Our Ape Club reconvenes to celebrate the holidays with a viewing of 1971’s “Escape from the Planet of the Apes!” Is this an ape movie or an episode of “Mannix”? What happens when you change lanes on the Freeway of Time? Why is Zira the smartest of all creatures, ape or human? And was Dr. Cornelius framed by big government? Apes smart, humans dumb!

"Escape from the Planet of the Apes"

Jason Snell with John Moltz, Annette Wierstra, Brian Warren and David J. Loehr

Referenced Works

Planet of the Apes (franchise)

Escape from the Planet of the Apes

Show Notes & Links

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Set in a bright retro-future world, “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” doesn’t have anything to do with the Marvel Cinematic Universe… yet. We analyze the latest attempt to translate Marvel’s first family to the big screen, including the trade-offs involved in introducing characters, not retreading the origin story again, turning Galactus into Rumplestiltskin, and the inevitable downbeat ending that never comes.

"The Fantastic Four: First Steps"

Jason Snell with Erika Ensign, Moisés Chiullán, Scott McNulty and Chip Sudderth

Referenced Works

Fantastic Four: First Steps

Marvel Cinematic Universe

Show Notes & Links

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We celebrate Fangsgiving with a visit to darkest Transylvania (and Germany) for the plague-stricken, rat-infested tale of “Nosferatu”, a legally questionable knock-off of “Dracula” more than a century old that surprisingly reinvigorates the classic lines of the Dracula story.

"Nosferatu" (2024)

Jason Snell with Steve Lutz, Annette Wierstra, Tiff Arment and Tony Sindelar

Referenced Works

Nosferatu (2024)

Show Notes & Links

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Ever wonder what happened to The Oneders? We celebrate Hanksgiving by discussing Tom Hanks’s love letter to ’60s pop that’s also a clear-eyed look at the machinery of the entertainment business, “That Thing You Do!” Powered by a legitimately classic pop song, a stunning cast (turns out, Tom Hanks knows some people), and scenes of joy, warmth, and kindness, this is a film that we find ourselves revisiting often. Happy Hanksgiving to all! And make it snappy!

"That Thing You Do!"

Jason Snell with Erika Ensign, Lex Friedman, Brian Warren, Kathy Campbell and Dan Moren

Referenced Works

That Thing You Do!

Show Notes & Links

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If you’ve been thinking of reading Science Fiction and Fantasy but had no idea where to start, we’re here to help. Our panel of longtime SF/F readers has some suggestions just for you!

New to SF/F reading list

Jason Snell with Aleen Simms, David J. Loehr, Erika Ensign, Heather Berberet and Sandra Wong

Show Notes & Links

• David - The Human Division by John Scalzi
• Aleen - Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
• Erika - A Spindle Splintered by Alix E. Harrow
• Heather - Jack the Bodiless by Julian May
• Sandra - The Butcher of the Forest by Premee Mohamed

• Jason - The Rook by Daniel O’Malley

• David - The Mimicking of Known Successes by Malka Older

• Aleen - Monk & Robot (Psalm for the Wild-Built/Prayer for the Crown-Shy) by Becky Chambers
• Erika - The Midnight Bargain by C.L. Polk
• Heather - The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
• Sandra - Blood Over Bright Haven by M.L. Wang

• Jason - The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker

• David - To Say Nothing Of The Dog by Connie Willis

• Aleen - The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty
• Erika - Summer in Orcus by T. Kingfisher
• Heather - Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow
• Sandra - The Archive Undying by Emma Mieko Candon
• Jason - 11/22/63 by Stephen King

Additional choices (may not be approved by Jason)

• David - Calculating Stars by Kowal, Exhalation by Ted Chiang, Quantum Love Story by Mike Chen, All Our Wrong Todays by Elan Mastai, A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L’Engle, A Canticle for Liebowitz by Walter M. Miller Jr., Dragonflight by Anne McCaffrey, Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams, Engines of God and Polaris by Jack McDevitt
• Aleen - Vorkosigan Saga by Lois McMaster Bujold, The Expanse by James S.A. Corey, Zombie Fallout by Mark Tufo, Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman, Daevebad Trilogy by S.A. Chakraborty, Uprooted by Naomi Novik, Emily Wilde series by Heather Fawcett, Nettle and Bone by T. Kingfisher, Automatic Noodle by Annalee Newitz, Streets of London by Ben Aaronovich, All Souls Lost by Dan Moren, Baking Bad by Kim M. Watt, The Ghost Bride by Yangsze Choo, The Broken Earth by N.K. Jemisin, The Seven-Year Slip by Ashley Poston, Ninefox Gambit by Yoon Ha Lee
• Erika - Galactic Cold War by Dan Moren, And Then There Was n-1 by Sarah Pinsker, Shadow Police by Paul Cornell, A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking by T. Kingfisher, Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree, Thornhedge by T. Kingfisher, Witches of Lychford by Paul Cornell, Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison, The Broken Earth by N.K. Jemisin, A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine, Imperial Radch by Ann Leckie, Machineries of Empire by Yoon Ha Lee
• Heather - Vampire Lestat by Anne Rice, Silo by Hugh Howey, Scholomance by Naomi Novik, Hunger Games by Susan Collins, Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper
• Sandra - Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, Trail of Lightning by Rebecca Roanhorse, A Heart of Blood of Ashes by Milla Vane, October Daye by Seanan Mcguire, Saints of Steel by T. Kingfisher, The Lathe of Heaven by Ursula K. Le Guin
• Jason - Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir, The Yiddish Policeman’s Union by Michael Chabon, The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet by Becky Chambers, Service Model by Adrian Tchaikovsky, The Echo Wife by Sarah Gailey, The Steerswoman by Rosemary Kirstein, Pattern Recognition by William Gibson, Borderline by Mishell Baker, Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel, Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi, Shards of Honor/Barrayar by Lois McMaster Bujold, Uprooted by Naomi Novik, Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin

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Pixar Club re-forms to discuss “Elio,” the studio’s lowest-grossing feature film of all time. Funny thing, though… it’s a pretty good movie? It’s funny, has some space adventure and gross-but-lovable aliens, and even has a nice message about making connections. Look, we didn’t go see it in the theater either, but we sure had a fun time watching it on Disney+.

"Elio"

Jason Snell with Moisés Chiullán, Brian Hamilton and Annette Wierstra

Referenced Works

Pixar Animation Studio

Elio

Show Notes & Links

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It’s time for another Old Spooky Club, as we celebrate the 40th anniversary of Stuart Gordon’s horror-comedy classic, “Re-Animator”, which bears very little resemblance to the works of H.P. Lovecraft. We’ve got notes about severed heads, chomped-on fingers, lobotomized deans, weird character motivations, creepy stalkers, a literal blood bath, and everything Barbara Crampton.

"Re-Animator"

Jason Snell with Steve Lutz, Tiff Arment and Monty Ashley

Referenced Works

Re-Animator

Show Notes & Links

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We celebrate the 50th anniversary of the longest-running theatrical run of all time—“The Rocky Horror Picture Show”! It’s an unapologetic musical about being yourself (and giving yourself over to pleasure). It spawned a cultural phenomenon that’s still evolving, and making some of us feel old! If you’re a weirdo, you’re welcome here.

"Rocky Horror Picture Show"

Erika Ensign with Monty Ashley, Shelly Brisbin, Antony Johnston and Brian Hamilton

Referenced Works

The Rocky Horror Picture Show

[Amazon]

Show Notes & Links

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We’re back on the Marvel movies with “Thunderbolts*”, a film that (to our surprise?) is not a nihilistic story about villains pretending to be heroes (see: Suicide Squad), but instead a story about some troubled not-quite-heroes learning that they can be better if they connect to other people and work on their own issues. But also with explosions and fights and stuff.

"Thunderbolts*"

Jason Snell with Lisa Schmeiser, Erika Ensign, Moisés Chiullán and Glenn Fleishman

Referenced Works

Thunderbolts

Show Notes & Links

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It’s autumn, things are turning dark and gray, and that puts us in the mind of… (fictional) murder! Want a mystery novel, or series, to read? Our expert readers have many, many suggestions for you.

Mystery Reading List

Jason Snell with Jean MacDonald, Antony Johnston, David J. Loehr, Scott McNulty, Sandra Wong and Annette Wierstra

Show Notes & Links

Suggestions

• Jean: The Crow Trap by Ann Cleeves (Vera Stanhope)
• Antony: Midnight at Malabar House by Vaseem Khan (Malabar House)
• David: Fortune Favors the Dead by Stephen Spottswood (Pentacost and Parker)
• Scott: The Man With a Load of Mischief by Martha Grimes (Richard Jury)
• Sandra: A Study in Scarlet Women by Sherry Thomas (Lady Sherlock)
• Annette: Artifact by Gigi Pandian (Jaya Jones Treasure Hunt)

• Jason: Strike Three, You’re Dead by R.D. Rosen (Harvey Blissberg)

• Jean: A Test of Wills by Charles Todd (Inspector Ian Rutledge)

• Antony: The Appeal by Janice Hallett
• David: The Deep Blue Good-By by John D. McDonald (Travis McGee)
• Scott: A Grim Reaper’s Guide to Catching a Killer by Maxie Dara (S.C.Y.T.H.E.)
• Sandra: Hide by Tracy Clark (Detective Harriet Foster)
• Annette: A Curious Beginning by Deanna Raybourn (Veronica Speedwell)

• Jason: The Mimicking of Known Successes by Malka Older (Mossa and Pleiti)

• Jean: The Shape of Water by Andrea Camilleri (Commissario Montalbano)

• Antony: Ghosts of Belfast/The Twelve by Stuart Neville (Jack Lennon)
• David: The Hot Rock by Donald E. Westlake (Dortmunder)
• Scott: A Death in Door County by Annelise Ryan (Monster Hunter)
• Sandra: Secret Identity by Alex Segura (Secret Identity)
• Annette: The Spare Man by Mary Robinette Kowal
• Jason: Witness for the Dead by Katherine Addison (Cemeteries of Amalo)

Leftover suggestions

• Jean: Sue Grafton, Sarah Peretsky, Laura Lippman, Walter Mosley
• Antony: Three Dahlias by Katy Watson, Man on the Street by Trevor Wood, Dark Horizon by James Swallow, In the Blink of an Eye by Jo Callaghan, City of Vengeance by D.V. Bishop (Cesare Aldo)
• David: Fletch by Gregory Mcdonald, American Mystery Classics (ed. by Otto Penzler), The Dog-Sitter Detective by Antony Johnston, Suburban Dicks by Fabian Nicieza, Murder Takes a Vacation by Laura Lippman
• Scott: Jack Taylor Series by Ken Bruen, Barker & Llewelyn by Will Thomas, Roma Sub Rosa by Steven Saylor, Athenian Mysteries by Gary Corby
• Sandra: Death at Greenway by Lori Rader-Day, Time’s Undoing by Cheryl Head, Japantown Series by Naomi Hirahara, Tita Rosie’s Kitchen by Mia P. Manansala, Garden Squad Mysteries by Julia Henry, Like a Sister and Missing White Woman by Kelly Garrett, Her Name is Knight by Yasmin Angoe (Nena Knight), Everything by S.A. Cosby, Crime Writers of Color, Queer Crime Writers
• Annette: In the Dark We Forget and Lola Starke Series by SG Wong, Die for Love by Elizabeth Peters, Magical Fortune Cookie Mysteries, Grave Expectations by Alice Bell
• Jason: Titanium Noir by Nick Harkaway (Cal Sounder), The Last Policeman by Ben H. Winters (Last Policeman), Yiddish Policemen’s Union by Michael Chabon, Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman (Thursday Murder Club)

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Grab your cyberspace deck and prepare to jack in—it’s time to discuss William Gibson’s groundbreaking classic novel, “Neuromancer.” We’ve got a panel of experts—and a first-timer!—ready to discuss how 1984’s future looks from the perspective of 2025’s present.

"Neuromancer"

Jason Snell with Antony Johnston, Lisa Schmeiser, Glenn Fleishman and Erika Ensign

Referenced Works

Neuromancer

[Amazon] [Apple]

Show Notes & Links

Dead Channel: Music Inspired by William Gibson's Neuromancer by Silencaeon (Antony)

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