The Writer and the Critic

Episode 99: The Trees Grew Because I Bled There | Everything Ravaged, Everything Burned

On this episode of The Writer and the Critic, your hosts Kirstyn McDermott and Ian Mond, discuss such scintillating topics as football, the coronation, bus replacements and overcrowded trains. But not for long, they promise. The books up for discussion this month are The Trees Grew Because I Bled There by Eric LaRocca [7:05] and Everything Ravaged, Everything Burned by Wells Tower [36:30].

Listeners may also wish to head over to Cinema Chords to watch the interview with Erica LaRocca mentioned in this episode.

If you've skipped ahead to avoid spoilers, please come back at 1:01:10 for final remarks.

Next month, the two books on the slab will be:

• The Book of Accidents by Chuck Wendig
• Conquest by Nina Allan

Read ahead and join in the spoilerific fun!

 

Episode 98: The Terraformers | Sing, Nightingale

On this episode of The Writer and the Critic, your hosts Kirstyn McDermott and Ian Mond, briefly discuss reading slumps and the likelihood that either of them will read the new novel by Bret Easton Ellis. The books up for discussion this month are The Terraformers by Annalee Newitz [5:00] and Sing, Nightingale by Marie Hélène Poitras [45:00].

If you've skipped ahead to avoid spoilers, please come back at 1:13:00 for final remarks.

Next month, the two books on the slab will be:

• Everything Ravaged, Everything Burned by Wells Tower
• The Trees Grew Because I Bled There by Eric LaRocca

Read ahead and join in the spoilerific fun!

Episode 97: LOTE | Animal Life

On this episode of The Writer and the Critic, your hosts Kirstyn McDermott and Ian Mond, get straight down to business with minimal waffle. You're welcome. The books up for discussion this month are LOTE by Shola Von Reinhold [3:25] and Animal Life by Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir [44:38].

Next month, the two books on the slab will be:

• The Terraformers by Annalee Newitz
• Sing, Nightingale by Marie Hélène Poitras

Read ahead and join in the spoilerific fun!

Episode 96: Every Version of You | The Women Could Fly

Welcome to 2023! On this first episode for the year your hosts, Kirstyn McDermott and Ian Mond, chat briefly about the Locus Recommended Reading List in which Hard Places gets a mention. Huzzah! The books up for discussion this month are Every Version of You by Grace Chan [6:25] and The Women Could Fly by Megan Giddings [39:05].

For listeners interested in spec fic dealing with the second generation immigrant experience, Ian also recommends Flux by Jinwoo Chong.

And Kirstyn has found unbounded delight in a silly little browser add-on, Tabby Cat.

Next month, the two books on the slab will be:

• LOTE by Shola Von Reinhold

• Animal Life by Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir

Read ahead and join in the spoilerific fun!

Episode 95: January Fifteenth | Patricia Wants to Cuddle

On this final episode of The Writer and the Critic for 2022 your hosts, Kirstyn McDermott and Ian Mond, spend a few minutes musing over the missing of podcasts, the breaking of awards, and the end of time as we know it. The books up for discussion this month are January Fifteenth by Rachel Swirsky [9:30] and Patricia Wants to Cuddle by Samantha Allen [39:00].

The interview with Samantha Allen that was mentioned in this episode can be read here.

The fabulously sartorial Jules Mond can be found on Instagram @seemeswoon.

And for listeners curious to know what Ian's beautiful William Atheling Jr Award for Criticism or Review actually looks like, here it is complete with box:

Kirstyn promises to mail it to him before the end of the year. Maybe.

If you've skipped ahead to avoid spoilers, please come back at 109:10 for final remarks.

The first episode of 2023 will be uploaded in February 2023 and the two books on the slab will be:

• Every Version of You by Grace Chan

• The Women Could Fly by Megan Giddings

Read ahead and join in the spoilerific fun!