Pagenerd

Klara and the Sun, by Kazuo Ishiguro

Somehow, Ishiguro has written a book that Sarah found both boring and emotionally devastating at the same time. The banality of the language is part of the darkness of this semi-dystopian trip inside the mind of Klara, a solar-powered artificial friend who is generally treated like crap by the humans around her.  The novel is a masterpiece by the Nobel laureate who wrote Remains of the Day, but it’s not a beach read. We see the world unfold through Klara’s childlike vision, and her innocence prevents her from recognising that nobody really cares about her. Despite that, the robot is the most human character in the book. It’s a book about hope, even in its darkness. If you’re looking for something that will absolutely ruin you in a ponderous and meditative way then read Klara and the Sun. You sicko. Purchase on Bookshop.org (Support Pagenerd) [https://bookshop.org/p/books/klara-and-the-sun-a-gma-book-club-pick-a-novel-kazuo-ishiguro/adcf383b3afc3382?aid=123465&ean=9780593318171&listref=pagenerd-season-1&next=t] Pagenerd is Sarah Stockdale, Tommy Guy, Richard Vieweg and Andrew Corway. Jay Cockburn is the producer. New episodes launch every two weeks.  If you want to read along with future episodes then you'll find a full list of what we're reading next at pagenerd.com. You can reach the nerds at Pagenerdhq@gmail.com — tell us about your local library or favourite indie book store!

The Dispossessed, by Ursula K. Leguin (Part 2 of 2)

The Pagenerds are back with part two of The Dispossessed, where Ursula K. Le Guin somehow takes an already brilliant book and makes it hit even harder. This section gets deeply personal. We follow Shevek as he wrestles with fame, isolation, intellectual ego (and the consolidation of publishing power), and the very messy reality of trying to build a better world with other humans. The political conversations get bigger, and at least one Pagenerd starts sounding like they’re on the verge of joining an anarchist moon colony (it’s me, Sarah). There’s a lot in here about who gets access to knowledge, who controls it, and what we owe each other when systems stop serving people. You know, fun light podcast stuff. Thank you for spending your finite life minutes with us. We adored this book and honestly could have talked about it for another six hours. If you like your sci-fi thoughtful, political, and painfully human, Le Guin remains undefeated. Purchase on Bookshop.org (Support Pagenerd) [https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-dispossessed-50th-anniversary-edition-a-novel-ursula-k-le-guin/28facf9fd19f4a16?aid=123465&ean=9780063382930&listref=pagenerd-season-1&next=t] Pagenerd is Sarah Stockdale, Tommy Guy, Richard Vieweg and Andrew Corway. Jay Cockburn is the producer. New episodes launch every two weeks.  If you want to read along with future episodes then you'll find a full list of what we're reading next at pagenerd.com. You can reach the nerds at Pagenerdhq@gmail.com — tell us about your local library or favourite indie book store!

The Dispossessed, by Ursula K. Leguin (Part 1 of 2)

The Pagenerds finally tackle Ursula K. Le Guin’s The Dispossessed, which is a lot in the best way possible. Naturally, we had to split this one into two parts. This book absolutely rocks. Le Guin drops us onto two sister planets locked in ideological opposition, then uses one physicist’s journey to unpack capitalism, anarchism (the good kind?), power, sex stuff, academia, love, and what it actually means to try and build a better world.  A breezy read if you’re a sociology PhD, pretty heady for the rest of us. This book could not have been an email. Part one is all about the setup, the ideology, and the growing suspicion that Ursula K. Le Guin may have simply understood humanity way, way too well.  We loved this book deeply, and we’re so grateful you’re spending your finite life minutes with us talking about it. If you like your sci-fi thoughtful, political, and devastatingly smart, pick up this book (from a library or indie bookstore) right now. Purchase on Bookshop.org (Support Pagenerd) [https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-dispossessed-50th-anniversary-edition-a-novel-ursula-k-le-guin/28facf9fd19f4a16?aid=123465&ean=9780063382930&listref=pagenerd-season-1&next=t] Pagenerd is Sarah Stockdale, Tommy Guy, Richard Vieweg and Andrew Corway. Jay Cockburn is the producer. New episodes launch every two weeks.  If you want to read along with future episodes then you'll find a full list of what we're reading next at pagenerd.com. You can reach the nerds at Pagenerdhq@gmail.com — tell us about your local library or favourite indie book store!

The Forever War, by Joe Haldeman

The Forever War is a book that asks "Who hurt author Joe Haldeman?” and the answer is: The United States Military. This book is about a futuristic war fought by soldiers in power armour, but really it's about every war and every soldier. It was written in 1974, yet it feels disturbingly current. Haldeman wrote this book after his experience as a combat engineer in the Vietnam War. So it reads as a scathing critique of American imperialism, the futility of war, and what it does to the people sent to fight it— and the ones left behind.   It’s the kind of book we need in April of 2026. Tommy recorded this episode from the bathroom of a truly gross San Francisco hotel, which feels spiritually aligned with the time we’re living in. Haldeman’s writing is sharp, disorienting, and surprisingly human. If you like your sci-fi with a true disdain for war, queer-stuff before its time, and a side of existential whiplash, this one delivers. Purchase on Bookshop.org (Support Pagenerd) [https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-forever-war-joe-haldeman/64b6d3036a8a6e0d?aid=123465&ean=9780312536633&listref=pagenerd-season-1&next=t] Pagenerd is Sarah Stockdale, Tommy Guy, Richard Vieweg and Andrew Corway. Jay Cockburn is the producer. New episodes launch every two weeks.  If you want to read along with future episodes then you'll find a full list of what we're reading next at pagenerd.com. You can reach the nerds at Pagenerdhq@gmail.com — tell us about your local library or favourite indie book store!

Intercepts, by T.J. Payne

The Intercepts is an excellent beach read if you’re deeply unwell. It’s also the Pagenerds very first horror sci-fi, so thanks T.J. Payne.  The novel drops us into a secret government facility where people are kept underground and understimulated for some… experimentation. We uncover what in the MKUltra is going on through the eyes of a program manager and his teenage daughter. There’s a beige, middle-management, banality-of-evil vibe— and then it gets properly haunted-house scary. Huge shoutout to Jay, our producer, who is famously squeamish and still edited this episode. If you like your sci-fi with some gore, this book is for you. If you don’t, let us spoil it for you. We love you, ‘nerds. Thanks so much for listening! Purchase on Bookshop.org (Support Pagenerd) [https://bookshop.org/p/books/intercepts-a-horror-novel-t-j-payne/ffd717f3c7b838a3?aid=123465&ean=9798217090662&listref=pagenerd-season-1&next=t] Pagenerd is Sarah Stockdale, Tommy Guy, Richard Vieweg and Andrew Corway. Jay Cockburn is the producer. New episodes launch every two weeks.  If you want to read along with future episodes then you'll find a full list of what we're reading next at pagenerd.com. You can reach the nerds at Pagenerdhq@gmail.com — tell us about your local library or favourite indie book store!