Welcome back, Dune fanatics! This week, Ben and Nate tackle the mind-bending first half of Frank Herbert’s Chapterhouse: Dune. With the Bene Gesserit teetering on the edge of annihilation and the Honored Matres breathing down their necks, Chapterhouse is all that stands between the Sisterhood and total extinction. As expected, Herbert spins a web of political intrigue, philosophical quandaries, and ecological puzzles that only he could imagine—or make us question why we’re still trying to unravel them.We’ll dig into the high-stakes drama facing the Bene Gesserit, ponder the curious case of Duncan Idaho (again), and debate what Herbert was really trying to say about the future of humanity—or if he was just messing with us all along. As usual, our analysis comes with a side of sharp wit and a good dose of snark.And, of course, we can’t talk about Dune without addressing the elephant in the room: Brian Herbert. Let’s just say that if literary talent were genetic, Brian might have gotten the recessive genes. Frank Herbert’s legacy casts a long shadow, and Brian’s efforts to carry the torch are, well… let’s just say some things are better left untouched.So gear up for a journey through the weird and wonderful world of Dune. If you’re a fan of the series—or just enjoy watching us dissect a good book—this is an episode you won’t want to miss.Words About Books: Where the spice flows, and our critiques are as brutal as a Bene Gesserit truthsay.This episode's summary was generated by AI: the real enemy all along! Don't trust machines! That's the real message of Dune! There's no hidden meaning! There are no themes! There's nothing but the one obvious message! Robots bad! Crash the system!Support the showDiscord - https://discord.gg/6BaNRtcP8CThreads - https://www.threads.net/@wordsaboutbookspodcastInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/wordsaboutbookspodcastBlog - https://blog.wordsaboutbooks.ninja/Buy the Books - https://bookshop.org/shop/wabpod

In honor of "Back to School" month, we're talking about The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway. Will this book be the one that finally changes the boys' minds on fancy-pants literary fiction? The answer may surprise you. Support the showDiscord - https://discord.gg/6BaNRtcP8CThreads - https://www.threads.net/@wordsaboutbookspodcastInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/wordsaboutbookspodcastBlog - https://blog.wordsaboutbooks.ninja/Buy the Books - https://bookshop.org/shop/wabpod

We conclude our revisit of American Gods by Neil Gaiman. Since the first time I read this book, I've changed. The way I think about Neil Gaiman has certainly changed. The real question is, will my earlier review of the book change? (Yes, it will).Support the showDiscord - https://discord.gg/6BaNRtcP8CThreads - https://www.threads.net/@wordsaboutbookspodcastInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/wordsaboutbookspodcastBlog - https://blog.wordsaboutbooks.ninja/Buy the Books - https://bookshop.org/shop/wabpod

Ben revisits American Gods in the wake of the allegations against Neil Gaiman to see if learning something terrible about one of his favorite authors will change his interpretation of a text he enjoyed so much he bought it twice. Support the showDiscord - https://discord.gg/6BaNRtcP8CThreads - https://www.threads.net/@wordsaboutbookspodcastInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/wordsaboutbookspodcastBlog - https://blog.wordsaboutbooks.ninja/Buy the Books - https://bookshop.org/shop/wabpod

We're back! Ben is wrapping up our discussion of the first book of the Pendragon series. What does Ben think about it? Is it any good? I could tell you, but it's really better if you experience it for yourself.Support the showDiscord - https://discord.gg/6BaNRtcP8CThreads - https://www.threads.net/@wordsaboutbookspodcastInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/wordsaboutbookspodcastBlog - https://blog.wordsaboutbooks.ninja/Buy the Books - https://bookshop.org/shop/wabpod

This episode was ready at midnight but we got engrossed in mummy hunting and, well, whoops. Anyway this week we talk about the other Christmas book, the one Nate got for Ben. It's the first book of the Pendragon series! Does anybody else remember this? I don't think anyone in modern times remembers or cares but it's possible that millennials remember and NOBODY ELSE. Also this accidentally turned into a 2-parter, to the delight of only me.Support the showDiscord - https://discord.gg/6BaNRtcP8CThreads - https://www.threads.net/@wordsaboutbookspodcastInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/wordsaboutbookspodcastBlog - https://blog.wordsaboutbooks.ninja/Buy the Books - https://bookshop.org/shop/wabpod

The final chapter of The Hobbit, in which we learn never to trust the Sackville-Bagginses. This one made me a little emotional guys. Is it normal for a book to make you feel feelings?Support the showDiscord - https://discord.gg/6BaNRtcP8CThreads - https://www.threads.net/@wordsaboutbookspodcastInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/wordsaboutbookspodcastBlog - https://blog.wordsaboutbooks.ninja/Buy the Books - https://bookshop.org/shop/wabpod

Last Christmas Ben gifted Nate The Monogram Murders by Sophie Hannah. Hannah was given the Christie estate's blessing to write new Hercule Poirot mysteries. Will this gift be a thoughtful and heartfelt token of friendship? Or will it be like every other gift Ben has given to Nate?Support the showDiscord - https://discord.gg/6BaNRtcP8CThreads - https://www.threads.net/@wordsaboutbookspodcastInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/wordsaboutbookspodcastBlog - https://blog.wordsaboutbooks.ninja/Buy the Books - https://bookshop.org/shop/wabpod

Why does it hurt so much? Because it was real.Support the showDiscord - https://discord.gg/6BaNRtcP8CThreads - https://www.threads.net/@wordsaboutbookspodcastInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/wordsaboutbookspodcastBlog - https://blog.wordsaboutbooks.ninja/Buy the Books - https://bookshop.org/shop/wabpod

Ben is dying of pneumonia so this week we had to go with a bonus episode from the old patreon vault. I'm not sure if this is something that inspires you to donate money to the patreon but this is what we do over there. We release episodes of books nobody asked for (the books, not the episodes).Support the showDiscord - https://discord.gg/6BaNRtcP8CThreads - https://www.threads.net/@wordsaboutbookspodcastInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/wordsaboutbookspodcastBlog - https://blog.wordsaboutbooks.ninja/Buy the Books - https://bookshop.org/shop/wabpod