The Socialist Shelf

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!) hereYou can also follow him on Instagram and Bluesky @getradifiedMusic by SoloMonk, episode art is the spirits of Lenore and Jacob joining Mark Fisher himself in capital integration.

It's time for an organizer spotlight! We can't just read good books, we've got to organize ourselves.To capitalize on that theme we brought on a couple of organizers from Behind Enemy Lines to talk about their work and outlook on this current political moment.Behind Enemy Lines is an unapologetically anti-imperialist organization working to create practical mass resistance against the war machine.You can follow Behind Enemy Lines on Instagram here.You can read Behind Enemy Lines' mission statement here.We hope you enjoy this interview and take time to consider the perspectives our guests bring to the discussion. Let us know what other organizations we should bring on the show for future organizer spotlights!

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.socialFollow 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.