The Infinite Library

Episode 57 - "The Dispossessed" by Ursula K. Le Guin

It's the first episode of the Spring 2026 Season, and John and Ben are blasting off to the moon of Annares to discuss "The Dispossessed" by Ursula K. Le Guin. We discuss this classic of science fiction with a little help from "To Read 'The Dispossessed'" by Samuel Delany. Topics of conversation include John & Ben's relationship with Le Guin's work, her anthropological lens, and portrayals of gender & sexuality in science fiction. As always, we hope you enjoy the conversation! We'll be back in two weeks with a paired episode focusing on Samuel Delany's "Trouble on Triton"!

Episode 56 - "Play It As It Lays" by Joan Didion

John and Ben cruise down the California highway to the end of this season of The Infinite Library as they read Joan Didion's "Play It As It Lays". Topics of conversation include the portrayal of California in literature, mimesis, and Didion's place as a literary "cool girl". As always, we hope that you enjoy the conversation!

Bonus - Best of 2025

Another year comes to a close and, as is tradition, John and Ben get together to tell you about their favorite books they read in 2025.

Episode 55 - "Shadow Ticket" by Thomas Pynchon

Happy (almost) New Year! We're closing out our Thomas Pynchon mini-revue with his latest novel, "Shadow Ticket". Along for the ride is friend of the pod, author TJ Martinson! Topics of discussion include Pynchon's relationship to pop culture, the use of alternate history in literature, and whether Pynchon offers us as readers an 'out' to our present circumstances. As always, we hope you enjoy the conversation! Check out TJ's books here [https://www.tjmartinson.com/]!

Episode 54 - "Bleeding Edge" by Thomas Pynchon

This week, we jump forward over 50 years into Thomas Pychon's career (and over all his most read books) to discuss 2013's "Bleeding Edge"! Along for the ride through Y2K is friend of the pod, Dan. Topics of discussion include reading the 2010s through the 2000s, the role of technology and espionage in Pynchon's works, and 9/11. As always, we hope you enjoy the conversations.