The Incomparable Mothership

Our annual shortlist book club is back! We read two novels that were nominated for Best Novel in the Nebula Awards! SB Divya’s “Machinehood” is a near-future story of gig workers, weak AI servants, and rebellious space stations. Jason Sanford’s “Plague Birds” is a post-apocalyptic story about strong AIs and gene-altered people that’s so far in the future that it feels almost like fantasy. Plus: We recommend other books we’ve enjoyed recently! 2022 Awards Book Club, part 1 Jason Snell with Erika Ensign and Scott McNulty Referenced Works Machinehood [Amazon] [Apple] Plague Birds [Amazon] [Apple] Show Notes & Links What have we been reading? Scott Light Perpetual by Francis Spufford Termination Shock by Neal Stephenson Erika The Steerswoman by Rosemary Kirstein City of Blades by Robert Jackson Bennett Short fiction from Uncanny Magazine: Ina’s Spark by Mary Robinette Kowal and Ribbons by Natalia Theodoridou and The Clockwork Penguin Dreamed of Stars by Caroline Yoachim and Lily, the Immortal by Kylie Lee Baker Jason Winter’s Orbit by Everina Maxwell Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.

Cue the electric bass and the full brass section, we’re talking Bond, James Bond this week. We make time for “No Time to Die,” of course, and the rest of the Daniel Craig era. How does it hold up, where does it go from here, what would we like to see? How does the latest movie reset the table? Were we shaken, stirred, or something in between? "No Time to Die" and the Craig Era of Bond David J. Loehr with Kelly Guimont, Nathan Alderman and Tom McGrath Referenced Works James Bond Show Notes & Links Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.

Old Movie Club returns with two films that imagine attempts to disrupt the United States government. In 1954’s “Suddenly,” Frank Sinatra’s going to try to kill the President. In 1964’s “Seven Days In May,” Burt Lancaster is plotting a military coup. Both films are in black and white from more than 50 years ago, and yet for some reason Phil thinks their themes may resonate even today… Old Movie Club violently overthrows the U.S. government! Jason Snell with Philip Michaels, Shelly Brisbin, Moisés Chiullán and David J. Loehr Referenced Works Suddenly Seven Days in May Show Notes & Links Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.

Fire up your Bernoulli Conversionator and check your trunk for stowaways, because we’re entering the Wachowski sisters’ candy-colored 2008 road rally through the Uncanny Valley, “Speed Racer.” It’s an eye-searing acid trip of a movie, with groundbreaking storytelling, an earnest heart, and a curious void at its center. (There is also a chimp.) We’ll discuss how this film fits into the Wachowskis’ canon, the supporting character whose story is way more interesting than the lead‚ and the only other big-budget film since that has dared to get this stylistically weird. "Speed Racer" (2008) Nathan Alderman with Lisa Schmeiser and Shelly Brisbin Referenced Works Speed Racer Show Notes & Links Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.

We’re back with our third Incomparable Film Festival! Nine of us are programming a day’s worth of films, all with secret themes which will be revealed as the podcast progresses! And while we are currently unable to pull off the Incomparable Film Festival in an actual movie theater, we encourage you to watch these great movies in the comfort of your own home. 2022 Film Festival Draft Jason Snell with Monty Ashley, Moisés Chiullán, Shelly Brisbin, Erika Ensign, David J. Loehr, Cicero Holmes, Steven Schapansky and Dan Moren Show Notes & Links Monty: The Sweet Smell of Success (1957), Ace in the Hole (1951), Tabloid (2010), Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998) (Bad Journalism) Moises: Fashions of 1934 (1934), The Red Shoes (1948), In the Mood for Love (2000), Moulin Rouge (2001) (Changed the visual language) Shelly: Harold and Maude (1971), Edward Scissorhands (1990), Nashville (1975), The Station Agent (2003) (Brooding introverts with a heart) Erika: Top Hat (1935), The Awful Truth (1937), My Favorite Wife (1940), Funny Face (1957) (Pajama day) David: Knives Out (2019), The Last of Sheila (1973), Out of Sight (1998), Ocean’s Eleven (2001) (Intricately plotted) Cicero: The Sandlot (1993), Swingers (1996), This is 40 (2012), Last Vegas (2013) (Diamonds are Forever-phases of life) Steven: Star Wars (1977), 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), Dog Day Afternoon (1975), Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) (Alternate Oscars) Dan: L.A. Confidential (1997), Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998), The Nice Guys (2016), Logan Lucky (2017) (Neo-noir crime) Jason: My Neighbor Totoro (1988), The Iron Giant (1999), Labyrinth (1986), Pan’s Labyrinth (2006) (friendly monsters) Extras Monty: His Girl Friday (also The Front Page and Switching Channels) Moises: Public Domain (all Horror), Nosferatu (1922), House on Haunted Hill (1959), Manos The Hands of Fate (1966), Night of the Living Dead (1968); Public Domain (one horror), short film intro: Popeye the Sailor Man Meets Sindbad The Sailor (1936), His Girl Friday (1940), Carnival of Souls (1962), Charade (1963), Just Imagine (1930); Nicolas Cage plus Paddington 2 Because Why Not, Wild at Heart (1992), The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920), The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (2022), Paddington 2 (2017) Shelly: Fried Green Tomatoes (1991), Christopher Strong (1933), Diary of a Lost Girl (1929), The Color Purple (1985) Erika: Labyrinth, The Neverending Story, Goonies, Willow David: Backups for the theme: Logan Lucky, The Brothers Bloom, The Taking of Pelham 1-2-3, Sleuth (1972), The Sting; Modern Musicals: Encanto, In the Heights, West Side Story (2021), All That Jazz; Political Science: Manchurian Candidate, Good Night, and Good Luck, Fail-Safe, Dr. Strangelove Steven: All the President’s Men (1976), The China Syndrome (1979), The Mosquito Coast (1986), Snatch (2000), Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003), United 93 (2006) Dan: Knives Out (sniped), Zero Effect (ineligible), North by Northwest, Bridge over the River Kwai, The Sting, The Fugitive Jason: Monsters Inc. (2001), ET, Ponyo, Gremlins (1984), Time Loops: Groundhog Day, Source Code, Edge of Tomorrow, Palm Springs, Looper, Primer Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.

We’ve drafted many things on many episodes of this podcast, but we’ve never drafted podcasts! You get it: Panelists share (and draft!) their favorite podcasts, in categories like Comedy, Narrative, Fiction, Entertainment, and more. Podcast draft Lex Friedman with Brian Hamilton, Monty Ashley, Shelly Brisbin and David J. Loehr Show Notes & Links Comedy: * Shelly: ICYMI * Brian: The Flophouse * David: No Such Thing As A Fish * Lex: Judge John Hodgman * Monty: Comedy Bang Bang Narrative: * Shelly: Ear Hustle * Brian: The Dream * David: If I Go Missing: The Witches Did It * Lex: Over My Dead Body * Monty: Cocaine and Rhinestones Fiction: * Shelly: Bronzeville * Brian: Alice Isn’t Dead * David: Give Me Away * Lex: Hello From The Magic Tavern * Monty: Off Book: The Improvised Musical Podcast Entertainment: * Shelly: Gates McFadden Investigates * Brian: The Besties * David: Films To Be Buried With * Lex: Smartless (not Conan, HDTGM, or WTF) * Monty: Blank Check Wildcard: * Shelly: NitrateVille Radio [You Must Remember This, Crimetown, NYT Book Review, Hit Parade] * Brian: My Brother, My Brother, and Me [You’re Wrong About, We Have Concerns] * David: The Memory Palace [99% Invisible, Twenty Thousand Hertz, Infinite Monkey Cage, A Degree Absolute ] * Lex: Threedom [Missing Richard Simmons, The West Wing Weekly, Reply All] * Monty: Bonusnanas for Bonusnanza [Bonanas for Bonanza, Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend, Podcast: The Ride, Good Christian Fun] Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.

Get out your pocket knife and stick to the Wheel—we’re a traveling band of podcasters who move from town to town to re-enact conversations from before the apocalypse! Or at least that’s who we’d be in our version of the HBO Max miniseries, “Station Eleven.” We discuss the moving, optimistic post-apocalyptic tale that is told in a fractured time sequence and features lots of Shakespeare and a suspiciously powerful self-published graphic novel. And though there’s definitely no “Station Twelve” on the horizon, we can’t help but imagine what other stories are there just waiting to never be told. "Station Eleven" (miniseries) Jason Snell with Aleen Simms, Annette Wierstra, Jean MacDonald and John Siracusa Referenced Works Station Eleven Show Notes & Links Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.

Let’s hold hands and sneak through some eerie city ruins. Video game club is back in session to discuss “Little Nightmares II”, the creepy prequel to the beloved spooky platformer, Little Nightmares. We play as Mono, a bag-faced boy, as he and his companion navigate a world of puzzles and monsters lurking in the dark, only to be led to his own nightmare. Little Nightmares 2 Tiff Arment with James Thomson and Brian Hamilton Referenced Works Little Nightmares II Show Notes & Links Recently Played: Little Nightmares Little Nightmares II on Wikipedia Tarsier Studios Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.

This episode features a book with fantasy zombies and a book with alien hive minds. Talk about range! Our Book Club reconvenes to discuss the fantasy mystery “Witness for the Dead,” a standalone book set in the world of “The Goblin Emperor”, and “A Desolation Called Peace,” the conclusion of the duology begun in the award-winning “A Memory Called Empire.” Plus: What are we reading? Book Club: "A Desolation Called Peace" and "Witness for the Dead" Jason Snell with Dan Moren, Glenn Fleishman, Scott McNulty and Erika Ensign Referenced Works Witness for the Dead [Amazon] [Apple] A Desolation Called Peace [Amazon] [Apple] Show Notes & Links What are we reading? Scott: A Practical Guide to Conquering the World - KJ Parker Jade Legacy - Fonda Lee Light From Uncommon Stars - Ryka Aoki Erika: Across the Green Grass Fields - Seanan Maguire City of Stairs - Robert Jackson Bennett Glenn: Palatino: The Natural History of a Typeface - Robert Bringhurst Index, A History of the - Dennis Duncan The Glass Key - Dashiell Hammett Dan The Liar’s Knot (Rook and Rose) - M.A. Carrick Braking Day - Adam Oyebanji The Steerswoman - Rosemary Kirstein Jason: A Master of Djinn - P. Djeli Clark The Last Graduate - Naomi Novik The Shattered Skies - John Birmingham Family Trade / Merchant Princes series - Charles Stross Time codes for skippers: 00:32:35 - Discussion for “A Desolation Called Peace” 00:58:54 - “What Are we Reading?” Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.

Remember that cool bounty hunter from The Empire Strikes Back? What happens when you give him his own show? “The Book of Boba Fett” is the answer—or is it? After all, parts of this show are really episodes of a different, arguably better show. Our panel discusses the seven-episode season and tries to figure out if this mess is hot or cold. "The Book of Boba Fett" Dan Moren with Erika Ensign, Chip Sudderth and Kathy Campbell Referenced Works The Book of Boba Fett Show Notes & Links Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.