The Socialist Shelf

What if a flu killed almost everyone and so you performed Shakespeare in a traveling band of vagabonds, and also famous actor flashbacks and creepy airport prophets and graphic novels and the 2008 financial crash were involved? And what if somehow it all worked?Welcome to “Station Eleven” by Emily St. John Mandel, where you’ll find all that and more.Fair warning, we summarize the plot in about the same way the book presents it, so things get disjointed…but we’re all having fun, right?

Yeah. We read Kash Patel's book for kids. It's about as good as you expect.The now FBI Director's 2022, "Plot Against The King" is an allegorical tale sure to delight and amaze...or something like that.Episode art is the book's cover but with that epic Kash Flare

We’re delighted to welcome author and journalist Talia Lavin to the show to discuss her book, “Wild Faith: How the Christian right is taking over America.”This is a broad topic that we know a lot of you are interested in. We touch on the rise of the Moral Majority, the mainstreaming of the Satanic Panic, the unwavering faith of true believers, and we throw up a peace sign over James Dobson’s grave.Go buy Talia’s book! It’s phenomenal!

“1984 is a great fiction novel to read but it seems like it is becoming the reality we are currently living under more and more each day”—noted genius Madison CawthornToday we get into THE dystopian giant, Georgia Orwell’s 1949 novel, “1984.” We have mixed feelings.Learn about the very earnest and very annoying George Orwell, a man of often good intentions even more often ridiculous blunders and baffling choices. Then, get into the world of Oceania, with beautiful writing and…a complete lack of any useful political analysis whatsoever,This one’s complicated! Bring your popcorn and let’s enjoy it together.

Article Brain returns!Once again, we try to drive each other insane with articles, and this time both comes from close to home…Yeah scrapping all our institutions of public health is bad, but have you considered maybe they deserve it because sometimes doctors try to be trans inclusive? That’s what our first article seems to think.And then we talk about “The Department of War” name change and how words matter…so much that calling it “The Department of Defense” meant we hadn’t been doing anything bad before.

It’s a bonus episode!!Lenore sat down with Alec Karakatsanis, civil rights lawyer and author of the book, “Copaganda” and a newsletter by the same name, to talk about his writing, the deeply violent nature of the American police state, and the way our media plays an active role in carrying out police terrorGet Alec’s book here!Read Alec’s newsletter here!Cover art is the book’s cover.

The Sleepers? Yeah, I sure do feel sleepy trying to get through this damn book!The great Josh Boerman returns to the pod to talk about Matthew Gasda’s truly heinous 2025 novel, “The Sleepers.”We discuss the hack nature of the “post left,” the long 2016, and the strange enduring rage a certain type of guy holds for Chapo Trap House. We also get really, really mad because this book SUCKS dude.Josh is one of the podcasting GOATS, and as he’s now joined us five times we have elected to honor him with his own Socialist Shelf Bust. Shout out to @WeetleBeetle on Instagram for the art.Check out Josh’s show, Worst of All Possible Worlds. Also check out Josh’s other show, Ill Conceived.

It’s Iowa time.Josiah Sutton of Fruitless joins us to discuss John Darnielle’s (of “The Mountain Goats” tame) Midwestern Gothic semi-horror, “Universal Harvester.” Themes: Iowa, corn, VHS tapes, beer, loneliness, more Iowa.If you like our show, you’ll like Fruitless. Check it out now!Episode art is a whole lot going on at a barn

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.

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.

Folks, we're not immune to the Andor hype! This week, we decided to return to the world of Star Wars to cover what can be seen as loosely as an Andor tie-in novel, Alex Freed's 2025 Star Wars novel "Reign of the Empire, the Mask of Fear".We are joined by Manuclearbomb of NotACast and My Brother, My Captain, My Podcast to unpack the rise of fascism in the Star Wars universe, examine the useful (and not-so-useful) manners of resisting it, and talk about how little it matters if Palpatine is actually a space wizard or not in the grand scheme of things.Check out Manu's podcast here or wherever you get your podcasts (including Star Wars bonus episodes for his patrons!)Follow him @manuclearbomb.bsky.socialMusic by Solo Monk (@SoloMonk256 on Twitter, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/solomonkart⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,) episode art is the properly updated great heads of communism.

We did it, Shelfers. 100 EPISODES OF THE SOCIALIST SHELF!!To honor this beautiful occasion we answer some questions from you, our glorious listeners, and then get into perhaps the our most complex work of literature to date, Gary Larson's 1982 comic, "Cow Tools." If you're not familiar with Cow Tools, take a quick look at it now.Stay tuned during the outro to hear the kind of thing we have to edit out to make this show coherent.We sincerely thank all listeners for joining us on this journey so far. Here's to 100 more!Music by Solo Monk (@SoloMonk256 on Twitter, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/solomonkart⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,) episode art is Cow Tools plus some extra.

Don't worry, we're still a literature podcast, but we wanted to have our friends Jason and Ankita from Resistance Cinema ATL on the show to talk about their collective and the role of film (and art more generally) in revolutionary movements.We've got a handful of links here, so bear with us (and click on all of them you know you want to).Pre-order Jacob's book now!Follow Resistance Cinema ATL here!Check out Ankita's show, The Desi Gaze here!Check out Jason's show, Cold War Cinema here!Music by Solo Monk (@SoloMonk256 on Twitter, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/solomonkart⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,) episode art is the book's cover.