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Pagenerd: Daily Summaries Delivered
by by the pagenerds
Pagenerd is a sci-fi book club for people who suck at book clubs. You can read along if you want, but we’ll tell you what happens and have some fun figuring out the science, plot and characters along the way. In each episode we pick a sci-fi novel — current or classic — and explore its world and characters, discussing what it would be like to exist in that novel and how well it's realised on the page. If you do want to read along then you'll find a full list of what we're reading for upcoming episodes at pagenerd.com. Pagenerd is Sarah Stockdale, Tommy Guy, Richard Vieweg and Andrew Corway. Jay Cockburn is the producer.
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- 1 weeks ago1h 5m
The War of the Worlds, by H.G. Wells
This week, the gang tackles H.G. Wells' The War of the Worlds. We figured a century and a quarter was a fair amount of time to respect NO SPOILERS. Sarah, Tommy, Rick, and Andrew dig into the novel that helped invent the alien invasion epic. We explore Wells' surprisingly radical attempt to help readers empathize with colonized peoples by putting Britain on the receiving end of an alien invasion. We also learned a lot of splendid 18th-century words. A big shoutout to this week's sponsor, Adobe Acrobat. Thank you for supporting creatives. Pagenerd is Sarah Stockdale, Tommy Guy, Richard Vieweg and Andrew Corway. Jay Cockburn is the producer. New episodes launch every two weeks. If you want to read along with future episodes then you'll find a full list of what we're reading next at pagenerd.com, and support us at patreon.com/pagenerd.You can reach the nerds at Pagenerdhq@gmail.com — tell us about your local library or favourite indie book store!
- 3 weeks ago1h 0m
Space Opera, by Catherynne M. Valente
This week, the gang dives into Space Opera by Catherynne M. Valente, a novel that asks one important question: what if Eurovision decided the fate of entire civilizations? The answer involves flamingo anglerfish, intergalactic threesomes, washed-up glam rock stars, a hyper-masculine moonbeam, and enough commas to qualify as a form of literary jazz. Sarah, Tommy, Rick, and Andrew do their best to keep up with Valente's dazzling, relentless prose while trying to explain one of the most joyful, ridiculous, and imaginative books they've ever read. It’s glitter-sex-hopecore, and we loved every minute of it. If you vibed with the episode, we'd love it if you'd leave us a rating and review. And if you'd like to support the show (and help us keep reading increasingly ridiculous sci-fi), you can join us on Patreon. And we will obviously be rooting for Canada in the next Eurovision, even Tommy. Pagenerd is Sarah Stockdale, Tommy Guy, Richard Vieweg and Andrew Corway. Jay Cockburn is the producer. New episodes launch every two weeks. If you want to read along with future episodes then you'll find a full list of what we're reading next at pagenerd.com, and support us at patreon.com/pagenerd.You can reach the nerds at Pagenerdhq@gmail.com — tell us about your local library or favourite indie book store!
- Jun 23, 20261h 12m
Aurora Rising/The Prefect, by Alastair Reynolds
This week, the Pagenerd crew tackles hyper pigs, consensual cannibalism, corpse-eating architecture, a freaky little child AI, planetary genocide, and a supervillain called “The Clockmaker.” Alastair Reynolds Aurora Rising (originally called The Prefect) is a fever dream of a detective novel that somehow manages to jam all those things into a single story. Sarah, Tommy, Rick, and Andrew attempt to untangle a future powered by quickmatter, debate whether anyone actually understands what's happening, and marvel at Alastair Reynolds' ability to make the absolutely absurd feel strangely plausible. This episode starts as a detective story and rapidly descends into chaos. We recommend surrendering to the experience. If you’d like to support the pod, you can find us on Patreon. Pagenerd is Sarah Stockdale, Tommy Guy, Richard Vieweg and Andrew Corway. Jay Cockburn is the producer. New episodes launch every two weeks. If you want to read along with future episodes then you'll find a full list of what we're reading next at pagenerd.com.You can reach the nerds at Pagenerdhq@gmail.com — tell us about your local library or favourite indie book store!
- Jun 9, 20261h 8m
Klara and the Sun, by Kazuo Ishiguro
Somehow, Ishiguro has written a book that Sarah found both boring and emotionally devastating at the same time. The banality of the language is part of the darkness of this semi-dystopian trip inside the mind of Klara, a solar-powered artificial friend who is generally treated like crap by the humans around her. The novel is a masterpiece by the Nobel laureate who wrote Remains of the Day, but it’s not a beach read. We see the world unfold through Klara’s childlike vision, and her innocence prevents her from recognising that nobody really cares about her. Despite that, the robot is the most human character in the book. It’s a book about hope, even in its darkness. If you’re looking for something that will absolutely ruin you in a ponderous and meditative way then read Klara and the Sun. You sicko. Purchase on Bookshop.org (Support Pagenerd) Pagenerd is Sarah Stockdale, Tommy Guy, Richard Vieweg and Andrew Corway. Jay Cockburn is the producer. New episodes launch every two weeks. If you want to read along with future episodes then you'll find a full list of what we're reading next at pagenerd.com.You can reach the nerds at Pagenerdhq@gmail.com — tell us about your local library or favourite indie book store!
- May 26, 202657 min
The Dispossessed, by Ursula K. Leguin (Part 2 of 2)
The Pagenerds are back with part two of The Dispossessed, where Ursula K. Le Guin somehow takes an already brilliant book and makes it hit even harder. This section gets deeply personal. We follow Shevek as he wrestles with fame, isolation, intellectual ego (and the consolidation of publishing power), and the very messy reality of trying to build a better world with other humans. The political conversations get bigger, and at least one Pagenerd starts sounding like they’re on the verge of joining an anarchist moon colony (it’s me, Sarah). There’s a lot in here about who gets access to knowledge, who controls it, and what we owe each other when systems stop serving people. You know, fun light podcast stuff. Thank you for spending your finite life minutes with us. We adored this book and honestly could have talked about it for another six hours. If you like your sci-fi thoughtful, political, and painfully human, Le Guin remains undefeated. Purchase on Bookshop.org (Support Pagenerd) Pagenerd is Sarah Stockdale, Tommy Guy, Richard Vieweg and Andrew Corway. Jay Cockburn is the producer. New episodes launch every two weeks. If you want to read along with future episodes then you'll find a full list of what we're reading next at pagenerd.com.You can reach the nerds at Pagenerdhq@gmail.com — tell us about your local library or favourite indie book store!
- May 12, 202659 min
The Dispossessed, by Ursula K. Leguin (Part 1 of 2)
The Pagenerds finally tackle Ursula K. Le Guin’s The Dispossessed, which is a lot in the best way possible. Naturally, we had to split this one into two parts. This book absolutely rocks. Le Guin drops us onto two sister planets locked in ideological opposition, then uses one physicist’s journey to unpack capitalism, anarchism (the good kind?), power, sex stuff, academia, love, and what it actually means to try and build a better world. A breezy read if you’re a sociology PhD, pretty heady for the rest of us. This book could not have been an email. Part one is all about the setup, the ideology, and the growing suspicion that Ursula K. Le Guin may have simply understood humanity way, way too well. We loved this book deeply, and we’re so grateful you’re spending your finite life minutes with us talking about it. If you like your sci-fi thoughtful, political, and devastatingly smart, pick up this book (from a library or indie bookstore) right now. Purchase on Bookshop.org (Support Pagenerd) Pagenerd is Sarah Stockdale, Tommy Guy, Richard Vieweg and Andrew Corway. Jay Cockburn is the producer. New episodes launch every two weeks. If you want to read along with future episodes then you'll find a full list of what we're reading next at pagenerd.com.You can reach the nerds at Pagenerdhq@gmail.com — tell us about your local library or favourite indie book store!
- Apr 28, 20261h 3m
The Forever War, by Joe Haldeman
The Forever War is a book that asks "Who hurt author Joe Haldeman?” and the answer is: The United States Military. This book is about a futuristic war fought by soldiers in power armour, but really it's about every war and every soldier. It was written in 1974, yet it feels disturbingly current. Haldeman wrote this book after his experience as a combat engineer in the Vietnam War. So it reads as a scathing critique of American imperialism, the futility of war, and what it does to the people sent to fight it— and the ones left behind. It’s the kind of book we need in April of 2026. Tommy recorded this episode from the bathroom of a truly gross San Francisco hotel, which feels spiritually aligned with the time we’re living in. Haldeman’s writing is sharp, disorienting, and surprisingly human. If you like your sci-fi with a true disdain for war, queer-stuff before its time, and a side of existential whiplash, this one delivers. Purchase on Bookshop.org (Support Pagenerd) Pagenerd is Sarah Stockdale, Tommy Guy, Richard Vieweg and Andrew Corway. Jay Cockburn is the producer. New episodes launch every two weeks. If you want to read along with future episodes then you'll find a full list of what we're reading next at pagenerd.com.You can reach the nerds at Pagenerdhq@gmail.com — tell us about your local library or favourite indie book store!
- Apr 14, 20261h 5m
Intercepts, by T.J. Payne
The Intercepts is an excellent beach read if you’re deeply unwell. It’s also the Pagenerds very first horror sci-fi, so thanks T.J. Payne. The novel drops us into a secret government facility where people are kept underground and understimulated for some… experimentation. We uncover what in the MKUltra is going on through the eyes of a program manager and his teenage daughter. There’s a beige, middle-management, banality-of-evil vibe— and then it gets properly haunted-house scary. Huge shoutout to Jay, our producer, who is famously squeamish and still edited this episode. If you like your sci-fi with some gore, this book is for you. If you don’t, let us spoil it for you. We love you, ‘nerds. Thanks so much for listening! Pagenerd is Sarah Stockdale, Tommy Guy, Richard Vieweg and Andrew Corway. Jay Cockburn is the producer. New episodes launch every two weeks. You can reach the nerds at Pagenerdhq@gmail.com — tell us about your local library or favourite indie book store!
About Pagenerd
Pagenerd is a sci-fi book club for people who suck at book clubs. You can read along if you want, but we’ll tell you what happens and have some fun figuring out the science, plot and characters along the way. In each episode we pick a sci-fi novel — current or classic — and explore its world and characters, discussing what it would be like to exist in that novel and how well it's realised on the page. If you do want to read along then you'll find a full list of what we're reading for upcoming episodes at pagenerd.com. Pagenerd is Sarah Stockdale, Tommy Guy, Richard Vieweg and Andrew Corway. Jay Cockburn is the producer.
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