A Czech sci-fi classic from 1920 that is the origin of the word "robot". This episode has been a long time coming and I am very happy that it worked out to have Rudolf Rosa a researcher in computational linguistics as a guest. Rudolf is is also behind project "Robot writes a play" that was a special occasion to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the book R.U.R by using machine learning and large language models to write a theater play. This time about people by a robots. Join us on this episode to discuss the story of Rossum's Universal Robots, what really is the difference between people and robots and what does it mean to have a soul. Notes:00:00 Intro16:25 Karel Capek24:48 Spoilers and plot01:02:40 Inevitable AI / language model discussion#karel #capek #robot #rur #artificial #inteligence #ai #large #language #model #rudolf #rosa #gpt
One of the most popular writers in Asia, one of the most beloved detective mysteries in Japan. Can it live up to it's praise? Paul and I finally read Paul's wife's favorite book to find out. Notes:00:00 Intro06:53 This is so Japanese08:16 Mystery is an obsession in Japan11:04 Why don't we read more detective stories?19:28 Spoilers and Plot#devotion #suspect #x #keigo #higashino #crime #mystery #detective #galileo #japan
On this episode we look at the whole series and consider it as a whole. To follow our tradition with book series we put together some lists: - All 6 books from worst to best- Top 5 best and worst things about the Dune series- Top 5 biggest nonsensical things in the series- Top 3 Quotes- Top 5 tips how to pick up women by Duncan Idaho 00:00 Intro 03:13 Is this the best book series? 07:04 All 6 Books from worst to best 17:39 Top 5 Best 34:56 Tob 5 Worst 43:33 Top 5 Random Nonsense! 51:30 Top 5 Tips How to Pick up Women by Duncan Idaho 57:58 Top 3 Quotes #frank #herbert #dune #series #hexalogy #top #best #worst #list #duncan #idaho
It's time for a catch up episode which means more guests and more books. Martin joined us to discuss the Dresden files and the first book in the series Strom Front by Jim Butcher who looks like a fashionable buff wizard. Kristyna told us about the Vlad Taltos series and the first book in the series Jhereg by Steven Brust. Finally, I tried to one up myself and read something out of the ordinary again - GoatMan: How I Took a Holiday from Being Human by Thomas Thwaites. Notes:0:00 Intro12:00 Dresden Files - Strom Front39:21 Vlad Taltos - Jhereg1:12:06 GoatMan#dresden #files #vlad #taltos #jhereg #goat #man #goatman #jim #butcher #steven #brust #thomas #thwaites
We have made it to the final book in the Dune series written by Frank Herbert, Chapterhouse Dune. Is it a satisfying conclusion to the series? Join me and Paolo on this episode 0:00 Intro 18:30 Quotes and ideas 32:00 Spoilers #Frank #Herbert #Chapterhouse #dune
67 - Heretics of Dune by Frank Herbert Book 5 of the Dune series really horny, bonkers in parts but still very enjoyable and thought provoking. If you are still here with us and have survived the worm god, let's dive into Heretics of Dune! 00:00 Intro 15:04 Spoilers #frank #herbert #heretics #dune
The best book of the dune series, there I said it. I have been waiting for a long time to talk about this one on the podcast. This has to be one of the weirdest pieces of media out there that somehow still manages to completely make sense. Join me and Paolo to discuss one of the most infamously strange, thought-provoking, comedically hilarious, gory and overly sexual books I have ever read. Notes:00:00 Intro16:53 Spoilers #frank #herbert #dune #god #emperor #insane #funny #duncan #idaho #fish #speakers
The third book in the classic dune series. Paolo and Kristyna joined me to discuss all the planets we have visited so far as well as all the plot details as usual. Notes:00:00 Intro26:44 Spoilers #children #of #dune #frank #herbert
One of the best follow-ups to a great story. We love Dune not because of the first book but because of the series as a whole. Dune messiah has Paolo's favorite ending from any book he read and the best villain I had ever read about in a book. So to counter balance our fanboying over Dune I invited Kristyna to join the discussion. Notes:00:00 Intro20:49 Spoilers and plot #dune #messiah #frank #herbert
The first time we talked about this book was on episode 24. A dreaded memory from a long time ago came back and I couldn't make myself read more than just a few stories from this book. It became one of our most popular episode and people have held it against me that I haven't read the whole thing. So this time I pushed through, got very sick multiple times and managed to read everything. Paul joined me and we covered not only the main story lone about Mr. Wittier but also all 23 short stories in the book. What a vile disgusting mess this book is omg! I am happy to say that I have done it and hopefully we will never talk about this ever again! EXPLICIT CONTECT WARNING: If you don't like touchy subjects, gore, swearing or can be offended easily please don't listen to this episode. Notes:00:00 Intro11:38 Update on chuck Palahniuk23:25 Spoilers and Plot #chuck #palahniuk #haunted #disgusting
The Mister B. of the title is Jakabob Botch, a demon whose will be released if you finish this book, so don't you dare read this! A book by Clive Barker that I was always curious about it. After all there aren't many books that claim they contain an actual demon in them.Notes:00:00 Intro31:52 Spoilers and plot #mister #b #gone #clive #barker #demon #horror #meta
A beloved Czech comedy classis from 1942. On this episode we discuss the famous ingenious butler Saturnin and all the shenanigans he gets into. Notes:00:00 Intro12:23 Zdenek Jirotka27:38 Spoilers and plot#saturnin #zdenek #jirotka #czech #comedy #classic
We have finally found time to read one of the most famous sci-fi classics. Join me and Adam to discuss the details, find about if you can argue and effectively reason with an AI and what the meaning of Christmas actually is. Notes:00:00 Intro18:00 Spoilers36:45 can you argue with an AI59:03 Czech Christmas explained #2001 #space #odyssey #arthur #clarke
Dášeňka is a naughty dog and bringing her up is not an easy task. Join us for a short wholesome holiday episode where we look at one of the most famous Czech children's books by Karel Čapek. #dasenka #naughty #bad #dog #karel #capek
One of the most creative crime mystery code ridden multi layered mind duck I have ever read. Kristyna definitely has a way to find unusual books. Join us on this episode to find out more about The Twyford Code by Janice Hallett. A mystery crime thriller that came out in 2022. Notes:00:00 Intro13:31 Janice Hallett25:10 Spoilers and plot #Twyford #Code #Janice #Hallett #mystery #crime #detective #story
A sci-fi post-apocalyptic classic 1951, the predecessor of all the zombie survival stories that are so common nowadays. Adam and Paul joined me to re-read it, talk about the movie and TV adaptations and find out whether it's still as good as we remember it. Notes: 00:00 Intro 16:02 John Wyndham 25:07 Spoilers #day #triffids #john #wyndham #post #apocalypse #scifi #classic
We got a new guest on the podcast, John who lives where the beginning of the cyberpunk classic by William Gibson, Neuromancer, takes place. Let's find out if reading Neuromancer is worth it today. Notes: 00:00 Intro14:00 William Gibson29:24 Spoilers #neuromancer #william #gibson #cyberpunk
Happy Halloween! On the last part of our month of Mind Suck Spooks, we discuss two books and two iconic monsters. At first we jump more than 110 yeas back in time to look at The Wendigo by Algernon Blackwood. A spooky tale and one of the first ever mentions of a Wendigo in literature released in 1910. After that we discuss The Flatwoods Monster, an alien than supposedly landed in West Virginia in the 1950s and then somehow mysteriously made it's way to modern Japan and became a mascot. Join us for this Halloween special double feature! Notes: 00:00 Intro 03:03 The Wendigo and Algernon Blackwood 19:19 The Wendigo - SPOILERS 40:30 The Flatwoods Monster by George Dudding 53:08 The Flatwoods Monster - SPOILERS #wendigo #algernon #blackwood #flatwoods #monster #george #dudding #ufo #halloween
Sam and Danielle from Book Retorts and I have planned a double feature: the movie the movie on their podcast and the book on my podcast. Check out episode 133 on the Book Retorts podcast to learn about slug facts and the movie based on this “horror classic” by the British grandfather of gore as he is often introduced Shaun Hutson. Moreover, I have prepared a special quiz, SLUG or HUG that we had way too much fun with. So join us on the second part of our Halloween mind suck spooks – horror books all month. Notes: 00:00 Intro10:50 Shaun Hutson23:00 SLUG or HUG QUIZ42:09 Spoilers and plot#slugs #shaun #hutson #horror #pulp #halloween #spooky #gore
During the whole month of October we have planned a Halloween special covering 4 horror books. Starting with ep. 53, we have the young adult vampire novel Marked. Next up, double Slug attack. On the Book Retorts podcast ep. 133 we looked at the 1988 horror movie Slugs and on the Mind Duck Books podcast ep. 53 coming up this Saturday(October 14th) we discussed the book Slugs. A slimy and horrifying "slug or hug" quiz included! Finally a double feature coming out on Halloween - Chan and I have read two books covering two of the most iconic monsters from West Virginia - Wendigo and The Flatwoods Monster. Enjoy Halloween and join us on Mind Suck Spooks!