Stars and Swords: Footnoting Genre Fiction

Stars and Swords: Footnoting Genre Fiction


Latest Episodes

Ultimate Spider-Man 2: Man Vs. Society
September 23, 2024

This week, we conclude our discussion of Ultimate Spider-Man, and discuss the second volume, Learning Curve. How does Peter Parker navigate the boundaries of society? How can a book stay continuity-li

Ultimate Spider-Man 1: Man Vs. Himself
September 16, 2024

This week, we begin our discussion of Ultimate Spider-Man, and discuss the first volume, Power And Responsibility. How 2000s can a book possibly be? How does decompression change the way we interact

Binti 4: Not Not The Force
September 05, 2024

This week, we conclude out discussion of Nnedi Okorafor's Binti: The Complete Trilogy, and discuss the short story Sacred Fire. Why is it important to read according to the chronology of production? W

Binti 3: Deep Culture
August 11, 2024

This week, we continue Nnedi Okorafor's Binti: The Complete Trilogy, and discuss the third novella, The Night Masquerade. What is the dividing line between science fiction and fantasy? Is identity red

Binti 2: The Gods Are Many Things
July 28, 2024

This week, we continue Nnedi Okorafor's Binti: The Complete Trilogy, and discuss the second novella. What is philosophical dualism? Is Binti a Frodo or a Sam? How are universities exactly like Survivo

Binti 1: Everything Is Connected
July 15, 2024

This week, we begin Nnedi Okorafor's Binti: The Complete Trilogy, and discuss the first novella. What is africanfuturism? How do books teach you to read them? Sure, drugs are cool, but have you ever g

Great Expectations 5: The Villain Monologue
July 08, 2024

This week, we discuss the end of Great Expectations, and what it means to be good!

Great Expectations 4: One-Man Class War
June 09, 2024

This week, we discuss chapters thirty-six to fifty of Great Expectations with twists! So many twists!

Great Expectations 3: The Declarative Question
May 26, 2024

This week, we continue our discussion of Great Expectations by looking at different kinds of life in London, the death of Pip's sister, and the ease of making choices when you have no choice at all.

Bonus: Hunting Gollum
May 14, 2024

In this excerpt from the recent live Patreon Q&A, I discuss my thoughts on the upcoming movie The Hunt For Gollum!