Shows
The Infinite LibraryEpisode 44 - "2666" by Roberto Bolano, Part 4CONTENT WARNING:This episode includes detailed discussion of violence & sexual assault. We return to "2666" to discuss "The Part About the Crimes". Topics of conversation include the legendary reputation of this portion of Bolano's novel, depictions of violence against women in literature, and conspiracy as a theme in Bolano's oeuvre. As always, we hope you enjoy!2025-07-151h 55The Infinite LibraryEpisode 43 - "Life and Death are Wearing Me Out" (生死疲勞) by Mo Yan (feat. Dan)This week we've got friend of the show Dan back in the stacks to discuss Mo Yan's opus: "Life And Death Are Wearing Me Out". Topics of conversation include Chinese-English translation, reincarnation in fiction, and authorial self-inserts. As always, we hope you enjoy the conversation!2025-07-012h 35
The Infinite LibraryEpisode 42 - "2666" Part IIIThe Book Boys return to the sweltering climes of Santa Theresa to discuss Part III of Roberto Bolano's "2666": The Part about Fate.Global Forms in Bolaño’s 2666: Genre, Race, Capital by Jack Weizhe Cao can be found here. 2025-06-172h 09The Infinite LibraryEpisode 41 - "Lovetown" by Michał WitkowskiIt's the Infinite Library Pride Month Special! Today, John and Ben queen out and discuss Michał Witkowski's "Lovetown". We discuss the relation between experimental fiction and marginalized points of view, the depiction of queer life in capitalist vs non-capitalist systems, and, of course, gay sex. 2025-06-031h 45
The Infinite LibraryEpisode 40 - "2666" by Roberto Bolaño (Parts 1 & 2)¡Hola, los amigos des libros! In the first episode of the Summer Season, the Book Banditos, Ben and John, head south of the border to chat about Roberto Bolaño's magnum opus: "2666". Is the tone of this description a meta commentary on Bolaño's portrayal of hapless literati facing the true horror at the heart of the world? You'll have to listen to find out!In this episode, the first of four, we discussed "The Part About the Critics" and "The Part About Amalfitano". Topics of conversation include Bolaño's use of genre elements to develop tone, a ps...2025-05-202h 12The Infinite LibraryEpisode 39 - "Nova" Samuel R. DelanyGroovy Baby! We close out our Spring 2025 Season by discussing Samuel R. Delany's "Nova". We discuss Delany's place in the history of sci-fi, archetypes, and the role of time in writing. As always, we hope you enjoy our conversation.2025-05-061h 59The Infinite LibraryEpisode 38 - "Moonglow" by Michael ChabonWhat a long, strange trip it's been...this week, the Book Boys finish up their read-through of the works of Michael Chabon with "Moonglow". Does the Baron of Berkley/Prince of Pittsburgh manage to redeem himself after the missteps of "Telegraph Avenue"? Tune in this week to find out!2025-04-222h 18The Infinite LibraryEpisode 37 - "The Confidence-Man: His Masquerade" by Herman Melville (feat. Chris Thomas)John and Ben dive deep into Scam-erican literature this week with the help of friend of the pod and resident Melville expert: Chris Thomas. We discuss Melville's final novel: "The Confidence Man: His Masquerade". Topics of discussion include the trustworthiness of barbers, America's enduring interest in flim-flam artists of all sorts, and the long shadow of Don Quixote. As always, we hope that you enjoy the conversation.2025-04-091h 35The Infinite LibraryEpisode 36 - "Telegraph Avenue" by Michael ChabonThis week, the Book Boys lib out and read Michael Chabon's Obama era glaze job: "Telegraph Avenue". Our unbroken streak of bangers comes to an end as we discuss the first book that we straight up just did not like. Still, we hope you enjoy our conversation as always!2025-03-191h 26The Infinite LibraryEpisode 35 - "The Rise of the Novel" by Ian WattThis week, the Book Boys read "The Rise of the Novel" by Ian Watt. Topics of discussion include literature and the market, the nature of the 'reading public', and the lineage of the novel in English letters. As always, we hope you enjoy the conversation!2025-03-051h 47The Infinite LibraryEpisode 34 - "Gentlemen of the Road" by Michael ChabonThis week, we're wandering through medieval Khazaria with good ol' Mikey C as we read "Gentlemen of the Road". Topics of conversation include Swords & Sorcery vs Historical Fiction, depictions of Jewish identity in Chabon's oeuvre, and serializiation of fiction. As always, we hope you enjoy our conversation!You can follow the show on Bluesky at @infinitelibrarypod.bsky.social2025-02-181h 31The Infinite LibraryEpisode 33 - "The Last Samurai" by Helen DeWittDid you know that YOU can teach YOURSELF ANCIENT GREEK? In this week's episode of The Infinite Library, John and Ben are discussing "The Last Samurai" by Helen DeWitt. Topics of conversation include autodidacticism, sleazy British men, and the value of the humanities in troubling times.2025-02-051h 57The Infinite LibraryEpisode 32 - "The Yiddish Policeman's Union" by Michael ChabonThis week on The Infinite Library: John and Ben check-in and see how they're feeling about this whole Michael Chabon read-through project, then they continue along the primrose path and discuss "The Yiddish Policeman's Union". Topics of discussion include noir fiction, Filipino-style Chinese donuts, and Messiah.2025-01-231h 39The Infinite LibraryBonus - Top 5 of 2024Happy New Years, Book Heads! In this bonus epsiode, John and Ben sit down to ring in 2025 by talking about their favorite books of 2024. We hope you enjoy!2025-01-101h 05The Infinite LibraryEpisode 31 - "Context Collapse" by Ryan RubyFor our first episode of the New Year, John and Ben are discussing Ryan Ruby's poem about the history of poetry: "Context Collapse". Topics of discussion include jongleurs, Ezra Pound, and romanticism.
As always, we hope you enjoy the conversation!
2025-01-071h 42The Infinite LibraryEpisode 30 - "The Final Solution" by Michael ChabonMerry Christmas! John and Ben are flying solo again this week to discuss "The Final Solution" by Michael Chabon. We're officially halfway through our readthrough on Chabon's works, and in this episode, we discuss Sherlock Holmes, Chabon's development as a writer, and genre fiction more broadly. Special Bonus: We return to Movie Land to discuss "The Seven Per-Cent Solution", the 1979 Sherlock Holmes movie where the Great Detective teams up with Sigmund Freud.2024-12-271h 50The Infinite LibraryEpisode 29 - "The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay", pt. 2 (feat. Collective Action Comics)Pow! We're back with part 2 of our discussion of "The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay" with Nat of Collective Action Comics. As always, enjoy the conversation.2024-12-171h 24The Infinite LibraryEpisode 29 - "The Amazing Adventures of Cavalier & Clay" by Michael Chabon, pt. 1 (feat. Collective Action Comics)It's the big one, the book that won Michael Chabon the Pulitzer Prize, the 600-some page behemoth known as "The Adventures of Cavalier & Clay". The Book Boys knew that they were going to need some backup for this one, so they called in Nat of Collective Action Comics for a Two-Fisted Team-Up! We had so much fun talking about this one that it ended up being our first two-parter. As always, we hope you enjoy the conversation!2024-12-111h 29The Infinite LibraryBonus - "The Savage Detectives" by Roberto Bolaño (feat. Ana)Happy Thanksgiving, Bookheads! We're taking a week off for the holiday, but fear not, we have a special, John-free bonus episode to tide you over till the next regular ep. If you're a Big Ben fan, this one's for you, because he's sitting down with previous guest of the pod, Ana, to have a more casual chat about another banger from the Roberto Bolaño Fascism Extended Universe: "The Savage Detectives".
Ben hopes you enjoy the conversation. John hopes you don't so that Ben doesn't try to fire them from the pod.
2024-11-271h 23The Infinite LibraryEpisode 28 - "Distant Star" by Roberto BolañoIn this unfortunately timely episode of The Inifinite Library, the Book Boys return to the Roberto Bolaño Fascism Extended Universe to discuss "Distant Star". Topics of conversation include the place of the individual in history, Right Wing kitsch, and how there's a Cheeto in the frickin' White House.
As always, we hope you enjoy the conversation.
2024-11-131h 50The Infinite LibraryBonus - "At the Mountains of Madness" by H.P. Lovecraft (feat. Molly Tanzer)Surprise! It's a Halloween bonus episode!
Friend of the show Molly Tanzer returns to the Infinite Library to discuss H.P. Lovecraft's "At the Mountains of Madness". We discuss our individual relationships with Lovecraft and Lovecraftiana, cosmic horror, and shoggoths.
As always, we hope that you enjoy the conversation.
Works Cited
Book of the Most Precious Substance by Sara Gran
The Gods of Pegana by Lord Dunsany
Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield
From Beyond
Providence by Alan Moore
2024-10-311h 34The Infinite LibraryEpisode 27 - "Cyclonopedia" by Reza Negarestani (feat. Sam Chirtal)On this very spooky Halloween episode of The Infinite Library, special sci-fi correspondent Sam Chirtel is back in the stacks to discuss "Cyclonopedia: Complicity with Anonymous Materials" by Reza Negarestani. Topics of discussion include "theory fiction", the CCRU, and how dang spooky oil is.
As always, we hope you enjoy the conversation.2024-10-291h 43The Infinite LibraryEpisode 26 - "Wonder Boys" by Michael ChabonFor our second episode of Chabon-a-mania, Ben and John had the rare pleasure of recording in-person, so this episode is a little more meandering than usual. As always, we hope you enjoy the conversation!
2024-10-151h 50The Infinite LibraryBonus - A Conversation with Dariel QuiogueJohn and Ben sit down with Filipino sword and sorcery author, Dariel Quiogue, about his upcoming novella, "The Walls of Shira Yulun", which will be coming out soon as part of the "Double-Edge Sword & Sorcery" collection from New Edge Sword & Sorcery.
As always, we hope you enjoy our conversation.
You can support the campaign for the "Double-Edge Sword & Sorcery" here: https://www.backerkit.com/c/projects/brackenbooks/double-edge-sword-sorcery
Works Mentioned
Robert E. Howard, Conan
Edgar Rice Burroughs, Barsoom
Star Wars
Herodouts, Histories
The...2024-10-0356 minThe Infinite LibraryEpisode 25 - A Selection of BorgesThis week, John and Ben finally get around to discussing patron saint of the pod: Jorge Luis Borges. We discuss a selection of short stories including: "Tlon, Uqbar, Orbis Tertius", "Pierre Menard, Author of the Quixote", and "The Library of Babel".
As always, we hope you enjoy our conversation!2024-10-011h 43The Infinite LibraryEpisode 24 - "The Mysteries of Pittsburgh" by Michael ChabonJohn and Ben are back from their summer vacation and ready to get back to work on a new project: reading the collected works of Michael Chabon! We discuss our favorite beach reads from the break, why we’re interested in exploring Chabon as an author, and then dig in and talk about “The Mysteries of Pittsburgh”. As always, we hope you enjoy our conversation.
Summer Books!
Works Referenced
Bartimaeus Sequence by Jonathan Stroud
The Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald
Our Lady of the Flowers by Jean Genet
The Dar...2024-09-171h 38The Infinite LibraryBonus - "Right Ho, Jeeves" feat. Phil Ford of "Weird Studies"John and Ben are still luxuriating on their summer vacation, but a little while back they invited the illustrious Phil Ford of the Weird Studies podcast into the Library to discuss P.G. Wodehouse's "Right Ho, Jeeves". We discuss humor in literature, the idea of being "well-read", and the changing nature of genre fiction through history. We hope you enjoy the conversation!
Works Referenced
La Serva Padrone, by Giovanni Pergolesi
SCTV
George Orwell "Such, Such Were the Joys"
The Zen Diaries of Garry Shandling
Casino Royale
Carolyn Miller "Genre as Social Action"
The...2024-09-041h 24The Infinite LibraryEpisode 23 - "Telluria" by Vladimir SorokinThis week, John and Ben are discussing "Telluria" by Vladimir Sorokin, translated by Max Lawton. As always, we hope you enjoy the conversation!
Works Referenced:
The Ice Trilogy by Vladimir Sorokin
The Norm by Vladimir Sorokin
The Queue by Vladimir Sorokin
The golden notebook by Doris Lessing
Pervert’s Guide to Cinema - Slavoj Zizek
Twin Peaks the Return
Waiting for Godot - Samuel Beckett
The Wake - Paul Kingsnorth
https://theuntranslated.wordpress.com/2022/03/01/interview-with-max-lawton-on-reading-russian-literature-translating-sorokin-books-in-need-of-translation-and-retranslation-learning-languages-and-ambitious-projects/
2024-08-211h 44The Infinite LibraryEpisode 22 - "Blindsight" by Peter Watts (feat. Sam Chirtal)This week, John and Ben are joined by Ben's friend Sam to discuss one of the great works of scifi-horror: Peter Watts' "Blindsight"! Topics of discussion include "metal science fiction", AI, the nature of intelligence, and (of course) the Gothic.
We hope you enjoy the conversation.
Texts Mentioned this Episode
Jane Austen - Persuasion
Adorno & Horkheimer - Dialectic of Enlightenment
Ian Banks - Culture series
Peter Watts - Rifters
Peter Watts - Echopraxia
Arthur C Clarke - Rama series
James Gunn - The Listeners
Roger Zelazny - Creatures of Lig...2024-08-071h 47The Infinite LibraryEpisode 21 - Jirel of Joiry (feat. Molly Tanzer)This week, we're joined by fantasy/science fiction author Molly Tanzer to discuss the Jirel of Joiry stories by C.L. Moore. Topics of discussion include H.P. Lovecraft, Sword & Sorcery as a genre, and Molly's upcoming project: "Jirel and the Mirror of Truth"!
We hope you enjoy our conversation!
Links:
- New Edge Sword & Sorcery: https://newedgeswordandsorcery.com/
- Preorder "120 Murders": https://houseofgamut.com/120-murders-pre-order/2024-07-241h 29The Infinite LibraryEpisode 20 - "The Ice Palace" by Tarjei Vesaas (feat. Kate Marshall)Hey Bookheads, apologies for the unscheduled hiatus over the last couple of weeks. To make it up to you, we've got a frosty cool episode discussing "The Ice Palace" by Tarjei Vesaas with Kate Marshall. Topics of discussion include the novella as a form, the bewitching power of nature, and the social utility of magical thinking. As always, we hope you enjoy the discussion.
You can check out Kate's excellent book, "Novels by Aliens: Weird Tales and the Twenty-First Century" here: https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/N/bo206058572.html2024-07-091h 12The Infinite LibraryEpisode 19 - "City of Glass" (feat. Walt Lewellyn of The Black Casebook)Biff! Bang! Pow! In this week's thrilling installment of The Infinite Library, your Leading Lads of Literature enlist the aid of an Amazing Ally -- Walt Lewellyn of The Black Casebook podcast -- to discuss the first comic book: "City of Glass" by Paul Karasik and David Mazzucchelli! As always, we hope you enjoy our conversation!
Note: We apologize dearly for the episode being late. We hope you can forgive us!2024-06-181h 44The Infinite LibraryEpisode 18 - "At Swim-Two-Birds" by Flann O'Brien2024-05-281h 36The Infinite LibraryEpisode 17 - "Fer-de-Lance" by Rex StoutIn celebration of National Crime Fiction Month, John and Ben discuss one of the greatest fat guys in the history of literature: Nero Wolfe.
As always, we hope you enjoy the conversation.2024-05-141h 28The Infinite LibraryEpisode 16 - "Blithe Spirit" by Noel CowardOn this week's episode of The Infinite Library, we're treading the old boards and discussing our first play: Noel Coward's "Blithe Spirit". We talk about sex, death, and how movies aren't sending their best. We hope you enjoy our discussion as always.2024-04-301h 42The Infinite LibraryEpisode 15 - "The Parisian" by Isabella HammadJohn and Ben return to the historical novel on this week's episode of The Infinite Library. We tackle British-Palestinian novelist Isabella Hammad's 2019 debut: The Parisian: a book that, much like its protagonist and the country he hails from, is curiously divided. We discuss the novelist as national representative, the perils of tying your family history directly into your fiction, "MFA writing", and the tides of history.
As always, we hope you enjoy our conversation.
Disclaimer: Contrary to what we may appear to be, Ben and John are very dumb. If we mispronounced...2024-04-161h 23The Infinite LibraryEpisode 14 - "Spring and All" by William Carlos WilliamsGet in your big cars and pull out your old time-y type writers, because this week John and Ben are celebrating Easter by discussing “Spring and All” by William Carlos Williams. Topics of conversation include democracy and art, Williams’ concept of the “Imagination”, Williams’ vision of art and how it contrasts with his contemporaries, and Walter Benjamin. This episode is a little different than our usual fare–we’re chatting about a non-narrative piece of work for the first time on the show– so things are definitely a little looser and kookier than usual. We hope you enjoy our conversation!2024-04-021h 26The Infinite LibraryEpisode 13 - "Middlemarch" by George EliotIt's the big one! It's the middle of March, and Ben decided to mark the occasion by making John read one of the great doorstops of English literature: George Eliot's "Middlemarch". The Book Boys enjoy a particularly long, winding conversation about the many marvellous characters inhabiting Eliot's pages, free will vs. determinism, science and religion, and doddering old uncles. We hope you enjoy!2024-03-192h 03The Infinite LibraryEpisode 12 - "Tun-Huang" by Yasushi InoueAfter a heaping helping of guests for the last couple of episodes, we're back this week with an Infinite Library Classique episode. This week, John and Ben are discussing "Tun-Huang", Yasushi Inoue's sparse yet epic tale of war and religion set against the beautiful, barren plains and deserts of western China. Topics this week include the NYRB Classics imprint, historical fiction as a genre, and the deterministic forces of history. We hope you enjoy the episode!2024-03-061h 41The Infinite LibraryBonus Episode - "The Castle" by Franz Kafka (feat. Dan)I feel like White Kafka! Greetings, Bookheads: this week we've got a special off-week treat for you. We sat down with our friend Dan to discuss Franz Kafka's unfinished novel: The Castle. We hope you enjoy!2024-02-281h 48The Infinite LibraryEpisode 11 - "Nightwood" by Djuna Barnes (feat. Ana)This week on the Infinite Library, we're talking about modern love (as in "modernism", get it?). John's girlfriend Ana joins the Book Boys to talk about Djuna Barnes' classic of lesbian literature. We talk about why this book isn't as well known as its peers, Freud and fascism, and whether or not books are supposed to teach us things. We hope you'll enjoy this discussion.
Note: We had some audio issues with this episode. We apologize for the quality here and we're working hard to figure out how to solve these problems for future...2024-02-201h 55The Infinite LibraryEpisode 10 - "By Night in Chile" by Roberto Bolano (feat. Geoffrey Morrison)This week, John and Ben welcome Geoffrey Morrison, a novelist based in Vancouver, Canada, to discuss "By Night in Chile" by Roberto Bolano. The three of us had a fantastic discussion on Bolano's life and legacy, as well as this brilliant, terrifying little novel. We hope you enjoy the conversation.2024-02-061h 26The Infinite LibraryEpisode 9 - "Bellefleur" by Joyce Carol OatesThis week, Ben and John are tackling their first work by the Queen of Literary Twitter: Joyce Carol Oates. Given this show's fascination with the gothic, we decided to start with the first installment of JCO's Gothic Quartet, "Bellefleur". We talk about the gothic (again), it's role in American culture, realism & supernaturalism in fiction, amongst many other topics. This is a wild and wooly episode about a wild and wooly book. We hope you enjoy!2024-01-231h 34The Infinite LibraryEpisode 8 - "The Fraud" by Zadie SmithOn this week's episode of The Infinite Library, John and Ben are hopping in the Library's time machine and heading back to the 1860s with Zadie Smith's "The Fraud". We discuss historical fiction, the role art takes in shaping us, and hysterical realism.2024-01-091h 41The Infinite LibraryBonus Episode - Best of 2023Picture this: you, lowly listener, have managed to secure an invitation to the swankiest New Year's soiree known to man--hosted by the Infinite Library. Pressing shoulders with the great and good of the literary world, you stumble upon your humble hosts, John and Ben, in the midst of a private conversation. Being the humble, work-a-day podcast hosts they are, they engage you in conversation and regale you with their five favorite books of 2023.
Thank you to all our guests and listeners for making 2023 a great first year for the show! We look forward to...2024-01-041h 27The Infinite LibraryEpisode 7 - "The Dragon Waiting" by John M. Ford (feat. Eden from Death//Sentence)Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah, Book-Heads! This week John and Ben are joined deep in the stacks by Eden of Death//Sentence, Heavy Blog is Heavy, and AnarchySF to discuss the "Velvet Underground of 80s Fantasy Novels": "The Dragon Waiting" by John M. Ford. Topics of conversation include the wild and wooly figure of John M. Ford himself, the curious nature of the Alternate History genre, and what can happen when a work of fantasy tries to do "too much". Eden is also kind enough to provide a true smorgasbord of recommendations for the starving Infinite Library public.
2023-12-261h 16The Infinite LibraryEpisode 6 - "Notes of a Crocodile" by Qiu Miaojin
This week, the Book Boys are diving into the swamp and getting way out of their depth with Qiu Miaojin’s “Notes of a Crocodile”. Despite very much not being Taiwanese lesbians, the Infinite Library is discussing one of the seminal works of Taiwanese lesbian fiction. Come for the riveting conversation on 90s Taiwan and the history of homosexuality in the Sinosphere, stay to hear John butcher the pronunciation of something in Mandarin.
2023-12-121h 36The Infinite LibraryEpisode 5 - "Masters of Atlantis" By Charlie PortisPut on your Pomas and get ready to consult the Cone of Fate, because this week John and Ben are reading "Masters of Atlantis" by Charlie Portis. The Book Boys talk about cults, the unceasing march of time, and John's theory of the "Boomer Novel". 2023-11-291h 39The Infinite LibraryEpisode 4 - Slipstream & "Feeling Very Strange"In aerodynamics, a “slipstream” is the region behind a moving object in which a wake of fluid (typically air or water) is moving at velocities comparable to that of the moving object, such as the the wake behind a speeding boat or jet plane. Most do not know though, that the term has another use: a genre of literature originally described by science fiction author Bruce Sterling in his 1989 essay of the same name. Sterling’s own description of slipstream as a genre is slippery at best, but it can be summarized as a movement growing out of both scienc...2023-11-141h 39The Infinite LibraryEpisode 3 - "Ring" by Koji Suzuki (feat. Hot for Creature)John and Ben knew that Halloween can be a dangerous time in the Infinite Library, what with all the ghosts and goblins around, so they knew they were going to need a bit of extra support for this very spooky episode. Luckily, Dylan and Robb from Hot for Creature were sucked into the Library when Robb's Blu-Ray collection officially got "out of hand" so the Frightening Foursome was able to sit down and talk about Koji Suzuki's classic horror novel "Ring" as well as the famous 1998 film adaptation directed by Hideo Nakata. That's right folks, it's a crossover episode.2023-10-311h 54The Infinite LibraryBonus - "Pickman's Model" by H.P. LovecraftTRIGGER WARNING: Racially charged language (Mediterranean)
As a little pre-Halloween treat, John decided to sit down and do a narration of one of their favorite Lovecraft stories: Pickman's Model.
This is our team's first time putting something like this together, so please forgive the minor audio issues. Enjoy!2023-10-2841 minThe Infinite LibraryEpisode 2: The Castle of OtrantoGhoul evening, ladies & gentle-creeps. John & Ben welcome you to another foray into the endless stacks of the Infinite Library, but this time...it's spooky.
For our first Halloween themed episode of October 2023, we're descending into the ghost-haunted crypts of the Library to discuss the first ever Gothic novel: "The Castle of Otranto". We start off the episode with a discussion of what this thing called "The Gothic" even is. Then Ben, provides some historical context on the book and the life and times of its fancy-lad author, Horace Walpole.
With the formalities out of the...2023-10-171h 11
The Infinite LibraryEpisode 1 - "The Name of the Rose" by Umberto EcoJohn & Ben welcome you to the Infinite Library, a world where books are infinite, but we are not. We start off with a little table talk about the podcast and what we're doing here is. With the boring stuff out of the way, we dig into our first topic: "The Name of the Rose" by Umberto Eco: a novel featuring a library that feels like it might go on for ever. We talk widely, with a topic list touching on semiotics, narrators (unreliable and otherwise), the apocalypse, and whether or not Christ laughed.
2023-10-031h 34