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Books and Beer

Hosts:  Zach, Andrew and Miguel

Books & Beer is a freewheeling podcast that delves deep into the many subgenres and tropes of horror, science fiction, and fantasy in literature. The hosts, Zach and Andrew are Austin based writers, while Miguel provides emotional support. They also drink a lot of beer.

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 BOOKS & BEER – EP 19: Lovecraft

We know it’s been a while, but the book boys are back and skating into action! In this episode they take a shit all over your beloved H.P. Lovecraft. The man. The myth. The racist! Listen to Miguel, Andrew and Zach discuss H.P. Lovecraft’s original short stories, as well as one of his main influences, Robert W. Chambers. The book boys also cover the recent Richard Stanley film “Color out of Space” and the excellent short novel “The Ballad of Black Tom” by Richard Lavalle. H.P. Lovecraft fans, beware!

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 BOOKS & BEER – EP 18: Russian Sci-Fi

The Book Bois are BACK from suspended animation and are here to talk Russian Science Fiction! Miguel, Andrew, and Zach boof vodka and discuss Metro 2033 and Roadside Picnic. Buckle up, fellow comrades, this episode’s got the boys raging about teenage fanfic and Russia’s dearth of female characters.

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 BOOKS & BEER – EP 17: Best of 2018 Pt 2

This time the Book Boiz go down their lists of the best books of 2018.

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 BOOKS & BEER – EP 16: Best of 2018 Pt 1

Judging from their voices, one could be forgiven for thinking the Book Boiz are nothing but two-dimensional bros who talk about nothing but books. They exist in the space between light and shadow and enjoy all manner of things that require sitting on your ass to enjoy. Join them as they list their favorites of 2018. Part 1 is a recap of all that we’ve read so far, while part two is best of 2018.

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 BOOKS & BEER – EP 15: Crime Fiction

After a brief chat about racism inThe Lord of the Rings, the Book Bois drink mystery beers and discuss a broad range of crime fiction: Dare Me by Megan Abbott, Agatha Christie, Daphne Du Maurier and Out by Natsuo Kirino.

Spoiler alert: Andrew isn’t dead. That was just a red herring.

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 BOOKS & BEER – EP 14: Horror Movie Tie-Ins

Sharpen your machetes and butcher knives. Zach, Miguel and Andrew chug Mickey’s malt liquor after reading the worst batch of books they’ve showcased on Books and Beer: slasher film tie-ins. Halloween 1 & 2, Friday the 13th, Nightmare on Elm Street and its sequel The Dream Child.

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 BOOKS & BEER – EP 13: Harlan Ellison: The SF Master – Part 2

Miguel, Andrew, and Zach could not get enough of Harlan Ellison for just one episode. Listen as they chug more Old Chub and talk Dangerous Visions, The Outer Limits, I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream, and celebrate the life and controversies of the most cantankerous voice in the SF in this extra long part TWO! We also discuss his episodes of the outer limits, which you can find on Amazon here.

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 BOOKS & BEER – EP 12: Harlan Ellison: The SF Master

Miguel, Andrew, and Zach can all agree on one thing: Harlan Ellison was an SF Master. Listen as they chug some Old Chub and cover Dangerous Visions, The Outer Limits, I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream, and celebrate the life and controversies of the most cantankerous voice in the SF in this extra long part one!

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 BOOKS & BEER – EP 11: Horror Manga

We dug Uzumaki from the Body Horror episode so much that we decided to do a horror manga show. Listen and cringe as Andrew, Miguel and Zach go full weeaboo over Devilman, Parasyte, The Human Chair, The Enigma of Amigara Fault and Gyo while drinking that sweet, sweet Oskar Blues and chugging banana sauce. And yes, we gush over Junji Ito all over again.Empty Space

 BOOKS & BEER – EP 10: The Dying Earth

We take a trip so far into the future that we’re nearly at the End of Time. Andrew and Zach explore the science/fantasy Dying Earth subgenre while Miguel eats red gushers. In a world of supercomputers, vat people, sorcery, reincarnation, guilds, super AIs and gods, we cover Gene Wolfe, Jack Vance, C. J. Cherryh and Clark Ashton Smith.Empty Space

 BOOKS & BEER – EP 9: BODY HORROR PT 2

Join Andrew, Miguel and Zach as they melt their faces off with the worlds hottest chicken nuggets and discuss body horror. They cover some of the best books in genre: The Troop, Spread and Uzumaki. This episode ain’t for the faint of heart.

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 BOOKS & BEER – EP 8: JEREMY SZAL INTERVIEW

Sad to say this episode was lost. Maybe we’ll get Jeremy back on in the future for a re-do.

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 BOOKS & BEER – EP 7: BODY HORROR PART 1

The Book Boiz abandon the carefree glee of youthful Gushers and graduate to very hot wings to celebrate body horror. Listen to Andrew Hilbert, Miguel Villa, and Zach Chapman scream in mortal terror in their conversation about: The Hellbound Heart, Guts, and Johnny Got His Gun in part one of Body Horror. Empty Space

 BOOKS & BEER – EP 6: TALKING WITH AUTHOR LUCAS MAGNUM

Pop a few Gushers and stick in some ear buds as the Book Bois interview Lucas Mangum, author of Gods of the Dark Web. We chat about The Fly in all its forms, drink Kronenbourg beer, and learn how to not masturbate while writing our own sex scenes.

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 BOOKS & BEER – EP 5: SWORD AND SORCERY PART 2: S&S THROUGH THE AGES

Join Miguel, Zach, and Andrew on a journey throughout time as they replenish their Gushers stock, spit out mead, and discuss Fritz Lieber’s Ill Met in Lankmar, CL Moore’s Black God’s Kiss, Michael Moorcock’s Elric, Andrzej Sapkowski’s The Witcher series, and the comics Rat Queens and Autumnlands. It’s a big episode, but there’s plenty of beer to go around for all. Empty Space

 BOOKS & BEER – EP 4: SWORD AND SORCERY ORIGINS

Join Miguel, Andrew, and Zach while they grease up their muscles for battles against serpent men and alien elephant gods. With mouthfuls of Gushers and Off With Your Red IPA, they discuss Robert E. Howard’s Kull and Conan characters and the origins of Sword & Sorcery.

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 BOOKS & BEER – EP 3: CYBERPUNK PT 2

Jack into cyberspace with the three console cowboys with horrible stimulant addictions. Zach, Andrew, and Miguel discuss Neuromancer by William Gibson, Patterns by Pat Cadigan, Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson, the iconic anime Akira, and Ready Player One by Ernest Cline. Get totally rad as we jump into the matrix and destroy everything you love.

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 BOOKS & BEER – EP 2: PROTO CYBERPUNK

Jaunt with Zach Chapman, Miguel Villa, and Andrew Hilbert as they drink 8-BIT PALE ALE (Tallgrass Brewing Co) and try to pass the Voight-Kampff empathy test while they cover proto-cyber punk books The Stars My Destination and Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep. Get out your poop sheets because one of us might be an android.

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 BOOKS AND BEER – EP 1: HAUNTED HOUSE

This month on Books and Beer, Zach, Andrew, and Miguel go exploring haunted houses throughout literature. From The Yellow Wallpaper through Horrorstor, they discuss the common tropes of the haunted house story. Place your bets on the death match over which haunted house novel is better; Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting at Hill House or Richard Matheson’s Hell House. They won’t be staying the night in any of them because you can’t fall asleep if you’re woke. So, pull up a chair, put on your headphones, and don’t stare too close to that wallpaper.