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Latest episodes from Recently Read - book reviews from The Incomparable

67: "Witch King" by Martha Wells

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 17, 2023 1:43


Scott read Wells’ latest and thinks you should too! Now we await the eventual Murderbot/Witch King crossover. Scott McNulty.

witches martha wells witch king scott mcnulty
66: "Blood, Sweat, and Pixels" by Jason Schreier

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 10, 2023 3:00


Antony recommends a book that (finally) accurately explains how videogames are made, and the struggles involved. Antony Johnston.

65: "The Cruel Stars" by John Birmingham

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 22, 2022 4:20


Antony reads the first in a rip-roaring space opera series in which humanity is faced with an existential threat, and comes away impressed. Antony Johnston.

64: "The Man on the Street" by Trevor Wood

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 19, 2021 2:57


Antony recommends a crime novel that’s already won multiple awards, and which he considers one of the most accomplished debuts he’s read. Antony Johnston.

63: "Blade Reforged" by Kelly McCullough

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 7, 2021 3:46


Erika continues enjoying her reread of the Fallen Blade series. And Blade Reforged is a good jumping-on point! Erika Ensign.

62: The Nightshades Series by Melissa F. Olson

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 7, 2021 2:54


Sometimes entertaining escapism means three short, bloody books about vampires. Erika Ensign.

olson nightshades erika ensign melissa f olson
61: "Fireheart Tiger" by Aliette de Bodard

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 5, 2021 2:05


A beautifully written, complicated queer romance … plus politics … plus a fire elemental. Erika Ensign.

60: "Tea and Sympathetic Magic" by Tansy Rayner Roberts

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 5, 2021 2:18


Who would want to jockey against a sea of debutantes to win a marriage to a Duke when there’s a library full of books to be read and plenty of good tea to drink? Erika Ensign.

magic sympathetic erika ensign tansy rayner roberts
59: "Brightfall" by Jaime Lee Moyer

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 5, 2021 3:20


A post-myth Robin Hood tale that is at turns sad, dark, frightening, and eventually hopeful. With fae and dragons! Erika Ensign.

58: "The Galaxy, and the Ground Within" by Becky Chambers

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 3, 2021 4:38


It’s a book in which nothing much happens, just a bunch of aliens sitting around waiting for the sky to clear. And yet Becky Chambers works her magic on it, and makes it memorable and moving. What a magic trick. Jason Snell.

57: "Slow Horses" by Mick Herron

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 3, 2021 5:06


In anticipation of the upcoming Apple TV+ show, Antony recommends a spy series quite unlike any other. Antony Johnston.

56: "Broken Blade" by Kelly McCullough

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 5, 2020 3:42


Erika revisits an old favourite and discovers it’s even better the second time! Erika Ensign.

55: "Guns of the Dawn" by Adrian Tchaikovsky

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 5, 2020 2:40


Erika enjoyed a regency-style fantasy novel about war! Who woulda thunk it? Erika Ensign.

54: "Beneath the Rising" by Premee Mohamed

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 27, 2020 2:50


This book is (partially) set in Edmonton, which is exciting for Erika. It’s about monsters and friendship and what monsters can do to friendship. Erika Ensign.

53: "Stasiland" by Anna Funder

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 11, 2020 2:33


A compelling book on a difficult subject, telling the stories of people who lived behind the Berlin Wall and lived in fear of the Stasi.

berlin wall stasi anna funder
52: "Or What You Will" by Jo Walton

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 9, 2020 2:54


Do you like meta-fictional meditations on the nature of storytelling and Italy? Has Scott got the book for you!

jo walton
51: "Plague Land" by S D Sykes

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 23, 2020 2:14


Scott hasn’t left his apartment in 4 months, so he decided to read a book about fictional people who had it even worse.

50: "Interior Chinatown" by Charles Yu

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 18, 2020 1:59


Charles Yu has been working in television for awhile, and it isn’t hard to see that (obvious) influence on this novel.

49: "Working" by Robert Caro

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 30, 2020 2:53


Scott finally finished a book by Robert Caro (no, not that one). Host Scott McNulty.

robert caro scott mcnulty
48: "The City We Became" by N.K. Jemisin

Play Episode Listen Later May 18, 2020 2:33


Need a book to restore your readerly habits? This one worked for Scott! Host Scott McNulty.

nk jemisin scott mcnulty
47: "Famous Men Who Never Lived" by K. Chess

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 27, 2019 9:44


People from an alternate timeline live as refugees in our New York City. It’s full of grief, sadness, frustration, and coincidences. Host Jason Snell.

46: "Underground Airlines" by Ben H. Winters

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 26, 2019 5:17


Nathan reviews Ben H. Winters’s Underground Airlines, a gripping thriller set in an alternate history that feels too close to our own. Host Nathan Alderman.

winters ben h winters underground airlines
45: "Six Stories" by Matt Wesolowski

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 26, 2019 3:24


Antony discusses SIX STORIES by Matt Wesolowski, a book tailor-made for podcast listeners. Host Antony Johnston.

44: "How To Do Nothing" by Jenny Odell

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 25, 2019 2:34


How hard is it to do nothing, anyway? Host Quinn Rose.

jenny odell quinn rose
43: "The Long Lavender Look" by John D. McDonald

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 5, 2019 8:31


Re-reading the Travis McGee adventure novels of the 60’s and 70’s in the twenty-first century. Host John McCoy.

mcdonald lavender john mccoy travis mcgee john d mcdonald
42: "Children of Ruin" by Adrian Tchaikovsky

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 11, 2019 4:26


The sequel to “Children of Time” does the original one better by adding new planets, new species, and maybe even aliens? Host Jason Snell.

41: "Fall; or, Dodge in Hell" by Neal Stephenson

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 8, 2019 7:22


Once again, Neal Stephenson has buried 250 great pages in a 900-page book. Host Jason Snell.

40: "My Book of Genesis" by Richard Macphail

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 1, 2019 4:41


Antony discusses the infamously-not-dead Genesis road manager’s story, finally told in a delightful book. Host Antony Johnston.

39: "His Majesty's Dragon" by Naomi Novik

Play Episode Listen Later May 24, 2019 4:58


Erika needed some dragons. She got them. She also got a war. So, swings and roundabouts. Host Erika Ensign.

38: "Ghosts in the Schoolyard" by Eve Ewing

Play Episode Listen Later May 16, 2019 4:31


"Ghosts in the Schoolyard: Racism and School Closings on Chicago's South Side" - Quinn talks about school closings, civil responsibility, and Eve Ewing’s sociology book “Ghosts in the Schoolyard.” Host Quinn Rose.

37: "Educated" by Tara Westover

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 26, 2019 3:38


One million people have read and recommended Educated, but Quinn is here to be number one million and one. Host Quinn Rose.

36: "Places in the Darkness" by Chris Brookmyre

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 25, 2019 3:00


Antony discusses Chris Brookmyre’s sci-fi murder mystery PLACES IN THE DARKNESS. Host Antony Johnston.

35: "Terminal Alliance" by Jim C. Hines

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 3, 2019 5:26


Do you love post-apocalyptic fiction, but for your soul’s sake you need to keep it light? Has Erika got a book for you! Host Erika Ensign.

34: "Spirits, Spells, and Snark" by Kelly McCullough

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 3, 2019 2:40


The sequel to Magic, Madness, and Mischief delivers more of what Erika loved about the first book. Host Erika Ensign.

33: "Spinning Silver" by Naomi Novik

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 4, 2019 4:17


Like “Uprooted” before it, “Spinning Silver” is a more modern remix of classic fairy tale and fantasy scenarios. Royal weddings! Ice kings! Just don’t mention Rumpelstiltskin. Host Jason Snell.

32: "In The Company of Others" by Julie E. Czerneda

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 10, 2019 3:06


Scott doesn’t remember why he had a copy of this book, but finally got around to reading it and enjoyed it! Host Scott McNulty.

scott mcnulty julie e czerneda
31: "Trail of Lightning" by Rebecca Roanhorse

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 10, 2019 3:23


Quinn got recommended a book by the Chicago Public Library, and now trusts the library completely. Host Quinn Rose.

30: "Magic, Madness, and Mischief" by Kelly McCullough

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 9, 2019 5:13


Erika read this middle-grade fantasy both recently and not-so-recently. Turns out re-reading it is just as delightful as the first time through. Host Erika Ensign.

29: "Hidden Sun" by Jaine Fenn

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 9, 2019 4:46


Erika went in search of a novel worthy to add to her Hugo nomination list — and she found one! Host Erika Ensign.

28: "The Wise Man's Fear" by Patrick Rothfuss

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 11, 2019 5:14


Monty’s a few years late, but he just got to the second book in Patrick Rothfuss’s Kingkiller Chronicles. Host Monty Ashley.

27: "Crimson Frost" by Jim C. Hines

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 19, 2018 2:32


Merry Christmas, readers! For your holiday pleasure, Erika brings you a wacky-yet-dark Christmas mashup. It’s a shortie, so you can read it while your wine is mulling or your chestnuts are roasting. Host Erika Ensign.

26: "Children of Time" by Adrian Tchaikovsky

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 19, 2018 5:30


Arachnophobes, steer clear. Hard sci-fi fans, pull up a chair! Host Erika Ensign.

25: "Salvation" by Peter F. Hamilton

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 12, 2018 3:21


Scott is a fan of Hamilton (no, not that one), but does his latest hold up? Host Scott McNulty.

24: "Love and Romanpunk" by Tansy Rayner Roberts

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 9, 2018 4:37


In which Erika loves “twisted history” and Tansy. Not necessarily in that order. But maybe. Host Erika Ensign.

erika ensign tansy rayner roberts
23: "Embers of War" by Gareth L. Powell

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 9, 2018 4:44


In which a good tweet convinces Erika to read a good book. Host Erika Ensign.

22: "Record of a Spaceborn Few" by Becky Chambers

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 20, 2018 7:05


The third book in Becky Chambers’ “Wayfarers” universe — but there’s no need to read either of the other two before diving into this one. Host Erika Ensign.

21: "Impostor Syndrome" by Mishell Baker

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 2, 2018 5:55


The third book in the “Arcadia Project” series is great, but start with “Borderline” if you haven’t read any of them—and if you’ve read the first two, be sure to bone up before diving in to book three. Host Jason Snell.

20: "The Golden Minute" by John Birmingham

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 10, 2018 4:49


A rollicking time-travel adventure featuring an 1870s lawman and a 21st century game developer, lost in time—and on the run from historical danger as well as deadly time police. It’s fun! Host Jason Snell.

golden jason snell john birmingham
19: The Sam Clair Mysteries by Judith Flanders

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 30, 2018 3:39


Scott read all 4 books in the series over the course of 4 days. You will too. Host Scott McNulty.

mysteries scott mcnulty judith flanders
18: "Banana: The Fate of the Fruit That Changed the World" by Dan Koeppel

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 29, 2018 6:32


I guess you could say that this is a book that has… appeal. Host Jason Snell.

changed the world jason snell dan koeppel banana the fate fruit that changed
17: "The Fictional Man" by Al Ewing

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 14, 2018 5:45


If we made flesh and blood versions of fictional characters, would they be “real” people? Antony enjoys some late-night misanthropic philosophy with Al Ewing’s 2013 novel “The Fictional Man.” Host Antony Johnston.

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