out now!
Episode art is a whole lot going on at a barn
Hey! So due to some logistical issues and Covid-19 dunking on Lenore, this week’s episode will be late, but we still wanted to give you something to listen to for your Tuesday.
Please enjoy this shameless self promo as Jacob reads the prologue and first chapter of his upcoming novel, “They Called Her Rebel.”
Pre-order Jacob’s novel here!
More like capitalist fake-ism…
This week we take on Mark Fisher’s 2009 philosophical work, “Capitalist Realism,” an explanation of the seeming all-encompassing, eternally-enduring, indestructible nature of capitalism (and the systems that propagate that myth).
We are joined by filmmaker, writer, photographer, and Fisher-appreciator Jonathan Kennedy to break down what this book actually says vs. what the strange internet cult that formed around it seems to think it says, wrestle with its contradictions, and talk a little about pixel art.
Check out Jonathan’s website (and all his phenomenal films!) here
You can also follow him on Instagram and Bluesky @getradified
Music by SoloMonk, episode art is the spirits of Lenore and Jacob joining Mark Fisher himself in capital integration.
We're going roach mode.
This week we cover Franz Kafka's 1915 classic, "The Metamorphosis," a story about a man getting straight up turned into a giant cockroach...bro still tries to go to work.
We get into the life of Kafka and the challenges of life as a Jewish man in early century Austria-Hungary. We discuss his numerous complexes and obsessions and how they manifested in this book that would become a staple of classrooms everywhere.
Music by Solo Monk (@SoloMonk256 on Twitter, https://www.patreon.com/solomonkart,) Episode art if from this great roach dance concert video.
Disclaimer: killing people is bad actually. Don't try Patrick Bateman's techniques at home.
This week we check out Bret Easton Ellis' 1991 work of horror, "American Psycho." Join us as we dive into the absolute horrifying nihilism that is late century Wall Street and its logical conclusion: mass, indiscriminate torture and murder.
We get into the elements of the book the film fails to capture, the author's own limitations politically, the genius of language, and some high quality fashion advice.
While we don't quote the gnarliest bits of the book, this is a story that features rape and murder aplenty...so keep that in mind. No sweat if you need to skip this one.
Music by Solo Monk (@SoloMonk256 on Twitter, https://www.patreon.com/solomonkart,) episode art is Jacob behaving poorly.
Welcome to a new subseries of The Socialist Shelf: Article Brain!
Once a month, we'll take a break from the books for each of us to bring forward an article specifically designed to drive the other two insane. We'll read them, we'll laugh, we'll weep, we'll rage.
This week we talk about: CNN's 2028 Democratic primary predictions, the NYT Opinion Section asking you to pleeeeeeaaaase stop protesting, and Newsweek's AI-fueled Trump glaze session.
You've asked for more current events content, so here you go! Hope y'all enjoy.
Music by Solo Monk (@SoloMonk256 on Twitter, https://www.patreon.com/solomonkart,) episode art is us straight up dueling.
Y'all like socialism?
Y'all like queers?
Get ready for some...queer socialism!!
Matéo Penado of the Rainbow Collective joins us to talk about Leslie Feinberg's 2008 collection, "Rainbow Solidarity: In Defense of Cuba," an analytical, journalistic, and educational analysis of the history of the queer liberation struggle since the socialist Cuban revolution of 1959.
How did Cuba go from being hell on earth for queer people under capitalism to the kind of place that passes the most progressive family codes in the world in 2022? That's through the tireless work of the militant queer working class!
Interested in the Rainbow Collective? Check it out here!
Follow Matéo on Instagram here!Music by Solo Monk (@SoloMonk256 on Twitter, https://www.patreon.com/solomonkart,) episode art is "El Che Radiante" by Alfredo Rostgaard.
We've seen plenty of dystopian futures...how about a utopian one?
Terry Bisson's 1988, "Fire on the Mountain" explores an alternate timeline where Harriet Tubman was able to join John Brown at the Harper's Ferry raid, and with her tactical skill the raiders made it out and went on to start a nation-wide slave rebellion. How did history go differently? Listen on to find out!
We talk about Bisson's own relationship to radical politics (including guerilla fighters!), and the liberatory possibilities of visionary fiction.
Also, Jacob sings a really, really good song.
Music by Solo Monk (@SoloMonk256 on Twitter, https://www.patreon.com/solomonkart,) episode art is John Brown's utopia, and what we're doing in it instead of podcasting.
Let's read a problematic gay fantasy novel!!!
Author Lee Mandelo (Summer Sons, The Woods All Black, Feed Them Silence) and 5 time returning guest, writer, and podcaster, Aysha U. Farah (Life is Strange: Double Exposure, The Sky Left Us, All My Maidens Podcast) join us to discuss "Mélusine," a fantasy novel from 2005 by Sarah Monette (also known as Katherine Addison).
We discuss the puritanical limitations put upon queer art, effective representation of abuse and trauma, and the myth of the perfect victim. As you may have picked up from that, we get into some pretty intense themes of sexual and physical violence in this episode, so feel free to skip this one if that sounds like something you're not in a place to listen to.
Check out "Amplitudes: Stories of Queer and Trans Futurity," edited by Lee and featuring a story from Aysha. It's a really remarkable collection. Buy Amplitudes here (or wherever you get your books) now!
Check out Aysha's podcast, "All My Maidens" and follow Aysha on Bluesky @ayshaufarah.bsky.social
Follow Lee Mandelo on Bluesky @leemandelo.bsky.social and check out Lee's website here,Music by Solo Monk (@SoloMonk256 on Twitter, https://www.patreon.com/solomonkart,) episode art is our basic cover art...with a twist! We figured Aysha deserved her flowers after five guest appearances. Here's to five more!!
Today, a gorilla will set us straight.
This week we're covering "Ishmael," a 1992 philosophical dialogue between a man and a gorilla, written by Daniel Quinn. We are joined by Jen Big Nasty, host of the podcast, "How the Red Was Won" to figure out just what this huge, hairy cousin of humanity has to teach us about life.
We go deep into environmentalism, anthropocentrism, and humanity's place in the universe.
Go check out How The Red Was Won!
Follow How The Red Was Won on Instagram!
Music by Solo Monk (@SoloMonk256 on Twitter, https://www.patreon.com/solomonkart,) episode art is Ishmael if he embraced the immortal science of Marxism-Leninism.
Folks, we're not immune to the Andor hype! This week, we decided to return to the world of Star Wars to cover what can be seen as loosely as an Andor tie-in novel, Alex Freed's 2025 Star Wars novel "Reign of the Empire, the Mask of Fear".
We are joined by Manuclearbomb of NotACast and My Brother, My Captain, My Podcast to unpack the rise of fascism in the Star Wars universe, examine the useful (and not-so-useful) manners of resisting it, and talk about how little it matters if Palpatine is actually a space wizard or not in the grand scheme of things.
Check out Manu's podcast here or wherever you get your podcasts (including Star Wars bonus episodes for his patrons!)
Follow him @manuclearbomb.bsky.social
Music by Solo Monk (@SoloMonk256 on Twitter, https://www.patreon.com/solomonkart,) episode art is the properly updated great heads of communism.
We did it, Shelfers. 100 EPISODES OF THE SOCIALIST SHELF!!
To honor this beautiful occasion we answer some questions from you, our glorious listeners, and then get into perhaps the our most complex work of literature to date, Gary Larson's 1982 comic, "Cow Tools." If you're not familiar with Cow Tools, take a quick look at it now.
Stay tuned during the outro to hear the kind of thing we have to edit out to make this show coherent.
We sincerely thank all listeners for joining us on this journey so far. Here's to 100 more!
Music by Solo Monk (@SoloMonk256 on Twitter, https://www.patreon.com/solomonkart,) episode art is Cow Tools plus some extra.
Don't worry, we're still a literature podcast, but we wanted to have our friends Jason and Ankita from Resistance Cinema ATL on the show to talk about their collective and the role of film (and art more generally) in revolutionary movements.
We've got a handful of links here, so bear with us (and click on all of them you know you want to).
Pre-order Jacob's book now!
Follow Resistance Cinema ATL here!
Check out Ankita's show, The Desi Gaze here!
Check out Jason's show, Cold War Cinema here!
Music by Solo Monk (@SoloMonk256 on Twitter, https://www.patreon.com/solomonkart,) episode art is the book's cover.
STOP COP CITY!
We are honored to be joined by Mariah Parker, editor and writer for the new collection, "No Cop City, No Cop World," a history, recounting, and analysis of the battle around the "Cop City" project in Atlanta's Weelaunee forest that led to global attention, severe local unrest, capitalist panic, and the state murder of a peaceful protester.
This interview is great, but it's no substitute for reading the book yourself. Get the book here!
Click here to donate to the Free Speech Forest Fund to support activists being persecuted by the City of Atlanta.
Music by Solo Monk (@SoloMonk256 on Twitter, https://www.patreon.com/solomonkart,) episode art is the book's cover.
Our 100th episode is coming up! If you’ve got any questions, comments, or wisecracks to share with the Shelfers, send them our way at “thesocialistshelf@gmail.com” We want to hear from you!
Now for the episode:
So, these guys Derek Thompson and Ezra Klein wrote a book about a new liberalism...a liberalism that builds. Everybody in the Democratic party seems really impressed by it, so we had to see what it was all about.
"Abundance" does not hold up.
In this episode we explore the imaginative limits of progressive capitalism, the obnoxious writing style of liberals, and the article brain pandemic.
If you want to read a book that offers a vision of a real solution to the challenges we face, please check out "Socialist Reconstruction" here!
If you want to learn more about the socialist answer to climate change, check out "Climate Solutions Beyond Capitalism" here.
Music by Solo Monk (@SoloMonk256 on Twitter, https://www.patreon.com/solomonkart,) episode art is the book's cover plus a much-needed addition
Step one: you're going to want to buy this book. Fortunately you can buy it here!
The Shelfers welcome Nathan J. Robinson, editor-in-chief on Current Affairs and co-author with Noam Chomsky of the book, "The Myth of American Idealism: How U.S. Foreign Policy Endangers the World".
We know the U.S. foreign policy is destructive, but just how destructive? What is the future of the U.S. empire? How does Donald Trump's brand of imperialism differ from the "respectable" foreign policy of the past? How have things changed since Chomsky wrote, "Manufacturing Consent"? What are the lessons of the Palestine movement, and how do we beat this monstrosity that is the U.S. empire? All this and more in this wide ranging conversation!
Once again, we encourage you to get the book and check out Current Affairs magazine!
Music by Solo Monk (@SoloMonk256 on Twitter, https://www.patreon.com/solomonkart,) episode art is the book cover.
In the grim darkness of the far future, Jacob has been banished to a desolate realm that knows naught but darkness and depravity, only inhabitable by the twisted creatures of the warp: Italy.
In his stead, join Lenore and our tireless, intrepid editor with creative control over the episode caption, Ryan, as they dive into the Black Library with Fall of Cadia by Robert Rath and universe of Warhammer 40,000.
Music by Solo Monk (@SoloMonk256 on Twitter, https://www.patreon.com/solomonkart)
Remember when bumbling Neville knocked over all the time turners? Wasn't that funny and quaint? That should have been the end of it, but all you bothersome Harry Potter fans who made the author unfathomably rich kept asking her about them. So guess what, Cedric's a fascist now. So there.
Join us as AJ from the Worst of All Possible Worlds (and of Puff fame, the much better wizard-themed play) helps us break down the Cursed Child, the bizarre stage play following the time-traveling adventures of the well-named son of Harry: Albus Severus Potter, and the only good character: Scorpius Malfoy.
If you haven't already, please check out the podcast about the pop culture of a dying empire, The Worst of All Possible Worlds co-hosted by AJ:
https://www.patreon.com/WorstOfAll
Music by Solo Monk (@SoloMonk on Twitter, https://www.patreon.com/solomonkar
We take a break from our series on the wizarding world to talk about a book that definitely has no dementors in it: The City & The City by China Miéville.
We are honored to be joined by Breht O'Shea of the RevLeft Radio and Red Menace podcasts to discuss this work of political fiction about what would happen if you lived in a city where it would be a crime to mention the other city built directly next to it.
If you have not already, please check out Breht's fantastic library of work on all topics Marxist!
https://revolutionaryleftradio.libsyn.com/
https://redmenace.libsyn.com/
Music by Solo Monk (@SoloMonk256 on Twitter, https://www.patreon.com/solomonkart)
It's Part 2 of our Harry Potter series. Are we having fun yet?
This week the Shelfers are joined by returning guest and brilliant web-comic creator, Max Graves, in discussing J.K. Rowling's 2003 fantasy novel, "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" as well as the second half of the series, including its YA turn.
Rowling's finally getting POLITICAL! We have thoughts.
Read Max's comic, "What Happens Next," here!
Check out Max's Patreon here
Follow Max on Bluesky here
Music by Solo Monk (@SoloMonk256 on Twitter, https://www.patreon.com/solomonkart,) episode art is us falling for Voldemort's trap
The Rowling miniseries begins.
The Shelfers and honorary Shelfer, Aysha U. Farah, hop on our broomsticks and zoom into the impossibly big world of Harry Potter, and whatever now-notorious bigot J.K. Rowling's whole deal is (Our working theory is that once you cross $100 million in net worth, no matter what you were like before, you lose your mind.)
In this episode, we talk Rowling's origins, the early days of the books, the conservative backlash to Harry Potter, and whether Harry and Draco are in fact gay (they are. We confirmed.)
Follow Aysha on Bluesky here
Wishlist The Sky Left Us now!
Music by Solo Monk (@SoloMonk256 on Twitter, https://www.patreon.com/solomonkart,) episode art is us at Hogwarts of course.
Thar she blows!
This week, the shelfers unpack The Great American Novel: Herman Melville's 1851 epic, "Moby Dick."
Joining us is Isaac Boa, a writer, educator, and revolutionary organizer. Together, we're going to solve just what's going on with this whole whale situation.
You can find Isaac's writing here.
You can join the PSL Action Network Here.
Music by Solo Monk (@SoloMonk256 on Twitter, https://www.patreon.com/solomonkart,) episode art is our first fan art poster!! Shout out to Em for real.
Octavia Butler Round 3
The Shelfers finish the Parable Duology and the hazardous life of Lauren Oya Olamina in Octavia Butler's 1998 masterpiece, "Parable of the Talents."
This book is an absolutely brilliant analysis of fascism and the powerful organizing that can arise in the face of it. Octavia is the best to ever do it. What else can we say?
CW: There is some discussion of sexual violence committed by the fascist forces in this book.
Music by Solo Monk (@SoloMonk256 on Twitter, https://www.patreon.com/solomonkart,) episode art is a campaign poster I made for Jarret, who is just the worst.
This is a bully good episode (am I using that term properly?)
This week, the shelfers check out S.M. Stirling's 2018 alternative history WWI novel, "Black Chamber." The premise? Teddy Roosevelt gets a third term as president, and this time he's Bernie Sanders in a cowboy hat.
We didn't dig this one. Jacob REALLY didn't dig this one.
If you're here, you should check out our website! Lenore's got a new essay up on The Shelf about S.M. Stirling, so read that here.
Music by Solo Monk (@SoloMonk256 on Twitter, https://www.patreon.com/solomonkart,) episode art is us in a "black chamber" get it?
Have you ever considered that when a nuclear war happens your grandparents will die and it'll be really sad? No? Well this book is gonna make you consider that.
This week, the Shelfers take on Raymond Briggs' 1982 graphic novel, "When the Wind Blows," an upsetting little tale about an old couple facing the apocalypse.
We are joined by veteran of our Sonic episode and artist behind the Socialist Shelf pod art, Tay, AKA Foxy Macchiato.
Check out Tay's art, YouTube, and other content here!
Music by Solo Monk (@SoloMonk256 on Twitter, https://www.patreon.com/solomonkart,) episode art is from the book cover but also we're dying in nuclear fire.
What if the treasure was the friends we made along the way but also was very literally a whole lot of treasure?
Join us as we travel to 1988 to discuss Paulo Coelho's global phenomenon of a novel, "The Alchemist."
We are joined by Kennedy Cooper, host of the podcasts, "The Worst Week Yet" and "The Most Important Election of our Lives." We haven't been able to confirm whether or not they are a real life alchemist, but we have our suspicions...
What is it about this book that drove people so wild? Is "Live, Laugh, Love" always a bad thing? Why is Melchizedek here?
Check out The Worst Week Yet!
Check Out The Most Important Election of Our Lives
Follow Kennedy on Bluesky @kennedytcooper.bsky.social
Music by Solo Monk (@SoloMonk256 on Twitter, https://www.patreon.com/solomonkart,) episode art is from "The Alchemist" graphic novel and also we're there and some emojis too.
Our new website is live! Check out socialistshelf.com for all your Socialist Shelf needs.
Today we enter the very gay, very violent, and very authoritarian mind of Yukio Mishima, aka the worst coup-plotter of all time, as we discuss his 1949 work, "Confessions of a Mask."
This novel is harrowing at times, ridiculous at others. Absolutely relatable to anyone with closet experience in one moment, and the next he's talking like a return to tradition adult Catholic convert guy with a Greek statue profile picture.
Music by Solo Monk (@SoloMonk256 on Twitter, https://www.patreon.com/solomonkart,) episode art is Mishima's ideal society.
Have you ever thought, "Hey, why can't I have a guy strapped to my wall that will basically serve as a living large language model for me and my bored guests?" No? Well, we talk a lot about that concept anyway.
This is our discussion of "Liberation Day," a 2022 short story collection from George Saunders. Joining us is confirmed genius, Tom from the Anime Sickos podcast. He likes Saunders, and now so do we. You'll find out why.
Themes in this episode: being obviously trapped but not knowing it, getting kicked to death in a theme park, and how even GOATs can be washed at times when they try to write about Donald Trump
Check out AnimeSickos here! If you listen, you'll also be a certified genius.
Music by Solo Monk (@SoloMonk256 on Twitter,https://www.patreon.com/solomonkart,) episode art is kind of abstract but just go with it.
It's time to talk about the quintessential vampire novel, Bram Stoker 1897 gothic horror, "Dracula."
Scary music plays, lightning flashes, we look very cool in an old castle
The Shelfers are joined by Scoob, Bluesky Elder, vampire expert, and longtime follower of the Count.
Learn how Bram Stoker was the Forrest Gump of late 19th century literature as he stumbled his way through a prolific but disappointing career that exploded following his death.
We ask such questions as...Is Dracula gay? (Yes.) Is Dracula racist? (Also yes.) Is Jonathan Harker a petite bourgeois reactionary? (100% yes.) Does Mina deserve better? (Yes, yes, yes.)
Check out Scoob's other passion (posting!) @scoobydouchebag.bsky.social
Music by Solo Monk (@SoloMonk256 on Twitter, https://www.patreon.com/solomonkart,) episode art is us doing the long walk (from the book's cover)
It's been a minute, but it's time for another famous Socialist Shelf interview!!
We're delighted to feature Andy Boyd, a brilliant playwright and artist to talk about her play, "Occupy Prescott," a funny and thoughtful show about an Occupy Wall Street encampment in the much-smaller-than-Wall-Street Courthouse Square of Prescott Arizona.
Purchase "Occupy Prescott" here!
Get Andy's other show, "The Trade Federation or Let's Explore Globalization Through the Star Wars Prequels" here!
Music by Solo Monk (@SoloMonk256 on Twitter, https://www.patreon.com/solomonkart,) episode art is from the cover of "Occupy Prescott."
We walk. And walk. And waaaalk.
Welcome to the twisted mind of Stephen King, AKA Richard Bachman, and his 1979 dystopian horror, "The Long Walk."
What if America was bad? Like...even more bad. What if we had young men play sports that killed them...like killed them even more than the ones they do now. The Shelfers investigate.
Fascism. Masculinity. Sexuality. Repetitive Writing. We get into it all.
Music by Solo Monk (@SoloMonk256 on Twitter, https://www.patreon.com/solomonkart,) episode art is us doing the long walk (from the book's cover)
It's a year in review episode but also we do a short story because that's what we doooo, baby.
It's been a great year for the show (and in basically no other way). We celebrate it in this episode by the giving of dubious gifts, reflecting on our favorite episodes of the year, and being slightly disrespectful to Jimmy Carter.
We also discuss Ted Chiang’s 2001 short story, "Hell is the Absence of God." We get sad and philosophical about it.
Music by Solo Monk (@SoloMonk256 on Twitter, https://www.patreon.com/solomonkart,) episode art is us emerging to seize the new year!
It's not just a poem, it an EPIC poem.
This week, the Shelfers take on Harry Martinson's 1956 Swedish, sci-fi epic, "Aniara." Joining them is Max Johansson, who will be considered our pod's official Sweden expert from here on out.
Proletarian literature, running away from your problems, existential despair, quibbling over translations, nuclear apocalypse!!! This one's got it all.
Want more of Max? Well, you'll need to speak Swedish, but if you do, go and check out his podcast, Brodrafolkens! You can also follow him on Instagram @maxjohkna.
Music by Solo Monk (@SoloMonk256 on Twitter, https://www.patreon.com/solomonkart,) episode art is us blasting off.
Let's get into the savage heart of the American dream, shall we?
Join us as we visit Hunter S. Thompson's pocket dimension version of Las Vegas in his 1971 work of gonzo journalism, "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas."
Hear us praise the writing, be moved by the characters, and get really pissed at the author.
Music by Solo Monk (@SoloMonk256 on Twitter, https://www.patreon.com/solomonkart,) episode art self is my proposed new cover for the novel
Abandon Hope All Ye Who Enter Here.
Worst of All Possible Worlds’ Josh Boerman, veteran of both the Socialist Shelf and the battle every young man must face, join us as we take on the villainous Arterburn M Stephen and the downright freaky Fred Stoeker’s 2002, sexual purity self-help book, “Every Young Man’s Battle”
If you’ve ever wanted to face the intersection of evangelical sexual oppression and the New Right down while laughing about sumo wrestlers and stallions, this is your episode.
Disclaimer: the ideas spouted in this book are really gross, downright heinous. Please keep that in mind as you listen, and feel free to skip this one if the discussion makes you too uncomfortable.
More Josh Boerman/Worst of All Possible Worlds: https://www.worstpossible.world/ and @Bosh.Worstpossible.World on Bluesky.
Episode art is Fred Stoeker's Instagram feed. He's joined by a few cool folks who are just driving by.
Title: "Luke Castellan and the Heroic Kronosian People's Front's Noble and Correct War Against the Poseidonist Running Dog Known as Percy JacKKK$on and the Imperialist, Westernist Pigs at KKKamp Halfblood, Including the Reactionary and Hyper-Consumptivist Diony$u$ and the Liberal Moralist Annabeth Cha$e, Who Represent Scant Resistance to the Titanic Proletarian-Peasant-Monster Aligned Forces of the People's Army of Tartarus."
Today the Shelfers are discussing the 2005 novel, "Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief," the first installment in Rick Riordan's YA Fantasy series that started as a bedtime story and became a mega-franchise.
To be honest, the politics in this one are pretty limited. Jacob just really likes this book. We still think it's a good episode though!
Oh yeah, apologies on the audio. We recorded in Lenore's basement and apparently her AC is counter-revolutionary.
Music by Solo Monk (@SoloMonk256 on Twitter, https://www.patreon.com/solomonkart,) episode art is from the graphic novel but Lenore is a sword.
We went and ended the whole world this time.
This week, the Shelfers unleash the powers of the Evil Earth with N.K. Jemisin 2015 fantasy hit, "The Fifth Season."
We talk discrimination against earthbenders, repressed sexuality, and second-person narratives. Not necessarily in that order.
Music by Solo Monk (@SoloMonk256 on Twitter, https://www.patreon.com/solomonkart,) episode art is my take on a fault line.
It's time to do some serious 3D Printing.
The Shelfers are joined by comic artist and internet expert, Max Graves, to discuss Cory Doctorow's 2009, near-future sci-fi, "Makers." Together, we discuss what Doctorow got really right, what he got really wrong, and a bunch of stuff that's just plain confusing.
Do you like cheap plastic? Fad diets? Disney World mercenaries? I hope not, because we go hard against these things.
You can and should check out Max's phenomenal webcomic, "What Happens Next" here.
Music by Solo Monk (@SoloMonk256 on Twitter, https://www.patreon.com/solomonkart,) episode art from "Makers" cover (mildly tweaked.)
The epic saga comes to a close...
This week we finish our Tolkien series with Return of the King...but the king's not the only one returning! Alongside us is the triple-guest, Aysha U. Farah!
We're talking elves, we're talking gollums, we're talking sad homecomings and magic swords. You already knowwww!
You can find Aysha's work at her website, here: https://www.ayshaufarah.com/, or follow her on Twitter or Bluesky at @ayshaufarah.Music by Solo Monk (@SoloMonk256 on Twitter, https://www.patreon.com/solomonkart,) episode art from the ROTK's cover.
No, it doesn't make sense that we did an episode on the Sonic Archie Comics...but it'll be fine. We had fun.
To get into the wild world of Sonic comics, we bring on Wiispywitch, AKA Tay, AKA creator of the iconic (to us) Socialist Shelf art. Between her passion, Ryan's expertise, and the shadow of "The President is Missing" hounding everything we do, this is a fun one.
Check out Wiispywitch's art and other projects here.
Music by Solo Monk (@SoloMonk256 on Twitter, https://www.patreon.com/solomonkart,) episode art is from the comics with slight edits. Please don't sue us, Ken.
It's time to jump off a cliff, seduce a troll, and get turned into a button.
This week, we're talking about Henrik Ibsen's 1867 play, "Peer Gynt," an absolutely crazy ride of folklore, modernity's encroachment on tradition, good music, and Sphinxes with Berlin accents.
Brian Alford of "the Worst of All Possible Worlds" joins us to discuss this foundational piece of literature...but can any of us escape the terror of the Boyg?
Check out The Worst of All Possible Worlds! wherever you get your podcasts, and follow Brian on Insta @uninterestingbrian and on twitter @spocksbrian
Music by Solo Monk (@SoloMonk256 on Twitter, https://www.patreon.com/solomonkart,) episode art is us on a deer and we fell and that's why our clothes are dirty.
Remember James Comey, the FBI Director who infuriated Democrats by reopening the Hillary Clinton email investigation just before the 2016 election, then became a liberal hero a year or so later because Trump fired him? Well, he wrote a novel. We read it.
"Central Park West" is a 2023 crime novel about the mafia, being a good mom, and using the full might of the U.S. government to crush your enemies. We get into its cliche-but-tolerable plot, and the terrifying implications that lie underneath.
Episode art is a perhaps-slightly-tweaked version of the novel's cover. Music by Solo Monk (@SoloMonk256 on Twitter, https://www.patreon.com/solomonkart,)
Part 3 of our Tolkien series is HERE!
It's time for Ents, Wizards, Giant Spiders, and Ecological Catastrophe, because we're talking about J.R.R. Tolkien's, "The Two Towers."
Is this the most action-packed book of the trilogy? How did C.S. Lewis become a tree? How can we keep mind-control incels out of politics? Are Frodo and Sam gay (no...but actually?)
Episode art is a collab between me and Professor Tolkien. Music by Solo Monk (@SoloMonk256 on Twitter, https://www.patreon.com/solomonkart,)
We're in our spooky era.
This week, we're talking about Creepypastas, that internet horror phenomenon that was the pride and joy of kids who "just didn't fit in" circa 2011. In particular, we focus on 2001's "Ted the Caver" and 2011's "Jeff the Killer."
Lenore is off stuck in a cave or being murdered by a Joker clone somewhere, so we're joined by our friend and expert horror-ologist, Rachel, who is here to keep Ryan and Jacob on the straight and narrow.
Music by Solo Monk (@SoloMonk256 on Twitter, https://www.patreon.com/solomonkart,) episode art is from the original Ted the Caver story (plus a couple bonus Shelfers who happened to join him on his quest.)
Join the shelfers as we enter The Zone and explore a classic work of Soviet sci-fi, the Strugatsky brothers' 1972 novel, "Roadside Picnic." Never heard of it? You may know the film adaptation, Tarkovsky's critically acclaimed 1979 movie, "Stalker."
Learn about this book's troubled publication history, hear Jacob get annoyed about thematic pieces not fitting just how he likes them, and ask yourself...why is this book set in Canada?
As we mention at the top of the episode, we need your help! The Claudia De la Cruz, Vote Socialist 2024 Campaign is in need of donations of any size. Donate here now! Like our show? Like socialism? Like both? We kindly ask that you donate.
Music by Solo Monk (@SoloMonk256 on Twitter, https://www.patreon.com/solomonkart,) episode art is my favorite cover of this book.
Due to busy schedules and a mild back injury (explanations within) we didn't finish prep to talk about this week's novel, so instead we read and...let's say critique...Adam Wren's "How Lord of the Rings Shaped JD Vance's Politics" for Politico.
You can read it here.
Music by Solo Monk (@SoloMonk256 on Twitter, https://www.patreon.com/solomonkart,) Episode art is from the article itself for some Eru-forsaken reason.
That flesh do be tender
The shelfers take on Augustina Bazterrica's 2017 horror novel (or cookbook if you're really weird I guess), "Tender is the Flesh." They're really out here eating people.
This is a book about justifying your place as a node in the extractive machine of capitalism, and as such it's pretty intense. We try not to over-dwell on the goriest bits, but this book does feature extreme violence as well as sexual assault and human trafficking. Please be warned that these things will be discussed
Music by Solo Monk (@SoloMonk256 on Twitter, https://www.patreon.com/solomonkart,) episode art is the cover art of the novel's English release
Yee...and I can't stress this enough...Haw
The Shelfers dive into VP hopeful, evil lawyer, and overgrown garden gnome J.D. Vance's 2016 memoir, "Hillbilly Elegy."
Does this book (and its 2020 film adaptation) answer all the questions about the Rust Belt and the white working class??? Uh. No.
Music by Solo Monk (@SoloMonk256 on Twitter, https://www.patreon.com/solomonkart,) episode art is a selfie J.D. Vance took last night but he accidentally dropped his phone and just got his mouth in it perfectly centered somehow and then he texted it to us for some reason.
A blast from the past...we've dug up an episode recorded several months ago. Why didn't we release it? Uhh...idk honestly.
Anyway! It's Harlan Ellison's work of sci-fi/horror, "I Have No Mouth, And I Must Scream."
Why on earth does this evil computer hate us so much??
Music by Solo Monk (@SoloMonk256 on Twitter, https://www.patreon.com/solomonkart,) episode art is original cover art.
It's a three-peat folks! They're calling him the three-peater!
Josh Boerman of the Worst of All Possible Worlds podcast is BACK to help the Shelfers crack Ted Dekker's 2004 evangelical fantasy novel, "Black: The Birth of Evil."
We examine the inherent weaknesses of the evangelical fiction author, figure out why Ted hates the French so much, ask bold questions about magical super-vaccines, and discuss the horrifying banality of a story set in paradise.
Oh also, we have some serious questions about why Ted based his stand-in character's love interest on his daughter. Yikes.
Interview with Ted by Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/interviews/show/579.Ted_Dekker
More Josh Boerman/Worst of All Possible Worlds: https://www.worstpossible.world/ and @BoshJ on Twitter
Music by Solo Monk (@SoloMonk256 on Twitter, https://www.patreon.com/solomonkart,) episode art is Ted looking kinda fresh tho.
"A Picture of Doran GAY" was too low-hanging of fruit, but I did consider that as an episode title.
This week the Shelfers dive into the only novel Oscar Wilde ever wrote, 1891's "The Picture of Dorian Gray." Come for the Gothic horror, stay for the overt homosexuality.
We discuss Wilde's life, which is so exciting and tragic we almost forgive him for being a follower of Kropotkin rather than Marx. We talk about class in Victorian England, the politics of repressed desire, and those types of guys who use philosophy as an excuse to be a bad person.
Music by Solo Monk (@SoloMonk256 on Twitter, https://www.patreon.com/solomonkart,) episode art is Oscar in all his glory
WE! ARE! BACK!
The Shelfers have RETURNED! This week we discuss J.R.R. Tolkien's 1953 quintessential fantasy novel, "Fellowship of the Ring." (If you're interested in Tolkien as a guy, you may want to catch the first part of our episode on "The Hobbit," because we go into detail there)
Is the Shire the perfect society? What's the deal with Tom Bombadil? Is Middle Earth becoming woke? Are elves boomers? All this and more will be discussed.
Music by Solo Monk (@SoloMonk256 on Twitter, https://www.patreon.com/solomonkart,) episode art is the completely unedited theatrical poster for Lord of the Rings
And so it begins...The Socialist Shelf Tolkien deep dive.
The Shelfers begin an examination of the ultimate fantasy series, "The Lord of the Rings," starting with 1937's "The Hobbit" (not technically part of the trilogy but pretty darn important if you want to understand it.)
We also talk about the life of John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, a world-historic wife guy, a mustard gas survivor, history's greatest expert in "mad fairy language," and a...conservative anarchist? Maybe? Sort of? We get into it.
Music by Solo Monk (@SoloMonk256 on Twitter, https://www.patreon.com/solomonkart,) episode art is the fellow himself.
It's short, but it's important (to us!)
Ahead of our next month of Tolkien deep-dive, we need another week to read and study. However, we did want to use this time to announce that Jacob is now querying for his novel, "They Called Her Rebel."
"They Called Her Rebel" is a story about people power, fantastical revolution, and queer love. If you're interested in reading it and providing some feedback, or better yet, have any kinds of connections to agents or the publishing industry, please let us know at: thesocialistshelf@gmail.com
Music by Solo Monk (@SoloMonk256 on Twitter, https://www.patreon.com/solomonkart,) episode art is based on some characters in Jacob's book, drawn by Tay, whose art and commissions you can view here.
Alternate episode title: "Who Killed Captain Aleph?"
The Shelfers get Zen as we dive into Ruth Ozeki's 2021 work of magical realism, "The Book of Form and Emptiness."
This book has got it all: psych wards, nonbinary ferrets, anarchist goth GFs, Zizek in a wheelchair, disaster capitalism, Marie Kondo, ghostly fridge magnets...none of this is a joke by the way.
Also, Jacob yelled at the President last weekend, so that's pretty cool. Video of that here.
Music by Solo Monk (@SoloMonk256 on Twitter, https://www.patreon.com/solomonkart,) episode art from "Angelus Novus" by Paul Klee.
It's time to talk about DUNE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Educator and sci-fi lover Trent returns to the show to discuss Frank Herbert's 1965 epic tale of spice, sand, and worms. The movies get talked about a good bit too (we loved them.)
Can Paul Atreides see the dialectic itself? Why is Frank Herbert so scared of women? What is "good" power and what is "bad" power, and why is Dune so afraid of it as a concept?
Oh yeah, and there's worms. Lots of worms
Can't get enough of Trent? Well he doesn't have his own show, but he did previously feature on our Vonnegut episode, and you can follow Trent @BarryLyndon116 on Twitter.
Music by Solo Monk (@SoloMonk256 on Twitter, https://www.patreon.com/solomonkart,) episode art from the book's cover.
Right at the top: y'all need to get this book. You can find it here.
Journalist and author Vincent Bevins joins the Shelfers to discuss his new book, "If We Burn: The Mass Protest Decade and the Missing Revolution."
Topics of discussion: the need for organization during mass movements, Hunger Games GIFS, and V for Vendetta.
Music by Solo Monk (@SoloMonk256 on Twitter, https://www.patreon.com/solomonkart,) episode art from the book's cover.
Special thanks to THE Count Dracula for stopping by!
This week we get into Leo Frankowski's 1986 sci-fi—let's not say "epic," exactly—"The Cross-Time Engineer," the story of the coolest, buffest, smartest, sexiest engineer that's ever lived (and TOTALLY isn't a self-insert power fantasy character of the author!!)
What's the deal with creepy libertarian men, just like in general? How are we supposed to feel about a masterful concept with wretched execution? How do you, in extreme detail, forge a steel sword?
Heads-up, Frankowski was a real creep and his writing reflects that in his attitude towards women, especially underaged girls. While we don't harp on the details much, we do discuss his disgusting, pedophilic fantasies that play out in this book, so be forewarned.
Music by Solo Monk (@SoloMonk256 on Twitter, https://www.patreon.com/solomonkart,) episode art from the book's cover.
This episode was delayed multiple times due to what is no doubt the curse of the ghost of Poe himself!
This week we're discussing the life of famed American spook-smith, Edgar Allan Poe, with a particular focus on his short stories, "The Masque of The Red Death" and "Hop-Frog"
Was Poe a tortured genius, or just some guy trying to get by? How do class politics bleed into the art of apolitical writers? Will Lenore ever be safe from bird attacks? All this and more!
Music by Solo Monk (@SoloMonk256 on Twitter, https://www.patreon.com/solomonkart,) episode art from "Stephen King Vs. Edgar Allan Poe" Epic Rap Battle (I thought it was amusing.)
We're back with a Socialist Shelf author interview! This week we're talking to labor lawyer, long-time activist, and author of the book, "Fighting Times," Jonathan Melrod!
Want to learn how to change the world through working-class organization? Jon is the man you need to hear from! He's an absolute fountain of wisdom. Don't miss this interview...or his book!
Visit https://www.jonathanmelrod.com/ to learn more about Jon, purchase "Fighting Times," and get access to all sorts of resources on working-class history.
Music by Solo Monk (@SoloMonk256 on Twitter, https://www.patreon.com/solomonkart,) episode art from the cover of "Fighting Times."
This is a fun one.
Fantasy expert and professional hater Aysha U. Farah is back on the show to discuss C.S. Lewis' 1950 children's novel, "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe," though we really get into all of Narnia and spend a lot of time on its deeply fascinating author.
Who was this odd, sometimes-brilliant, sometimes-foolish, always-insane author? What made Narnia so wildly successful? Do we feel bad for Edmund? Was the Pevensie Monarchy a historically progressive force?
You can find Aysha's work at her website, here: https://www.ayshaufarah.com/, or follow her on Twitter or Bluesky at @ayshaufarah.Music by Solo Monk (@SoloMonk256 on Twitter, https://www.patreon.com/solomonkart,) episode art from Pauline Baynes' artwork for the novels.
We're covering Tony Kushner's 2009 (and 2010, and 2011, and many-times-since-edited) play, "The Intelligent Homosexual's Guide to Capitalism and Socialism with a Key to the Scriptures," which incidentally could also be the name of this podcast.
Joining us is beloved theater-enjoyer, A.J. Ditty from The Worst of All Possible Worlds podcast!
Together we dive into the mind of one of the great American playwrights, figure out how to kill yourself Marxistly, and catch up on Italian-American lore.
You can find A.J.'s work at https://www.worstpossible.world/ and follow him on Twitter @TheFuzzyMask.
Music by Solo Monk (@SoloMonk256 on Twitter, https://www.patreon.com/solomonkart,) Episode art is a picture of the good Kush(ner)
It's 2024...new year, new books, a new name...the same, classic socialist spirit.
We're talking about Francis Spufford's 2010 historical fiction...novel? Short story collection? Something like that... "Red Plenty."
Come for the history of the first worker state, stay for the discourse on whether or not smoking is sexy.
We both continue to remain dedicated to our organizing with the Party for Socialism and Liberation. Any funds you can contribute would be helpful! The link to donate is here: https://www.liberationatl.org/donate
Music by Solo Monk (@SoloMonk256 on Twitter, https://www.patreon.com/solomonkart,) Episode art is the book cover.
It's our last episode of 2023...so let's end it on something we all know and love, "The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas" by Ursula K. Le Guin!
What is it about this little story that gets inside people's heads? Is Omelas basically just the story of Jesus? Can you reform a system built on child misery? (I'll go on and answer that one: no.)
For more top-tier Omelas content, check out this phenomenal article by friend of the pod, Kurt Schiller! https://bloodknife.com/omelas-je-taime/
We are giving shout-outs to anyone who donates to PSL Atlanta and sends proof of donation to our Twitter account (@SocialistShelf) or email (TheSocialistShelf@gmail.com). The link to donate is here: https://www.liberationatl.org/donate
Music by Solo Monk (@SoloMonk256 on Twitter, https://www.patreon.com/solomonkart,)
Yeah. The dog dies.
This week we're discussing Paolo Bacigalupi's sci-fi short story, "The People of Sand and Slag."
There's a lot of sand, there's a lot of slag. There's not a lot of joy, but we and our fantastic guest from Podside Picnic, Karlo Yeager Rodríguez, manage to find it where we can. They haven't managed to write a story yet that can destroy the power of a good bit.
We talk about climate change as blasphemy, the responsibility of humanity to the earth, the job of speculative fiction, and manage to talk about "1984" AGAIN despite having not done a "1984" episode.
Check out Karlo's work at https://alineofink.com/ and follow him on Twitter @kjy1066. Also, be sure to listen to Podside Picnic! https://www.patreon.com/PodsidePicnic
We are giving shout-outs to anyone who donates to PSL Atlanta and sends proof of donation to our Twitter account (@SocialistShelf) or email (TheSocialistShelf@gmail.com). The link to donate is here: https://www.liberationatl.org/donate
Music by Solo Monk (@SoloMonk256 on Twitter, https://www.patreon.com/solomonkart,)
Not all is well in the town of Salem...or Washington for that matter.
Join the Shelfers as we dive into Arthur Miller's 1953 not-so-subtle-allegorical play, "The Crucible"
Topics of discussion: McCarthyism, religious hypocrisy, Marilyn Monroe, and Jacob playing Judge Danforth in high school.
We are doing shout-outs to anyone who donates to PSL Atlanta and sends proof of donation to our Twitter account (@SocialistShelf) or email (TheSocialistShelf@gmail.com). The link to donate is here: https://www.liberationatl.org/donate
Music by Solo Monk (@SoloMonk256 on Twitter, https://www.patreon.com/solomonkart,) episode art is high school Jacob looking snazzy as Judge Danforth.
It's a lesser-known series...you probably haven't heard of it.
Today the shelfers take on Matthew Stover's 2005 novelization of "Star Wars III: Revenge of the Sith," the novel that asks the dangerous question of what would happen if you made ROTS... good?
Enjoy us diving into the concept of Star Wars legends, criticize Yoda for undialectical thinking, encouraging Bail Organa to start a Marxist militia on Alderaan, and draw parallels between Taylor Swift and Anakin Skywalker.
As discussed in the cold open, we'll be doing shout-outs to anyone who donates to PSL Atlanta and sends proof of donation to our Twitter account (@SocialistShelf) or email (TheSocialistShelf@gmail.com). The link to donate is here: https://www.liberationatl.org/donate
Music by Solo Monk (@SoloMonk256 on Twitter, https://www.patreon.com/solomonkart,) episode art is definitely an actual picture we took of ourselves to promote this episode.
Joss reads the entire thing at the opening so you have no excuse not to absorb this text (unless you just don't want to in which case...fair)
This week we discuss French philosopher Albert Camus' 1942, essential absurdist work, "The Myth of Sisyphus." You might have heard this one before, it's where the guy is happy despite his whole rock situation.
We get into the life of Camus (we've got opinions!), look into if absurdism and socialism are compatible ideas (we have MORE opinions) and talk about high school Jacob's brief fling with absurdist thought (no need for opinions on this one.)
Come back next week for a discussion of Matthew Stover's 2005 novelization of "Revenge of the Sith."
Music by Solo Monk (@SoloMonk256 on Twitter, https://www.patreon.com/solomonkart), episode art from SuperGiant's masterpiece, "Hades."
History may have gone entirely differently, but the music of Bruce Springsteen is eternal...
Today we explore the alt-history dystopia of Koushun Takami's, 1999 novel, "Battle Royale." This one's a little more intense than Fortnite.
What does "successful fascism" look like? Why is the genre of kids murdering each other so lucrative? Will Koushun Takami ever write a second novel?
Music by SoloMonk (@SoloMonl 256 on Twitter and https://www.patreon.com/solomonkart.) Episode art from novel's cover.
Folks welcome to the episode where we debut our BRAND NEW THEME SONG!!!!! Massive shout-out to Solo Monk for putting it together. Please go give him a follow on Twitter @SoloMonk256, on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/solomonkart, and on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/tsalcollective
But we do have an episode today outside the music. We're discussing the great 1929 work of Japanese proletarian literature, "The Crab Cannery Ship" by Takiji Kobayashi.
How does the historical process of capitalist development in Japan mirror that in Europe, and how is it different? How can the nameless, faceless nature of the working class be turned into a strength? Plus, what to do if your revolution fails (hint, hint: it's try again.)
Episode art is a crab emoji.
It's existential horror time!!
This week we get into Victor LaValle's 2016 novella, "The Ballad of Black Tom," a retelling of H.P. Lovecraft's shockingly racist (and honestly boring) short story, "The Horror at Red Hook." And yes, we read the original short story too so you don't have to.
The Shelfers discuss Lovecraft adaptions that deal with his legacy (and all that entails,) the inevitability of resistance against oppression, and why Cthulhu is way less scary than the NYPD.
Tune in next week for, "The Crab Cannery Ship" by Kobayashi Takiji!
Episode art from the novel's cover, music by Kevin MacLeod.
Jacob fails to read poetry, Joss makes bad jokes, we have a cool guest, and we released the episode two days late...honestly, it's the platonic ideal of a Socialist Shelf episode.
This week we're talking about J.D. Salinger's 1951 rant of a novel, "Catcher in the Rye." Joining us is writer, game developer, and professional Holden Caulfield defender, Aysha U. Farah, begging you to forget everything YA Twitter has told you to think about this book.
What's the deal with middle-class American angst? Is Holden Caulfield gay? Are angsty teens just tiny Marxists waiting to be given direction? All this and more!
You can find Aysha's work at her website, here: https://www.ayshaufarah.com/, or follow her on Twitter or Bluesky at @ayshaufarah.
Music by Kevin MacLeod, episode art is just a rye field from Getty Images
Let's. Get. Edgy.
Step into (even more) fascistic London in Alan Moore's classic 1982-1985 graphic novel, "V for Vendetta."
What makes Moore such a remarkable creator? How do repressive regimes give birth to their own destruction? How brutal must a revolution be? Also...what's the deal with anarchism?
Art from the graphic novel, music by Kevin MacLeod.
A little housekeeping: we're going to be (for the most part) dispensing with the part ones and twos and doing full weekly episodes, so I hope y'all enjoy that. Tune in next week for our "Catcher in the Rye" episode!!
Some are calling it THE literary classic.
This week the boys get into "My Immortal," a notorious 2006-2007 Harry Potter fan fiction by the user known as XXXbloodyrists666XXX.
What makes a bad fanfiction so magical? Why are so many preps flaming our podcast? What can we learn from the earnestness of online fiction...plus, some young Jacob and Joss lore.
If you like this episode, please leave us a good review and follow us @SocialistShelf on social media (if that's still a thing.)
Music by Kevin MacLeod, episode art is the Harry Potter film cover fused by dark magic with Snapchat photo editor.
We're back and holding Rich Devos accountable.
This is the second half of our conversation on "Compassionate Capitalism" and "Ten Powerful Phrases" by Amway founder and rightwing billionaire Rich Devos.
In this half we really tear into the cult of toxic positivity, discuss dialectics the Devos way, and Jacob gets REAL heated about the idea that God will "just take care of it."
If you're not already familiar with Josh's work, then what the heck are you doing?? Check out Josh's podcast here: https://www.worstpossible.world/
Music by Kevin MacLeod, art is the dude himself
It's time to learn more than we ever wanted to about Amway founder and general rightwing psycho, Richard Devos.Josh Boerman from Worst of All Possible Worlds returns to the podcast to discuss Devos' self-help book/manifestos "Compassionate Capitalism" and, to a lesser extent, "Ten Powerful Phrases for Positive People." They're some doozies, folks.Who is this Rich guy, and how did he manage to get his sticky fingers all over everything in the whole country? What's the deal with multi-level marketing companies? Is socialism doomed (Rich thinks so in 1994, he becomes less sure by 2008.)Check out Josh's podcast here: https://www.worstpossible.world/Music by Kevin MacLeod, episode art is of the Amway Center.
Welcome back to the cyber-adrenaline rush that is Neal Stephenson's, "Snow Crash!"
The Shelfers team up with Kurt Schiller of Podside Picnic and Blood Knife Magazine to get to the bottom of age-old questions like: how do you handle a guy who has a nuclear bomb strapped to his motorcycle? (and other stuff like that)
Check out Kurt's work at https://bloodknife.com/, https://www.patreon.com/PodsidePicnic, and @MechanicalKurt on Twitter
Episode art is of Neal Stephenson, music by Kevin MacLeod.
We're going to the distant, wild, far-flung cyberpunk future of the early 2000s...as seen from the early 90s. Yep, we're talking about Neal Stephenson's 1992 science fiction/action/dystopian/satirical/straight-up-badass novel, "Snow Crash."
Joining the Shelfers to discuss is editor of Blood Knife Magazine and member of Podside Picnic, Kurt Schiller.
What's the difference between anti-capitalism and anti-corporatism? What happened to the dreams of the techno-utopians? Is Hiro Protagonist a good name for your main character? Why is Uncle Enzo so damn cool? All that and more!
Check out Kurt's work: https://bloodknife.com/, https://www.patreon.com/PodsidePicnic, @MechanicalKurt on Twitter.
Credit to Blowback for our parody intro and to the song "World Destruction" by Time Zone. Credit to Kevin MacLeod for our outro music. Cover art is from the cover of the novel itself.
Alternate title for this episode: "Ready Player FUN"
EMBRACE THE IMMORTAL SCIENCE OF MARXISM-LENINISM-LEVONISM!!!!
We're back with Sydney to finish out this trudge through what I assume has to be Ben Shapiro parodying himself: "True Allegiance."
This book is bad. It's so so so so bad.
Music by Kevin MacLeod, episode art is of a random child who tapped me on the shoulder and asked if he looked cool in his hat.
UGGHHHHHH
That more or less summarizes our reaction to "True Allegiance," Ben Shapiro's work of fiction that repeatedly, incessantly, infuriatingly, asks over and over and over: "Have you considered wokeism might be at the heart of our problems?"
No Ben, we haven't.
Joining us is cringe-fiction expert and Jacob's spouse, Sydney, to really get into this evil creation of the whiny, deranged, foot-stomping manchild known as Ben Shapiro.
Music by Kevin MacLeod. The cover art is...pretty epic.
It's our first repeat author! Get ready to discuss the short stories, "Bloodchild," "Amnesty," and "Book of Martha" by the Queen of science fiction, Octavia Butler.
Joining us is noted sci-fi enthusiast, drip-king, and all-around-cool-guy, Aaron Thorpe!
How does one sanitize literally being eaten alive? Why is the internet into botflies? What would you do with the powers of God? Who's more evil, alien invaders or the US Government? (Okay, that's one's obvious.)
Check out Aaron @Afrocosmist on Twitter or go listen to his podcasts: "The Trillbilly Worker's Party," "Struggle Session," and "Everybody Loves Communism"
Music by Kevin MacLeod, art from the republished edition of "Bloodchild."
It's the week of interviews, and we're back with another fantastic one...this time with legendary socialist writer, thinker, and enjoyer of good fiction, Vijay Prashad!
Hear Vijay's thoughts on superhero films, the (super)power of organizing, how mass media reveals the insecurities of the ruling class, and how anti-capitalist fiction can become revolutionary art.
For more from Vijay Prashad, go to https://thetricontinental.org/
Music by Kevin MacLeod, episode art is Vijay's Twitter profile pic (and a very nice one at that.)
We enjoyed his book, "American War," and in this episode, we got a chance to enjoy speaking to the author!
Listen to acclaimed writer and journalist Omar El Akkad chat with the Shelfers about climate change, the dangers of American individualism, his writing process...and then even more about climate change.
You're not required to scroll back and listen to our "American War" episodes before listening to this interview, but we sure would recommend it.
You can find Omar here on Twitter: @omarelakkad. We also recommend you check out his podcast, "WITHOUT."
Music by Kevin MacLeod. Episode art is a picture of our guest!
Y'all know what's up: it's Kim Stanley Robinson's climate fiction smorgasbord, "The Ministry for the Future!"
REVOLUTIONARY OPTIMISM!!!!!!!!
Music by Kevin MacLeod, episode art is of KSR himself
"Jacob...Joss...do y'all talk about nothing but bleak books anymore? I'm getting tired! I'm getting depressed."
Never fear listeners, it's time to talk about Kim Stanley Robinson's positive, anti-dystopian work of climate fiction, "Ministry for the Future."
Questions we consider: What will spur the working masses of the world to action? What role does sci-fi play in painting visions of a better world? What's the difference between being a utopian idealist and a revolutionary optimist?
Music by Kevin MacLeod, cover art from the original novel cover.
"First of all, I don't want to hear the word surrender..."
We're back with more dystopia! "American War" by Omar El Akkad continues to deliver with discussion of life as a refugee, island torture facilities, and economies strangled by war...sound familiar? The chickens are coming home to roost.
With us is delightful guest, Josh Boerman, helping us figure out what to make of this nightmare novel.
We also talk about water. Lots of water in this book, folks.
If you've got ears to hear, pop over to https://www.worstpossible.world/ as soon as you finish listening to this episode. You might just want to keep an eye out for their upcoming guests.
Music by Kevin MacLeod, episode art from iStock.
What if everything was bad...and then it got worse...and then it kept getting worse...and everything generally stayed bad forever?
That's what Omar El Akkad tackles in his work of climate fiction, "American War," and that's what the Shelfers are here to discuss. But wait! Joining us is noted apocalyptician and student of declining empire, Josh Boerman from The Worst of All Possible Worlds!
What will happen to the American South without left organizing? What is the trajectory of a society without hope? What, if anything, is the use of novels preaching dire climate warnings? What's the deal with the Mississippi Sea? All this and more!
Check out Josh's work at https://www.worstpossible.world/. Seriously, it's one of the best podcasts out there.
Music by Kevin MacLeod, cover art is from the cover of American War
Part 2! Welcome back to the godless wasteland roamed by the Glanton Gang. We, along with our guest, Drew Mason, will be your guides.
We're talking more about Cormac McCarthy's "Blood Meridian." In this episode, we ask how the Judge Holdens of the world can be fought, try to puzzle out just what that epilogue is talking about, and give a send-off to one of the best writers to ever do it.
We're on BlueSky now! Check us out @socialistshelf.bsky.social. Also, be sure to follow our guest on Twitter @dkpmason.
Episode art from Unsplash. Music by Kevin MacLeod.
Everybody's favorite dirt mage, Drew Mason, is back to talk with us about "Blood Meridian" by the recently late, forever great, Cormac McCarthy.
What does the Western (or in this case, anti-western) teach us about the foundations of the United States? What is the truth behind this nation's founding myths? Can we have an episode even darker than our discussion of "The Jungle?" All that and more within.
If you liked this episode, check out @dkpmason on Twitter. If you didn't like it, check him out anyway. He's a cool guy, we can vouch.
Music by Kevin MacLeod, the cover art is a picture of the greatest bean-eating pond swimmer to ever grace the literary world.
No poetry for this episode summary, just appreciation for Tamsyn Muir's blast of a novel, "Gideon the Ninth."
How does the internet intersect with Millennial and Gen Z art? How much lore is the right amount of lore? Is romance dead? (Spoilers, it's not.)
Also, here's a link to a really good interview between Three Crows Magazine and the author. If you didn't already like her from this book, you'll like her by the end of the interview. Check it out!
The episode art is a picture of Tamsyn herself. Episode music, as always, by Kevin MacLeod.
Two for the stories reread in our dreams
Three for the prose we remember in memes
Four for the books that we both recommend
Five for the ones where we're glad for the end
Six for the classics debated to death
Seven for those that have wasted our breath
Eight for the novels inspiring our stuff
and Nine for the pod and for all of its scuff
(P.S. Sorry to Ms. Tamsyn Muir for the fact that I can't say your last name right. I liked your book.)
Music by Kevin MacLeod, episode art from the cover of "Gideon the Ninth."
"Stop reading this! It's too awful!" our brains cry. "No," we reply, as we sink further into madness.
Yep, we're back with more of "The President is Missing" by Bill Clinton and James Patterson.
How do reactionary politics work hand-in-hand with liberalism? What is Joss' personal lore with Bill Clinton? How do you create the world's most annoying vision of utopia? Plus...is that Wario and Waluigi I hear?
Music by Kevin MacLeod. Art is just a normal, totally unedited picture of Clinton and Patterson.
Bill Clinton wrote a novel, y'all...Yes, that Bill Clinton.
Join us as we slowly lose our minds trying to crawl through the nightmare that is "The President is Missing" by James Patterson and former U.S. President, Bill Clinton.
We'll be answering such questions as: "Can a former President still be deeply insecure?" (Yep.) and "Can liberalism save us?" (Nope.)
If you thought "Left Behind" had us worked up, you ain't seen nothing yet!!!
Music by Kevin MacLeod, cover photo from Whitehouse.gov.
We're back with more of Kurt Vonnegut's anti-war sci-fi classic, "Slaughterhouse-Five" ft none other than known Vonnegut-head, TRENT.
In this episode, we talk more about the fate of poor old Edgar Derby, discuss what makes Paul Lazarro the perfect American hero, and ask ourselves...is Billy Pilgrim the Muad'Dib?
Music by Kevin MacLeod, episode cover from the film adaptation of "Slaughterhouse-Five"
We've got another guest, folks. You know him, you love him, it's the legend himself...TRENT (a college buddy of Jacob's)
It's time to hop into Kurt Vonnegut's classic, semi-autobiographical work science fiction, "Slaughterhouse-Five."
What makes for a "just war," and is that even a thing? What's the deal with all these buff, homoerotic British officers? How much attention do you really need to pay to your climax to make it climactic? Find out now!
Music by Kevin MacLeod. Cover art is Kurt Vonnegut (including one of the many cigarettes that failed to kill him.)
It's what you've been waiting for, folks: the GAMING portion of Liu Cixin's sci-fi headscratcher, "The Three-Body Problem."
Okay, okay, there's more than gaming. We've got political intrigue, we've got nano-violence, we've got existentialism, we've got futuristic internationalism...and more.
Plus, our Netflix-based plan to prevent World War 3.
Episode Art from LiveScience (depicting an actual three-body diagram.) Music by Kevin MacLeod.
We're back...and yes I mean we. After a three-week hiatus, Joss has returned to the program. And we're talking Liu Cixin's hard sci-fi puzzle-box, "The Three Body Problem."
How did this distinctly Chinese work of fiction manage to capture the hearts of so many in the West? What do the Chinese Cultural Revolution and gravitational currents have in common? Can we use science fiction to prevent nuclear war? All these questions and more...answered!
As a side note: The Cultural Revolution of China is a complicated chapter in history that takes a lot more deciphering than we're capable of conducting in a couple sci-fi centric episodes, so we wanted to link this source from the Liberation School for those who may want to learn more. https://www.liberationschool.org/tag/cultural-revolution/
Music by Kevin MacLeod, art is the cover of the English edition of "The Three Body Problem."
Bad news: Joss is out for this episode. Good news: we've got our first guest! You can (and should) follow him on Twitter @dkpmason.Jacob and Mason are back this week to finish our discussion on Upton Sinclair's 1906 work of political horror (Aka the life of a member of the hyper-exploited working class) "The Jungle."What does capitalism do to the human soul? What drives a man to turn on his fellow workers? How low can a person get? And finally, where should we look for our liberation?Episode cover art is a picture of the Chicago stockyards, music by Kevin MacLeod.
Bad news: Joss is out for this episode. The good news: we've got our first guest! You can (and should) follow him on Twitter @dkpmason.
Listen to Jacob and Mason chat about "The Jungle," the 1906 work of political fiction by Upton Sinclair.
What would the Biblical story of Job look like in early 1900s Chicago? What's changed, what's stayed the same, and what's sliding backward? Plus, some good tips for staying in shape (hint: don't leave the forests of Lithuania!)
The episode art is a picture of the old muckraker himself. Music by Kevin MacLeod.
Welcome back to Michael Crichton's 1990 sci-fi novel, Jurassic Park!
Should we reject Marxism and instead embrace Malcolmism? How do billionaires deal with failure? Where did Costa Rica get their air force? Will Joss become a mammoth? All your burning questions are answered!
Music by Kevin MacLeod. Cover art from the novel's first edition cover.
We had a weeklong hiatus but now we're back at it! It's time to talk bioengineering, it's time to talk irresponsible research, it's time to talk chaos theory, it's time to talk about Michael Crichton's 1990 sci-fi novel, Jurassic Park!!
Music by Kevin MacLeod. As for the episode art...you already know who it is and where it's from.
Your favorite apocalypticians are back on the case of Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins' attempt to add a 67th book to the Bible: Left Behind.
We discuss the epidemic of boring evangelical characters, rip on Jenkins' writing a little (okay, a lot), and dream up what a "good version" of this book might look like. Most importantly, we look into the nihilism at the heart of Evangelicalism-as-politics and how it's gotten us to where we are today.
Music by Kevin MacLeod. Cover art from Left Behind: World at War.
Dive with us into Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins's 1995 apocalyptic evangelical thriller, Left Behind! This is a weird one, folks.
In this episode, we take a long look at the borderline-supervillain of life of Tim LaHaye, assess how the 1990s were primed for apocalypse hysteria, and really tear into the deliciously incompetent prose of Jerry B. Jenkins.
Cover from the 1995 release of Left Behind. Music by Kevin MacLeod.
We're back! We've got aliens! We've got monsters! We've got...penguins? Yes. Lots of penguins.
What good is a mystery you can't solve? How do you survive a shoggoth attack? What comes of a dream of a better world when it's clouded by anti-solidaristic bigotry? We cover a lot in the span of forty-five minutes or so.
Music by Kevin MacLeod. Art by Gecko! for the Moscow University Press.
It's time to enter the weeeiiirddd world of H.P. Lovecraft.
In this episode, learn about the life of Lovecraft, the good, the bad, the ugly, the badder, and the uglier (seriously, he wasn't a very good guy.) We discuss the influence of Lovecraft on the horror genre, the looming sense of doom instilled in the capitalism of the 1930s, and what makes a story actually scary.
Episode art by Howard V. Brown's cover of "Astounding Stories." Music by Kevin MacLeod.
You're really uploading an episode on Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol?" In February? Are you crazy? Maybe!
Join us on the foggy streets of Dickens' London, a place where all sorts of wondrous folk fight to scratch out a living in the birthplace of industrial capitalism. How does light get introduced into such a bleak setting? Why does this story speak to us more than a century-and-a-half later? What can it teach us about our own world?
Let's dive in!
Follow us on Twitter @SocialistShelf or email us at TheSocialistShelf@gmail.com!
Cover image from the film, "The Muppet Christmas Carol." Music by @FreeToUseMusic.
Part 2! We talk about the motivation of Octavia Butler, the return of company towns, and just how vital clinging to one another is in a world on fire. Also, check out Jacob desperately trying not to spoil the second book.
Follow us on Twitter @SocialistShelf or email us at TheSocialistShelf@gmail.com.
Picture of Octavia Butler from the Associated Press. Music by Kevin MacLeod
This is one of my all-time favorites: Octavia Butler's 1993 dystopian novel, "Parable of the Sower." Listeners, you're in for one heck of a ride.
What if dialectics were a religion? What will the US look like when the exploitation of the global south finally comes home? Plus, what to do when everybody else is acting calm in the middle of the apocalypse.
Follow us on Twitter @SocialistShelf or email us at TheSocialistShelf@gmail.com
Art from John Jude Palencar's cover art for "Parable of the Sower." Music by Kevin MacLeod.
The second half of our Brave New World discussion.
In this episode: We talk even more about Huxley vs Orwell (we can't help ourselves) and examine how fascism dresses itself up as a utopia to its subjects. Then we spend some time with the brilliant, the magnificent, the king of the debate-me-bros himself, World Controller MUSTAPHA MOND!
Follow us on Twitter @SocialistShelf or shoot us an email at TheSocialistShelf@gmail.com
Music by Kevin MacLeod.
Hey! First episode!
In this rough first attempt, we hop right into Aldous Huxley's dystopian classic, "Brave New World."
How does propaganda really work? Why do we believe this book could trounce "1984" with one hand behind its back? What happens when you make Henry Ford into your actual God? All this and more in Brave New Pod Pt1.
Credits to Greg Klamt for the episode art and Kevin MacLeod for the music.