Part 2 of Luke and Juliane’s discussion of The Lord of the Rings, focusing on The Two Towers, the power of wizards, action vs fights vs battles vs sieges, a diversion on Ents, and who is tempted by the One Ring. See every book/episode of the SFBRP here: https://www.sfbrp.com/episode-lists-3 See the SFBRP Must-Read List here: https://www.sfbrp.com/m…

Part 1 of Luke and Juliane’s discussion of The Lord of the Rings, focusing on the audiobook performance by Andy Serkis, appreciation for the first movie in the trilogy, how Tom Bombadil can be so annoying, and Luke takes a stab at the question “what even are elves?” See every book/episode of the SFBRP here: https://www.sfbrp.com/episode-lists-3 See…

Luke delves into The Silmarillion for the first time, and talks to Juliane about myth creation, map confusion, and the genealogy of a silver tree. See every book/episode of the SFBRP here: https://www.sfbrp.com/episode-lists-3 See the SFBRP Must-Read List here: https://www.sfbrp.com/must-read Support Luke and Juliane financially via Patreon.com/luk…

Juliane finished Alien Clay by Adrian Tchaikovsky and so Luke joins her to discuss academic politics, totalitarian politics, aliens, and clay. See every book/episode of the SFBRP here: https://www.sfbrp.com/episode-lists-3 See the SFBRP Must-Read List here: https://www.sfbrp.com/must-read Support Luke and Juliane financially via Patreon.com/lukebur…

Luke revisits Terminal World by Alastair Reynolds, and tells Juliane about the four different levels of understanding available to discover and enjoyment to be had. See every book/episode of the SFBRP here: https://www.sfbrp.com/episode-lists-3 See the SFBRP Must-Read List here: https://www.sfbrp.com/must-read Support Luke and Juliane financially v…

Luke talks to Juliane about Neverness by David Zindell, an epic space opera from 1988 which for years he considered one of his favourite science fiction novels, and debates adding it to the SFBRP Must Read List. See every book/episode of the SFBRP here: https://www.sfbrp.com/episode-lists-3 See the SFBRP Must-Read List here: https://www.sfbrp.com/m…

Luke and Juliane share their thoughts on Earth Abides by George R Stewart, an influential post-apocalyptic novel from 1949. See every book/episode of the SFBRP here: https://www.sfbrp.com/episode-lists-3 See the SFBRP Must-Read List here: https://www.sfbrp.com/must-read Support Luke and Juliane financially via Patreon.com/lukeburrage Luke on Bluesk…

Luke tells Juliane why Those Beyond the Wall by Micaiah Johnson ended up on his did-not-finish list, and why it was such a disappointment after The Space Between Worlds. See every book/episode of the SFBRP here: https://www.sfbrp.com/episode-lists-3 See the SFBRP Must-Read List here: https://www.sfbrp.com/must-read Support Luke and Juliane financia…

Luke and Juliane discuss the second instalment in what they now realise is a Dune movie trilogy, Dune: Part 2 (2024). To keep the full story fresh in their minds, Luke re-read the novel and they both rewatched Dune: Part 1. See every book/episode of the SFBRP here: https://www.sfbrp.com/episode-lists-3 See the SFBRP Must-Read List here: https://www…

Luke re-read the multi-award-winning Gateway by Frederik Pohl. Juliane joins him to discuss why 1970’s science fiction can be very clever but still misses the mark for current readers. See every book/episode of the SFBRP here: https://www.sfbrp.com/episode-lists-3 See the SFBRP Must-Read List here: https://www.sfbrp.com/must-read Support Luke and J…

After diversions on buying and reading the hardcover version of the book, Luke and Juliane talk about Heavy Time by C J Cherryh, the first Company Wars novel by internal chronology. See every book/episode of the SFBRP here: https://www.sfbrp.com/episode-lists-3 See the SFBRP Must-Read List here: https://www.sfbrp.com/must-read Support Luke and Juli…

Luke reviews a new (to him) translation of Roadside Picnic by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky and discusses with Juliane if it should make it onto the SFBRP Must-Read List. See every book/episode of the SFBRP here: https://www.sfbrp.com/episode-lists-3 See the SFBRP Must-Read List here: https://www.sfbrp.com/must-read Support Luke and Juliane financial…

Luke revisits Starship Troopers by Robert A Heinlein and shares his thoughts on the political ideas it contains with Juliane. See every book/episode of the SFBRP here: https://www.sfbrp.com/episode-lists-3 See the SFBRP Must-Read List here: https://www.sfbrp.com/must-read Support Luke and Juliane financially via Patreon.com/lukeburrage Luke on Mast…

Juliane read The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell for the first time, and Luke for the second time, and they talk through how the book impacted their emotions. See every book/episode of the SFBRP here: https://www.sfbrp.com/episode-lists-3 See the SFBRP Must-Read List here: https://www.sfbrp.com/must-read Support Luke and Juliane financially via Patre…

Luke re-reads The Forever War by Joe Haldeman to see if it could make it onto the SFBRP Must-Read List, but discovers there are more versions of the novel than he knew, and he read a version that didn’t win the Hugo or Nebula awards. Luke on Mastodon: @[email protected] Juliane on Mastodon: @[email protected] Support Luke […]…

Where is the best place to start for new readers of science fiction? Which books are the best examples of science fiction available to read today? Which old books stand the test of time, and which new books will we still be thinking about in decades to come? For episode #550 of the SFBRP, Luke […]By Luke Burrage

Luke re-reads The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K LeGuin to see if it is worthy of inclusion on the SFBRP Must-Reads Science Fiction Novels list. Luke on Mastodon: @[email protected] Juliane on Mastodon: @[email protected] Support Luke and Juliane financially via Patreon.com/lukeburrage Discuss this book at Goodreads.com Luke writes h…

Luke tells Juliane about a minor Ursula K LeGuin novel he read weeks ago: The Eye of the Heron. Luke on Mastodon: @[email protected] Juliane on Mastodon: @[email protected] Support Luke and Juliane financially via Patreon.com/lukeburrage Discuss this book at Goodreads.com Luke writes his own novels, like “Minding Tomorrow”, “Combat”, “G…

Luke dips into the first book in the Uplift Saga to see if Sundiver by David Brin is worthy of a place among the greats. Spoilers: it isn’t. Luke on Mastodon: @[email protected] Juliane on Mastodon: @[email protected] Support Luke and Juliane financially via Patreon.com/lukeburrage Discuss this book at Goodreads.com Luke writes his own …

Luke enjoyed the literary dick-swinging in Service Model by Adrian Tchaikovsky, but tells Juliane how the novel ends up less than the sum of its five parts. Luke on Mastodon: @[email protected] Juliane on Mastodon: @[email protected] Support Luke and Juliane financially via Patreon.com/lukeburrage Discuss this book at Goodreads.com Luke…

Luke and Juliane discuss why Chasm City by Alastair Reynolds might make it onto a future SFBRP Masterworks List, plus a spoiler section to go deeper into an important plot device. Luke on Mastodon: @[email protected] Juliane on Mastodon: @[email protected] Support Luke and Juliane financially via Patreon.com/lukeburrage Discuss this boo…

It’s wizards versus lesbians in Ink Blood Sister Scribe by Emma Törzs, but Luke is ultimately disappointed in a book that kept promising more than it ever delivered. Luke on Mastodon: @[email protected] Juliane on Mastodon: @[email protected] Support Luke and Juliane financially via Patreon.com/lukeburrage Discuss this book at Goodreads…

Luke and Juliane review Rogue Moon by Algis Budrys, an old SF Masterwork that’s very dated and not very good. Luke on Mastodon: @[email protected] Juliane on Mastodon: @[email protected] Support Luke and Juliane financially via Patreon.com/lukeburrage Discuss this book at Goodreads.com Luke writes his own novels, like “Minding Tomorrow”…

While Luke waits for Juliane to finish Chasm City by Alastair Reynolds, he checks out the duo of novellas collected in Diamond Dogs, Turquoise Days. Luke on Mastodon: @[email protected] Juliane on Mastodon: @[email protected] Support Luke and Juliane financially via Patreon.com/lukeburrage Discuss this book at Goodreads.com Luke writes …

Luke read three novellas by Adrian Tchaikovsky, catches up with Juliane and explains why they are all about 3.75 on the enjoyment scale. They are: Walking to Aldebaran, The Expert System’s Brother, and The Expert System’s Champion. Luke on Mastodon: @[email protected] Juliane on Mastodon: @[email protected] Support Luke and Juliane fina…

Luke and Juliane review Amatka by Karin Tidbeck, then discuss the five star concepts and themes trapped within this two star novel. Luke on Mastodon: @[email protected] Juliane on Mastodon: @[email protected] Support Luke and Juliane financially via Patreon.com/lukeburrage Discuss this book at Goodreads.com Luke writes his own novels, l…

I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman (with The Child as the main character) is the post-apocalyptic-novel-featuring-a-protagonist-without-a-proper-name that Luke has been waiting for, following the double-disappointment of The Road (featuring The Man and The Boy) and The Bear (featuring The Man and The Girl). Luke on Mastodon: @lukeburr…

Luke finally finished Moby-Dick by Herman Melville and wants to talk to Juliane about how it’s the best written worst novel. Luke on Mastodon: @[email protected] Juliane on Mastodon: @[email protected] Support Luke and Juliane financially via Patreon.com/lukeburrage Discuss this book at Goodreads.com Luke writes his own novels, like “Mi…

On the episode following The Road, Luke talks to Juliane about The Bear by Andrew Krivak, and how it’s playing off the themes and story of Cormac McCarthy’s novel. Luke on Mastodon: @[email protected] Juliane on Mastodon: @[email protected] Support Luke and Juliane financially via Patreon.com/lukeburrage Discuss this book at Goodreads.c…

Luke was left bored and disappointed by The Road by Cormac McCarthy. He tells Juliane why he stopped reading half way through, and it wasn’t because he was depressed with the contents, but instead depressed by how bad it was written. Luke on Mastodon: @[email protected] Juliane on Mastodon: @[email protected] Support Luke and Juliane fi…

Luke talks to Juliane about Scum of the Earth, the new Audible Original by Alexander C Kane about alien invasion collaborators. Luke on Mastodon: @[email protected] Juliane on Mastodon: @[email protected] Support Luke and Juliane financially via Patreon.com/lukeburrage Discuss this book at Goodreads.com Luke writes his own novels, like …

Luke and Juliane review Machine Vendetta by Alastair Reynolds, a book they mostly enjoyed, but spend the whole podcast trying to work out why there weren’t fully satisfied. Luke on Mastodon: @[email protected] Juliane on Mastodon: @[email protected] Support Luke and Juliane financially via Patreon.com/lukeburrage Discuss this book at Go…

Luke reviews Artifact by Joshua James, but actually he wants to have an in-depth discussion with Juliane about Audible’s new Virtual Voice Narration technology, what it sounds like now, and what it means for the future of audiobook production and listening. Luke on Mastodon: @[email protected] Juliane on Mastodon: @[email protected] Sup…

Luke tells Juliane about Rocannon’s World, which was Ursula K LeGuin’s first novel, and the first book in the Hainish Cycle. Luke on Mastodon: @[email protected] Juliane on Mastodon: @[email protected] Support Luke and Juliane financially via Patreon.com/lukeburrage Discuss this book at Goodreads.com Luke writes his own novels, like “Mi…

Is it “genre-defying” or does M R Carey just change gears every time he runs out of steam? Luke talks to Juliane about Infinity Gate, a novel without an ending in a series of, so far, a single book. Luke on Mastodon: @[email protected] Juliane on Mastodon: @[email protected] Support Luke and Juliane financially via Patreon.com/lukeburra…

Luke talks to Juliane about Julia by Sandra Newman, an authorised retelling of George Orwell’s 1984. Luke on Mastodon: @[email protected] Juliane on Mastodon: @[email protected] Support Luke and Juliane financially via Patreon.com/lukeburrage Discuss this book at Goodreads.com Luke writes his own novels, like “Minding Tomorrow”, “Combat…

Juliane and Luke talk about System Collapse, a book that’s so badly written that (apart from not knowing what is going on (or who is who) and being annoyed by nested parenthesis) they are worried Martha Wells is giving introverts a bad role model in Murderbot. Luke on Mastodon: @[email protected] Juliane on Mastodon: @[email protected] …

Luke and Juliane review Venomous Lumpsucker by Ned Beauman and discuss whether turning business externalities into financial instruments is a good idea or not. Probably not? Luke on Mastodon: @[email protected] Juliane on Mastodon: @[email protected] Support Luke and Juliane financially via Patreon.com/lukeburrage Discuss this book at G…

Luke and Juliane didn’t want a trilogy, but got one anyway. They review Lords of Uncreation, the final book of the Final Architecture trilogy by Adrian Tchaikovsky. Luke on Mastodon: @[email protected] Juliane on Mastodon: @[email protected] Support Luke and Juliane financially via Patreon.com/lukeburrage Discuss this book at Goodreads.…

Luke talks to Juliane about Babel by R F Kuang, a historical novel about language which seems to have very little concern about the history of the language contained within it. Luke on Mastodon: @[email protected] Juliane on Mastodon: @[email protected] Support Luke and Juliane financially via Patreon.com/lukeburrage Discuss this book a…

Very few novels stand the test of time! Luke isn’t sure why he thought Greg Bear writing in the 80’s would hold up as well as Ursula K LeGuin writing in the 70’s. Luke on Mastodon: @[email protected] Juliane on Mastodon: @[email protected] Support Luke and Juliane financially via Patreon.com/lukeburrage Discuss this book at Goodreads.co…

Luke talks to Juliane about his favourite moments in Ursula K LeGuin’s short story collection: The Unreal and the Real volumes 1 and 2. Luke on Mastodon: @[email protected] Juliane on Mastodon: @[email protected] Support Luke and Juliane financially via Patreon.com/lukeburrage Discuss this book at Goodreads.com Luke writes his own novel…

Luke and Juliane discuss The This by Adam Roberts, a novel of disparate good parts that didn’t work together as well as Luke hoped. The review Luke mentions in the podcast: “Review: The This by Adam Roberts” by Carl M. Johnson. Luke on Mastodon: @[email protected] Juliane on Mastodon: @[email protected] Support Luke and Juliane financia…

Luke and Juliane ask “Is more of the same enough?” as they review Eyes of the Void, the second book in the Final Architecture trilogy by Adrian Tchaikovsky. Luke on Mastodon: @[email protected] Juliane on Mastodon: @[email protected] Support Luke and Juliane financially via Patreon.com/lukeburrage Discuss this book at Goodreads.com Luke…

Luke and Juliane discuss The Naked God, the Night’s Dawn trilogy, and Peter F Hamilton’s writing about religion in science fiction. They also talk about Peter F Hamilton as an antidote to the weighty domination of American science fiction awards novels over current reading habits and recommendation lists (Tor Wave? Squeecore?). Luke on Mastodon: @l…

Luke listened to roughly 30 episodes of the SFBRP in the last month. What did he learn about science fiction reading, novel writing, Goodreads ratings, objectionable content, and much more besides? Luke on Mastodon: @[email protected] Juliane on Mastodon: @[email protected] Support Luke and Juliane financially via Patreon.com/lukeburrag…

Luke tells Juliane about The Spear Cuts Through Water, a fantasy novel where Simon Jimenez continues to explore expectations of tropes and how to frustrate them… satisfyingly? Luke on Mastodon: @[email protected] Juliane on Mastodon: @[email protected] Support Luke and Juliane financially via Patreon.com/lukeburrage Discuss this book at…

Luke and Juliane start a new space opera adventure trilogy with Adrian Tchaikovsky’s Shards of Earth and they get exactly what they expected. Luke on Mastodon: @[email protected] Juliane on Mastodon: @[email protected] Support Luke and Juliane financially via Patreon.com/lukeburrage Discuss this book at Goodreads.com Luke writes his own…

Luke and Juliane wrap up K J Parker’s Siege trilogy with a quick discussion of A Practical Guide to Conquering the World. Luke on Mastodon: @[email protected] Juliane on Mastodon: @[email protected] Support Luke and Juliane financially via Patreon.com/lukeburrage Discuss this book at Goodreads.com Luke writes his own novels, like “Mindi…

This book is garbage and Luke asked for his Audible credit back 30% in. Juliane finished it but has major regrets. We’re not sure how anyone gave Ray Naylor’s The Mountain in the Sea a full five stars. Luke on Mastodon: @[email protected] Juliane on Mastodon: @[email protected] Support Luke and Juliane financially via Patreon.com/lukebu…