Out of Order Book Club

A. J. Hackwith's The Archive of the Forgotten (2020)

In this week's episode, Mal takes a journey into hell with 'The Archive of the Forgotten' by A. J. Hackwith; it's a fantasy tale about the so-called Library of the Unwritten in Hell. Yes, that Hell. It's a challenging episode as I'm working out that fantasy novels, in particular, are quite challenging to read out of order. It's all about the world building, so join me as I tell you about my reading experience of this novel (the second in a trilogy) . In this episode, I may ramble on a bit too much about whether the four key characters are in hell or purgatory, while being a lot more concise when taking a look at how libraries are a fantastic places to put a fantasy or mystery novel. In addition, we'll take the usual look at the author and series while also considering how to improve my creative writing by being braver with using multiple viewpoints when telling a story. Email: outoforderbookclub@outlook.com Content: A bit of swearing Helpful links and useful sources A. J. Hackwith's website [https://ajhackwith.com/]: You can explore many of the author's previous work here. It hasn't been updated recently, but it is worth visiting if you are intrigued by the 'Hell's Library' trilogy. Interview with A. J. Hackwith (by Sarah Campsall) in The Daily Nerd [https://thenerddaily.com/aj-hackwith-author-interview/]: This 2020 interview was really useful in getting background information on the trilogy, since it happened when 'The Archive of the Forgotten' had been released, and Hackwith was working on the upcoming final part of the trilogy. To be honest, it is also just a nice interview to read as an aspiring writer. Interview with A. J. Hackwith in Jean Book Nerd [https://www.jeanbooknerd.com/2020/10/aj-hackwith-interview-archive-of.html]: This is another 2020 interview that I used in the episode, this one focuses more on what Hackwith was doing at that moment and future projects. I'm always curious about the lives of authors! Interview with A. J. Hackwith (by Robert Lee Brewer) in Writer's Digest [https://www.jeanbooknerd.com/2020/10/aj-hackwith-interview-archive-of.html]: This interview from 2024 focuses on Hackwith's novel 'Toto' which is the story of 'The Wizard of Oz' from the dog's perspective. It's an interesting article about how you develop original ideas and put them into practice. Emma Darwin's 10 Tips for Reading like a Writer [https://emmadarwin.substack.com/p/ten-tips-for-reading-like-a-writer]: This Substack article was written in 2024, and I had no idea about it until it was shared on Bluesky. I used it in this episode and I'll certainly use ideas from this article in future episodes. Darwin provides a writers' 'toolkit' on their Substack, so it's definitely worth exploring. Camilo Peralta's Timeless Moments: Russell Kirk, Charles Williams and Stephen King on the Afterlife (2024) [https://dc.swosu.edu/mythlore/vol42/iss2/7/]: This article explores the works of three authors and the depictions of heaven and hell (plus, purgatory) in their works. It's a fascinating article that looks at them and how they hold very different religious views but seem to have a similar perspective on the afterlife, and it was one that certainly reflected some of the ideas I had about 'The Archive of the Forgotten' while I was reading it. Karen Attar and Andrew Nash's Introduction to Books, Reading and Libraries in Fiction (2025) [Karen Attar and Andrew Nash's Introduction to Books, Reading and Libraries in Fiction]: I'll admit I haven't read this whole study of reading, books and libraires but it is on my long term to-do list, however, even the introduction really gives you an insight into how reading is perceived in books not necessarily as a polite activity, but sometimes as a dangerous one especially for women if they weren't reading 'the right kind of books' whatever they are! The initial description of books as a source of freedom and intellectual activity for Jane Eyre vs. other characters considering libraries a sign of social standing is fascinating.

Robert Arthur Jnr's Alfred Hitchcock and the Three Investigators: The Mystery of The Fiery Eye (1967)

In this week's epsiode, we take a look at 'Alfred Hitchcock and the Three Investigators - The Mystery of the Fiery Eye' by Robert Arthur Jnr.. This was an interesting one for Mal if only because she'd never heard of this series before and the book cover didn't have an author on it, so Mal only discovered the author was Robert Arthur Jnr. after she had finished it and started planning this episode. What she discovered were a lot of fansites and by extension a lot of fans - she's looking at you Germany! In this week's episode, we'll take a look at deception and work ethic as two stand out themes as an 'out of order' reader. We'll look at what you could learn from series novels like the 'Three Investigators' and ask whether 'The Fiery Eye' can standalone or if the practicalities of the three investigators' business and contacts issues throws up more questions than answers. We'll also suggest that Jupiter Jones has a real smugness issue. Email: outoforderbookclub@outlook.com Note: I am sorry to the creators of the fan sites below, as I gave the url names rather the website names in some cases during the episode. These sites were tremendously useful in showing me how well-loved and committed fans of the Three Investigators are, so for anybody interested in the Three Investigators I would recommend exploring these sites. I mention four websites in the episode, but I have included those and a couple more that I discovered after I completed recording. Useful links and sources: Here are five sites that seem to have been created by US fans and appear to be solo efforts, but the amount of detail and enthusiasm in the sites speak to their devotion to Robert Arthur Jnr's creation: The Original Three Investigators Series [https://www.threeinvestigatorsbooks.com/originalseries.html] The Three Investigators Readers' website [http://www.3investigators.com/] The Three Investigators [https://www.threeinvestigators.net/] TunnelTwo.com [https://www.tunneltwo.com/ghost/forums.html] 3Investigators.com [http://www.3investigators.com/files/t3ihome.htm] Rocky-Beach.com [https://www.rocky-beach.com/php/wordpress/]: This is the German site that I speak about in the episode. The black background and multicoloured lettering may not be the easiest format to deal with but it is definitely worth exploring. A Brief History of the Juvenile Mysteries you check out of the library eight at a time by Keith Roysdon [https://crimereads.com/a-brief-history-of-the-juvenile-mysteries-you-checked-out-of-the-library-eight-at-a-time/]: I really enjoyed this 2020 article, and not just because I struggled to find people writing about this series outside of fansites! I think it puts into context how important young adult series are in building future adult mystery fans, plus it doesn't just focus on novels from the mid-20th century but brings the topic up to the present day.

Steph Cha's Beware, Beware (2014)

In the second episode of season 3, Mal will be taking a look at 'Beware, Beware' by Steph Cha. This is the second book in the Juniper Song novel trilogy. This was an interesting one for me, since I'd never heard of Steph Cha or the Juniper Song series before. This isn't necessarily weird, there are plenty of novel series out in the world I'm unaware of, but the Juniper Song trilogy is a feminist 21st Century Korean American take on Raymond Chandler and noir(ish) 'private eye' novels. As a fan, but not an afficionado, of Chandler this definitely got my attention! In this episode we'll be taking a long look at Juniper Song and how, as an 'out of order' reader, her motivation and feelings may throw up more questions than answers. We'll take a look at how she might reflect standard feelings of despair, at least 'standard' in noir detective fiction. In addition, we'll ask whether this novel can standalone or should you start with the first novel in the trilogy in order to know what is going on? Content Warning: Mention, but no description, of rape and sexual assault. Email: outoforderbookclub@outlook.com Useful Links and Helpful sources Steph Cha's website [http://stephcha.com/home/]: You can find all her novels here, plus the list of awards and nominations Cha received for her fourth novel 'Your House Will Pay'. Michael Caleb Tucker's article [https://mcfarlandbooks.com/wp-content/uploads/4-Clu421-Tasker.pdf?srsltid=AfmBOopXuDDCqDUZ5lO1LtD-78lZG7iiRyD7TxTKdo2O-Eb3fFsAv8ll]: This is called 'Despair and the Noir Character' and can be found in Clues - A Journal of Dectection (Volume 42/Number 1). It was published in 2024. I can't say I understood all of it, I'm no philosopher, but the links to Juniper Song as a 'private eye' were striking. The Writing Disorder Interview with Steph Cha: [https://writingdisorder.com/steph-cha-interview/] This interview is from 2013 when 'Follow Her Home', the first novel in the Juniper Song trilogy, was published. It is quite a wide ranging and light-hearted interview which takes in Cha's motivation for writing the novel and her background as well. The Outliers Writing University Interview with Steph Cha [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1b7UHnvJeqI]: This is a 20 minute interview where Cha talks about where she is now in her writing as she spent the last few years working on the TV series 'Butterfly' and her role as series editor of 'The Best American Mystery and Suspense'. This was the most recent interviews with Cha I listened to, so it was useful for finding out what she has been doing since her last novel which was published in 2019. The Wendy Kendall Interview with Steph Cha [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DG5jnx58iMQ]: This interiew is about 8 years old and Cha talks about her writing process and in more detail about her motivations about writing the Juniper Song series and updating Chandler. This is a source I dipped in and out of, I didn't know about this YouTube Channel and I'll definitely be revisiting it. The Young Lions Award Interview with Steph Cha [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCRj5BNTeVQ]: This interview happened in 2020 and is part of a series of interviews for the Young Lions Award. Cha talks in detail about her ideas and the process behind her 2019 novel, 'Your House Will Pay'. I think one of the reasons I enjoyed this because it was a flashback to 2020 and watching so many interviews conducted online! The LitHub Article by Steph Cha [https://lithub.com/steph-cha-on-choosing-the-best-of-mystery-and-suspense-during-an-unprecedented-and-harrowing-year/]: In this article from 2021, Cha writes about the importance of crime fiction in the 21st century and how she sees her role, and the role of crime fiction, in 'The Best American Mystery and Suspense'. It is a fascinating read, as it makes a clear argument for the importance of crime fiction in addressing the world we live in.

Gladys Mitchell's Late, Late in the Evening (1976)

Mal begins Season 3 with a "forgotten" Golden Age crime writer - Gladys Mitchell and her novel 'Late Late in the Evening' part of her Mrs (later Dame) Bradley series. Mitchell is an author I've wanted to read for quite a while ever since I read about her existence in Christopher Fowler's 'Book of Forgotten Authors', a book every avid reader should acquaint themselves with. The creation of Mrs Bradley and the experimental nature of Mitchell's approach means she has some devoted followers but, in this episode, I'll ask whether this could be the reason why she is not as well-known. It isn't a new question to ask, as you'll be able to tell from a lot of the research and writers who have devoted time to looking into Mitchell's writing. In this episode, as well as asking whether this book can be understood out of order, we'll look at the themes of 'Late Late in the Evening', how it reads more like a twisted children's story than a crime novel, and how I feel I haven't really read a 'proper' Mrs Bradley novel...yet! Special thanks to Jason Half who has created 'The Stone House' website in honour of Glady Mitchell and Mrs Bradley in particular. It is a fascinating resource and well worth a visit to find out more about this author. I've put the link below. Quick reminder: The podcast will be publishing episodes fortnightly this season to give me time to do some creative writing, so I can put what I learn from these authors into action! Email: outoforderbookclub@outlook.com Content warning: Contains a little swearing. Plus, I call writer Ronald Knox 'Roland', so apologies for that! Useful links and Helpful Sources The Stone House (or gladysmitchell.com) [https://www.gladysmitchell.com/] - A brilliant website, and as I mention in the episode a great resource for my podcast. It certainly made researching and learning about Mitchell so much easier. Jason Half, who created the site, also includes reviews of all of the Bradley books as well as reviews of other Mitchell works. If you are even slightly Mitchell-curious after listening to this, I would recommend exploring the site. Shedunnit podcast [https://www.shedunnitshow.com/thegreatgladystranscript/] - A great 20 minute podcast looking at Gladys Mitchell and what makes her a fascinating yet forgotten 'Golden Age' writer. Lee O'Brien's Gladys Mitchell's Mrs Bradley: Detection, Difference and The Rising of the Moon (1945) [https://researchers.mq.edu.au/en/publications/gladys-mitchells-mrs-bradley-detection-difference-and-ithe-rising/] - 'The Rising of the Moon' (which I haven't read, I admit) seems to be similar to Late Late in the Evening, as it focuses on two children within the mystery. The research itself is a very interesting look at how Mitchell's style and her willingness to experiment made her an interesting if an 'unpopular' writer. Paul Peppis' Querying and Queering golden age detection: Gladys Mitchell's Speedy Death and popular modernism [https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=LitRC&u=uniyork&id=GALE%7CA498199688&v=2.1&it=r&sid=summon] - Very interesting research about 'Speedy Death', Mitchell's first novel which seems to break a lot of the 'rules' set out by people like Knox while also playing with society's ideas of sexuality. Christopher Fowler's Blog [https://www.christopherfowler.co.uk/blog/2015/05/24/missing-marvels] - Fowler mentions Mitchell a lot in his blog. However, this link will take you to a specific page (rather than the home page) where Fowler lists 10 forgotten authors he thought people should know about. His summary of the charms of Mitchell (which is at the bottom) is memorable. The Book of Forgotten Authors by Christopher Fowler [https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/the-book-of-forgotten-authors-christopher-fowler/239439?ean=9781786484901&next=t] - Every home of every avid reader should have a copy of this! Support your forgotten authors!

TV Tie-in Bonus: Interview with Adam Christopher

In this special bonus episode of Out of Order Book Club, Mal is talking to the author Adam Christopher. He is a New York Times bestselling author, who has a ton (technical word!) of experience writing both original novels and tie ins. If you're a regular listener to Out of Order Book Club, you'll know that two of Adam Christopher's novels have appeared on this podcast (I Only Killed Him Once in Season 1 and Stranger Things: Darkness on the Edge of Town in Season 2). In this interview, we'll be reflecting on the research I've mentioned in Season 2 and how that mirrors his own experience as a tie-in writer for film, TV and video games. We'll be dealing with questions like: How important is it to be a fan of the film or TV series to write a tie-in? How much does immersion matter in preparing for writing a tie-in? What does a writer need to do to get the opportunity to write a tie-in? Where does non-contradiction and non-repetition come into the writing process? We'll be mentioning his tie-in work for Dr Who, Elementary, Stranger Things, Star Wars, World of Warcraft and Dishonored, as well as references to novels mentioned in Season 2 like The X-Files and The Man from U.N.C.L.E.. This is a great interview for those people who are fans of Adam Christopher's work, tie-in novels or aspiring tie-in writers. Email: outoforderbookclub@outlook.com Useful links and helpful sources: Adam Christopher's website [https://www.adamchristopher.me/] Page One Podcast [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H86TFLJLfh0]: This is an older podcast that I've mention before when I looked at I Only Killed Him Once in Season 1. In this, Adam Christopher talks in more detail about the Stranger Things experience. Cantina Cast [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMzyKO3yHBY]: This is a recent interview with Adam Christopher that I refer to in this interview. This podcast focuses on Master of Evil. You should listen to this if you want to hear more about Star Wars in particular. Radio Rebellion Podcast [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59mXnPCi2kI]: I also listened to this interview with Adam Christopher where he talks about Master of Evil. Although I didn't refer to it, its focus on fandom and writing influenced that focus in this interview. Tied in [https://leegoldberg.com/portfolio/tied-in/]: This book is edited by Lee Goldberg. The essay by David Spencer was used extensively in The Man from U.N.C.L.E., episode is mentioned in this bonus episode. Research referred to in this episode and used in Season 2: M.J. Clarke - The Strict Maze of Media Tie-In Novels (2009) [https://www.academia.edu/2629730/The_Strict_Maze_of_Media_Tie_In_Novels]: This research focuses on immersion, non-contradiction, non-repetition and the importance of being fan amongst other things. Matt Hills -Torchwood's trans-transmedia: Media tie-ins and brand 'fanagement' (2012) [https://www.participations.org/09-02-24-hills.pdf]: This research focuses on Torchwood and fanagement, plus the limits of transmedia. Filipo Gilardi and James Reid - Transmedia storytelling: Paradigm shift in literary studies, narrative, adaptation, teaching and learning (2014) [https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/56161/1/Gilardi%2C%20Reid.pdf]: This research focuses on transmedia and the importance of fidelity and entirety amongst other things.