Shows
The PlaylistEpisode 22: A Quentin Tarantino PlaylistThis week, Josh and Dietrich dive into building a playlist for one of their favorite directors, Quentin Tarantino. Dietrich looks at a podcast that dissects the ways film scripts are built, as well as a video game that matches the surreal and exuberant tone that has defined Tarantino's work. Josh raves about a brilliant author, an incredible and hysterical film celebrating the best and worst of blaxploitation movies, and wildly cheats by selecting the films of an entire nation as his third choice. It works, but still... cheating. In addition, Jost talks about an astonishing book by Bari Wood...2021-12-1355 minThe PlaylistPlaylist B-Side: Mary Roach and the Mugging MacaquesThis week, Josh and Dietrich are thrilled to bring you the first of what they're calling the Playlist B-Sides, a series of playlists built with the actual subject of the playlist! For our first interview, we're joined by the exceptional and hysterical author Mary Roach. In a writing career that's seen her mugged by monkeys, pestering special forces soldiers about diarrhea, and watching people hump inside an MRI machine for science, Mary's writing has spanned six New York Times bestselling books, ranging from how we handle corpses to how we poop in space. Today, you can hear her talk...2021-09-151h 10The PlaylistEpisode 19: A Mental Health PlaylistThis week, Josh and Dietrich attempt something quite different: a playlist about understanding and coping with mental health issues. It's a huge challenge for the pair, who approach it from different angles. Josh looks at work that has portrayed struggles with depression and anxiety, from the astonishing Melancholia to the grim, heartfelt, and moving HBO series The Leftovers. Dietrich discusses media that has helped him better understand the struggle faced by those coping with mental illness, including a webcomic that handles science fiction and trans rights equally deftly, and a video game that uses familiar mechanics to discuss the ch...2021-09-071h 01The PlaylistEpisode 18: A Professional Wrestling PodcastOn this episode, Josh and Dietrich assemble one of the strangest playlists yet: one based on the chaotic gleeful mayhem of professional wrestling. They look at the way archetypes from the WWE line up with the insanity of the Mad Max films and the video game Saints Row 3, discuss the physical and mental toll taken on those who perform as wrestlers as portrayed in GLOW and seen on Beyond the Mat, and close out by explaining all the ways that wrestling shares commonalities with the legendary role playing game Dungeons and Dragons. In addition, Josh revisits a surreal trilogy of fil...2021-07-151h 07The PlaylistEpisode 17: A Star Trek The Next Generation PlaylistThis week, Josh and Dietrich delve deep into their nerdy, nerdy pasts to explore media inspired by the themes, ideas, and stories of the iconic series Star Trek: The Next Generation. They talk about the extraordinary worldbuilding of the Mass Effect trilogy, the surreal and alien experiences in A Rendezvous with Rama, the sheer imagination of the explorations in the Bobiverse series, and the richly flawed characters of the Battlestar Galactica reboot. They wrap up with a board game recommendation that is a bit off the beaten path. In addition, Josh recommends a wonderful pair of stories by one of th...2021-06-101h 03The PlaylistEpisode 16: A Bridgerton PlaylistThis week, Josh's significantly better half joins us to help us put together a playlist based on the hit series Bridgerton that will actually give you some solid suggestions. She discusses several excellent television series, including Reign, Outlander, and Sanditon, as well as the new film adaptation of Little Women. Dietrich and Josh attempt to throw a few suggestions into the ring as well, with Dietrich raving about the outstanding The Great, Josh recommending an excellent novel by Mackenzi Lee, and they wrap up with a contentious discussion about a new Sherlock Holmes adaptation. In addition, they discuss a new...2021-04-291h 03The PlaylistEpisode 15: The Queen's Gambit PlaylistThis week, Josh and Dietrich take a look at the recent Netflix phenomenon The Queen's Gambit, building a playlist off this remarkable miniseries about a young chess prodigy. Dietrich scandalizes pretty much anyone who knows sports with his claim of one of the best sports films. Josh looks at one of the few television series that can match The Queen's Gambit for style and setting. The pair discuss a controversial science fiction classic, a film that also tackles the intersection of genius and mental health, and Dietrich wraps up with some suggestions should this show have inspired you to pic...2021-03-231h 03The PlaylistEpisode 14: The Good Place PlaylistThis week, Josh and Dietrich tackle one of their most difficult playlists yet, in no small part because the inspiration is the most unique television show in the last few years. The Good Place featured a mix of philosophical thought and hysterical comedy, all presented with a honest yet unfailingly optimistic look at the human condition. Josh talks about a movie revolving around the idea of justifying your existence on Earth, while Dietrich explores a show that was as popular as its ending was divisive. They look at the remarkable novel Reincarnation Blues, another optimistic comedy by creator Mike Sch...2021-01-211h 05The PlaylistEpisode 13: Eldrich Horror PlaylistThis week, Josh and Dietrich discuss Eldrich horror, which has seen an explosion in popularity over the last few years. The pair discusses the unfortunate history of the genre, particularly in its founding author, and looks at ways modern creators have explored how to make it their own, while simultaneously addressing the racial issues inherent in the genre. Josh raves about Clive Barker and a storytelling podcast that brings the Elder Gods to the Ozarks. Dietrich looks at a short story pitting one of the unfathomable terrors against the greatest mind in the western canon, and an HBO series...2020-12-0457 minThe PlaylistEpisode 12: A Police Playlist For TodayThis week, Josh and Dietrich are joined by an old friend, as Christopher Merchant decides to sit in on a difficult and challenging episode. How do you find storytelling about the police that still feels acceptable given recent events? The trio discuss the difficulty of the old tropes of "the cop that breaks all the rules" in an era highlighting the ugliest in police violence, and try to find stories that look at police through a more honest lens. The examine a dystopian film, a comedy that faces the darker side of policing, and debate whether the iconic David...2020-10-231h 16The PlaylistEpisode 11: Discovering Storytellers of ColorEmerging from the dark apocalyptic reality in which we've all somehow found ourselves, Josh and Dietrich return to regular podcasting. This week, the pair explores extraordinary storytelling by various People of Color, highlighting some of the best creators in the business today. Josh raves about the brilliance of James Baldwin and Spike Lee, Dietrich looks at the best science-fiction and fantasy author working today, and they discuss board game designers, musicians, comedians, and more that you should be exploring. In addition, Josh catches up to one of the biggest achievements in video game storytelling, and Dietrich raves about a...2020-09-281h 19The PlaylistThe First Quarantine Playlist SpecialWell, hello there. It's been a while. Between tornadoes, pandemics, and the world kind of melting down, The Playlist has been on a bit of a hiatus, but Josh and Dietrich took a moment to record a special episode talking about the challenge of finding media to keep us going through the most difficult year that either of us can remember. Dietrich discusses the way stress can actually leave us feeling unwilling to explore new stories, and the comfort of revisiting reliable authors like Stephen King. Josh talks about a favorite author releasing his newest novel chapter by chapter...2020-06-101h 01The PlaylistEpisode 8: A Harry Potter PlaylistThis week, Josh and Dietrich work to assemble a playlist for both fans of Harry Potter, and for those looking for an alternative to Harry Potter. They talk about the friendship and joyful sense of adventure that permeate these stories, and how Stranger Things taps into that same sense of wonder. Josh raves about the pain of growing up in the adventure game Oxenfree, while Dietrich looks at the growing sense of menace and serialized storytelling of the best of the Star Trek franchise. Josh discusses the beauty and imagination of the Studio Ghibli films, and they both acknowledge...2020-02-261h 06The PlaylistEpisode 7: A Nightmare Before Christmas PlaylistThis week, Josh and Dietrich build a playlist around the demented holiday classic A Nightmare Before Christmas. Despite being a bit of a grouch about Christmas, Josh has always enjoyed the skewed gothic comedy of this tale of Halloween trying to steal the holidays, and recommends the Terry Pratchett classic Hogfather along side the anarchic glee of Gremlins. Dietrich talks about the ability of children to "embrace the weird", and looks to A Series of Unfortunate Events as a natural companion with the dark humor, style, and joyful mayhem. Josh wraps the discussion up with a brilliant masterpiece of a no...2020-02-021h 07The PlaylistEpisode 6: A Dungeons & Dragons PlaylistThis week, Josh and Dietrich construct a playlist based on the legendary tabletop roleplaying game Dungeons & Dragons. One of the more challenging playlists they've tackled, the pair look into the core of what's made this form of collaborative storytelling so popular. The challenge of assembling a team of diverse characters to tackle an objective inspired Josh to recommend the brilliant heist film The Killing by Stanley Kubrick. The joy of friends finding joy in a shared experience is reflected in the short-lived by wonderful television series Freaks and Geeks. For those who deeply love D&D, The Adventure Zone p...2020-01-091h 06
The Library PoliceEpisode 5: The Best Storytelling of the DecadeThis week, Josh and Dietrich respond to a listener's email to review the best storytelling across genres from 2010 to today. In film, the pair discuss the heartbreaking film The Florida Project, and the unparalleled mayhem of Mad Max: Fury Road. A novel about a grieving president and another about a detective in hell join the list, alongside two television shows that tackle grief and philosophy in completely different, but equally brilliant ways. They touch on their favorite games of the last ten years, and wrap up with an iconic album and a family that's grown a podcasting empire. You ca...2019-12-171h 12The PlaylistEpisode 5: The Best Storytelling of the DecadeThis week, Josh and Dietrich respond to a listener's email to review the best storytelling across genres from 2010 to today. In film, the pair discuss the heartbreaking film The Florida Project, and the unparalleled mayhem of Mad Max: Fury Road. A novel about a grieving president and another about a detective in hell join the list, alongside two television shows that tackle grief and philosophy in completely different, but equally brilliant ways. They touch on their favorite games of the last ten years, and wrap up with an iconic album and a family that's grown a podcasting empire. You c...2019-12-171h 12The Library PoliceEpisode 4: A Jordan Peele PlaylistThis week, Josh and Dietrich look at the extraordinary films of Jordan Peele, and attempt to build a playlist of stories that demonstrate that remarkable blending of genre and racial commentary. Josh talks about the film District 9, while Dietrich raves about Saladin Ahmed's Black Bolt. They discuss the haunting ending of horror classic Night of the Living Dead, as well as the exceptional work done by author Victor LaValle in adapting the writings of a bigot to reflect the brutal treatment of black Americans. Finally, the pair break their rule of only including established works by including the staggering de...2019-11-171h 04The PlaylistEpisode 4: A Jordan Peele PlaylistThis week, Josh and Dietrich look at the extraordinary films of Jordan Peele, and attempt to build a playlist of stories that demonstrate that remarkable blending of genre and racial commentary. Josh talks about the film District 9, while Dietrich raves about Saladin Ahmed's Black Bolt. They discuss the haunting ending of horror classic Night of the Living Dead, as well as the exceptional work done by author Victor LaValle in adapting the writings of a bigot to reflect the brutal treatment of black Americans. Finally, the pair break their rule of only including established works by including the staggering de...2019-11-171h 04The Library PoliceEpisode 3: The Walking Dead Playlist This week, Josh and Dietrich take a frequent punching bag of theirs and build a playlist off of The Walking Dead. From a quietly devastating book about the end of all living things, to one of the finest examples of narrative storytelling in video games, to a novel about spontaneous combustion, the pair will provide you five new storytelling experiences in which to immerse yourself. This week's playlist includes: The Road by Cormac McCarthy, The Walking Dead video game by TellTale Games, The Dog Stars by Peter Heller, the cooperative board game Dead of Winter, and The Fireman by Joe Hill. I...2019-11-011h 05The PlaylistEpisode 3: The Walking Dead PlaylistThis week, Josh and Dietrich take a frequent punching bag of theirs and build a playlist off of The Walking Dead. From a quietly devastating book about the end of all living things, to one of the finest examples of narrative storytelling in video games, to a novel about spontaneous combustion, the pair will provide you five new storytelling experiences in which to immerse yourself. This week's playlist includes: The Road by Cormac McCarthy, The Walking Dead video game by TellTale Games, The Dog Stars by Peter Heller, the cooperative board game Dead of Winter, and The Fireman by Joe Hil...2019-11-011h 05
The PlaylistA "Serial" PlaylistThis week's playlist is based on the hit podcast "Serial", and includes the books The Innocent Man by John Grisham and In Cold Blood by Truman Capote, everything by David Simon, the Netflix series American Vandal, and the film All The President's Men. Next episode: A playlist based on The Walking Dead.2019-10-151h 02
The PlaylistA "Game of Thrones" PlaylistOn the first ever episode of The Playlist podcast, Josh Mauthe (an English teacher with over a decade of book and film criticism under his belt) and Dietrich Stogner (a former journalist and author) assemble a playlist of movies, television, books, and even a video game for those who fell in love with the intrigue of Westeros. If you loved the political games and machinations, you can find your own in a complex and innovative PC game that simulates the legacy of a royal family through the ages. Did Game of Thrones sweep you away with its complex characters...2019-10-151h 06The Library PoliceEpisode 2, The Playlist: SerialThis week's playlist includes the books The Innocent Man by John Grisham and In Cold Blood by Truman Capote, everything by David Simon, the Netflix series American Vandal, and the film All The President's Men. Next episode: A playlist based on The Walking Dead.2019-10-101h 02
The Library PoliceEpisode 1: A Game of Thrones PlaylistOn the first ever episode of The Playlist podcast, Josh Mauthe (an English teacher with over a decade of book and film criticism under his belt) and Dietrich Stogner (a former journalist and author) assemble a playlist of movies, television, books, and even a video game for those who fell in love with the intrigue of Westeros. If you loved the political games and machinations, you can find your own in a complex and innovative PC game that simulates the legacy of a royal family through the ages. Did Game of Thrones sweep you away with its complex characters? The...2019-09-181h 06The Library PoliceEpisode 250: EndingsThis week, Josh Mauthe and Dietrich Stogner say farewell to the Library Police Podcast, bringing over ten years of nerding out about books to a close. A listener asks for tips on how to fit in more reading. Josh discovers a cluster of extraordinary novellas by one of the most talented fantasy authors alive. Dietrich raves about the Tor free ebook program. Finally, they look at the challenge of bringing something to a close, looking at how authors from across genres have wrapped up long running series, complex novels, and more. They wrap up with a discussion of a...2019-08-191h 30The Library PoliceEpisode 249: The Lightning Round Returns!This week, Josh and Dietrich continue their timed exploration of topics from years past. After acknowledging that ragging on Ayn Rand is the only acceptable reason to abuse the lightning round timer, they dive into calling an authors bluff when they threaten main characters, a bewildering topic with excellent episode art, and explore the best relationships in literary history. In addition, Dietrich raves about the astonishing followup to podcast favorite Dark Matter, Josh talks about a novella collection featuring outstanding works by LGBTQ authors, and they both talk about the best book on writing ever written. Finally, they wrap up...2019-07-301h 30The Library PoliceEpisode 247: The Lightning Round!This week, Josh and Dietrich reach back through their catalog to revisit topics from the decade they've been doing this show. With only four minutes per topic, the pair are able to touch on nearly a dozen different topics, exploring how their answers have changed (or not) in regards to young adult as a genre, overdone tropes, gifts for readers, genre blending, and much more. It's a segment that demonstrates their bizarre ability to wrap up sentences mere seconds before the timer goes off. In addition, Josh raves about a Pulitzer Prize winning novel, as well as one of...2019-07-171h 27The Library PoliceEpisode 247: Game of ThronesThis week, Josh and Dietrich take a look at the end of one of the biggest storytelling accomplishments of all time, the adaptation of George RR Martin's fantasy series A Song of Ice and Fire, Game of Thrones. From an idea most considered a poor gamble at best in the beginning came a pop culture phenomenon, and one of the last great appointment viewing television shows. However, with the controversial and maligned final season, Josh and Dietrich look at the challenges of adapting an unfinished work, the choices made by the showrunners and the assumption of what made the be...2019-06-251h 31The Library PoliceEpisode 246: A Decade of ChangesThis week, Josh and Dietrich look at how much the book industry has changed since they began rambling into cheap microphones for their tens of listeners a decade ago. They look at the staggering growth of Amazon, with the good (the Kindle and self publishing) alongside the bad (nearly everything else). They talk about the shift towards diversity, with women and minority authors making their voices heard more than ever, even in traditionally closed genres such as science fiction and fantasy. Josh discusses the fall of the big box bookstores, but the subsequent rise of independent bookstores, and Dietrich...2019-06-041h 26The Library PoliceEpisode 245: Crafting Violence in FictionThis week, Josh and Dietrich discuss the way that authors portray violence in fiction. From the operatic gore of Hannibal to the restrained suggestion made by authors like Janet Evanovich, every author has to choose how best to depict the violence that so often drives plot threads. The two of them debate whether or not the over-the-top violence of The Gone World help or hurt that book, look at those authors that embrace the most extreme versions of violence and the reasons they choose to do so, and discuss how books like The Walking Dead often stumble so badly wh...2019-05-111h 34The Library PoliceEpisode 244: Books to Cheer You UpThis week, Josh and Dietrich look at the books that perk them up when they're having a bad day. Josh talks about the satisfying mayhem of Joe Lansdale, Dietrich discusses the pure joy pouring from every page of Terry Pratchett's novels, and they both agree that Calvin and Hobbes should be part of everyone's collection for pure mental health support. They look at what makes a book work for them as comfort food, and how that can range from humor to horror, and still manage to generate a smile. In addition, Dietrich raves about a book that combines George...2019-05-041h 42The Library PoliceEpisode 243: How To Read GooderThis week, Josh and Dietrich discuss how to become a more critical and analytical reader in the way you consume books of every type and genre. Josh comes at this challenge from the perspective of a teacher who's made a career out of trying to get students to see the depth and symbolism buried in the classics, and talks about letting go of seeing a book as precious or perfect. Dietrich discusses how the process of recording this podcast has changed the way he sees books, from forcing him outside of his comfort zone to speaking about why he...2019-04-111h 34The Library PoliceEpisode 242: Romance in FictionThis week, Josh and Dietrich examine how authors craft believable romantic relationships, and the potential pitfalls. They look at the idea of crafting a relationship in service to the story, instead of the other way around. They look at how authors develop characters before bringing them together, making sure that they exist as distinct, three-dimensional individuals rather than just relationship fodder. Josh talks about some of the more remarkable examples of romance in some unexpected places, while Dietrich discusses the art of developing a relationship over a multi-book series. In addition, Josh reads the surprisingly dark conclusion to one...2019-03-271h 39The Library PoliceEpisode 241: The Past Looms LargeThis week, Josh and Dietrich explore the pitfalls and challenges of opening up those old classics, particularly when those books delve into issues that are far more uncomfortable now. Does the excuse that a book is simply a product of its time excuse racism, sexism, homophobia, and more? Do people have the right to dismiss a book because of the subject matter, or should we give these classics the benefit of the doubt? In addition, they look at the challenge faced by modern authors writing historical characters, and whether those authors bear the responsibility of distancing themselves from their...2019-02-271h 43The Library PoliceEpisode 240: How We've Changed as ReadersThis week, Josh and Dietrich take a long look at how they've changed as readers, going all the way back to the first books that sparked their love of the written word. They look at Hardy Boys, Piers Anthony, and other books from their childhood, and how those starting points informed which books they explored next. Josh talks about sitting in his school library and picking up his first Stephen King, while Dietrich discusses challenging himself during long patrols in the Navy with books recommended by his future co-host. Finally, they look at how their views of various books...2019-02-031h 47The Library PoliceEpisode 239: Black Bolt by Saladin AhmedThis week, Josh and Dietrich dive into the run of Black Bolt by author Saladin Ahmed. This obscure comic book character is not one that either Josh or Dietrich had heard of before, but this series blew them both away, combining vivid storytelling with a surprisingly nuanced view of comic book villains, the nature of being a hero, and the prison system. Dietrich talks about the sharp reversal in his opinion of the art due to the app he read this on, Josh raves about the incredible portrayal of a third-tier character that brings him to life, and, despite...2018-12-301h 39The Library PoliceEpisode 238: A Hannibal PlaylistThis week, it's all about operatic violence and questionable dining choices, and the duo put together a reading playlist based on Bryan Fuller's masterpiece television series Hannibal. It's a daunting task, as Fuller maintains his reputation for uniquely dazzling visuals and over-the-top plotting. Josh looks at authors like Clive Barker and Robert Pobi, who took horror to levels never seen before with writing that dazzled as much as it generated nightmares. Dietrich discusses the spectacular villains of the Charlie Parker series that woke him in the middle of the night, and the stark beauty and eerie bloodshed of From He...2018-12-071h 27The Library PoliceEpisode 237: The Mini-PrimersThis week, Josh and Dietrich put together a list of mini-primers, giving quick starting points on half a dozen authors. Where should you start your exploration of Philip K Dick? Why is David Mitchell's best book the worst place to start? How is it possible that one book can be an amazing starting point for two different authors on this list? It's a quick look at how to get into some of the finest authors available. In addition, Josh raves about a one-shot story from one of their favorite fantasy authors that pays tribute to one of the most...2018-11-101h 33The Library PoliceEpisode 236: Revenge of the MiniTopicsThis week, Josh and Dietrich tackle a host of minitopics provided by our listeners. The pair discuss which books will accompany them to their future desert island prison, which Kindle should be your first, and their favorite new genre authors of the last few years. They talk about the difference between single narrators or a cast of narrators in audio books, their favorite heroes outside DC and Marvel, and those authors that have mastered the surprisingly challenging task of crafting an action sequence. In addition, Josh talks about the best John Hodgman book in his already impressive career, Dietrich...2018-10-301h 39The Library PoliceEpisode 235: Flawed Books We Still AdoreThis week, Josh and Dietrich look at some of their favorite books that succeed despite some very blatant flaws. They discuss the absurd premise of The Guns of the South, the despicable protagonist of Point of Impact, the stumbles of Raylan, and more, discussing what it is that these books do to overcome, and even embrace their flaws. The two talk about the difference between these books that work for them, and those books unable to overcome similar flaws. In addition, Josh raves about a book by a tragically lost true crime master and a collection of lurid pulp cov...2018-10-131h 30The Library PoliceEpisode 234: Episodes and EntitlementThis week, Josh and Dietrich sit down to discuss the impact of our expectations on the media we consume, and what we're owed on the part of those who create that media. They talk about how expecting a book to be terrible can actually help our impressions, while describing a book as "one of the greats" can often create an impossible hurdle. Josh talks about how expectations engendered rage at Lady in the Water and a surprised enjoyment of Solo, and Dietrich explains why he's more forgiving of the flaws in Palo Alto than he is with White Noise. The...2018-09-171h 25The Library PoliceEpisode 233: The Literary CanonThis week, Josh and Dietrich discuss a New York Times article asking about how books enter and leave the literary canon. Who decides what books are added, and how is it decided? Does the general acceptance of a book's addition to the canon grant it a permanent spot, or can revelations about the author or changes in public perception render books more obsolete than we'd like to admit? How can we develop and cultivate a literary canon that's more inclusive and considerate of all readers, not just the few? In addition, Josh discusses a wonderfully bizarre novel that fuses...2018-08-251h 46The Library PoliceEpisode 232: Playlist - The Marvel Cinematic UniverseThis week, Josh and Dietrich build another reading playlist, and because Dietrich was feeling diabolical, he selected the Marvel Cinematic Universe as the inspiration. The pair briefly discuss the good and the bad of this juggernaut success story before jumping into suggestions. Josh looks at a supernatural series by a Russian author that builds a remarkable universe with the scope of a comic book. Dietrich looks at the superhuman characters in various series, including the sniper Bob Lee Swagger and the superspy John Clark. They discuss the tremendous accomplishment of F Paul Wilson's Nightwatch series, and look at a...2018-08-011h 38The Library PoliceEpisode 231: The Perfect Nanny by Leila SlimaniThis week, Josh and Dietrich sit down to discuss the amazing novel The Perfect Nanny by Leila Slimani. The pair discuss the unusual structure of the book, and how it eschews the expected murder mystery, instead conducting a post mortem on a horrifying crime. Josh discusses the character development in the book, and how Slimani fleshes out a trio of deeply flawed yet very human characters. Dietrich raves about the unexpected ending that would have been infuriating in a lesser book, but seems to fit more in this book. In addition, Josh discusses a crime novel that has inspired t...2018-07-051h 36The Library PoliceEpisode 230: Fantasy V. SciFiThis week, Josh and Dietrich look at a pair of genres nearly always bundled together, and discuss the commonalities and differences between science fiction and fantasy. They talk about why the complex and elaborate world building of fantasy doesn't often make an appearance in scifi, and why fantasy rarely explores the deeper philosophical or political questions raised by so many science fiction greats. Josh discusses the difference in stakes in the two genres, and the pair look at several authors of each genre that borrow some of the best attributes from the other. In addition, Dietrich talks about a...2018-06-131h 22The Library PoliceEpisode 229: Playlist - LegionAfter having fun assembling a reading playlist in the last episode, Josh and Dietrich decide to do it again, trading in a thoughtful and tense spy thriller as inspiration for a surreal nightmare of a superhero story. Using Noah Hawley's visual masterpiece Legion, the pair come up with books that explore sanity, push the boundaries between what's real and what's not, and just generally leave you baffled. From iconic explorations of delusions such as One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest and The Shining, to Philip K. Dick and Kurt Vonnegut, Josh and Dietrich look at some of the best sur...2018-05-221h 30The Library PoliceEpisode 228: Playlist - The AmericansThis week, Josh and Dietrich try something new, creating a type of reader's playlist inspired by the astonishing and chilling television drama The Americans. Dietrich talks about a pair of books exploring Cold War espionage and Russian politics with the astounding Cardinal of the Kremlin and Child-44. Josh looks at a chilling Vonnegut book that explores the dangers of pretending to be something you hate, and an alternate history book that explores the ramifications of slavery. The pair talk about the icons that are Ian Fleming and Robert Ludlum, and whether or not they're the best examples of espionage...2018-04-301h 41The Library PoliceEpisode 227: Should You Read YA Books?This week, Josh and Dietrich sit down to respond to a listener's email in which they confess to a hesitation in reading young adult fiction. The pair discuss where they suspect much of this hesitation comes from, but quickly agree that missing out on young adult fiction means missing out on countless extraordinary books. Josh raves about the iconic trilogy by Phillip Pullman, Dietrich touches on the flawless and melancholy apocalypse in The Age of Miracles, and both agree that missing out on John Green's work would be a shame. They also discuss the juggernaut that really launched this g...2018-04-071h 23The Library PoliceEpisode 226: The Dark Tower, Books 5-7Now that Dietrich has returned uneaten by bayou alligators from his trip to New Orleans, the duo return to discuss the last three books of Stephen King's magnum opus, The Dark Tower. It's a mixed discussion, with one book being an unqualified joy, one being kind of a mess, and the finale being one of the most brilliantly heartbreaking things that the pair have ever discussed. In addition, Dietrich raves about an average book with a spectacular twist ending, and Josh talks about a monumental comic series by one of the more important writers working today, as well as o...2018-03-171h 49The Library PoliceEpisode 225: A Fantasy PrimerThis week, Josh and Dietrich discuss how you can begin exploring the fantasy genre. Full of multi-volume epics and thousand-page long tomes, this is a daunting genre to get into, and as the pair discuss, it's just as important that you don't start at the wrong place as it is to find the right place. They talk about steering clear of classics such as Lord of the Rings and George RR Martin, and why these legendary books are just about the worst place to start. Instead, they look at authors such as Scott Lynch, Lev Grossman, and JK Rowling, an...2018-02-151h 46The Library PoliceEpisode 224: Media for Non-ReadersThis week, Josh and Dietrich take a bit of a detour, combining their earlier topics of books for people who hate to read, and media for readers, and work to come up with some non-book media that can act as a bridge for non-bibliophiles to get into reading. They talk about some of the more literary adaptations in recent years, from the nightmarish "Hannibal" to the phenomenon "Gone Girl". They look at a sitcom that can introduce people to moral philosophy, video games that can step people to horror novels, and an anthology that's a spiritual companion to science...2018-02-011h 44The Library PoliceEpisode 223: Get Back Into The GrooveHave you made New Year's Resolutions to lose weight, double your pay, and read more books? Well, we can't help you with two of those, but Josh and Dietrich are here with some suggestions on how to jump start your reading habits for the year. The duo dismiss the idea of "guilty pleasures", encouraging you to grab whatever makes you grin. Josh talks about the joy of always having a book in his pocket, and how technology makes it easier than ever to read a few pages while waiting for your oil change. Dietrich recommends revisiting some favorite books...2018-01-111h 35The Library PoliceEpisode 222: 2017 Gift Giving GuideThis week, Josh and Dietrich throw out some unusual gift ideas for the book lovers in your life. Instead of rattling off some titles, they talk about various ideas that may not occur to your favorite bibliophile, including a miniaturized neighborhood library, a collection to a stunningly literate television series, an album that embraces poetry in a remarkable way, and more. They do throw a few book recommendations in as well, and talk about some old recommendations in a new light. In addition, they both revisit fantasy series, Josh with a legendary counter to the Narnia books, and Dietrich w...2017-12-171h 47
The Library PoliceEpisode 221: Dark Tower, Books 1-4After a long delay, Dietrich and Josh finally sit down for the first big chunk of filling in Dietrich's gap in his Stephen King education: the Dark Tower series. The pair dig into the first four books, warts and all. Josh talks about the discovery of The Gunslinger on the shelves of a bookstore, and his deep love of this bizarre, strange world and its unrelenting protagonist. Dietrich discusses why the second book nearly led him to give up on the series entirely, and why he's extremely glad that he kept going. They debate the bizarre choice of Detta W...2017-12-062h 04The Library PoliceThanksgiving Throwback: Merchant, Merriment, and What We're Thankful ForAs you might guess from the dated references and the significantly poorer audio quality, this is not a new episode. With the Thanksgiving holiday, we weren't able to schedule a recording this week, so instead, we're rereleasing one of our Thanksgiving favorites: Episode 128, in which Christopher Merchant joins us to talk about some of the best things about our modern publishing industry. It's one of our more optimistic episodes, and felt oddly fitting for this time of year. We'll be back soon with our Dark Tower episode, and we've got a few other things planned as we close out 2017...2017-11-181h 59The Library PoliceEpisode 220: The Taboo TopicsThis week, Josh and Dietrich look at how books handle troubling or difficult topics. Josh talks about a book that tried unsuccessfully to fold spousal abuse into a soap-opera style story, and Dietrich discusses the jarring moment in which threats of violent sexual assault were brought into Janet Evanovich's previously pulpy Stephanie Plum series. While they both agree that no topic needs to be forbidden, it's also critically important that an author realizes that a different tone and approach are necessary when dealing with such ugly topics. They also talk about the challenge of using recent global disasters or c...2017-11-041h 40The Library PoliceEpisode 217: SCBWI 2017!This week, it's time again for Dietrich and Josh to sit down with a trio of authors from the Society for Children's Book Writers and Illustrators Conference here in Nashville, getting a chance to speak with some really fascinating authors. Laurent Linn started his career working with Jim Henson's Muppets, and his career has branched out in impressive directions since then, as he's acted as the art director for several books and written Draw The Line, an illustrated young adult novel. Jessica Young is the award winning author of My Blue is Happy, the Finley Flowers series, and more, and s...2017-10-1645 minThe Library PoliceEpisode 218: Classics vs. ModernThis week, Josh and Dietrich tackle the topic of school reading, focusing on the question of whether it's time for the classics to take a back seat for more modern authors. Josh approaches this from the perspective of an English high school teacher who's spent years working to find ways to make the great literature of history appealing and relevant to his students, while Dietrich takes a much more combative approach to the classics, arguing that anything that turns students off of reading is a mistake from the beginning. Josh points out the challenges teachers are faced with in...2017-10-011h 30The Library PoliceEpisode 217: A Primer for ThrillersAfter some technical gremlins tried to take down Dietrich's computer, he's rallied and brought out this new episode, in which the pair tackle the surprisingly difficult challenge of a primer for thrillers. Immediately, Josh and Dietrich run headfirst into the definition of a thriller, debating how in the world a book like A Simple Plan can exist in the same world as Relic. They discuss how surprisingly broad the genre is, and look at how the basic tenets of thrillers crop up in horror, science fiction, noir, and countless other genres of fiction. With no easy answer, the pair de...2017-09-151h 30The Library PoliceEpisode 216: The Adventure Zone Balance ArcJosh and Dietrich started The Library Police based on their love of stories, and every once in a while, they decide to take some time to highlight extraordinary storytelling outside of the written word. This week, they're joined by Quentin White to discuss the recently completed Balance Arc of the remarkable podcast The Adventure Zone. The three sit and talk about how a goofy podcast of three sons sitting down to play Dungeons and Dragons with their dad transformed over 69 episodes from a silly comedy podcast to one of the most uplifting and joyous pieces of storytelling they've ever s...2017-08-261h 40The Library PoliceEpisode 215: Young Adult Book FightIn a spiritual successor to the last episode, Josh and Dietrich move from an author's debt to their readers and representation in fiction, and sit down to discuss the dramatic role that social media has played in giving readers a voice, for better or for worse. The pair discuss a recent article from Vulture that highlights some of the more toxic and hostile reactions to books, and talk about the changing dynamics of the author/reader relationship. With Twitter campaigns bringing the anger and dissatisfaction of thousands directly to an author or publisher's inbox, what are the right steps...2017-08-131h 42The Library PoliceEpisode 214: What Does an Author Owe You?This week, Josh and Dietrich discuss what, if anything, an author owes their readers, and discover that their answer is much more complicated than the last time they debated this. Josh points out the challenge of addressing the demands of a rabid fan base, and makes a somewhat depressing prediction about the last few books in the Game of Thrones series. Dietrich talks about the fear of starting a new epic series when so many authors are leaving their work unfinished, and the impact this has on new authors hoping to pen their own long term series. Finally, they (v...2017-07-221h 22The Library PoliceEpisode 213: AdaptationsThis week, Josh and Dietrich are joined by special guest Quentin White to discuss adaptations. A topic that they've touched on several times, the trio dig deep into some of the more recent adaptations, looking on what makes the jump from page to screen a successful one. They look at the surreal visual spectacles of Bryan Fuller's Hannibal and Noah Hawley's Legion, two television shows that have used every tool at their disposal to create extraordinary interpretations of gothic horror and psychic warfare. They discuss why television seems to be so much more fertile ground for adaptations, with the ab...2017-07-021h 36The Library PoliceEpisode 212: Beach ReadingTurn on the Jimmy Buffett, grab the sunblock, and head for those sandy shores. This week, Josh and Dietrich look at what makes a book that perfect beach read. Josh talks about the challenge of finding a horror novel that works well for vacation reading, and Dietrich discusses the value of a clever hook in a book you're going to devour in just a few days. Fantasy and science fiction surprisingly have a strong showing in their recommendations, with titles from J. Zachary Pike, Saladin Ahmed, and podcast favorite Scott Lynch. While they acknowledge that the nastier turns of...2017-06-061h 37The Library PoliceEpisode 211: Nineteen Eighty-Four by George OrwellThis week, the pair sits down for their discussion of one of the most famous dystopia novels ever written. Nineteen Eighty-Four introduced phrases and concepts such as Big Brother, doublespeak, and more to our culture, and is a depressingly relevant today as it was when it was written. Josh challenges Dietrich to answer why this book, with its flaws in dialogue, characters, and more works, whereas a book like Atlas Shrugged doesn't. Dietrich talks about why this book seems to be independent of the time it was written, speaking more to human nature than the culture of the fifties. Jo...2017-05-211h 31The Library PoliceEpisode 210: Interactive StorytellingFollowing up last week's discussion of audio storytelling, Josh and Dietrich continue to explore different ways of storytelling by exploring interactive fiction, and the ways that new forms of media are exploring narratives, particularly video games. They discuss the brilliant game based on "The Walking Dead" franchise, and how your agency in the story gives it a weight wholly absent from the television show or graphic novel. Dietrich discusses the quietly moving "Firewatch", which allows solitude and reflective conversations piece together a tragic, and surprisingly personal story. Josh looks at the stark and haunting "Papers, Please", a puzzle game...2017-05-061h 25The Library PoliceEpisode 209: Audiobooks and Audio StorytellingThis week, Josh and Dietrich obey the mad whims of their listeners and sit down to discuss audiobooks. But as the beginning of the discussion focuses on why they don't actually listen to audiobooks, they also decide to wrap the newer developments in audio storytelling into the discussion. Josh talks about the challenge of adapting a written story to an audio medium, Dietrich discusses some of the reasons that he's heard people cite for choosing audiobooks over print, and they talk about some of the audiobooks that are really embracing the freedom that the medium offers. But outside audiobooks...2017-04-151h 36The Library PoliceEpisode 208: What Comes Next? After the Apocalypse, I MeanThis week, Josh and Dietrich sit down to discuss postapocalyptic fiction. They begin by highlighting the critical differences between postapocalyptic and dystopian fiction, separating novels like 1984 from I Am Legend. Josh discusses the importance of recognizing that postapocalyptic books still need to embrace a narrative arc, and that failing to do so can result in a meandering, pointless misery fest (cough cough The Walking Dead cough). Dietrich looks at quieter scenarios of the end of the world, including the almost quaint community at the heart of Alas, Babylon, and the slow, melancholy apocalypse of Age of Miracles. Josh looks at st...2017-04-011h 25The Library PoliceEpisode 207: Underground Railroad by Colson WhiteheadThis week, Josh and Dietrich finally tackle Underground Railroad, by Colson Whitehead. The two discuss the similarities that this alternate history book has with earlier favorites Big Machine and Lovecraft Country, and how Whitehead uses fictional portrayals of life in the slave south to illustrate the wide range of racism and all its insidious forms. Josh raves about the way the book shifts between subtlety and horror, and Dietrich talks about the fact that a single section set in South Carolina was enough to carry the book. They look at the parts of this book that work, and the part...2017-03-111h 27