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How could climate change and a plague impact how humans love and grieve? Sequoia Nagamatsu's 'How High We Go in the Dark' explores this question through interconnected sci-fi short stories that really leave us thinking. Conversation starts around 29:15. Before we grapple with some existential questions, let’s check in on some of the things we’ve been playing, watching, and thinking about lately. Playing? Breath of the Wild (Switch 2) Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (PS5) Watching? Little Amélie or the Character of Rain (2025 Film) Pop Culture Jeopardy! (Amazon Prime) Thinking About? ⁠Mothership⁠ (Gaming Website) Find us on Twitter & Instagram: @NovelGamingPod Send us an e-mail: [email protected] Logo by: Katie! Theme song: "Bit Bossa" by Azure

We are joined this month by Tommy from Distant Echoes: A Star Wars Podcast and Lee Carvallo's Podding Challenge: A Simpsons Gaming Podcast to kickoff the return of the Backlog Challenge! But before we dig through our respective bins of games purchased but not played, let’s check in on some of the things we’ve been reading, watching, and thinking about lately. Reading Mr. Burns, A Post-Electric Play by Anne Washburn Reaper Man by Terry Pratchett Brigands and Breadknives by Travis Baldree Ozma of Oz by L. Frank Baum Watching? Taskmaster Series 19 (YouTube) Golden Girls (Hulu) The Traitors US, Season 4 (Peacock) Thinking About? Taking action and being intentional about addressing and coping with the horrors of the worldFind us on BlueSky or Instagram: @NovelGamingPod Send us an e-mail: [email protected] Logo by: Katie! Theme song: "Bit Bossa" by Azureflux

We’re starting the new year off with an unprecedented book club: the fourth entry in a series! This month we read Mirage City, the latest Evander Mills novel by Lev A. C. Rosen… But before we ride our motorcycles into the dark depths of a new mystery, let’s check in on some of the things we’ve been playing, watching, and thinking about lately. Playing? Super Mariomon (ROM hack) Cast n Chill (Switch 2) Listening to? Into the Aether (podcast) Watching? In Your Dreams (Netflix) Find us on BlueSky or Instagram: @NovelGamingPod Send us an e-mail: [email protected] Logo by: Katie! Theme song: "Bit Bossa" by Azureflux

Merry Christmas! We got you 3 questions as a gift! And we even answered them! To unwrap your gift, go directly to 24:34 (where that convo starts). Before then, we check in on what we've been reading, watching, and thinking about lately. Reading: ‘Song of Spider-Man’ by Glen Berger‘Kiss Her Once for Me’ by Alison CochrunWatching: Very Important People Season 3 (Dropout)Avatar Movies (James Cameron)Oh. What. Fun. (Prime)Thinking About: Gladlands (Dropout) Find us on Bluesky & Instagram: @NovelGamingPod Send us an e-mail: [email protected] Logo by: Katie! Theme song: "Bit Bossa" by Azureflux Additional Music: 'Christmas Jazz - Christmas Holiday' by Tunetank

We're almost at the end of 2025! That means it's time to look back on the year and talk about the video games, books, and other things that are making our favorites list. Conversation starts at 27:15. Before then, we talk about what we've been reading, watching, and playing these last couple weeks. Reading or Playing: ‘All Better Now’ by Neal ShustermanSouth of Midnight (Steam)Watching: Alien & Predator Films (1979 - 2025)Wake Up Dead Man (2025 Film) Find us on Bluesky & Instagram: @NovelGamingPod Send us an e-mail: [email protected] Logo by: Katie! Theme song: "Bit Bossa" by Azureflux

More living ships, more forbidden love, and more tentacles! This month we read ‘Escaping Exodus: Symbiosis’ by Nicky Drayden, the sequel to last month's book, ‘Escaping Exodus’. Before talking about this 2021 sci-fi sequel, we check in on what we’re playing, watching, and thinking about lately. Playing Deliver Us the Moon (Steam)Ball x Pit (PS5)Watching Nobody Wants This (Netflix)Lost & Found in Cleveland (currently in theaters)Bugonia (currently in theaters)Thinking About Participating in community support effortsNew Robyn album imminent?Find us on BlueSky or Instagram: @NovelGamingPod Send us an e-mail: [email protected] Logo by: Katie! Theme song: "Bit Bossa" by Azureflux

Honey, we shrunk the Hero of Hyrule! We played The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap, a 2004 Game Boy Advance entry in the Zelda series where you get to shrink to the size of a mouse and make magical clones of yourself! Discussion starts ~31:00. But before we get into that, we check in on some stuff we've been reading, playing, watching, and thinking about. Reading The Life Impossible by Matt HaigPlaying Pokemon Legends: Z-A (Switch 2)Watching Portrait Artist of the Year (YouTube)I Know What You Did Last Summer ‘97 (Netflix)I Still Know What You Did Last Summer (Netflix)Thinking About The Science of ScareQueens of the Dead (Shudder)Junk journalingFind us on BlueSky or Instagram: @NovelGamingPod Send us an e-mail: [email protected] Logo by: Katie! Theme song: "Bit Bossa" by Azureflux

It's a Glitterjaw crossover! We teamed up with our Distant Echoes friends to discuss the 2021 book 'Star Wars: Ronin – A Visions Novel" by Emma Mieko Candon. Discussion starts right away because the whole episode is about the book! ⁠Check out ⁠Distant Echoes: A Star Wars Podcast ⁠and other Glitterjaw shows on ⁠⁠glitterjaw.com⁠⁠! ⁠⁠⁠Find us on Twitter: @NovelGamingPod Send us an e-mail: [email protected] Logo by: Katie! Theme song: "Bit Bossa" by Azureflux

Living ships, forbidden love, and tentacles! A winning combination found in our most recent book club pick ‘Escaping Exodus’ by Nicky Drayden. Before talking about this 2019 sci-f spacei book, we check in on what we’re playing, watching, and thinking about lately. Playing Donkey Kong Banaza (Switch)Ghost of Yōtei (PS5)Watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992 Film)The Boulet Brothers' Dragula (Shudder)Hot Ones featuring Keke Palmer & Kate McKinnon (YouTube)Thinking About List Journaling Find us on BlueSky or Instagram: @NovelGamingPod Send us an e-mail: [email protected] Logo by: Katie! Theme song: "Bit Bossa" by Azureflux

Are you afraid of the dark?? We know a video game couple who is! And one of them looooves writing about it! Join us as we wade through the shadows and talk about our experience with Alan Wake Remastered, a 2021 psychological action thriller. But before that, we check in on what we’ve been reading, watching, and thinking about lately. Reading Magic: The Gathering | Marvel's Spider-Man‘Everything She Does is Magic’ by Bridget MorrisseyWatching Crowd Control (Dropout)Pew Pew Bang (MinnMax)Thinking About Censorship Find us on BlueSky or Instagram: @NovelGamingPod Send us an e-mail: [email protected] Logo by: Katie! Theme song: "Bit Bossa" by Azureflux

Pirate and sirens and dragons, oh my! It's a sequel book club episode! This month we read Maggie Tokuda-Hall's 'The Siren, the Song, and the Spy'! Conversation begins around 27:50. Of course, before we do that, we check in on some stuff we've been playing, watching, and thinking about. Playing The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap (GBA on NSO)Hollow Knight (Switch) Watching Listers: A Glimpse Into Extreme Birdwatching (YouTube)Twisted Metal (Peacock)The Paper (Peacock) Thinking About Nintendo Direct... before it happenedFinding old artwork Find us on BlueSky or Instagram: @NovelGamingPod Send us an e-mail: [email protected] Logo by: Katie! Theme song: "Bit Bossa" by Azureflux

You ever just wanna get in a car, attach a little trailer, decorate it, fill it with books, drive around town, and recommend picks to people who ask? Us too, so that's exactly what we did by playing and talking about 2025's Tiny Bookshop! Of course, before we get into it, we catch up on some stuff we've been reading, watching, and playing. Reading The Monsters We Defy by L. PenelopeBad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup by John CarreyrouGo-Man: Champion of Earth by Hamish SteeleWatching Super Mario Moment (Glitterjaw/YouTube)Project Runway 2025 (Disney+)KPop Demon Hunters (Netflix)Talk To Me In Korean - “K-pop Demon Hunters explained by a Korean teacher” (YouTube)Playing Nintendo Switch 2 — Mario Kart World, Pokemon Scarlet, Breath of the Wild Nintendo Switch 2 Edition, Chibi-Robo on NSO, Paper Mario on NSO, etc. Find us on BlueSky or Instagram: @NovelGamingPod Send us an e-mail: [email protected] Logo by: Katie! Theme song: "Bit Bossa" by Azureflux

Been a while since we've read some poetry and been a while since we've read something spooky, so why not both? This month we checked out Robin Gow's 2023 book 'Dear Mothman: A Novel in Verse'. Conversation begins around 41:48. Of course, before we do that, we check in on some stuff we've been playing, watching, and thinking about. Playing Tales of the Shire (Steam)Is This Seat Taken? (Switch)Death Stranding 2: On the Beach (PS5) Watching Weapons (in theaters)KPop Demon Hunters (Netflix)Project Runway (Hulu/Disney+) Thinking About Community sketchbooksNintendo Indie Showcase (Undusted, Herdling, Winter Burrow, Tiny Bookshop)Find us on BlueSky or Instagram: @NovelGamingPod Send us an e-mail: [email protected] Logo by: Katie! Theme song: "Bit Bossa" by Azureflux

Do you love farming, getting to know characters, and clearing trash? Then you should play Coral Island! We did and we're talking about it! Conversation about this farming sim game starts around 33:50. Before then we talk about what we've been reading, watching, and thinking about lately. Reading: ‘Frog and Toad’ by Arnold LobelNew 52 Era Green Lantern Comics (DC Comics)‘Officer Clemmons’ by Dr. Francois Clemmons Watching: Outlander (Starz)RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 16 (MTV)King of Drag (Revry) ⁠Click here to watch!⁠A Crown of Candy (Dropout) Thinking About: Tales of the Shire (2025 Video Game)Go See Art! Find us on BlueSky or Instagram: @NovelGamingPod Send us an e-mail: [email protected] Logo by: Katie! Theme song: "Bit Bossa" by Azureflux

Our first nonfiction book! We read the 2024 book 'Play Nice: The Rise, Fall, and Future of Blizzard Entertainment' by Jason Schreier. Conversation starts around 43:50. Before then, we talk about the things we've been playing and watching... but mostly we talk a looooooot about the Ultimatum: Queer Love Season 2. Playing The Star Named Eos (PS5)Coral Island (Steam) Watching Superman (2025 Movie)Ultimatum Queer Love Season 2 (Netflix) Find us on BlueSky or Instagram: @NovelGamingPod Send us an e-mail: [email protected] Logo by: Katie! Theme song: "Bit Bossa" by Azureflux