American Writers (One Hundred Pages at a Time)
Episodes
Episode 562: Mark Twain: Innocents Abroad (Part 4)
22 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I finish up my study of INNOCENTS ABROAD by Mark Twain. There are so many layers to this book, the best I can so is lay them out and ...
Robert A. Heinlein Book Club: Episode 12: Solution Unsatisfactory
22 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
"Solution Unsatisfactory", published in 1940, is my favorite of the early Heinlein stories I have been exploring. It explores the consequences of the ...
Robert A. Heinlein Book Club: Episode 11: Blowups Happen
17 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Listen as I realize the obvious radical politics at the heart of this story by Robert A. Heinlein "Blowups Happen". This tale is at its heart about ex...
Episode 561: Mark Twain: Innocents Abroad (Part 3)
17 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this part of my look at INNOCENTS ABROAD by Mark Twain, we spend most or time looking at Twain's comments on Italy and our odd relationship to hist...
Robert A. Heinlein Book Club: Episode 10: Coventry
14 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this sequel to "If This Goes On" Robert A. Heinlein explores the limits of individualism and the dangers of assuming the most conspicuous alternati...
Episode 560: Mark Twain: Innocents Abroad (Part 2)
14 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In part two of my review of INNOCENTS ABROAD by Mark Twain we follow our author through Italy and his engagement with the reality and idealization of ...
Episode: 559: Mark Twain: Innocents Abroad (Part 1)
20 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We move onto Mark Twain's first published book INNOCENTS ABROAD. This book recounts his adventures in Europe and Asia during a steamship tour. Through...
Robert A. Heinlein Book Club: Episode 9: If This Goes On (Part 2)
20 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this short episode, I finish up my thoughts on IF THIS GOES ON by Robert A. Heinlein, focusing on the strategy for insurgencies and how movement cu...
Robert A. Heinlein Book Club: Episode 8: If This Goes On (Part 1)
16 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Robert A. Heinlein Book Club, I examine the first half of "If This Goes On," which images a rebellion against a theocratic Amer...
Episode 558: Mark Twain: Pudd’nhead Wilson
16 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I take a quick look at Mark Twain's PUDD'NHEAD WILSON, a great exploration of the absurdity of the color line and slavery in America....
Robert A. Heinlein BookClub: Episode 7: Requiem
12 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
There is not a whole lot to say about Robert A. Heinlein's story "Requiem" but I try anyway to give my thoughts. Maybe we will have more to say when w...
Episode 557: Mark Twain: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (Part 3)
12 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is the conclusion to my thoughts on THE ADVENTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN, one of my nation's greatest novels. It ends (in my opinion) with ...
Robert A. Heinlein Book Club: Episode 6: The Roads Must Roll
10 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
I agree that the "roads must roll", but to what degree does that mean we should be obliged to one class of people? Perhaps I look into that in this re...
Episode 556: Mark Twain: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (Part 2)
10 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In part 2 of my review of THE ADVENTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN by Mark Twain, I focus on the odious adults that Huck and Jim interact with and how we mi...
Robert A. Heinlein Book Club:Episode 5: Let There Be Light
06 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In the 1940 story "Let There Be Light", Heinlein takes on the question of IP and public good, but much more radically than in "Life-Line." And based g...
Episode 555: Mark Twain: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (Part 1)
05 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The first part of my review of THE ADVENTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN by Mark Twain. I focus on Huck's character and the adults surrounding him. I will lo...
Robert A. Heinlein Book Club: Episode 4: Misfit
03 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In "Misfit" by Robert A. Heinlein we experience the Civilian Conservation Corps in space and see how in the frontier a natural genius can succeed. Not...
Episode 554: Mark Twain: Life on the Mississippi (Part 4)
02 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is the conclusion of my review of LIFE ON THE MISSISSIPPI by Mark Twain. The ending has some great commentary on the Southern memory of t...
Robert A. Heinlein Book Club: Episode 3: Life-Line
29 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
What happens to insurance companies when a scientist can predict the moment of your death? Should corporations be able to stop the spread of knowledge...
Episode 553: Mark Twain: Life on the Mississippi (Part 3)
29 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is part three of my coverage of LIFE ON THE MISSISSIPPI by Mark Twain. With Twain we explore how the South and the nation changed in the ...
Robert A. Heinlein Book Club: Episode 2: For Us, the Living (Part 2)
27 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I finish my look at FOR US, THE LIVING by Robert A. Heinlein. There is a lot of historical and economic details that I scan over here...
Episode 552: Mark Twain: Life on the Mississippi (Part 2)
27 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is a little more on LIFE ON THE MISSISSIPPI by Mark Twain. It is also an episode where I have a personal breakdown and realization.
Robert A. Heinlein Book Club: Episode 1: For Us, the Living (Part 1)
22 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
I start my exploration of Robert A. Heinlein's works with my thoughts on FOR US, THE LIVING, a fascinating study of the "social credit" economy.
Episode 551: Mark Twain: Life on the Mississippi (Part 1)
22 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The early chapters of the massive THE LIFE ON THE MISSISSIPPI explores the natural and human history of the river before getting into the personal his...
Episode 550:Mark Twain: The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (Part 2)
19 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The second half of my review of THE ADVENTURES OF TOM SAWYER by Mark Twain. Here I discuss adulthood, the preservation of freedom (or not) and the hor...
Episode 549: Mark Twain: The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (Part 1)
13 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
I begin my series on the works of Mark Twain with THE ADVENTURES OF TOM SAWYER. I hope I have a little bit to say about this well-known novel.
Episode 548: The American Civil War (Part 28): The Finale
08 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Finally, I reach the end of my series on the American Civil War. Next up, we will look at the works of Mark Twain.
Episode 548: The American Civil War (Part 27): Lincoln’s Second Inagural
06 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Among other things I explore Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address, the passage of the 13th Amendment, and the later battles of the Civil War. This serie...
Episode 546: The American Civil War (Part 26): March to the Sea
01 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I begin the end of my coverage of the American Civil War Library of America anthology with a gloss on the March to the Sea and relate...
Episode 545: The American Civil War (Part 25): The Fall of Atlanta and the Election of 1864
29 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The crucial election of 1864 took place in the context of decisive Union victories in Atlanta and Virginia. How do these events effect the people who ...
Episode 544: The American Civil War (Part 24): Peace Movement?
24 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I consider documents from the American Civil War on the 1864 peace movement, the siege of Atlanta, the Jubal Early raid on Washington...
Episode 543: The American Civil War (Part 23): Overland Campaign
23 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
I continue to explore the American Civil War through primary sources, looking primarily at the brutal outcomes of the Overland Campaign and the soldie...
Episode 542: The American Civil War (Part 22)
17 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I begin my look at the final year of the American Civil War through the Library of American anthology. I was particularly moved by Ha...
Episode 541: Stephen King: IT (Part 11)
09 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The final episode in my review of IT. Let me know what you think of this novel and my coverage of it.
Episode 540: Stephen King: IT (Part 10)
06 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In part 10 of my review of Stephen King's IT, we (almost) get the climax in the sewers. Before we can go there we need to spend around 100 pages watch...
Episode 539: Stephen King: IT (Part 9)
02 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode I explore three chapters of Stephen King's novel IT. It includes a couple of a my favorite sections: the death of Patrick Hockstetter ...
Episode 538: Stephen King: IT (Part 8)
26 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode I look at the chapters "The Smokehole" and "Eddie's Big Break" from Stephen King's novel IT. Sadly these are both chapters that have b...
Episode 537: Stephen King: IT (Part 7)
18 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
I continue my deep dive into IT by Stephen King by looking at the turning point chapters on the "Apocalyptic Rock Fight" and "The Album", which set up...
Episode 536: The American Civil War (21): Winter of 1863-1864
13 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I look at some historical documents produced in the winter of 1863 and 1864. With the tide of the war decisively changed, desperation...
Episode 535: Stephen King: IT (Part 6)
11 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode I look at the "Walking Tours" chapter of Stephen King's novel IT. It sets up some important themes for the later half of the novel and...
Episode 534: American Civil War (20): The Gettysburg Address
06 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode I explore more documents from the American Civil War, focusing on the end of 1863. Topics include Reconstruction, the battles around C...
Episode 533: Stephen King, IT (5)
04 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This is the episode where I deal with the biggest problem I have interpreting this novel. The question of IT's motivations, the return of the Losers, ...
Episode 532: The American Civil War (19): Making a Revolution
29 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The documents from the summer of 1863, after the victories of Gettysburg and Vicksburg, show how rapidly Emancipation changed the fortunes of the war ...
Episode 531: Stephen King: IT (4)
27 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode we continue our slow read through IT by Stephen King and finish up part two of the book. The chapters focus on the power of magic, bel...
Episode 530: Stephen King, It (3)
22 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Part three of my review of IT by Stephen King. The chapters I look at here explore the creation of a Ka-tet (to steal a Dark Tower term) and meditate ...
Episode 529: The American Civil War (18): The Turning Point
20 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode we look at a handful of turning points in the American Civil War by working through the Library of America's anthology of Civil War wr...
Episode 528: Stephen King: IT (2)
13 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Part two of my review of Stephen King's IT. I mostly discuss how much I like the book's relationship to fictional and real history.
Episode 527: The American Civil War (17):June of 1863
07 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
As I continue reading through a series of primary sources on the American Civil War, I dig into the events of June of 1863, which set the stage for so...
Episode 526: Stephen King, IT (1)
05 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This episode of my non-Hugo-award-winning podcast introduces a mini-series on Stephen King's IT, which will be released alongside my main series. Here...
Episode 525: The American Civil War (16): Total War
01 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
When did the American Civil War become a total war? The documents I look at in this episode cover the spring of 1863 and suggest these months may be w...
Episode 524: The American Civil War (15): Impact of Emancipation
25 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode I continue my Civil War series and look at the impact of Emancipation on the war effort, diplomacy, and public opinion. I also talk ab...
Episode 522: Benjamin Franlkin: Writings from the Seven Years’ War and Letters
26 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A bit of a mixed bag in this episode. I close out my look at Franklin's writings from before his relocation to London in 1757 and take on a grabbag of...
Episode 521: Benjamin Franklin 1747-1754: The Albany Plan
08 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
I read another 100 pages of American writers. This time, it is Ben Franklin's writings from the 1740s and 1750s, up until the Albany Plan of Union and...
Episode 520: Benjamin Franklin-1733-1745 and the Formation of the American Philosophical Society
02 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The 1730s and 1740s saw Benjamin Franklin use his newspaper to promote issues of public necessity such as a post office and a fire department. It is d...
Episode 519: Benjamin Franklin: Early journalism and his argument for paper currency
29 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We look at Ben Franklin's writings in the later 1720s and early 1730s. Mostly I consider some of his journalism for the Pennsylvania Gazette, but mayb...
Episode 518: Benjamin Franklin: Boston and London Writings (1722-1725)
22 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode I start a new series looking at the works of Benjamin Franklin. This time we will focus on his early Boston and London writings such a...
Episode 517: Sinclair Lewis: Babbitt (3)
15 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The finale of my coverage of Sinclair Lewis with my final thoughts on BABBITT (1922). Is there any hope for Babbitt? I am not sure. I see some hints o...
Episode 516: Sinclair Lewis: Babbbitt (2)
11 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Part two of my review of the excellent novel by Sinclair Lewis, BABBITT. Here we see the calm before the storm of Babbitt's crisis of faith as he trie...
Episode 515: Sinclair Lewis: Babbitt (1)
09 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode we jump into BABBITT by Sinclair Lewis. Most of the first third of this novel is devoted to introducing the character of the ultimate ...
Episode 514: Sinclair Lewis: Main Street (5)
01 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The finale of my review of MAIN STREET by Sinclair Lewis. The major themes in this part are the cancel culture of Gopher's Prairie and the possibiliti...
Episode 513: Sinclair Lewis: Main Street (4)
27 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Part 4 of my review of MAIN STREET by Sinclair Lewis. In this part we see the Kennicott marriage fall apart, while the banality of Gopher's Prairie se...
Episode 512: Sinclair Lewis: Main Street (3)
25 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode we explore more of MAIN STREET by Sinclair Lewis as Carol Kennicott takes a more practical approach to her reforms. Yet, her frustrati...
Episode 511: Sinclair Lewis: Main Street (2)
14 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Part two of my review of MAIN STREET by Sinclair Lewis. We get a more intimate look at Gopher's Prairie and its people, and see a darker side to the t...
Episode 510: Sinclair Lewis: Main Street (1)
11 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I dig into MAIN STREET by Sinclair Lewis and talk about the psychology of the newly educated and the cultural gap between Main Street...
Episode 509: The American Civil War (14): Fredericksburg
05 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode I look at the Library of America's anthology of Civil War writing, focusing on the end of 1862 and the Battle of Fredericksburg and em...
Episode 508: The American Civil War (13): Emancipation, General McClellan, and the Battle of Cornith
28 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Lots going on in the fall of 1862, in the aftermath of the Emancipation Proclamation as new debates emerge. This episode follows those debates, the fi...
Episode 507: The American Civil War (12): Antietam
14 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode we explore documents surrounding Lee's invasion of Maryland, the Battle of Antietam, and the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation. So...
Episode 506: The American Civil War (11): The Second Battle of Bull Run
07 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode we see how Lincoln moved toward emancipation in the context of failed military campaigns and growing pressure from enslaved people. Yo...
Episode 505: The American Civil War (10): The Seven Days Battle
23 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Our next episode in this series on the American Civil War looks at the events surrounding the Seven Days Battle, especially General Hunter's move to a...
Episode 504: The American Civil War (9): Shiloh
18 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I look at the events surrounding the battle of Shiloh such as the push for compensated emancipation, the seizure of New Orleans, and ...
Episode 503: The American Civil War (8): Fall of Fort Donaldson
13 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
I am still alive, yes. Just taking a break from recording. Anyway, as we continue reading American Civil War anthology by the Library of America, we...
Episode 502: The American Civil War (7): The Winter of 1861
27 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
I complete my look at volume 1 of the Library of America's anthology of Civil War writings. It is a dark winter for the USA after a series of military...
Episode 501: The American Civil War (6): The Battle of Wilson’s Creek
20 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The aftermath of the Battle of Bull Run was a lot of hand wringing and searching for new ideas by the USA. The battle of WIlson's Creek deepened these...
Episode 500: The American Civil War (5): The First Battle of Bull Run
17 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I look at documents surrounding the First Battle of Bull Run, the first major battle of the American Civil War.
Episode 499: The American Civil War (4): Mobilization
13 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode we read into the aftermath of the attack on Fort Sumter by looking at documents by people such as Walt Whitman, George Templeton Stron...
Episode 498: The American Civil War (3): Fort Sumter
09 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Our series looking into the American Civil War as anthologized by the Library of America continues with the events surrounding the attack on Fort Sumt...
Episode 497: The American Civil War (2): Secession
01 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Second in a series of the major documents telling the story of the American Civil War. This section covers the secession debate that emerged during Bu...
Episode 496: The American Civil War (1): The Aftermath of the 1860 Election
23 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Today, I begin a long series on the Library of America's anthology of writings of the American Civil War. The first documents we look explore the impa...
Episode 495: Neal Stephenson: The Baroque Cycle (Final Thoughts)
21 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The final episode of my epic review of THE BAROQUE CYCLE by Neal Stephenson. I do some rankings of the books, characters, and review some of the major...
Episode 494: Neal Stephenson: The System of the World (3)
17 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We have finally come to the end of my review of THE BAROQUE CYCLE. Some great moments in the final scenes of this epic story, including the hanging of...
Episode 493: Neal Stephenson: The System of the World (2)
13 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
As we reach the climax of THE BAROQUE CYCLE, by Neal Stephenson, we get two heroic moments from our central characters. Daniel Waterhouse stages a jai...
Episode 492: Neal Stephenson: The System of the World (1)
08 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
It has all come to this, the final volume of the BAROQUE CYCLE, appropriately called THE SYSTEM OF THE WORLD. This is not only comes from the last vol...
Episode 491: Neal Stephenson: Currency (3)
08 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We finish the penultimate volume of Neal Stephenson's BAROQUE CYCLE with some mighty fine action scenes. An attempt on the life of Peter the Great and...
Episode 490: Neal Stephenson: Currency (2)
02 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this section of the final volume of Neal Stephenson's epic BAROQUE CYCLE, we see the investigative club seemingly achieve its goals through a stake...
H. P. Lovecraft Book Club: Series 10: Episode 5: Howard-Lovecraft Letters October - December 1932
30 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
I think this will be the end of my H. P. Lovecraft Book Club. While there is much more I could do, I think this is a fine place to stop. For those int...
Episode 489: Neal Stephenson: Currency (1)
30 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
As we come to the close of the Baroque Cycle in the book CURRENCY, we get lessons in modern economics through a fascination discussion between Daniel ...
H.P. Lovecract Book Club: Series 10: Episode 4: Howard-Lovecraft Letters June-September 1932
22 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The next episode in my series looking at the letters of H. P. Lovecraft and Robert E. Howard. This episode focuses on the summer of 1932 and a handful...
Episode 488: Neal Stephenson: Solomon‘s Gold (3)
22 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The climax to SOLOMON'S GOLD by Neal Stephenson is a heist on the Tower of London by Jack Shaftoe. For most of this section, Newton and Daniel Waterho...
Episode 487: Neal Stephenson: Solomon‘s Gold (2)
17 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This is part 2 of my review of SOLOMON'S GOLD, part of the BAROQUE CYCLE, by Neal Stephenson. As always it is a fun exploration of the 17th and 18th c...
H. P. Lovecraft Book Club: Series 10: Episode 3: Lovecraft-Howard Letters, September 1931-June 1932
07 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
More of my look at the Robert E. Howard-H. P. Lovecraft letters, focusing on the period from September 1931 to June 1932. We really get into explorati...
Episode 486: Neal Stephenson: Solomon‘s Gold (1)
07 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The final volume of Neal Stephenson's BAROQUE CYCLE begins with Daniel Waterhouse's return to England. He learns about the beginning of the Industrial...
Episode 485: Neal Stephenson: Bonanza/The Juncto (6)
03 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Our final look at THE CONFUSION by Neal Stephenson. These sections involve a dramatic journey across the Pacific, religious drama in the Americas and ...
H. P. Lovecraft Book Club: Series 10: Episode 2: Robert E. Howard/HPL Letters, December 1930-August 1931
28 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
I guess some more of my commentary on the Robert E. Howard and H. P. Lovecraft letters. A bit of a slog but they are certainly worth reading for a gli...
Episode 484: Neal Stephenson: Bonanza/The Juncto (5)
28 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I look continue my read-through of the BAROQUE CYCLE and come toward the end of THE CONFUSION. In this section of the tale, we pick u...
Episode 483: Neal Stephenson: Bonanza/The Juncto (4)
24 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In part four of my review of Neal Stephenson's THE CONFUSION, we see the high point of Eliza's character, as she uses the Nine Years War to destroy an...
H. P. Lovecraft Book Club: Series 10: Episode 1: Howard-Lovecraft Letters (1)
20 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Here starts a 9-part series exploring the Lovecraft-Robert E. Howard letters. It will be a nice way to finish up this series. The conversation begins ...
Episode 482: Neal Stephenson: Bonanza/The Juncto (3)
20 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This is part three of my review of THE CONFUSION (Book 2 of the BAROQUE CYCLE). In this section, Eliza in France, escapes a trap by marrying a villain...
H. P. Lovecraft Book Club: Series 9: Episode 19: The Challenge from Beyond
17 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We end out look at Lovecraft's stories with THE CHALLENGE FROM BEYOND, a round-robin tale. Started promising but then Lovecraft hijacks it. Next up, a...
Episode 481: Neal Stephenson: Bonanza/The Juncto (2)
17 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This part of THE CONFUSION by Neal Stephenson focuses on the voyage from Spain to Cairo and Jack Shaftoe and the Cabal stealing the Solomonic gold fro...
Episode 480: Neal Stephenson: Bonanza/The Juncto (1)
13 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In books four and five of THE BAROQUE CYCLE, the story becomes "confused". We will explore these two intertwined stories in six episodes. We start wit...