Neal Stephenson Book Club

PLL: Original Sin: Summer School is canceled, and the Bros are finally free. It's been a good ride, but all good things, etc. We're escaping Mona's basement and you'll never catch us again. Also, at the end of this short episode, please enjoy a short reading of Chapter 1 of our new book, Game On, Trouble.

Greetings, mystery lovers! This special solo pod is PLL-free. That's right, with Book 4 in the Trouble: Girl Detective mystery series due out in two weeks, JT thought it would be fun to do a virtual reading. If you've never checked out the books previously, here's a chance to see what they're all about, with no spoilers since this reading is of the first book. Please enjoy the first three chapters of My Name is Trouble, read by your old pal Benji.

Please enjoy this off-the-rails podcast where we are joined by Kaitlin of the Riverdale Register podcast to discuss the Ti West movie X, and several other topics related to horror movies, Pretty Little Liars, Longlegs, the TV and film industry, and anything else that strikes our fancy. JT is on painkillers and Kaitlin has covid, so we're kind of all over the place here, lol!

In s02e08 “Final Exam” of Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin: Summer School, Imogen becomes a jealous girlfriend and bashes Johnny's head in with a pipe wrench after finding bodies in the Creamery freezer. Not crossed an important relationship milestone when she asks Jen to help her hot-wire a car. Faran saves Kelly with the worst CPR you've ever seen, and later karate kicks Bloody Rose in the face. Mouse's plot-line still consists of refreshing SpookySpaghetti dot com twice a day, and updating the other girls on new developments at her leisure. And Tabby gets to be the Final Final Girl in one of the lamest killer reveals ever broadcast—and that includes Principal Clanton last season, so that's saying something!

In s02e07 “The Bogeyman” of Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin: Summer School, Imogen demands proof from Therapy Anne that she's not Bloody Rose, so Therapy Anne tells her bizarre story about how Archie Waters maybe killed her son. Mouse tries to fool the denizens of Spooky Spaghetti with a fake Angela Waters video, forgetting that the internet is full of terrible people with low cunning. Faran needs a pep talk from her mom to tell off Coach Rhodes and quit her job because she's never been so self-actualized. Tabby is surprised when Wes quits, and decides to make her own horror movie about Season 1. And Noa finally dumps Shawn, and then acts like she's the wronged one when he gets mad about her cheating.

In s02e06 “Hell House” of Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin: Summer School, Imogen is outraged to learn that the stupid Redemption House plot line is happening in her old house. Noa inexplicably wants to choose Jen over Shawn, but then she learns Jen is back to her thieving ways. Mouse helps Ash set up a Pride pool party in response to the lame hell house. Tabby is concerned about Wes being missing, until she finds a bunch of horror stuff at his apartment. And Faran tells Greg and Henry off, and then learns that Greg is an ally, because he has a cousin, who lives in Riverdale, who is gay.

In s02e05 “Friday the 13th” of Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin: Summer School, Imogen is getting more and more unhinged, and it's unclear whether it's a pharmaceutical reaction, or she's just being a #Girlboss. Tabby realizes she hasn't gotten to soapbox in a few episodes and rectifies that situation, and then plans an outdoor horror movie fest with Christian. Noa cheats some more, and then throws metaphorical rocks at Jen like she's Nymeria the Direwolf to make her leave. Mouse doesn't have much of a plot-line here; she reads the internet, I guess. And Faran beats Greg at arm wrestling, and then dumps Henry because seeing him speak in tongues gave her the ick.

In s02e04 “When a Stranger Calls Back” of Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin: Summer School, Imogen poorly recreated the end of Sixteen Candles with Johnny. Tabby is still saddled with an assault trauma plot-line from season 1. Mouse suddenly remembers she inspired the whole stupid Spooky Spaghetti thing. Noa blows off work for a montage with Jen, and then gets her actual boyfriend to hand over two grand to bail her ass out of jail, and then cheats on him. And Faran, the strongest (and dumbest) Sinner faces her incredibly contrived “Final Girl Test.”

In s02e03 “Sweet Sixteen” of Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin: Summer School, Imogen salts Johnny's game and then poorly pastiches Mulholland Drive. Tabby gets creeped out by Christian's weird basement of masks. Noa has to cover for Jen stealing from Pinball Pizza. Faran is prompted to consider if she might be a humorless prig, but thankfully comes to the realization that no, she is perfect, and it's everyone else who must be the problem. And Mouse gets tricked into attending the wrong surprise party with like 10 minutes left in the episode because the writers remembered that something should happen on this show.

In s02e02 “Summer Lovin” of Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin: Summer School, Imogen gets very melodramatic because she can't sit with her friends in summer school. Noa gets a head start on the bisexual cheater trope with the girl from Do Revenge. Tabby meets a new guy Christian at work, but is reluctant to share her short film and love of horror with him. Mouse spends more time on Spooky Spaghetti. Kelly introduces the concept of technical re-virginity. Faran remains perfect and flawless and unbothered and always winning and being the best.

We're so back! In s02e01 “Loose Ends” of Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin: Summer School, Imogen insists on keeping the baby plotline on the show. Tabby is angry, and taking it out on Chip's terrible mom. Faran remains a contradiction of motivations, but at least they killed off the ballerina thing—and Madame Giry too. Noa is getting sick of Shawn's mom's lip about her living rent-free (literally) in their house for six months, and draining her son's precious bodily fluids nightly. And Mouse has become obsessed with the Spooky Spaghetti website and their urban legends about Archie and Rose Waters, despite knowing it's all made up. Oh, and Kelly became a Riverdale character.

Well, this movie sucked. In preparation for Pretty Little Liars: Summer School, we watched the 1981 film Student Bodies, which the PLL:SS season stole its first poster from. And it's really bad and not worth watching or disgusting. In better news, you can preorder our new book!

Hola, amigos. It's been a while since we rapped at ya. Since Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin is about to come back for a second season, now titled Pretty Little Liars: Summer School, we thought we might get back into the swing of things by time traveling back to 1987 to revisit the original Summer School movie, staring Mark Harmon and Courtney Thorne-Smith as the proto-Aria Montgomery. They sure don't make 'em like this anymore.

The Bros conclude the Dollhouse arc with special guest Janina, looking at the Season 6 premier of Pretty Little Liars. Let's all pour one out for the last time Ali gets to be an interesting character on the show! Also, “It's Andrew Babe!” After the commentary, there's a little more Trouble talk, so beware of spoilers!

We're back for more commentary episodes, this time with a guest all the way from Germany! Janina joins us to cover the first half of the infamous Dollhouse arc, where Pretty Little Liars really ascended to new levels of insanity. After the commentary, we talk a little Trouble, so beware of spoilers as we poll Janina for how well we did on the European setting for Trouble Takes a Holiday.

In a Headcanon crossover episode, the Bros are joined by Kate to talk about the grandmother of all modern teen movies: Amy Heckerling's Clueless. The Girl from the Aerosmith video shows limitless charm as Cher, the ditzy queen of Bronson Alcott High, and the stellar supporting cast of future stars makes this teen retelling of “Emma” a classic.

Thanksgiving is over, and it's time to get in the holiday cheer with a commentary track for the PLL Christmas Episode. Elizabeth Kyle joins us again to talk Winter Ball fashion, inappropriate student-teacher Santa fetish group sex, and whatever happened to Ali's legs! And for dessert, we share our thoughts on Midnights by Taylor Swift.

An episode so good, we did it again. We're joined on the podcast by Elizabeth Kyle to talk over the classic Ghost Train episode. Aria: still A! Pastor Ted: still sucks! Ghost Trains: still not a real thing! Be on the lookout for some light spoilery Trouble talk at the end.

Hey everyone, we're back! For this special episode of the pod, we are joined by Rose Coffey, the winner of our Trouble book contest. Rose joins us to talk Do Revenge, the Mean Girls-meets-Strangers on a Train teen comedy on Netflix starring Maya Hawke, Camila Mendes, and (the best part of PLL: Original Sin) Maia Reficco. At the end of the episode, we have some very spoilery discussion of Trouble Takes a Holiday, so make sure you've visited mynameistrouble.com and caught up on all three books before you listen!

Hiro and Raven battle in the Metaverse to stop the Snow Crash nuke. Y.T. makes a daring escape from Rife's chopper with the help of her fellow Kouriers, and breaks up with Raven. Uncle Enzo finds himself unexpectedly in combat at LAX, where Y.T. sees a heroic Fido save the day. Then she calls her mom for a ride home. Fin!

Hiro finds an old friend on the Raft, and broadcasts the nam-shub of Enki to all aboard. L. Bob Rife and the President escape to L.A. with Y.T. A friendly Kourier witnesses her predicament and sends out the Code. Hiro chases Raven through the Street, trying to stop him from delivering a Snow Crash nuke that would fry the brains of every hacker. Fido wakes up, eager to help the nice girl who loves him.

Hiro gives Uncle Enzo, Mr. Lee and Ng the download on Enki, the Metavirus, and what L. Bob Rife is up to. Y.T. finds Street access on the Raft to make contact with Hiro before being taken hostage by Rife and his goons. Hiro engages in a gatling gun battle to come to her rescue.

A and A's handler are exposed, along with the secret rapist, and we're finally done with this stupid show. The “guilty” are “punished” by the “killer” after the big “twist” reveal cooked up by these “writers.” It's all so dumb. Anyway, our new book is out!

Hiro, Fisheye, and crew storm the Raft and fight off a variety of foes. Transubstanciacion is returned to his family. Y.T. date goes awry when she forgets a very important detail. And Hiro finds refuge and jacks into the Metaverse to meet Uncle Enzo, Mr. Lee, and Ng.

We're almost done. Two to go for this trash show. The writers pretended the plot was over at the end of the last episode, so we're treated to a lame recap where they try to lampshade their poor storytelling. A bunch of stuff happens off screen, and we're told, not shown, a bunch of random stuff to move the plot along. The evil Sheriff is revealed to be more evil, and the secret rapist becomes rather obvious. People got paid to write this…

The Orthos turn the tables on the Mafia, rescuing the bigwigs and annihilating the Kowloon. Hiro and Fisheye and a couple others escape in a life raft, float around in the specific, and have a run-in with the Bruce Lee gang. Meanwhile, Y.T. finds herself on a date on the Raft, and her gentleman caller is none other than Raven. Oh boy.

Y.T. gets lured to Fedland and kidnapped, and then trafficked to the Raft with the Falabalas. Hiro arrives in Port Sherman, Oregon, and hitches a ride on the Kowloon just as war breaks out between the Orthos and the Mafia.

The Sinners concoct a dumb, pointless plan to gather up a bunch of bloody cotton balls from the school Blood Drive, so they can test them en masse to see if one of the students is the father of Imogen's rape baby. Oh, and Crazy Joe comes back, acts super threatening, seems to clearly be A and then k-words himself, so of course he's not A. Help.

Hiro travels up the Alcan highway, learns more about Enki, and some of Raven's back story, and runs into trouble with some bastards from New South Africa. Y.T.'s mom is questioned about YT's action at her job in Fedland.

Imogen encourages Tabby to go to the cops about her assault, but isn't ready to go yet herself. Instead, she's doing the old, “high school project to take care of a fake baby with a romantic interest” plot line, which is extra gross because… you know. Mouse has more drama with her creepy LARPing dude Steve, and tricks her mom into revealing one of the more boring deep dark secrets imaginable. Faran is suddenly dealing with chronic pain and tells her mom off and is even more empowered and makes out with her dancer boyfriend. Whatever. Noa gets a physical trainer that might be encouraging her to juice. Tabby cooks up a new scheme to catch her rapist, rather than talking with a counselor about it.

Hiro learns about Enki and me from the Librarian. YT steals a sample of snow crash for the Mafia, with the help of Ng Security. After interviewing one of the falabalas, she learns that someone is using infected hackers as blood bags to produce more snow crash.

Imogen and Tabby bond over their shared trauma and take a trip to fake-ass Rosewood to talk to fake-ass Eddie Lamb at the fake-ass Radley Hotel. Noa, Faran, and Mouse are stuck in some theater kid after school special nonsense. But don't worry, folks, everything is super empowering and totally on fleek. Straight bussin' fr fr no cap.

It's time for the big info dump section where Hiro goggles into his office and learns all about ancient religious history, Sumer, the Deuteronomists, and the origins of language. He has an illuminating chat with Jaunita, who is headed on a dangerous mission to Oregon. Meanwhile, Y.T. meets up with Ng to go on a special mission for the Mafia.

The Sinners throw a High School Rager™ to raise money to save the local rec center—er, pay Imogen's mortgage. Everyone talks to each other like they're in a flame war on Tumblr. It's Halloween. There's lots of costumes, but no Adam Lambert or even Giant Drag making an appearance. I hate this show. Help!

Y.T. meets Uncle Enzo and receives a special assignment from the Mafia. Hiro checks in on Da5id in the hospital and contemplates his place in the dystopian hellworld. And we get our first taste of the Reverend Wayne's Pearly Gates franchise.

This week on the pod, Imogen's been thinking about her mom, and she's got some unkind words for the rotting bitch. Mouse has like five lines. Faran might be the worst. Noa gets chased around and scared into selling her useless mom out. And Tabby has a super-fun sexual assault mystery plot line! We'd rather be watching the show where Caleb and Toby are driving through town on the way to infiltrate some Actual Bad Guys.

This week on the pod, we're discussing Chapters 16-20 of Snow Crash. Y.T. goes to the Vitaly Chernobyl concert that Hiro is promoting, and things take a turn for the ultra-violent, as we finally get a real introduction to Raven: the sovereign nuclear power.

Karen is dead! Or was it secretly Kelly? Who cares? It's not like we'd seen enough of them for it to mean anything. The “Liars” are lying about the one thing it would make sense to tell the truth about, and telling the truth about everything else. The writers don't seem interested in developing characters or creating tension, and the direction is somehow even worse. WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH THE CAMERA???

It's time for the first big info dump of Snow Crash as Hiro learns all about evil megalomaniacal Lord of Bandwidth L. Bob Rife, the hardcore religious fundamentalist who controls the world's telecommunications networks. Also in this section, Y.T. helps a Rat Thing, partners up with Hiro to gather intel, and gives him the tip about Nuclear Fuzz-grunge. Later, at the Vitaly Chernobyl and the Meltdowns concert that Hiro is promoting, he'll meet Lagos the Gargoyle, and get his first meatspace look at Raven.

Something finally happens on the show this week, despite the whole, “We're gonna kill Karen Beasley!” thing being a complete lie. Imogen has feeling about being Sprit Queen like her mom when she also bullied a girl like her mom (but she doesn't know that yet). Mouse is very upset about the killing of some dirty rodent. Faran doesn't have much to do. Tabby makes way too many horror movie references. And Noa blackmails the Sheriff so she can go to the dance. Oh, and “Karen” is “killed” by “A.”

This week on the pod, we journey to the Black Sun in the Metaverse, delve into Hiro's backstory, his history with Jaunita and Da5id, and encounter the titular Snow Crash for the first time. Also, Y.T. makes a daring escape.

After a long slumber, the Bros have awoken and attended the red carpet premiere of Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin, a show featuring no Pretty Little Liars, no originality, and not enough sin. We only watched this once, and this is all from memory, so if we get something wrong, blame Warner Bros for not inviting us to the after party. Also, we're doing a giveaway. Listen for details and a chance to win Pretty Little Liars: The Complete series, on Digital.

Welcome to the pod. We plan on tackling Neal Stephenson's catalog at a leisurely pace. In this episode, we talk about our history with Neal Stephenson books and cover chapters 1-5 of Snow Crash.

This week on the pod, we're doing our commentary track for Pretty Little Liars s01e22 “For Whom the Bell Tolls.” The Liars finally take things into their own hands by trying to blackmail Ian with a burner phone. Aria is upset with Ezra's lies of omission about Jackie Molina. Garrett tries to use his friendship with Emily's family to get her to spill Liar secrets. Hanna is despondent about her Caleb breakup. And Spencer gets in a car crash and fights with Ian in the church belfry.

This week on the pod, we're doing our commentary track for Pretty Little Liars s01e21 “Monsters in the End.” It's Founder's Day or something in Rosewood, which means creepy clowns on stilts and haunted houses for Spencer to be terrorized in. Elsewhere, Aria terrorizes us all with her paper bag selfies and complaints about Ezra's Website Page. Caleb tries to talk to a heartbroken Hanna, but Mona is gatekeeping him away. And Emily finds a new love interest when Paige bails on her.

This week on the pod, we're doing our commentary track for Pretty Little Liars s01e20 “Someone to Watch Over Me.” Spencer doesn't feel safe around Ian and her parents sure don't care. Hanna discover's Caleb's betrayal and slaps the smile off Jenna Thing's face. Aria's parents are fighting again when they discover she's got a boy in her life. And Emily is flummoxed when Paige goes on a date with Sean.

This week on the pod, we're doing our commentary track for Pretty Little Liars s01e19 “A Person of Interest.” Caleb gives Hanna what Sean refused to. Aria cosplays as Ezra's undersexed wife, but he's more focused on the Jenna Thing's semi-autobiographical essay. Paige gets Emily to sing karaoke, and Spencer is the big spoon with Toby on a stakeout.

This week on the pod, we're doing our commentary track for Pretty Little Liars s01e18 “The Badass Seed.” Aria is a terrible stage manager and everyone in the whole school can tell there's something going on between her and Ezra. Hanna gets a peak at Caleb in the shower, and it's weird with him afterward. Emily gets to have scenes with Toby one more time before he's Spencer's forever, and speaking of Spence, she's discovers a new clue and for the first and last time, trusts the police with it.

This week on the pod, we're doing our commentary track for Pretty Little Liars s01e17 “The New Normal.” Hanna is letting the Artful Dodger sleep in her basement, and he comes in handy when he clocks James Leland as a lying goldbricker trying to con her mom vis a vis dead old Mrs. Potter's safety deposit box. Aria is perturbed when her Dad thinks there's something going on between Ezra and Ella. Emily has to deal with Paige's homophobic dad, and then Paige showing her tongue down her throat. And Spencer goes snooping around creepy Jenna Thing's house looking for clues.

This week on the pod, we're doing our commentary track for Pretty Little Liars s01e16 “Je Suis une Amie.” Spencer is newly interested in Sad Boi Toby Cavanaugh. Aria is freaking out because it seems like her mom was at the same museum where she went on a date with Ezra, and is clearly lying about it. Hanna bonds with Rosewood Bad Boy and all around total babe Caleb Rivers by pointing out which of her classmates he can exploit, and how. And Emily is living in the greatest Melissa Etheridge video of all time with Paige.

This week on the pod, we're doing our commentary track for Pretty Little Liars s01e15 “If At First You Don't Succeed, Lie, Lie Again.” Hanna betrays Aria so that A will put out a hit on Mrs. Potter. Emily has a meet-cute moment with Paige where Paige tries to drown her. Ezra goes on a fancy adult date with his child girlfriend Aria. And an old, haunting photo of Ali from That Night reminds Spencer that she kinda did want to murder her friend.