Paul talks Game of Thrones .By Paul Sonsteby

Paul chats about the mentor character, so significant to the Hero's Journey.By Paul Sonsteby

Paul talks about the second take on his favourite book.By Paul Sonsteby

Vedder, Eddie. "Man of the Hour," Big Fish: Music from the Motion Picture. Seattle, Pearl Jam, 2003.By Paul Sonsteby

Inspired by one of his teaching lessons, Paul discusses the concept of "the better story" which forms a connection between Yann Martel's 2001 novel Life of Pi and Tim Burton's 2004 film, Big Fish. Burton, Tim. Big Fish. United States, Sony Pictures, 2003. Martel, Yann. Life of Pi. Toronto, Vintage, 2001.…

Paul continues his exploration of the Dark Tower series with this Master's Class of character building. King, Stephen. The Drawing of the Three. New York, Plume, 2003.By Paul Sonsteby

Paul starts an extended re-read and analysis of Stephen King's Dark Tower series.By Paul Sonsteby

Paul compares the futuristic worlds presented in two classic novels of 20th century speculative fiction: Brave New World and Nineteen Eighty-Four. Huxley, Aldous. Brace New World. Toronto, Vintage, 2007. Orwell, George, Nineteen Eighty-Four. Toronto, Signet, 1977.

I'm not gonna lie, I probably broke a bunch of copyrights for this episode. I'm gonna trust the boys to be cool with it.By Paul Sonsteby

Paul gushes about his favourite Viking-Age historian and poet.By Paul Sonsteby

Paul waxes retrospective. https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/8864790044362597696/8064845359125547896By Paul Sonsteby

Sometimes we overread symbols. But there are SOME objects--water, fire, a door--that are ALWAYS symbolic.By Paul Sonsteby

Paul discusses that most derivative, forced, and American of genres: The WesternBy Paul Sonsteby

As memory fades and current events become history, what are the specific things "kids these days" should need to know about World War 2?By Paul Sonsteby

Paul talks about this lovely and underappreciated form of text.By Paul Sonsteby

Paul talks about the revelations that can happen on second and subsequent of books.By Paul Sonsteby

Way better than a great a$$By Paul Sonsteby

Paul explores the sketchy history of the Norse landings in Newfoundland, after fulfilling a lifelong dream of visiting the site at L'anse aux Meadows last month. This episode is dedicated to Tim and Allie.By Paul Sonsteby

Paul weighs in on literary fasciscm. Thomposon, Hunter S. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. New York, Random House, 1971.By Paul Sonsteby

Don't read or watch this play if you're feeling low. McCarthy, Cormac. The Sunset Limited: A Novel in Dramatic Form. New York, Dramatists Play Service, Inc., 2006.By Paul Sonsteby

Hey, for what it is, have a happy one. Downie, Gord. "Fireworks" from Phantom Power. Ontario, Universal, 1998.By Paul Sonsteby

Paul talks about his love for the often-misunderstood and mis-appreciated genre of theatre.By Paul Sonsteby

After far too long of promising, Paul discusses the third volume of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. Tolkien, J.R.R. The Return of the King. London, Harper Collins, 2010.By Paul Sonsteby

It's amazing how Ancient Greek philosphy is still so applicable to us today, and Paul argues that none is MORE applicable still than stoicism. But, you have to jettison the weaknesses. Aurelius, Marcus. Meditations. New York, Pengion, 2006. Herbert, Frank. Dune. New York, Chilton, 1965.By Paul Sonsteby

In today's episode, Paul talks about Metallica, a band he's never going to be too proud to like, although his favourite era is often the band's most-reviled.By Paul Sonsteby

Paul analyzes the exceptional three seasons of The Newsroom for his favourite person. Newman, Thomas, "The Newsroom Main Theme," Apple Music.By Paul Sonsteby

Paul considers the first (and as far as he's concerned ONLY) two Terminator films having watched them with new viewers.By Paul Sonsteby

This is the audio of a presentation Paul recently gave at Signum University's Sunshine Moot 2023 about characters from J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-Earth Youtube Video: https://youtu.be/LUMFo-XoLHA Works Cited Carpenter, Humprey ed. The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien. New York, Houghton Mifflin, 2000. Tolkien, J.R.R. The Fellowship of the Ring. London, Harpe…

What does Shakespeare really mean about "to be" and what does Hamlet learn about it, himself, and ALL OF THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE by the end of the most famous work in English? Bloom, Harold. Shakeseapre: Invention of the Human. Riverhead Books: New York, 1998. McCartney, Paul. "Let It Be." from Let It Be. Apple: London, 1970. Shakespeare, William. Ham…

In this epic walk through history and nostalgia of the superhero genre, Paul laments the fact that comic books are immune to any sort of real change, and that's a shame.By Paul Sonsteby

It's a little known fact that the Ents of Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings were actually inspired by the author's extreme dislike of a scene in Shakespeare's Macbeth. Paul talks the prophecies of Macbeth, their influence on LOTR, and Tolkien's brief use of prophecy himself. Carpenter, Humphrey, Ed. The Letters of J. R. R. Tolkien. London: Houghton M…

In this episode, Paul looks at the most Tarantino-style director of them all: Quentin Tarantino. Paul rates all of his movies from least best to best!By Paul Sonsteby

Paul looks at a specific allegorical novel that continues to have meaning. Orwell, George. Animal Farm. London: Martin Secker and Warburg, Ltd, 1945.By Paul Sonsteby

Paul talks about the most significant books, films, shows, and albums he encountered in the year that was 2022. Here's a link to the whole list: https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/8864790044362597696/73039281794381240By Paul Sonsteby

By request, Paul talks about the Tolkien book that most people don't finish, which is funny because it's about 700 pages shorter than his best one. Tolkein, J.R.R. The Silmarillion. Christopher Tolkien, ed. Houghton Mifflin: London, 1977.By Paul Sonsteby

Paul discusses the 2022 film Prey, the umpteenth sequel to 1987's Predator, and the only one that's not bad, Trachtenburg, Dave. Prey. USA: 20th Century Studios, 2022.By Paul Sonsteby

Paul discusses the life and times of that one and only Warrior Philosopher King Alexander the Great, and we consider how having a good edcation can propel you. Savill, Agnes. Alexander the Great and His Times. London: Rockliffe, 1956.By Paul Sonsteby

Hamlet is much bigger and better than it was supposed to be, so it's only natural that its existential death satire (if that's a genre) is too. Paul talks Tom Stoppard's brilliant 1966 play Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead. Shakespeare, William. Hamlet. Toronto: Thompson and Nelson, 2003. Stoppard, Tom. Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead. New Y…

Paul is joined by returning guests Fynn and Coen to discuss the Rings of Power TV series. McKay, Patrick and J. D. Payne. The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. NZ and UK: Amazon Studios and New Line Cinema, 2022.By Paul Sonsteby

You don't need to ever go to a movie theatre again. Paul's suggestion: don't!By Paul Sonsteby

Paul talks about speculative fiction, and how some of its best writers proved that their escapism is more real than many of the best writing reality. Apologies to Cormac McCarthy. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cormac_McCarthy Shippey, Tom. J. R. R. Tolkien: Author of the Century. London: HarperCollins, 2001.…

Paul talks about what was once a very fine show: HBO's Westworld.By Paul Sonsteby

Paul discusses the reinterest in Norse Faith around the world, and how--what a shock!--it has all the same issues as every other religion out there. McIntosh, Christopher. Beyond the North Wind. Newburyport: Weiser. 2019. Sturlusson, Snorri. The Poetic Edda.By Paul Sonsteby

Paul discusses the complex source of The Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power in anticipation of the forthcoming Amazon series. Tolkien, J. R. R. (1977), Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, Boston: Houghton Mifflin,By Paul Sonsteby

Paul talks about being a feminist and how it's impossible to be a good one if you have a Y chromosome. Also, books. Brust, Stephen. Jhereg. Ace: USA, 1983. Shakespeare, William. Hamlet. The Riverside Shakespeare. Houghton Mufflin: New York, 1996. King Lear. The Riverside Shakespeare. Houghton Mufflin: New York, 1996. Macbeth. The Riverside Shakespe…

The audio was wrong on the first one. Use this one! Hey, man, Paul's gonna look at, like, the book that kicked off the whole Beat Generation groove and made Jim Morrisson realize that, like, any cat can spout nonsense and call it poetry. Dig it! Kerouac, Jack. On the Road. Viking: New York, 1957.By Paul Sonsteby

Paul reviews a movie he really wanted to see: The Northman! Can it possibly live up to the hype? Eggers, Robert. The Northman. USA: Universal, 2022By Paul Sonsteby

In a world divided, shocked by murdered black people and murdered elementary students, Paul implores us to see the message from the greatest unifier in all of literature: Atticus Finch. Lee, Harper. To Kill a Mockingbird. New York: Hatchett, 1960.By Paul Sonsteby

For Ramona, Janne, and especially Senia, And for Gloria. She knows why.By Paul Sonsteby

Paul talks Cormac McCarthy's Pulitzer Prize winner The Road, and how this grim, horrifying book still has a touch of love and hope. McCarthy, Cormac. The Road. New York, Vintage: 2006.