Swords, Sorcery, and Socialism

In the 2nd part of our conversation about Cyberpunk 2077 we are rejoined by Roberto to talk The Soul of Theseus, morality, and sexism in the player community. Spoilers for every possible ending to the game (along with which one makes you a good person). Roberto's Pods: @tsarpowerpod & @History_Georgia patreon.com/swordsandsocialismEmail: SwordsAndSocialismPod@protonmail.com The Show: @SwordsNSocPodAsha: @Herbo_AnarchistKetho: @MusicalPuma69

We have brain worms we need to exorcise, and so we've invited our friend Roberto on to talk about the video game Cyberpunk 2077. Made by CD PROJEKT RED and set in the universe created by Mike Pondsmith, this game is a masterful blend of politics, themes, and storytelling. In part 1 we discuss the political situation of Night City, the implications of all the chrome, and how to write love interests. Sorry for the wait and we hope you love this game as much as we do.Roberto's Pods: @tsarpowerpod & @History_Georgiapatreon.com/swordsandsocialismEmail: SwordsAndSocialismPod@protonmail.com The Show: @SwordsNSocPodAsha: @Herbo_AnarchistKetho: @MusicalPuma69

What if the kid from Hatchet went to the post apocalypse future instead of Canada? That's what we're here to discuss in Gary Paulsen's "The Transall Saga". We talk slavery, YA romance, and the world's fastest language learner. One of Asha's favorite childhood books!patreon.com/swordsandsocialismEmail: SwordsAndSocialismPod@protonmail.com The Show: @SwordsNSocPodAsha: @Herbo_AnarchistKetho: @MusicalPuma69

*CONTENT WARNING* What happens when you take a YA novel and throw in a healthy dose or horrendous war crimes? The Poppy War by R. F. Kuang! We talk with our guest Shawn about fiction depicting barely disguised real history and the morality of retributive violence.Follow Shawn on twitter @theavatarshawnpatreon.com/swordsandsocialismEmail: SwordsAndSocialismPod@protonmail.com The Show: @SwordsNSocPodAsha: @Herbo_AnarchistKetho: @MusicalPuma69

 Aliens, math, and the utter failure of the Cultural Revolution are the main points of discussion in this episode about The Three Body Problem by Liu Cixin. Liberal reforms and the fate of humanity are intertwined in a way that made Asha say, "I don't give a shit about computers, where the fuck are the aliens?" patreon.com/swordsandsocialismEmail: SwordsAndSocialismPod@protonmail.com The Show: @SwordsNSocPodAsha: @Herbo_AnarchistKetho: @MusicalPuma69

It's been 2 years since we started the pod, so we wanted to take a quick look back at what we've learned, and talk about what's coming up in the future. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who listens and has stuck with us. You're the best.patreon.com/swordsandsocialismEmail: SwordsAndSocialismPod@protonmail.com The Show: @SwordsNSocPodAsha: @Herbo_AnarchistKetho: @MusicalPuma69

It's a very special episode for our 2 year anniversary. We sat down with Dr. Sara Brown, Chair of Language and Literature at Signum University, to talk about her upcoming book: Race, Gender, and The Other in Tolkien. Sara leads us through a wonderful discussion about Orcs, Eowyn, Shelob, and how queer Lord of the Rings can really be. Thank you all for 2 years of listening!You can find Dr Brown on twitter @AranelParmadil or on her website https://sarabrown.academia.edu/patreon.com/swordsandsocialismEmail: SwordsAndSocialismPod@protonmail.com The Show: @SwordsNSocPodAsha: @Herbo_AnarchistKetho: @MusicalPuma69

This week we cover a classic of the scifi genre: Harlan EllIson's seminal short story, "I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream". Horror, humanism, and the final triumph of the human spirit are blended together in a precursor to much of the modern scifi movement. patreon.com/swordsandsocialismEmail: SwordsAndSocialismPod@protonmail.com The Show: @SwordsNSocPodAsha: @Herbo_AnarchistKetho: @MusicalPuma69

This is the end! Of Narnia anyway. Asha and Ketho are rejoined by Trevor and Alex to discuss Revelations for children. A false prophet, a gay unicorn, and quite a bit of confusing Christian theology join together for the end of C. S. Lewis' "The Chronicles of Narnia". It's all been building to this.Alex: @humvadevSapphic Sweets & Reads: https://shop.sweetreadsict.com/Trevor: @HistoryofPersiaHistory of Persia: https://historyofpersiapodcast.com/patreon.com/swordsandsocialismEmail: SwordsAndSocialismPod@protonmail.com The Show: @SwordsNSocPodAsha: @Herbo_AnarchistKetho: @MusicalPuma69

It's time for Genesis! Ketho and Asha are joined by Trevor from The History of Persia to talk about the 6th book in the Narnia series, "The Magician's Nephew", in which Alastair Crowley tricks children into multiverse travel, Jadis tries to girl-boss London, and we discuss the academic obsession with Atlantis. Also Jesus gets bonked on the head with a pipe.Please check out Trevor's podcast @HistoryofPersiapatreon.com/swordsandsocialismEmail: SwordsAndSocialismPod@protonmail.com The Show: @SwordsNSocPodAsha: @Herbo_AnarchistKetho: @MusicalPuma69

Part 2 of our 4 part series on C. S. Lewis' The Chronicles of Narnia. Ketho and Asha discuss The Silver Chair and The Horse And His Boy. We have a reversal of favorite and least favorite books in the series, Jadis 2.0, and a plot so well done it probably belongs in a different series.patreon.com/swordsandsocialismEmail: SwordsAndSocialismPod@protonmail.com The Show: @SwordsNSocPodAsha: @Herbo_AnarchistKetho: @MusicalPuma69

We begin our 4 part series covering the entire Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis. Covered here are The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, Prince Caspian, and The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. We welcome Alex to the podcast to discuss Lewis' particular brand of Christianity, his incorporation of ancient Greece,  and why its very very important that you understand that Aslan IS Jesus.Follow Alex on twitter @humvadev, or shop her book store Sapphic Sweets & Reads at https://shop.sweetreadsict.compatreon.com/swordsandsocialismEmail: SwordsAndSocialismPod@protonmail.com The Show: @SwordsNSocPodAsha: @Herbo_AnarchistKetho: @MusicalPuma69

It's a crossover spectacular! A little while back Asha and Ketho went on the Tsar Power Podcast to discuss the first dystopian novel about a totalitarian state: "We" by Yevgeny Zamyatin, published in 1924. Mass surveilance, depersonalization, and why Productionism is terrible. Check out Roberto and Brendan's podcast where they're ranking  every ruler of Russia @tsarpowerpodpatreon.com/swordsandsocialismEmail: SwordsAndSocialismPod@protonmail.com The Show: @SwordsNSocPodAsha: @Herbo_AnarchistKetho: @MusicalPuma69

It's the Asha episode. She goes into detail about what hope is in the works of Tolkien, reads some selected quotes, then gives a talk about how this has shaped her views on radicalism, trans rights, and how to fight for a better future. This one came from the heart folks, we hope you enjoy it.patreon.com/swordsandsocialismEmail: SwordsAndSocialismPod@protonmail.com The Show: @SwordsNSocPodAsha: @Herbo_AnarchistKetho: @MusicalPuma69

Imagine a world where the climate crisis gets so bad that the US brings back company towns and slavery. A far stretch, but Octavia Butler has already done the hard work for us in her seminal novel, Parable of the Sower. Ketho and Asha talk about change, community, and the most realistic apocalypse ever encountered.patreon.com/swordsandsocialismEmail: SwordsAndSocialismPod@protonmail.com The Show: @SwordsNSocPodAsha: @Herbo_AnarchistKetho: @MusicalPuma69

In honor of all the awards and hype around this movie right now, we decided to unlock this bonus episode from last summer! Existential nihilism, dadaist art, and how the internet has broken everyone's minds. It's genuinely one of our best.patreon.com/swordsandsocialismEmail: SwordsAndSocialismPod@protonmail.com The Show: @SwordsNSocPodAsha: @Herbo_AnarchistKetho: @StupidPuma69 patreon.com/swordsandsocialismEmail: SwordsAndSocialismPod@protonmail.com The Show: @SwordsNSocPodAsha: @Herbo_AnarchistKetho: @MusicalPuma69

It's our first Novella! Better late than never, we're back with Binti by Nnedi Okorafor. We talk culture, home, and the value of diversity. This book was a happy little break between what came before, and what comes next. Enjoy!patreon.com/swordsandsocialismEmail: SwordsAndSocialismPod@protonmail.com The Show: @SwordsNSocPodAsha: @Herbo_AnarchistKetho: @StupidPuma69 patreon.com/swordsandsocialismEmail: SwordsAndSocialismPod@protonmail.com The Show: @SwordsNSocPodAsha: @Herbo_AnarchistKetho: @MusicalPuma69

We begin Black History Month with an absolute chest punch of a book: The Fifth Season by N. K. Jemisin.  This is a story with a powerful exploration of race, slavery, and representation. Read it. Please. Read it then come listen to our conversation about how cultural myths affect real world acceptance and how cool it is to be a bisexual polyamorous pirate king.patreon.com/swordsandsocialismEmail: SwordsAndSocialismPod@protonmail.com The Show: @SwordsNSocPodAsha: @Herbo_AnarchistKetho: @StupidPuma69 patreon.com/swordsandsocialismEmail: SwordsAndSocialismPod@protonmail.com The Show: @SwordsNSocPodAsha: @Herbo_AnarchistKetho: @MusicalPuma69

We have reached the end of Cyberpunk month and alas, the end of good cyberpunk books as well. We finished up by talking about Snow Crash, by Neal Stephenson. History, religion, psychology, and technology are all brought together in the story of Hiro Protagonist. It's...something.patreon.com/swordsandsocialismEmail: SwordsAndSocialismPod@protonmail.com The Show: @SwordsNSocPodAsha: @Herbo_AnarchistKetho: @StupidPuma69  patreon.com/swordsandsocialismEmail: SwordsAndSocialismPod@protonmail.com The Show: @SwordsNSocPodAsha: @Herbo_AnarchistKetho: @MusicalPuma69

Cyberpunk Month continues with a story about what happens if you Ship of Theseus yourself. Ghost in the Shell is an all time classic of the genre, and much funnier than you expect.patreon.com/swordsandsocialismEmail: SwordsAndSocialismPod@protonmail.com The Show: @SwordsNSocPodAsha: @Herbo_AnarchistKetho: @StupidPuma69 patreon.com/swordsandsocialismEmail: SwordsAndSocialismPod@protonmail.com The Show: @SwordsNSocPodAsha: @Herbo_AnarchistKetho: @MusicalPuma69