E-mails and What We've Been Reading: We take on a listener suggestion for a science-fiction giant we've never read, and then try to help a friend come up with some light, fun airplane reading. Then, our reads:

• Robert Pobi, Mannheim Rex
• David Sedaris, When You Are Engulfed in Flames
• Philip K. Dick, Now Wait Until Last Year
• Rick Hautala, Glimpses

What We've Been Reading:

• Joe Hill, "Thumbprint"
• August V. Fahren, Thursday Thistle
• John Connolly, The Book of Lost Things
• Joe Hill, Heart-Shaped Box

What We've Been Reading:

• Mary Roach, Gulp
• Charles Salzberg, Swann's Last Song
• Ben H. Winters, The Last Policeman
• Roger Ebert, Life Itself

E-mails, News, and What We've Been Reading: In response to some requests as of late, we open this week by discussing the best ways to get your books to us for reviewing, as well as how NOT to make us frustrated and angry with you in the process. Plus, we give a quick plug to postertext.com, a very cool new startup with a very unique product that's perfect for us and our audience. From there, it's on to recent reads:

• Terry Pratchett, Nation
• Charles Salzberg, Swann's Last Song
• Eyre Price, Rock Island Rock
• Barbara Demick, Nothing to Envy

E-mails, News, and What We've Been Reading: We kick off the week with a couple of great emails that spur us along - one that calls us out for some of our reactions to Discovery of Witches, and the second...well, the second may just be the greatest email we've ever gotten. And from there, it's on to our current reads:

• Karen Russell, Vampires in the Lemon Grove
• Tom Clancy, The Cardinal in the Kremlin
• Eyre Price, Rock Island Rock
• David Mitchell, The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet
• August V. Fahren, Mad Mannequins from Hell
• Terry Pratchett, Nation

E-mails and What We've Been Reading: We kick off the week with an e-mail that not only uses proper grammar, but also lets us talk about dirty, dirty topics. So that's a winning start! From there, we dive into the news and discuss our mixed feelings about the new book from the author of Fifty Shades of Gray - a bit of news that we both admire and are a little disappointed about, depending on how we approach it. As for our reads for the week:

• Karen Russell, Vampires in the Lemon Grove
• Lemony Snicket, The Bad Beginning
• David Mitchell, The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet

Off the Bookshelves: Dietrich brings up the lead this week with a discussion of the newest version of SimCity, a massively popular game that’s dealt with some crippling problems on its launch. After that, he gives his quick thoughts on a board game convention he attended, which is way, way less geeky than it sounds, as well as a Playstation game that ends up - by design - breaking down into complete chaos. As for me, I get the chance to rewatch the astonishing sci-fi film Dark City, and wrap things up by plugging a feature we’re running on the website.

E-mails and What We've Been Reading: We're joined this week by my lovely wife Maria, who initially suggested this week's book for our discussion. First off, we unveil our next Book Club selection: John Green's The Fault in Our Stars; from there, we try to find some books that rival John Dies at the End for pure chaos and insanity. From there, it's on to our recent reads:

• Sandy Tolan, The Lemon Tree: An Arab, A Jew, and the Heart of the Middle East
• Steven Brill, "A Bitter Pill"
• Nate Silver, The Signal and the Noise
• Ryan Sean O'Reilly, Curious Anomalies
• George Pelecanos, What It Was
• Chuck Palahniuk, Phoenix

Off the Bookshelves: Will Maria pass up a chance to talk about Downton Abbey? Probably not. And between that and her discussion of the show Girls, it's safe to say that it's a far more balanced Off the Bookshelves than we usually do. But fear not: she still manages to touch on the violence of Justified and the tension of The Americans, so her entertainment isn't entirely estrogen-based. As for your usual hosts: Dietrich catches up on nerd podcasts, while I get the chance to rave about what's probably my all-time favorite movie.

E-mails and What We've Been Reading:

• J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit
• Jim Thompson, Pop. 1280
• Brandon Sanderson, The Mistborn Trilogy
• Nathan Burgoine, "Old Age, Surrounded by Loved Ones"
• Lawrence Wright, "The Apostate"/Going Clear: Hollywood, Scientology, and the Prison of Belief

Off the Bookshelves: We both start off this week with some small games, one involving burning a lot of things, and the other a sequel to a massive iOS hit. From there, amidst my scattered commentary on the Oscars, we review an old movie, a new one, and take a look at the newest season of Justified, which is trying something wholly new for the show, with varying degrees of success.

E-mails, News, and What We've Been Reading:

• Adam Ross, Mr. Peanut
• Elizabeth Letts, The Eighty Dollar Champion
• Joe Hill, Horns
• Brandon Sanderson, The Mistborn Trilogy
• Mark A. Rayner, The Fridgularity

What We've Been Reading:

• Neil Gaiman, Preludes and Nocturnes
• John Scalzi, Zoe's Tale
• Joe Hill and Stephen King, Throttle
• Joe Hill and Stephen King, In the Tall Grass
• F. Paul Wilson, Cold City

What We've Been Reading:

• David Poyer, Tomahawk
• William Rosencrans, The Epiphanist
• Brandon Sanderson, The Way of Kings
• Stephen King, Guns
• Stephen King and Stewart O'Nan, A Face in the Crowd

What We've Been Reading:

• Peter Rosch, My Dead Friend Sarah
• John Connolly, The Wrath of Angels
• Brandon Sanderson, The Way of Kings

The Books That Started It All: Somehow or another, we've managed to make it to 100 episodes of this podcast, a fact we're both thrilled and humbled by. In honor of that, we have a celebration for this week's podcast, as we're joined by a slew of former guests and friends. From Ryan Williams to Alan Lewis, from producer Larry Sterlingshires to our significant others, we go wildly off format this week as we discuss the books we've been reading lately and the books that made us love reading from an early age. It's a sentimental podcast for a sentimental milestone, and we hope you enjoy listening to it as much as we enjoyed recording it.

F. Paul Wilson: As part of our 100th episode celebration, we talked to some of our favorite guests over the years about the books that influenced them - made them love reading, changed the way they wrote, or just went down as a sentimental favorite. First up, we have a short interview with the inimitable F. Paul Wilson, the man behind Repairman Jack, the Adversary Cycle, and so much more. Dietrich and Mr. Wilson talk about the books that helped him fall in love with reading, as well as the ones that keep him excited about reading after all these years.

This Week's Reads:

• Joe Hill and Stephen King, In The Tall Grass
• Robert Jordan, Crossroads of Twilight
• Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson, The Gathering Storm
• Robert Jordan, Knife of Dreams
• Robert Jordan, Winter's Heart
• Dennis Lehane, Live by Night
• Patrick Rothfuss, The Kingkiller Chronicles
• John Scalzi, The Android's Dream

Off the Bookshelves, including:

• Josh's end of the year movie binge
• Jack Reacher
• Rear Window
• Vertigo
• Django Unchained

E-mails and What We've Been Reading: We start off the week with a listener seconding the criticisms of our lack of female authors - an e-mail which ends up directly affecting my reading choice for the week. Meanwhile, Dietrich clearly didn't get the same e-mail, because his read for the week is one of the newest Jack Reacher books, which, to put it mildly, aren't really aimed at a female readership.

The 2012 Books of the Year: This week, we take a look back at the best books we've read this year - the best new books of the year, the best books we read that were published before this year, and a grand prize for the best book of 2012 (in our opinion). Thrillers, nonfiction, crime novels, and a most remarkable coming of age story - all of them and more find a place in the discussion. And things wrap up with your chance to enter the very first Library Police contest - see here for more details!

What We've Been Reading: We're joined this week by longtime friend of the show Chris Merchant, who kicks off this week's reading section with a discussion about an annual short story collection that left him a little frustrated. Dietrich, meanwhile, alienates the audience by discussing a book of theoretical physics, while I drive away others by continuing my trek through Robert Jordan's epic series. Add into that a great email about self-publication, and you've got a strong opening for this week's episode.

Media for Readers: For a lot of readers, the world of media beyond books isn't of much interest - a fact that's keeping them from getting into a lot of great stuff. We take a look this week at movies, video games, and television series that might be of interest to bibliophiles. From corrupted antiheroes to a love of language, from visual storytelling to slow burns in plotting, it's an episode designed to expand your horizons beyond the written page.

What We've Been Reading: It's exam and testing week for me, which means my reading for fun is at an all-time low. That's not to say I don't have some books to talk about, though; it's just that both of them are books I've been teaching to my classes. On the other hand, both are really great reads, and both have a lot to offer a reader who wants to see the difference a narrator can make to a book. As for Dietrich, he finds himself following in my footsteps in unusual ways as he ends up re-reading the first volume of a long fantasy series...

Listener E-mails: To kick off this slightly off-format week, we respond to a couple of great e-mails submitted through our new website contact form (located here, if you're interested). The first is from a long-time listener who shares some thoughts on how short stories can embrace bleakness and hopelessness, while the second is a gleefully profane college student who's trying to use us to do his homework for him. Luckily, we love that kind of thing, especially when it comes with flattery, and we find a lot to discuss in both of these letters.

What We've Been Reading: We start things off on a different note than usual this week: with an intriguing challenge from a listener that should turn into an interesting discussion about a movie that, to put it mildly, seems a bit divisive among people. From there, it's back to our usual reading habits. Dietrich continues to dive into the works of John Scalzi, while I take a short break from the Robert Jordan marathon to read a new book by the amazing Lemony Snicket and a short story collection by an author you may never have heard of, but that you definitely should be checking out soon.

What We've Been Reading: It's a relatively light week for our reads - so much so that, to flesh out my one book for the week (the fourth book in the great Wheel of Time re-read), I take some time to talk about my chance to hear a talk given by one of our favorite authors. Dietrich, on the other hand, checks out a pair of books he's read before, including a short story collection by a modern master and a Star Wars novel that, against all odds and expectations, manages to be pretty good - seriously!

E-mails and What We've Been Reading: We come back from a longer than expected break to a bunch of great e-mails (submitted through our new website!) ranging from literary science fiction to questions about Lord of the Flies. As for our reads, I continue making my way through the Wheel of Time series and struggle with how to talk about each new book in the series; in addition, I read the first book by our recent interviewee Will Lavender and don't quite end up having the reaction I wish I did. As for Dietrich, he checks into the first book-based Humble Indie Bundle and comes out with an intriguing collection of short stories by an author whose work he'd never tried before.

A Conversation with Will Lavender: From the time we got to Killer Nashville, we heard again and again that we needed to take the time to talk to Will Lavender, a two-time author who's being marketed as "the master of the puzzle thriller." After hearing Will give a rich and interesting presentation about puzzles and plotting, we got the chance to sit and talk with him about everything from that title of his to his newfound success. Will may be new to the publishing world, but given his sales, reputation, and intelligence, I have a feeling he's going to be a household name before too long, and this talk shows why.

What We've Been Reading: Dietrich brings two very different books to the table this week - a funny and heartfelt coming of age story as only Terry Pratchett could make it, and a clever piece of science fiction by the author John Scalzi, who keeps on impressing Dietrich over and over again. Meanwhile, I don't have as much to bring to the table this week - my only read is the second volume of Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series, a re-read that's not just immersing me back into a world that I truly love, but also reminding me just how talented and versatile a writer Jordan really could be.

Banned Books: In "honor" of Banned Books Month, we decide to take some time to contemplate banned books - not just the most famous, but also the whole concept of banning. Is it different from using good judgment, even if you're running a school library? Where can the line be drawn between objectionable and dangerous, or can it be drawn? And is it really true that The Diary of Anne Frank was banned for being "a bit of a downer"? We cover all of this and more in a discussion that's a lot more complex than we probably assumed it would end up being.

Off the Bookshelves: I catch up on Argo and find it to be pretty dang great, just as Dietrich said. (Hey, even a broken clock is right twice a day!) In addition, Dietrich finishes up some thoughts on Dishonored and weighs in a little on XCOM, while I try to do my best to sell people on one of the most insane, twisted, funny, and kind of brilliant web series I've ever seen.

What We've Been Reading: Both Dietrich and I dive into some books by favorite authors this week, with Dietrich revisiting the first John Connolly book and remembering just how hard those books are to put down, while I rip through the new Dennis Lehane novel and find it to be among the best books he's written. In addition, Dietrich reads a comic novel about a universe bankrupted by Earth's music copyright laws, and I check out a short story that takes the Twilight premise and gives it a lot more depth, heart, and humor than you might expect.

Off the Bookshelves: Although I've been watching a ton of older movies as of late, it's new releases that I've got on my mind this week, and there's quite a range, from a solidly unsettling horror film to a genre-bending crime film to a dense, thought-provoking masterpiece from Paul Thomas Anderson. Dietrich, meanwhile, is trying to go into one of the new big videogame releases without many preconceived notions, and tries to share some early thoughts about a game he's really loving so far.

Interviews from SCBWI: This year, both Dietrich and I were privileged enough to interview some of the members and guests of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). We had a blast talking to everyone, and even if you think you don't really have much interest in children's of YA literature, give these interviews a listen - they've got a lot to say about writing, writers, and the state of the industry. (Each person's name links to their website for more information about their books and work.)

• 41:19 - 56:57: Author, television producer, illustrator, and man about town Dan Yaccarino
• 56:57 - 1:17:04: Author Kristin Tubb and Editor Liz Szalba
• 1:17:04 - 1:35:52: Ruta Sepetys
• 1:35:52 - 1:53:02: Sharon Cameron

What We've Been Reading: We kick off the episode with our first e-mail in far too long, but this one makes up for the gap with some drunken questions about everything from the Bible to Repairman Jack fanfiction. Once you've written your angry letters, though, there's still a lot of episode to enjoy, and we start it off with our recent reads. I finish off my feelings about Michael Chabon's newest novel, immerse myself in Stephen Colbert's latest treatise of insanity and satire, and begin a long trek back through a fantasy series that I've been reading for more than two decades. Dietrich doesn't have quite as much to talk about, but he does dive into an early work from an author whose later work we love - and probably so do you - and sees how the early work stacks up against the later.

The Forgotten Essential Authors: There are authors on the podcast that Dietrich and I talk about week in and week out, but there's also a ton of authors that we really love, and yet just don't always mention. In some cases, they've only written a few books; in others, their early period is really their best work, and their newest doesn't always bring out our same enthusiasm. Whatever the reason, we spend this week singing the praises of some brilliant authors whose work you might not know as well. From dystopian science-fiction to nightmarish morality tales, from philosophical"what if" speculation to tales from Vietnam, from action to literary silliness, the authors here are going to offer you a wide array of experiences, but every single one of them is going to give you a lot to enjoy and play around with, to say nothing of some great, great stories.

Off the Bookshelves: We spend a little bit of time this week getting to discuss some things that both Dietrich and I saw and enjoyed, including the time-traveling mindbender Looper and the fascinating new television series Last Resort. Beyond that, I'm going to remind you that, yes, E.T. really is that good, and Dietrich is going to try to convince me that Pitch Perfect is better than it looks. We'll see how that goes...

What We've Been Reading: We kick off this week's podcast with an announcement about our next Book Club selection, which will be J.K. Rowling's long anticipated The Casual Vacancy, which has been released to some interesting reviews. Since neither of us have read it yet, though, we dive into our recent reads. I find comfort in a surprisingly dark Terry Pratchett book, feel a little let down by a crime thriller that should be right in my wheelhouse, and offer some early thoughts about the newest from Michael Chabon. Meanwhile, Dietrich finds a compelling piece of non-fiction about soldiers on opposite sides of a war, continues to explore the weird, wonderful non-fiction of Mary Roach, and is less than thrilled with a highly regarded work of World War II history.

Tales from Out of School: This week, Dietrich and I draw inspirations from a couple of experiences I've had recently in my teaching career. One comes from teaching a story that ended up being surprisingly difficult to cover due to how unexpectedly dated it was; the other comes from a conversation with students about the type of literature schools focus on when it comes to any non-white author. Both ended up leaving me thinking about them for a while, and now Dietrich and I try to think about some of the heavy issues that end up affecting both readers and authors as a result of these experiences. From conversations about telephones to analysis of school lists, this ended up being a pretty thoughtful and interesting discussion about the world of books as perceived by a younger generation.

What We've Been Reading: With all of our Killer Nashville recordings, it's been a bit since Dietrich and I sat down to talk about our recent reads - and with our reading paces, that means a lot of books. Dietrich keeps it simple, looking at a nonfiction book about Mars landings and a massive series of books that follows up on a recent Book Club selection. As for me, I've got a wider range this month, with three books from friends of the show, two compilations (one great, one the opposite of that), and an intriguing young adult book that ends up being a fairly big disappointment.

A Conversation with Cheryl Denton: After overcoming some traumatic events in her own life, Cheryl Denton decided to make it one of her life goals to help others overcome similar events. It's a cause that's driven her work to date, even to the point where her fiction deals with similar concepts. In our interview, we talk about why she got into writing and how it seems like an unlikely career for her, what drives her characters, and how her own life has led her to want to help others.

A Conversation with Peter Straub: A true legend of the horror genre, Peter Straub burst onto the scene in the 1980's with Ghost Story, and hasn't looked back since. From Mystery to Koko, from lost boy lost girl to A Dark Matter, Straub has written books in a variety of genres and tones, all while creating rich and deeply complex characters that resonate long after you've finished the books. At this year's Killer Nashville, we got the privilege and honor to talk to Mr. Straub about the genres he's tackled, the way grief drives so many of his novels, and numerous other subjects.

A Conversation with Jeffery Deaver: More than a decade ago, I picked up a copy of Jeffery Deaver's The Coffin Dancer and became a fan for life. All these years later, Dietrich and I finally get a chance to talk to this crime fiction icon, and the conversation doesn't disappoint. From approaching writing as a job to the incredible work he puts into prepping his novels, Deaver is a consummate professional through and through, and he tells us about all of it while being charming, personable, and a joy to speak with.

A Conversation with Bruce DeSilva: Jumping from the tight restrictions of journalism to the freedom afforded by prose is a tough transition to make, one that a lot of authors struggle with. And yet, Bruce DeSilva seems to have made the jump pretty easily, winning a pair of highly coveted crime fiction awards as well as earning himself a devoted following. From talking with him, it's not hard to understand why; DeSilva is funny, personable, and massively entertaining - if you doubt it, check out his rendition of the Old Testament as written by a journalist. It's a great talk with a man who's managed to come out great with not one but two careers, and has lots to say about both.

From Santa to Steampunk: A Conversation with D. Alan Lewis: Last year, author D. Alan Lewis gave us one of the most fascinating ideas we'd heard - a murder mystery set in Santa's village during the height of the Red Scare. That's a big act to follow, and yet Alan isn't the kind of author to rest on his laurels. We caught up with Alan at this year's Killer Nashville conference to find out about his new steampunk thriller, find out why he's moving to a new publisher, and the amount of research that goes into his unusual worlds.

An Interview with Robert Pobi and Eyre Price: Last year at Killer Nashville, Dietrich and I ended up meeting these two fine men by sheer luck. Neither had a book published yet, but both were intelligent, thoughtful, and hard-working, and their ideas intrigued us both. But what a difference a year makes - now both are published and doing quite well for themselves, and both have returned to Killer Nashville as writers to watch out for. We catch up with Pobi and Price about their year, what it's like being published, and what's next in their careers, as well as discussions about the industry, family life, and more.

A Writer's Guide to Critics: With a live audience staring us down, Dietrich and I host a panel about what writers should know about critics (even self-styled critics like us). Presenting yourself as a critic to a room of authors is a dangerous idea, but we do our best, trying to cover everything from how to get your book to a critic to what to expect once the reviews are done, all while making time to answer questions and trying to be as entertaining as possible.

Bones, Cattle Rustlers and Retirement - A Conversation with Dr. Bill Bass: Our first interview at this year's Killer Nashville conference was a great way to kick things off; where else could you talk to a man who gleefully shoves needles through skulls and shows slides of the aftermath of a redneck firework factory explosion? That man is Dr. Bill Bass, eminent forensic anthropologist and founder of the Body Farm, a renowned facility dedicated to forensic anthropology and research. Dr. Bass is always a great speaker, and our interview was no exception; listen in as he talks about everything from how cattle rustling led to the creation of the Body Farm to how little he seems to think of the idea of "retirement".

Short but Sweet: A micro-episode this week, as life and preparations for Killer Nashville keep us from our usual verbal blathering. There's lots of good news to be had this week, though, from the creation of a Library Police Facebook page to the rebirth of our long-dormant @LibraryPigs Twitter feed. On top of that, it's almost time for Killer Nashville, meaning that the next few weeks will be wildly off-format, but full of interesting conversations. And, of course, we couldn't record even a micro-episode without some discussion of our recent reads, which here include the earlier work of Gone Girl author Gillian Flynn and a late read of a book that's already a sensation.

What We've Been Reading: A short batch of reads this week, since some of us (read: me) had been slacking on reading our book selection this month. Apart from our Book Club entry, though, my time was filled with the first book in the How to Train Your Dragon series, a book that I've loved reading and my son has found endlessly hilarious on every page. Dietrich joins in the comedic selections with the book Redshirts by John Scalzi, a book that he can't decide if he liked, but he definitely enjoyed.

The Guns of the South: There's no denying that The Guns of the South has an insane and goofy premise. That premise? Time traveling white supremacists give AK-47s to the Confederacy in the hopes of turning the tide of the Civil War. It's an absurd idea, and yet, the book tends to be far better than you might expect. Dietrich and I take a long look at this fascinating but deeply flawed novel, all guided by an outstanding listener e-mail that gives us a framework that we're constantly drawing on. It's a great discussion about how to make a dumb premise work and when a book gets in its own way, and even if you're not interested in the novel, I think you'll thoroughly enjoy our conversation.

Off the Bookshelves: With no new Breaking Bad episode to talk about due to the vagaries of our scheduling, however will we fill the time this week? By talking about the Breaking Bad Insider Podcast, of course! Mind you, there may be those infidels among you who don't love the show the way we do, so there's a few other topics on display here, including an ambitious movie trailer that has us cautiously excited, a movie that's enjoyable enough if you're bored, and an innovative and hilarious marketing technique that's worth watching even if you don't like the video game they're shilling for.

What We've Been Reading: It's been a longer than usual break between recording sessions, so we've got a lot to talk about this week in terms of our recent reads. Dietrich's talk takes in the prequel to a book that led to an Oliver Stone movie and a pair of completely random choices that lead to very different levels of satisfaction; as for mine, I've got three books that all satisfy in different ways, all while each suffers from some major flaws that keep them from being a complete success.

Turn-ons and Turn-offs: Over the course of 83 episodes, you've probably gotten a decent feel for the things that Dietrich and I love and hate to see in a book. But this week, we decided to make those thoughts a little more explicitly clear, discussing our turn-ons and turn-offs when it comes to picking up a new read or getting irritated with a current one. From great hooks to rich characters, from bad writing to contrived plotting, we try to figure out what it is that makes a good book into a great one, or a decent book into a terrible one.

Off the Bookshelves: Between some episode delays and the intrusion of real world events, Dietrich and I have been falling behind in some of the things we really want to talk about here, and this week gives us a chance to do some catching up. The two big discussion topics? The fantastic conclusion to Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy and the newest (and bleakest) Breaking Bad season. We do some catch up on both of these, as well as a few other little things here and there to round out the episode.

What We've Been Reading: We're joined this week by Beth Terrell, author and executive director of the Killer Nashville conference, and Beth brings a lot to the table in our opening section, including a seminal non-fiction book and a thriller she's really enjoying. Dietrich shares some thoughts about Gone Girl and is convinced to discuss the book on economics that he's reading, even though he thinks everyone will be bored. As for me, it's a slow reading week, but when you're reading a Terry Pratchett book, at least you know it will be a good reading week, slow or not.

Our Changing Perspective: Inspired, weirdly enough, by some conversations about The Avengers, we talk about how our perceptions and appreciation of books changes over time due to any number of factors - age, circumstances, exposure to different works, and more. From Beth's discussion of her changing feelings about The Catcher in the Rye to my thoughts on how reading books with my children has given me a new window into them to Dietrich's first serious exposure to Catch-22 under what might be the best possible circumstances, we talk about how the events of our lives can affect the way we look at books that we once loved or hated.

Off the Bookshelves: Here's some free advice you'll learn this week: don't watch Contagion on the same day your wife comes down sick with strep throat. Trust me on this one. Other things you'll learn this week: some things to look forward to if you're coming to Killer Nashville, what to watch if you want a window into independent game design, and a great documentary about a street artist that turns into something far more complex than you might originally expect.

E-mails and What We've Been Reading: We get a little bit of feedback on comments regarding The Book Thief, but most of this section is dedicated to the books we've been going through. Both of us checked out an amazing thriller by Gillian Flynn, but the fact that Dietrich's only halfway through makes it a lot harder to talk about how incredible it gets. Individually, Dietrich finishes up the last Krakauer book he hadn't read (and it will surprise you which one it was), while I read a military book from an interesting perspective and a novella whose symbolism threatens to take over the story proper.

Superheroes and Graphic Novels: In one of our earliest episodes, we discussed "serious" graphic novels, but for too long, we've ignored what made the genre famous: superheroes. In the wake of The Dark Knight Rises and other superhero films, we decide to check out some of the complex and literate - yes, I said literate - fare that may hide behind spandex suits and mutant powers. From the works of Alan Moore to the social commentary of the X-Men, from the grim worldview of The Walking Dead to the diverse array of Batman stories you can read, we try to help people see beyond their own preconceptions and thoughts about the genre and understand that the genre can have some serious intellectual merit.

Off the Bookshelves: After the anarchy of last week where I discussed video games and Dietrich did movies, we're back to our usual patterns, with Dietrich following me back into Psychonauts and me discovering a TV series that I should have been watching already. But more than that, it's time for the return of the best show on television, and you know what that means...

E-mails and What We've Been Reading: A few e-mails start off the show this week, with some suggestions about what we could do for our 100th episode, a great story about someone embarrassing themselves thanks to our show, very early thoughts on the new Dennis Lehane, and more. As for our recent reads...well, a lot of our time has been spent reading (or, in my case, re-reading) Cloud Atlas for this week's podcast. But we've made time for some other books, of course; Dietrich takes on the first novel in a popular YA series about a spunky young hero not named Harry Potter, while I read another book about dueling wizards and a surprisingly great YA novel with a most unusual narrator.

Cloud Atlas: When I first read Cloud Atlas a couple of months ago, it absolutely floored me; rarely had I read a book that was so ambitious, so accomplished, and so absolutely surprising while also accomplishing some feats that I had never even heard of anyone trying before, to say nothing of succeeding. This month, Dietrich and I discuss the book, looking at everything from its fascinatingly complex structure to author David Mitchell's incredible authorial voice, and find that Cloud Atlas is a book that could easily sustain hours and hours of analysis and discussion. Ours is only about an hour, but it's still a rich hour, and one that left us both finding even more to love about the book than we first suspected.

Off the Bookshelves: It's one of those weeks where Dietrich and I share more activities than not, and that leads to some fun discussions about Seth MacFarlane's very funny Ted and the surprisingly engaging and successful Amazing Spider-Man. On the solo front, though, Dietrich reacts to Steven Soderbergh's Magic Mike, while I catch up on a fun kids' movie that came and went and find myself sucked into a video game that I just can't get enough of - even if it is seven years old.

What We've Been Reading: I bring two very different crime thrillers to the discussion this week; one is a superb piece of fiction by the always reliable George Pelecanos, while the other is a disappointing mediocrity from an author I had higher hopes for. But it's Dietrich's read that spurs the most discussion this week, as he reads a non-fiction account about the infamous hacking group Anonymous, a choice brought on by a recent The Daily Show interview that impressed us both.

A Clash of Kings - The Adaptation: With the second season of HBO's Game of Thrones now at end, Dietrich and I discuss the adaptation of the book and how the two interpretations of the material stack up against each other. Dietrich approaches it having read the books first, while my first exposure is through the TV show. We take a look at what's the same, the surprisingly large number of differences between the two, and do our best to understand the differences between a faithful adaptation and a good one, and why a lot of major changes may not be that bad of a decision, even given how much we both liked the book in this case.

Off the Bookshelves: Pixar's new movie, Brave, is out, and it seems to be getting a little more flak than the studio's used to. But we both disagree - hear us discuss why. Also, we take a look at the end of the most recent season of Mad Men, give a shoutout to another book-based podcast that's given me quite a bit of entertainment, and look forward to the return of Louie and Wilfred, two of the more unique comedies on the air.

E-mails and What We've Been Reading: We start the week off by digging through our mailbox, hearing about some essential war novels to complement our Black Hawk Down discussion and also being told exactly how much we've cost somebody with an obsessive book buying habit. After that, it's off to current reads, and with me just coming back from a long vacation, we've got a lot to discuss here. Both Dietrich and I have been reading A Clash of Kings, so that's first on the plate. From there, Dietrich finds a great heist book that needs a better author, a great piece of ghost writing that needs a better book, and continues making his way through the Dark Tower series. As for me, I rave about Roger Ebert's funny and moving memoirs, enjoy a middling thriller by Jeff Strand, and struggle to explain the intriguingly titled The Man Who Was Thursday.

An Interview with F. Paul Wilson: Since the very first episode of this podcast, Dietrich and I have made no secret about our love for the Repairman Jack series and other books by F. Paul Wilson. And finally, after almost a year and a half of doing this show and the effective end of the Jack books, we get the chance to talk to the man himself. Over the course of our chat, we talk about the ups and downs of co-writing, why he's been so eager to embrace e-books, the end of the Jack series, and what might be next for this author who's tried his hand at almost every genre imaginable.

Off the Bookshelves: Sure, we both have our own things to touch on this week, including my thoughts on the surprisingly funny The Dictator and Dietrich's revisiting of a childhood favorite. But there's also a lot of debate and discussion this week, and we kick it off with our spirited breakdown of Prometheus. We both agree on a lot about it - the amazing visuals, some flaws along the way, etc. - but we part on our final verdict. Listen in and see what you think. And we close the section with a look at two very different aspects of video games: one that highlights the worst that gamers offer the world, and the other an example of just what video games are really capable of. Highs and lows, people!

E-mails, What We've Been Reading, and More: The week kicks off with some housekeeping notes, including some discussion about upcoming episodes (note: the schedule has changed now, for reasons that will become clear during our next episode), an update on our publishing schedule, and more. With that out of the way, we take a moment to remember the irreplaceable Ray Bradbury, who died recently and left a hole that can never be filled. After that, we go through our mail bag, touching on our recent explicit rating and the joys of libraries; from there, we dive into recent reads, with Dietrich loving the collected works of H.P. Lovecraft and me diving into a massive noir anthology as well as absolutely ripping through what many feel is one of the best American novels of all time.

A Discussion of Spoilers: When critic Stanley Fish wrote his thoughtful reflection on the themes of The Hunger Games, he probably wasn't entirely prepared for the reaction he got: an explosion of anger that he discussed points from the whole trilogy and thus angered a lot of people with what were perceived as unmarked spoilers. Fish wrote a defense of his article that stirred up a lot of controversy with its argument that spoilers don't really matter, and the debate was on. Dietrich and I weigh in this week, discussing whether spoilers matter (we tend to both think they do), whether Fish was in the wrong (here, we differ), and just what effect spoilers do or don't have on the reading experience.

Off the Bookshelves: Dietrich and I both have a few films to talk about this week, including A Face in the Crowd, which is a classic that not enough people have seen, and some staples of animation that I'm finally catching up on. But mostly, this week is given over to summer movies, with both of us discussing some of the movies we're most anticipating this summer. From Prometheus to Ted to The Dark Knight Rises, we share some thoughts about the movies we're most excited about as the summer season continues. (And for the curious: you can find the trailer for Beasts of the Southern Wild here. Watch and see if you're not a little caught up in its imagination and beauty.)

E-mails and What We've Been Reading: We kick off the week with a bit of an unanswerable question, but we do our best with it: just how is it that Dietrich and I read so much? After that, both Dietrich and I have some individual reads to talk about - I finally give in and re-read The Great Gatsby and finally appreciate it for the work of art that it is, while Dietrich begins a journey through the biggest hole in his Stephen King experience. But more than that, we both read the final Repairman Jack book, Nightworld, and take some time to discuss how much the book has been revised and how solid it is both as a finale and as its own experience.

The End of a Series: This week brought the release of Nightworld, the aforementioned novel by F. Paul Wilson that ends both his Adversary Cycle and his Repairman Jack series. While we were both satisfied (greatly!) with the book, it did get us thinking: just what all goes into making a solid finale to a series? And why are they so difficult to pull off? We take a look at some of the most famous (and infamous) endings to series that we can think of, as well as sharing some thoughts and speculation about series that we're in the middle of right now.

Off the Bookshelves: It's the time of year when a lot of television is coming to a close, and that gives us plenty to talk about. Of course we touch on some of the greatness that Game of Thrones and Mad Men have been dishing out this year, but beyond that, we share some thoughts on the recently departed Awake, a show that we both loved but wonder if its cancellation is really for the best. Oh, and I got a chance to see one of the best movies of all time, and it's going to make you want to re-watch it, I bet. Just you wait.

E-mails and What We've Been Reading: This week, we're joined by Robert Pobi, whose debut novel, Bloodman, floored both Dietrich and me, and has already become an international bestseller within weeks of release. Pobi joins us for the whole episode this week, given that he's one of the most interesting and coolest guys we've met through this podcast, and the results are an absolute blast. To kick things off, we have a brief discussion about bringing up authors on charges for their literary crimes, a talk which leads to some strong words about Thomas Harris, one of the legends of the serial killer world. After that, it's on to recent reads. Robert makes us look bad by doing some incredibly fascinating - but heavy - research reading for his books. Meanwhile, Dietrich re-reads one of his favorite books, a fictional recounting of a legendary battle, while I take on a difficult but thought-provoking science-fiction book. On top of all that, we roll out our pick for our next book club discussion: the astonishing Cloud Atlas, by David Mitchell. So don't miss that one - trust me, if you haven't read it, you must.

A Conversation with Robert Pobi: We first met Robert Pobi last year at Killer Nashville. Since then, he's written a ridiculous number of books (seriously), become a best-selling author, and much, much more. Over the course of a great 45 minutes, we talk to Robert about everything from three-page rejection letters to the unlikely origins of Bloodman, and have a blast doing it. You'll get to hear how Robert maintains an astonishing work ethic, hear some incredibly sound advice for anyone trying to get into the writing field, and even hear some thoughts on why necrophiliacs love Chapstick. So there's something for everyone this week! Don't miss out.

Off the Bookshelves: Robert does his best to abstain from this section, although we do draw him out enough to get a sense of some of what he's listening to this week. Meanwhile, Dietrich and I both share some thoughts on movies so highly regarded that they barely need our endorsements, as well as happily discovering that not only is Tenacious D back, they may have put out the best album they've done to date.

What We've Been Reading: We kick things off this week with Dietrich adding another author to his list of "authors who will make me feel insecure when I write" as a result of finishing the amazing American Gods. Also: ever wonder what it might look like if Australia has its own version of Red Dawn? Now you don't have to worry anymore. Meanwhile, I read the latest entry in the Harry Bosch series and discuss the possibility of the series coming to an end. But we wrap things up on a different note by reviewing an audiobook...that's six minutes long.

An Interview with Dan Wells: Dan Wells first came to my attention as the author of the John Wayne Cleaver series, an incredible set of books about a teenager struggling with his sociopathic tendencies. For Dietrich, though, Wells was the host of a great podcast called Writing Excuses, which looks at writing from an author's perspective. However we came to his work, though, there's no denying that we were both fans of his, and this week we got the chance to talk with him about all of that and more. We learn about why Wells may have creeped out a few morticians, hear about a writing professor who had a pretty insanely prestigious class, discuss historical fiction, and much more.

Off the Bookshelves: It's a week of cinematic oddballs this week, with both Dietrich and I discussing movies that are deeply flawed but not entirely without merit (though to greatly differing degrees). But more than that, it's time for some TV talk. We take a midseason look at Game of Thrones and discuss how well the interpretation is going; after that, we have a talk about the recently ended fourth season of Fringe, a season that fits right in with our "flawed but not bad" discussion that opened the section.

E-mails and What We've Been Reading: We start off this week's episode with several e-mails, including some thoughts on books that appeal to the senses and a lot of reaction to our science-fiction episode. But the recent reads don't get neglected either. I've been on a short story binge as I've finished off the collected works on H.P. Lovecraft as well as tearing through a series of short stories by Joe Lansdale. Dietrich, on the other hand, is filling up on the classics for the week, reading through one of the most famous books by Victor Hugo as well as diving into a modern classic by Neil Gaiman.

Black Hawk Down: If there was a single non-fiction book that Dietrich and I might hold among the best works the genre has ever produced, there's a good chance that Black Hawk Down would be that book. A harrowing, intense account of an American mission in Somalia that goes drastically awry, Black Hawk Down is a compelling, riveting book that focuses on the people involved in the event while never losing a sense of the bigger picture that's going on. It's an incredible juggling act, one that manages to make numerous salient points about how things go wrong while never falling into easy answers, to say nothing of managing to capture the Somali perspective just as solidly. It's a book we both hold in the highest regard, not just as military writing, but as writing, pure and simple, and this week we discuss it in our book club.

Off the Bookshelves: This week, Dietrich plunges into the world of low-budget, indie films that have an audience of three or four people when he sees a little-known movie called The Avengers. Turns out, he liked it in spite of its low-key, understated feel. Me, I'm checking out Indonesian action flicks and Polanski-helmed takes on Shakespeare, so I've got a bit more variety going on. But we wrap up the week with a discussion of the latest season of Mad Men, which just may be the best this already superb show has put on to date.

E-mails: We've got a few e-mails this week, including one that gave birth to our main topic. But first off, we hear from the too-long absent Rob Kristoffersen, who gives us a question that's far less easy to answer than it originally sounds. From there, we hear again from Gravy Jones, who shares some thoughts on the books that followed the amazing Child 44 as well as offering us a great idea for a future topic.

What We're Reading Now: Lots and lots of books to talk about this week, with a publication spread of almost a century from the oldest to the newest. Dietrich has a pair of great non-fiction books to talk about, to say nothing about the fact that he got to meet one of the pre-eminent authors of the genre. As for me, I finish up my sojourn through the Sherlock Holmes canon (including some thoughts about one of the weakest stories of the series), respond to a reading suggestion from the incomparable Neil Gaiman, and catch up on the newest entry in Stephen King's Dark Tower series.

A Primer on Science Fiction: We open the segment with a letter from a listener who wants to move beyond "literary" fiction and into more popular stuff, but wants to know how to begin. So we take a run at creating a guide to getting into the science-fiction genre. The signal-to-noise ratio is pretty daunting, to say nothing of the fact that the genre contains everything from slapstick comedy to thought-provoking philosophical treatises and beyond. So where to begin? We take a look at a lot of the best entryways to the genre, ranging from Douglas Adams to Robert Charles Wilson, from Dune to Ender's Game, from Rendezvous with Rama to 1984. And we do it all while trying to avoid the worst excesses of the genre and appeal to those who think the genre has nothing to offer them.

What We've Been Reading: We kick off the week with a bit of scolding for our apparently widely divergent moral code as it pertains to Twilight and a feeble attempt to defend ourselves of the charges. As for our current reads: Dietrich may have only read one book this week, but it's a great one: Generation Kill, by Evan Wright. We talk about why that's such an incredible book and whether I'm right in my opinion that it should almost be required reading for every American citizen. Meanwhile, I've got a lot more diverse set of offerings, kicking things off with a great black comedy that steps awry only in the last pages, but does so in a pretty sharp way. Then, it's on to a reader suggestion: Child 44, which turned out to be one of the best serial killer novels I've ever read, if only for its entirely unique premise. Finally, I wrap things up with Tritium Gambit, a pulp science-fiction novel that doesn't take itself at all seriously, a choice that ends up making it a lot of fun to read through.

The News Brief: There's been a lot of major news in the book industry this week, with the two biggest contenders being a massive anti-trust lawsuit against e-book publishers and J.K. Rowling's announcement of details about her new (non-Harry Potter) novel. But there's more book news in the world to touch on to, from a pleasantly surprising new survey about reading habits to a soon-to-come children's book that makes us both laugh with glee. On top of those, there's Fifty Shades of Grey, the new publishing sensation that has lots of people talking - some with scorn, some with overflowing praise. We talk about all of these and more, discussing the news of the day and finding ourself in peals of giggles at an online alias that makes it hard to be taken all that seriously.

Off the Bookshelves: We flip our positions from the opening section, with Dietrich having a ton to talk about and me only having the one. Once again, though, that one is a great one: the outstanding meta-horror film The Cabin in the Woods, which gave me one of the most entertaining theatrical experiences in recent memory. Meanwhile, it's documentary week for Dietrich, with movies about real-life superheroes, chess prodigies, and comic book conventions, as well as a short film that may give you a little more hope for the world.

What We've Been Reading: It's a lighter than usual reading week for the two of us, with each of us only making it through a single book apiece (an oddity, for us!). For Dietrich, the week's been dedicated to a revisiting of Stephen King's short story collection Just After Sunset, a collection that produced some of our favorite King stories in a long time. Meanwhile, I check out Audrey Niffenegger's followup to the amazing Time Traveler's Wife, a ghost story called Her Fearful Symmetry, to see how it lives up to its incredible predecessor.

Into the Mailbag: Every so often, we find ourselves with so many good e-mails to read and discuss that we decide to forgo a main topic in favor of responding to our listeners, and this is one of those weeks. From dystopian futures to the plausibility of The Hunger Games, from serial killers in Stalinist Russia to the painful analogies that populate the Twilight books, we discover once again that our listeners give us far too much credit for being knowledgeable, but it's credit that we love using and responding to. And if none of that grabs you, don't worry - there's still a discussion about how we get turned on to books and why books might be turning more people on, if you get the not-so-subtle innuendo...

Off the Bookshelves: We kick things off with a traitorous action: the recommending of another podcast. But when it's hosted by the inimitable John Hodgman, how can you blame us? But there's plenty more to talk about, with an incredible deal on a classic video game, the return of Game of Thrones, a state-of-the-series discussion about Awake, and Dietrich finally getting around to checking out Generation Kill.

What We've Been Reading: We're joined this week by my wife Maria and Dietrich's fiancee Jennifer Finley for our discussion of the Twilight series, because let's be honest - an all-male discussion of the series probably wouldn't do anyone any favors, would it? But before we get to the heart of the episode, it's time for a quick round-up of current reads, as always. Jennifer shares some thoughts on one of her first exposures to Stephen King (in the form of The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon), while Maria does some extra credit work for the main topic by reading Meyer's novella about a tertiary character from the series. As for the boys, well, Dietrich finally finishes up the Chaos Walking series, while I catch up with the North Pole murder mystery The Blood in Snowflake Garden and share some thoughts on the early goings of the complete works of H.P. Lovecraft.

The Twilight Saga: Beloved by millions, hated by just as many, The Twilight Saga has become a publishing industry leviathan, one that polarizes people before they even come to the books. We do our best to take a level-headed look at the series without prejudice or unfair assumptions, and the ladies in our lives come along for the ride to provide a different perspective on it all. And the end result? Well, it might be more balanced than you think. Sure, there's a lot for us to complain about, but there's also some great ideas scattered throughout the series, even if they're often frustratingly handled. And then there's the insanity of the fourth book, which is kind of joy in of itself. There are some strong opinions, a few assumptions about what makes the series popular, and a lot of back and forth about where the books succeed and fail. It's a solid discussion about a book that many judge without ever reading, and while we may not be able to whole-heartedly endorse the books, I think the discussion shows that there's plenty to talk about in this series, even if you hate them.

Off the Bookshelves: In which we learn the importance of reminding guests about the pattern of the show. Or, to put it more fairly, in which the ladies suddenly have to come up with things to talk about and end up covering iPad games, the return of Mad Men, the greatness of Justified, and why Dietrich stinks at The Old Republic. As for us: one of us catches a midnight showing of the B-movie classic Army of Darkness, while the other watches a documentary about a font. Which one watches which? You may be a little bit surprised at the answer.

E-mails and What We've Been Reading: We kick off the week with a brief discussion about anachronistic language in fantasy and historic fiction, a topic that probably could fill a lot more time if we let it. From there, we delve into our current reading habit. I dive into Terry Pratchett's YA Discworld books and find that they more than hold their own against any other Discworld book; meanwhile, Dietrich finally catches up on 20th Century Ghosts, the phenomenally brilliant short story collection from horror author Joe Hill.

The Hunger Games - Book vs. Film: It didn't take us many episodes of this podcast to dive into The Hunger Games books, a series that we were both really passionate about. Now the movie is out - how does it compare to the books? We have a lengthy discussion about the adaptation process, looking at how the movie addresses the limitations of the first-person narrative, opens up the boundaries of what the book covers, and uses some fantastic casting smartly to reduce the reliance on exposition and narration. In short, we compare the book to the film not just to see how they're different (though we've got a list of some fascinatingly minor and nitpicky changes that people are bringing up), but more to see how good a job the filmmakers did turning a great book into a solid film.

Off the Bookshelves: Well, Mad Men is back, and you know there's no way we could go without talking about it at least a little bit. But there's more to talk about here, with Dietrich singing the praises of The Muppets right before I turn things darker and more serious with the chilling Cold War film Fail-Safe and the profoundly moving documentary The Interrupters.

E-mails and What We've Been Reading: We kick off this week with new equipment, a better sound, and a fantastic e-mail that manages to be hilarious despite opening with some horrifying news. Recent reads are a little thinner than usual, with both Dietrich and I making our way through the Twilight books for our upcoming discussion, but we still manage to find a few things to talk about. I've started into the third book in the Hap and Leonard series by Joe Lansdale, finding it hilarious, twisted, and still really gripping - in other words, everything I've come to expect from Lansdale. As for Dietrich, he indulges his inner geek with a biography of the world's most famous science equation while continuing to finish up Chaos Walking.

Tired of Serial Killers: Ah, serial killers. Ever since Thomas Harris created a little character named Hannibal Lecter, the thriller genre has been absolutely awash in serial killers, ranging from the brilliant and gruesome to...well, to the brilliant and gruesome. It's a staple of the genre, but with agents rapidly saying they want nothing to do with serial killers anymore, we take a look at this overused trope and try to figure out how to make it work. We come up with a few rules and guidelines about things we're tired of seeing, but we also discuss books that broke those rules beautifully, leading us to explain that with enough talent, creativity, and interesting ideas, you can make it work for you. It's a fun discussion, one filled with lots of hilariously bad examples, as well as quite a few really good ones as well.

Off the Bookshelves: While a lot of this closing segment is spent with both of us raving about the unexpectedly hilarious and smart 21 Jump Street film, there are still a few other topics to round things out. I try to make sure everyone knows how good the new Bruce Springsteen album is (answer: very) and share some thoughts on the unexpectedly early cancellation of HBO's low-rated but critically-praised Luck. Dietrich, on the other hand, checks out the ambitious failure In Time and find that the critically acclaimed The Descendants deserved all the praise that it got.

E-mails and What We've Been Reading: This week's episode starts off with one reader picking up the heaviest "escape" reading I know off offhand and another asking us how often we've played hooky from work because of books. As for our current reads, Dietrich continues to make his way through the Chaos Walking series (and continues to struggle with finding things to say without being able to talk about the story) and shares some good news about the exceptional gamer journal Kill Screen. As for me, I take on the "ultra-noir novel" The Long Drunk and find it enjoyable with some serious qualifications; after that, it's on to the B-movie splattery goodness of Draculas, with a lengthy discussion of how the book uses the e-book format to novel advantage.

Return of the Short Stories: This week, we return to the short story medium, this time singling out some of the best stories we've had the privilege of reading. Dietrich kicks us off with his love for the Machine of Death, while I bounce off of his science-fiction opening to discuss works of Philip K. Dick, Arthur C. Clarke, Ray Bradbury, and others. From there, it's on to horror and fantasy, with recommended stories from Harlan Ellison, Clive Barker, Neil Gaiman. But don't worry - there's some solid literary giants represented here, too, including Tobias Woolf and J.D. Salinger. In other words, we take on a huge variety of styles and genres here, coming up with some of the best examples of short stories we can, all for your enjoyment. So check them out - I think you'll find a lot to love here.

Off the Bookshelves: I take the chance to brag about seeing the amazing Jack White in concert before talking about a couple of movies, including the incredible A Separation, which deserves to be seen by everyone, even those who might be scared off by its Iranian origins. After that, Dietrich brings us to a close by sharing some love for The Oatmeal and giving his thoughts on the greatly anticipated Mass Effect 3.

E-mails and What We've Been Reading: We kick off this week with some thoughts from Robert Kristoffersen about our Titans of Literature episode and some early feelings on how The Hunger Games movie might turn out (something we're quite excited to see). From there, it's on to recent reads. I've got quite a bit to discuss this week, including the newest Jack Reacher novel, a short story from an author I knew from a Big Lebowski/Shakespeare mashup that I loved, and a great coming-of-age tale from the inimitable Joe Lansdale. Meanwhile, Dietrich finishes up Bloodman (and loves it), follows up on a listener's recommendation about an unexpectedly solid novelization, and continues to make his way through the Chaos Walking trilogy and finds that I wasn't exaggerating in how hard it is to talk about the books without giving much away.

White Noise: One of the most acclaimed literary novels of the past 30 years, White Noise follows a college professor as he floats through academia and life, crippled by his fear of death and his disconnection from the world around him. But does it work? I feel that it's a book I have a huge amount of respect for, but can't necessarily say that I enjoyed; meanwhile, Dietrich finds it pretentious and finds himself violently angry at the book and at author Don DeLillo by proxy. Who's right here? We have a pretty passionate discussion about White Noise in this week's podcast, with both of us arguing our cases, interrupting each other, and attempting to convert the other over to our own side. It's a lively discussion, and we'll be curious to see what your own thoughts on the book turn out to be.

Off the Bookshelves: I start off the week by sharing some thoughts on TV shows that I gave a shot, and find that while The River is pretty badly collapsing, Luck only gets better and better as it goes. I also can't help but raving about the new horror film Kill List before bringing us into a discussion about the new show Awake, which has one of the more intriguing pilots in recent memory. From there, Dietrich gets his documentary on, checking out docs about violent animals and ad agencies, before gushing uncontrollably (and rightfully so) over Martin Scorsese's Hugo.

E-mails and What We've Been Reading: Our e-mails this week take us international, as we get taken to task for our lack of Twilight coverage by an American living in Israel, which prompts us to do some soul-searching about our upcoming book club selections. After that, it's onto recent reads, with me finishing and Dietrich beginning Robert Pobi's Bloodman, and both of us finding a lot to praise in what turns out to be an incredible debut novel. Beyond that, Dietrich also shares some thoughts on the first volume of the Chaos Walking trilogy, leading us to discuss whether the book's flaws are enough to detract from its greatness.

The Titans of Publishing: This week, we take a look at the titans of the publishing industry, using Wikipedia's list of the best-selling authors in history as a jumping-off point. Turns out, there's a lot of surprises on that list, including several we never would have considered being among the best-sellers of all time. We try to do what so many have attempted: trying to understand exactly what makes these authors stand out so far above the others, and what makes these names so prominent in the publishing field. And does making the list mean you're great, a sell-out, or none of the above? We talk about it all and then some in a free-wheeling conversation.

Off the Bookshelves: Dietrich changes up his usual videogame obsession with a thought-provoking (if hyperbolic) piece about the game Mass Effect and what it means in terms of the larger science-fiction picture. Meanwhile, I hit the widest spectrum possible in moviegoing, with a week that included both the transcendence of Casablanca and the miraculously awful The Room. Finally, we wrap up the week with a look at the current season of Fringe, which turns out to have had a much better plan than we ever dreamed to hope.

What We've Been Reading: It's a bit of a Killer Nashville week on the reading list this week, as both Dietrich and I share some thoughts on books by authors we interviewed at the conference. Dietrich finds a lot to love about D. Alan Lewis's tale of murder and Santa Claus (yes, you read right), while I share some thoughts on the debut novel of Robert Pobi. More than that, though, this week belongs to the Chaos Walking trilogy for me, which I finished up and was left staggered by. Listen as I try to review a whole trilogy while not even spoiling the first novel of the set - it's certainly a challenge, but for me, the books are worth the effort to praise them.

Action Scenes in Books: Action sequences: if there's every a time when you have to do more showing than telling, it's these. But what separates the great from the awful here? We take on a lot of different authors, with Dietrich criticizing Tolkien's take on action (because he likes being a villain) while I single out Ender's Game for its perspective on gravity and space combat. There's lots more here, from Robert Jordan to Pat Conroy and beyond, but more than that, we try to figure out exactly what makes these sequences really resonate and work for us, and why it is that some authors just never seem to be able to pull it off in an exciting, involving way.

Off the Bookshelves: Dietrich and I get a chance to rave about our recent chance to see John Oliver perform standup (spoiler alert: he was amazing), and we also give our thoughts on ABC's new horror series The River. Meanwhile, Dietrich catches up on The Grey, another January release that's better than you might think, as well as explaining how his home life has turned into a buddy cop movie with an obese Jedi. Seriously.

E-mails and What We've Been Reading: We kick the week off with a few e-mails, including thoughts on Point of Impact from Robert Kristofferson, another way to get some cheap and free e-books via the web, and a listener who takes me to task for some of my complaints about Point of Impact. From there, as always, it's on to our recent reads. I once again attempt to review a trilogy without even spoiling the first book, which is a challenge, but given how astonishingly great the Chaos Walking series is, it's a challenge worth taking. After that, Dietrich shares some thoughts on a fresh look at The Hunger Games books as well as a most unique murder mystery that takes place in the last place you'd ever expect.

Relationships: It's Valentine's Day, which means it's a time for love. But with so many books taking the Dirk Pitt approach to love (a quick fling, followed by a tragic death or a disappearing character), where are all the good examples of these? We take on a lot here, from how Jack Reacher's women are more interesting than Dirk Pitt's to how Patrick Kenzie and Angie Gennaro make a compelling couple, from the time-sprawling love at the core of The Time Traveler's Wife to the historical cruelties of Memoirs of a Geisha to the skewed but hilarious assessments pronounced in High Fidelity. But more than that, we come again and again to the keys to making a relationship truly work in a novel - the importance of making both characters compelling, the willingness to ignore the boundaries of a book, and more. It may be a peculiarly masculine take on relationships this week (who else would seriously discuss Hannibal Lecter and Clarice Starling as a relationship?), but it's an interesting discussion all the same.

Off the Bookshelves: Lots to cover, as always, here, with me as usual diving into a bunch of movies and television. I've recently caught up on the controversial but gripping Shame and the absolutely riveting BBC miniseries State of Play, both of which get some detailed thoughts from me. Meanwhile, Dietrich gives a glowingly mediocre review of Tower Heist and suddenly discovers Mumford and Sons. But we close out the section with some discussion of the new film Chronicle, which defied both of our expectations by being surprisingly engaging, smart, exciting, and just generally great.

What We've Been Reading: No e-mails this week, but a surprisingly high number of recent reads gives us plenty to discuss here in our opening. While much of my week was spent reading Point of Impact for our main topic, I had some time to get into some other books as well, namely two more entries in the Sherlock Holmes series, which only gets better and better the longer it goes, and a not-too-surprisingly violent Western by Jack Ketchum. To top it all off, I share some opening thoughts on the Chaos Walking young adult series. Meanwhile, Dietrich ended up pretty disappointed with Ready Player One, but had a much happier experience with the newest Elmore Leonard book, Raylan, where Leonard adds another volume to the character that inspired the outstanding series Justified.

Point of Impact: Our second book club selection, Point of Impact tells the tale of a military sniper who finds himself set up for an assassination he didn't commit. It's a great premise, but do the book's flaws overwhelm its strengths? That's the heart of our debate here, with Dietrich loving the book warts and all, while I find myself unable to get past some major issues with the writing style, dialogue, and characters. Over the course of our discussion, we talk about ballistics details, prison rape, accents, isolation, and even Futurama to try to explain how we feel about this one. Do we persuade each other? Probably not...but it's an interesting listen nonetheless.

Off the Bookshelves: This week, I finally catch up with the recently Oscar-nominated film The Artist and find a lot to love, while also checking out the new HBO series Luck and finding it pretty promising indeed. As for Dietrich, he raves about the surprisingly great 50/50, laments the end of Chuck, enjoys Real Steel well enough, and tries his best to ignore the filmed version of One for the Money.

Emails and What We've Been Reading: We kick off this week with a listener e-mail that inspires a discussion about whether we're right in our predictions of the fall of Barnes and Noble, while our regular listener Robert Kristofferson sharing some funny books he's read as of late. Then it's on to our recent reads, which I kick off with a discussion of Clive Barker's young adult Abarat series, which is imaginative, incredible, and really dark. Meanwhile, Dietrich looks at a Tom Brokaw book surveying the new generation and what's to come, begins reading the comic series Y, The Last Man, and shares some thoughts on the beginning of Ready Player One.

So You Have a Kindle...Now What?: In the wake of a Christmas where the Kindle was the runaway best-selling present, we thought we'd take a week to give a beginner's guide to getting the best books you can for your Kindle or other e-reader. We talk about some of the advantages of disadvantages of free books and public domain stuff, the growing trend of digital lending through major libraries, and also share some feelings about the new burst in ad-supported Kindles and why they may be a better deal than you expect. On top of all that, we share some feelings on other ways to get deals, including author Twitter feeds, Project Gutenberg, Amazon's Daily Deal e-mails, and much, much more.

Off the Bookshelves: It's time for me to dive into some new releases, and I share some thoughts on the incredible Paradise Lost films, the underrated (and pitch-black) Young Adult, and the complex but rewarding Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy. Also, I give a shout out to the addictive but wonderful Carcassonne, the iPhone game that is really sucking away my free time these days. Dietrich, too, shares some cheap game thoughts on games like Ticket to Ride and Spell Tower, and also finally catches up on the incredible 2011 film Drive. Finally, Dietrich shares some thoughts on the new TV series Alcatraz and Touch, and we join up to share our love for the new season of Justified.

Emails and What We've Been Reading: This week, our e-mails include Rob Kristofferson's thoughts on the best reads of 2011 and a challenge for Dietrich and I to come up with some predictions as to what the new year might hold for the book industry. Meanwhile, Dietrich shares some thoughts as he savors John Hodgman's That Is All while I wrap up Dan Wells' outstanding John Wayne Cleaver trilogy with I Don't Want to Kill You.

Tickling the Funny Bone: Inspired by our recent reading of John Hodgman's incredible and hilarious That Is All, this week Dietrich and I take a look at the books that have made us laugh. More than that, though, we take a look at why humor is so hard to make work on the written page and fully admit that our sense of humor may be a little sillier than that of other people. In addition, we take a look at how humor can be used in non-comedic works for a variety of purposes. But we couldn't do this topic without bringing up some of our favorite books that have made us laugh, ranging from the iconic Douglas Adams to the gleefully despicable characters of A Confederacy of Dunces and beyond.

Off the Bookshelves: This week, Dietrich spends some time checking out new cult classics, finally catching up on Tucker and Dale vs. Evil and re-watching the amazing and brilliant Black Dynamite (which leaves me wanting to rewatch it too). Meanwhile, I rave about the Nick Hornby-scripted An Education and implore people to check out The Intruder, a provocative and intense film about racial tensions that's lapsed into the public domain (and is watchable on YouTube here).

Emails: We kick off this week with a trio of very different e-mails, all of which focus on very different things. To start with, Robert Kristofferson shares his thoughts on Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell. Next, we get a slew of great-sounding recommendations, including a discussion as to why the novelization of the Star Wars prequels might just be worth reading after all. Finally, we try to help a parent who's working to show his son how to balance video games with reading, offering some thoughts about books and selections that might be right up a gamer's alley.

What We've Been Reading: Once again, a holiday break finds us with lots to talk about, book-wise. Dietrich catches up with the astonishing and stunning Winter's Bone, which both of us pretty easily pick as our best book of 2011. Beyond that, he finally reads the first book in the Discworld Watch series, and he shares some thoughts about a wide-ranging collection of essays from a favorite author. Meanwhile, I find an icy-cold and disturbing piece of noir from Jim Thompson, get back into the adventures of John Wayne Cleaver, and report back on the final fate of the insane world created by John Hodgman.

The Best of 2011: It's been a good year for reading, and while Dietrich and I both have lots to talk about - from the new Stephen King to a great Depression story of immortality, from a surprisingly moving romance to Texas horror - we both pretty easily settle on our favorite book of the year, the astonishingly beautiful Winter's Bone, by Daniel Woodrell. But there's time to get into lots of other favorites from the year, and we take the time to give out lots of shoutouts to the books that we loved this year. And, as a bonus, we share some thoughts on our favorite games and movies of the year, while deciding that our thoughts on the best TV of the year would kind of be unnecessary...

Off the Bookshelves: For once, Dietrich has a lot more movies than I do to talk about - a side effect of having Christmas traveling to do. All I have to share is some thoughts on the middling Sherlock Holmes sequel and the generally great The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo; meanwhile, Dietrich looks at the docudrama Margin Call, the sociologically provocative The Wave, and we share some thoughts on Waiting for Superman (and why I don't know that I'll be able to watch it).

What We've Been Reading: In this, our last recording for 2011, Dietrich and I have a lot less books to talk about (due in no small part to the fact that we were both in the process of finishing up our respective school tenures). But we'd feel awkward if we left you with nothing! So I share some thoughts on the newest Terry Pratchett book and why I think it's good, but not up to par with his best, while Dietrich tries to sell people on a book about economics - a job I hope he succeeds with.

Off the Bookshelves: Dietrich shares some videogame knowledge, as is his wont, as he discusses Metro 2033, and we debate whether you would have had to play the first 2,032 volumes in the series to follow this one. Meanwhile, I try to review four movies in a very short amount of time while giving them all the attention and love they deserve.

E-mails and What We're Reading Now: This week, we're joined this week by Jessica Davis, a middle school teacher from Springfield, Missouri, and Dr. Jennifer Kates, an English professor at Middle Tennessee State University. We kick off our time together this week with a discussion of unsympathetic and even dislikable main characters in fiction, a conversation prompted by some of our thoughts on A Confederacy of Dunces and an e-mail from a listener. As for our current reads, we hit a wide array of materials here, from the latest entry in the Eragon series to an unfocused fantasy read, from a supernatural thriller by Joe Lansdale to one of Pratchett's greatest works.

Listener E-mails: We're joined by my good friend Ryan Williams this week for our main topic, but before we get there, it's time for e-mails. We cover lots this week, including the question of whether characters become less interesting as a series goes on and what advice we can give for an aspiring writer choosing a major. But the centerpiece of this section has to belong to a former shipmate of Dietrich's, who absolutely lays into us for our failings on the sports fiction question, all while giving Dietrich's fingers plenty of workout with regards to the profanity-editing buttons.

Terry Pratchett: It's no secret that Dietrich and I are giant fans of Terry Pratchett, nor have I made it a secret that Ryan got me into the man's work in the first place. So it's fitting that he joins us this week for a discussion of Pratchett's talent, genius, creativity, and world. We take it all on here, from good books to start with to some of the various arcs within the series, from attempting to describe Pratchett's writing to laughing about some of our favorite episodes while giving nothing away. It's a long, passionate discussion about an author we all adore, and if we can convert even one person out there to reading Pratchett, then I think we'll end the episode quite satisfied.

Listener E-mails: A few e-mails are waiting for us as we return this week, including one from our loyal listener Robert Kristofferson, who expands on our "thankfulness" list with some ideas of his own. Next, we go international with a great e-mail from a German listener who provides a massive list of books to check out, as well as making us a little sad that so little foreign literature comes to America. Finally, we try to explain why our e-mailers started abusing us, and we flail about sadly while attempting to come up with a list of modern sports fiction.

Off the Bookshelves: We give a short reaction to The Walking Dead finale (summary: thumbs down) before getting into other stuff. I share some nostalgic love for The Muppets and try my best to convey how awesome Bigger Than Life is without giving away any of the fun. Meanwhile, Dietrich explains his misgivings about 30 Minutes or Less while further loving Saints Row the Third. And I wrap things up with a brief reaction to a game Dietrich loved and a short little freeware game that's well worth taking the time to check out.

What We've Been Reading: We kick off the week with a long discussion of tips on writing, with me offering the perspective of an English teacher and Dietrich looking at it all from the author's point of view. From there, we move on to our week's reads, as Dietrich takes on a lengthy analysis of a critical issue within the modern news media, and I look into both a classic children's book and a disappointing new work from the usually reliable Robert McCammon.

Off the Bookshelves: With shows about to move into their winter breaks, Dietrich and I take a look at two shows that have stumbled this season: Fringe and The Walking Dead. We talk about why each one is struggling, but why only one of them may be one that we stick with. Outside of that, Dietrich gets to dive into the bizarre insanity that is the new Saints Row game, and I immerse myself in the damaged title character of Martha Marcy May Marlene, all before bidding everyone adieu as we take a week off for the Thanksgiving holiday.

What We've Been Reading: We're joined this week by our friend and frequent guest Beth Terrell, who kicks off our recent reads with the debut novel by Bruce DeSilva, Rogue Agent. Meanwhile, I'm making my way through The Five, by Robert McCammon...but all in all, this week belongs to Stephen King, as Dietrich reads Mile 81, Beth takes on Full Dark, No Stars, and best of all, Dietrich and I both savor King's newest novel, 11/22/63, which we both think may rank among the best books he's written not just recently, but period.

Off the Bookshelves: We hit a wide range of stuff this week, kicking things off with Beth's feelings on the alien invasion comedy Paul. Meanwhile, I rave about an all-too-overlooked Hitchcock classic (Shadow of a Doubt) and one of the year's best films (Take Shelter). And, of course, it's a huge time for gaming, and there's no way Dietrich could avoid talking about Skyrim and Modern Warfare 3, is there?

E-Mails and What We've Been Reading: We start off this week with an e-mail from loyal listener Robert Kristofferson, who reminds us of a few horror tales we definitely should have thought of, including the seminal "I Have No Mouth And I Must Scream." From there, it's on to current reads. Dietrich kicks us off with a couple of acclaimed comic series, reading the first entries in Y: The Last Man and Locke and Key. Meanwhile, I've been slacking, giving me only two half-books to talk about: the surreal genius of Fugue State and the lexicon-driven anarchy of The Phantom Tollbooth.

Off the Bookshelves: It's a lowbrow week for me in this section, as I share some thoughts on a very late-in-life viewing of the original Godzilla (Gojira, if you want to be technical) and the new Harold and Kumar film. Meanwhile, Dietrich becomes the last person on the planet to watch Aladdin, as well as joining the viewers of the show Grimm.

E-Mails and What We've Been Reading: We kick off our big 5-0 with some detailed listener e-mails that get into some other entries in the children's books discussion as well as a rave about Joe Hill's Locke and Key. From there, it's off to what we've been reading, and both of us have a lot of love to share for The Infernals, the latest from John Connolly. Individually, Dietrich finally finishes up the Machine of Death short story collection, while I give some thoughts on Lee Child's entry into the Kindle Singles collection, Second Son.

Also, we take some time this week to announce our first book club novel: the amazing Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, by Susanna Clarke. We'll be devoting an entire episode to this book in four weeks, so we hope you join in by reading the book over the next few weeks. We hope you'll share your thoughts on the book with us - we're hoping to make this a community discussion, so e-mail us with your feelings!

Finally, throughout this week, you'll hear some congratulatory and/or insulting messages in celebration of our 50th podcast. So thanks this week to Rob Kristofferson, Larry Sterling, Ryan Williams, Adam Francescon, and Christopher Merchant for their contributions and for listening to us!

Off the Bookshelves: Dietrich gets his PBS documentary on with a look at a documentary about the 19th century version of the Internet, and comes away quite impressed with all he learned from it. Meanwhile, I plunged into a bunch of horror films this week, and share some thoughts on the best ones I saw, including the mind games of Anguish, the punk-rock zombie fun of The Return of the Living Dead, and the brutal, ambitious, and unforgettable French new-wave horror film Martyrs.

What We've Been Reading: Having gotten a Kindle for his birthday, Dietrich's embraced it all the way, checking out a book I loved (I Am Not a Serial Killer, by Dan Wells) and picking up a collection we're both excited about (a complete H.P. Lovecraft collection for 99 cents!). Meanwhile, I finish up another Sherlock Holmes collection and reread John Connolly's gleefully demented The Gates...but all of that's just prelude for our discussion of the final Repairman Jack book. Spoiler warning: there's no way to talk about the Jack book without getting into plot discussion. So skip ahead if you need to - the discussion lasts from about 12:20 until 22:17, just so you know.

Off the Bookshelves: I share some thoughts on The Binding of Isaac, a game that Dietrich raved about last week, as well as sing the praises of Freaks, an oddball classic horror film that's unlike anything you've ever seen. Dietrich, meanwhile, is videogaming it up (as usual), with comments on Arkham City and Battlefield 3. And we don't neglect TV, either - Dietrich shares some thoughts on Once Upon a Time, and we debate how we're feeling about the new season of The Walking Dead.

What We've Been Reading: Dietrich is back into school full time again, which means his reading this week is limited to a reread of the seminal Jurassic Park, which we both love, but don't have much new to say about. Meanwhile, I return from vacation with a lot read, but I can't say much about the heavy hitter on my list, the final Repairman Jack novel, since Dietrich hasn't gotten to it yet. Instead, I find myself trying to parse my complicated feelings for the Jack Ketchum novel Stranglehold, which left me horrified and uncomfortable, and yet left me impressed with its skill in many ways.

Off the Bookshelves: Dietrich beats me with stuff to talk about here, discussing a game based on Biblical child sacrifice and a film about economic theory applied to baseball. Meanwhile, I give some thoughts about the new season of Fringe, and we both share some expectations about the new season of The Walking Dead. In addition, we share some thoughts about the state of the podcast itself, and ask for listener feedback about some ideas we're considering implementing.

Library Police Jr. Deputy Edition: To start off this children's literature-themed episode, Dietrich and I begin talking about the books we loved as kids, but find ourselves focusing more on the books our children love now. I focus on my son's love of the Magic Tree House series, Pippi Longstocking, and The Hobbit, and we both reminisce about the genius of writers like Shel Silverstein, Dr. Seuss, and Judy Blume.

An Interview with Linda Sue: Linda Sue, author of A Long Walk To Water, 39 Clues: Storm Warning, and the 2002 Newbery Award Winner A Single Shard, discusses drawing inspiration from her Korean heritage, writing a children's book about a Sudanese lost boy, and her approach toward writing for children.

Listener E-Mails and Kindle Discussion: We kick off the week with a discussion of October book-reading: do we find ourselves drifting more towards horror novels at this time of year? From there, we segue into a discussion of the news from the world of Amazon, which last week announced new models and prices of the Kindle, including multiple models that are below $100. We talk about what we think all of this means for the industry and e-reading in general, as well as what everyone's new Christmas present is going to be now.

The Relationship Between the Past and the Present: This week's podcast is a response to a recent episode of the AV Club's podcast, itself a response to a recent GQ article that, in arguing that the present has plenty of worthwhile films to watch, also determined that the past was utterly without value and not worth checking out. The AV Club discussed this issue as it pertained to film, TV, and music; Dietrich and I decided to take the discussion to the world of books. We found ourselves disagreeing a little more than we expected here, but at the same time, I think we both found a lot of common ground in the discussion, but more than that, we discussed how dislike of both the past and the present can arise, and why both have their problems for any serious reader.

Listener E-Mails and What We're Reading Now: This week, we're joined by Christopher Merchant, the editor for Middle Tennessee State University's student newspaper, Sidelines. To kick off the episode, we enjoy a pat on the back for talking about The King of Kong, but we also field a listener question about the apparent dearth of female writers in the horror/thriller sections of the bookstores. From there, it's on to current reads, with Chris pondering how Samuel Coleridge ever became famous, Dietrich revisiting the earliest Repairman Jack book, and me returning to the Sherlock Holmes series. Finally, we wrap it all up by talking a little bit about the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series, which Chris has recently begun.

Off the Bookshelves: We've got a pretty diametrically opposed pair of films to talk about this week, as I rave about the moody, existential neo-noir Drive, while Dietrich feels let down by the recent female-led comedy Bridesmaids. And, of course, it wouldn't be an "Off the Bookshelves" without videogame chat, so we touch on Gears of War 3 and revisit BioShock 2, which Chris is diving into. Oh, and I do my best to encapsulate just how amazing Patton Oswalt's new comedy album is. (Spoiler alert: very.)

Listener E-Mails and What We're Reading Now: This week, we get an e-mail from a listener who shares some of our recent joys with regards to authorial love, and we also end up discussing our feelings on the upcoming season of The Walking Dead. As for recent reads, Dietrich sings the praises of The Burning Soul, while I try to explain exactly what makes Dan Wells' fascinating I Am Not a Serial Killer such a riveting read, despite what should be a stupid premise.

Off the Bookshelves: I further alienate anyone who wants "regular" movie advice from me by recommending a documentary about video games (The King of Kong) and a silent horror film about a circus performer (The Unknown). (In my defense, both of them are amazing, albeit in entirely different ways.) Dietrich, meanwhile, has a bit of a disappointing experience with the new videogame Dead Island, but gets a genuinely pleasing surprise in the form of a Sports Illustrated article about an incredibly talented young girl.

Listener E-Mails and What We're Reading Now: This week, one listener asks a tough question: when is horror genuinely edgy and effective, and when is it just wallowing in filth? Also, we quickly reach a consensus for another listener who wonders if it's even worth checking out Jeffery Deaver. (Spoiler: yes.) After that, I give some thoughts on a nicely creepy short story by Stephen King that's available on the Kindle, followed by some praise for the second volume in Joe Lansdale's Hap and Leonard books. Dietrich closes us up this week with two books he's currently in the middle of: the latest from John Connolly and an entry in the Kathy Reichs series that (apparently very loosely) inspired the TV show Bones.

Off the Bookshelves - Breaking Bad Season 4: In the first part of Off the Bookshelves, we have a lengthy discussion about the current season of Breaking Bad, discussing the events so far and the possible ramifications. This is a pretty spoiler-heavy section, so if you're wanting to save yourself the spoilers on the show, jump on ahead to the next part...

An Interview with Ryan Mecum: Dietrich sits down with author Ryan Mecum to talk about his wholly unique combination of poetry (in haiku form) and zombie horror. Ryan opens up about how this unusual idea arose, gives some nods to the zombie horror greats, and discusses where one can go from writing zombie haiku.

What We've Been Reading: After a couple of weeks without being able to talk reads, Dietrich and I finally get to discuss our opinion of The Magician King (podcast spoiler alert: it's really, really good). We also both take on some reads by Joe Lansdale, with Dietrich finally experiencing The Complete Drive-In and me diving into the Hap and Leonard series with Savage Season. Finally, I have two solid new books by two favorite authors with very similar names: I return to John Connolly's Charlie Parker series with The Burning Soul and Michael Connelly's Mickey Haller books in The Fifth Witness.

Off the Bookshelves: As is our wont, Dietrich shares some love for a new videogame (Deus Ex: Human Revolution), and I catch up with a surprisingly strong recent release (Kung Fu Panda 2). But in a bit of a different mode this week, we also share some recent music that's really working for us. Dietrich looks at Jonathan Coulton's new album, in which the nerd culture songmaster moves a little more mainstream. Meanwhile, I dive into the latest releases by Nashville's own rock band The Features and singer/songwriter/rocker Butch Walker.

What we're reading now: We discuss our recent reads, including an entry in Dietrich's guilty pleasure series One for the Money by Stephanie Evanovich; The Sladen Suit, a great Kindle short story by Brian Evenson; and one of the seminal spy novels, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by John Le Carré.