Short Fiction Reviews: Volume 4

·24 min·2 clips

The host confesses to a backlog of 15 fiction reviews, 10 of which are by Larry Correia, setting up a deep dive into genre fiction.

["The episode opens with the host acknowledging a backlog of 15 fiction reviews due to falling behind on writing.", "He notes that 10 of these reviews are for books by or co-authored by Larry Correia, setting a focus on genre fiction.", "The first review covers Shakespeare's 'Hamlet', praising its language and dismissing a critic's negative take on Shakespeare.", "Next, 'Gods and Generals' by Jeff Shaara is reviewed as a semi-fictionalized Civil War prequel that fosters empathy for historical figures.", "The host then critiques 'We Solve Murders' by Richard Osman, particularly a scene where a female character unrealistically overpowers an ex-Navy SEAL.", "'Stop All the Clocks' by Noah Kuhman is analyzed as a novel about an AI startup and tech messiahs, prompting reflections on Silicon Valley ambitions.", "The review of 'Pyrebound' by Brayton Cole highlights its unique world-building in a fantasy setting with a points-of-light concept.", "Books 6 through 8 cover the 'Monster Hunter Memoirs' trilogy by John Ringo and Larry Correia, set in the 1980s with a protagonist resurrected to hunt monsters.", "The host reflects on his own reading habits, comparing his 7,500 pages of Correia to his son's fandom of Brandon Sanderson's extensive Cosmere series.", "Books 9 through 11 include more Monster Hunter works and Correia's short story collections, with the host noting a decline in quality in later entries.", "The 'Target Rich Environment' collections are praised for their short stories, including Grim Noir tales and Monster Hunter snippets.", "Books 12 through 14 review later Monster Hunter International novels, emphasizing Correia's ability to avoid repetitive plots in long series.", "The final review covers 'The Monster Hunter Files', an anthology with contributions from authors like Jim Butcher.", "Throughout, the host interjects personal anecdotes, such as his nostalgia for the 1980s and critiques of modern literary tropes.", "The episode concludes with the host questioning whether he should review every book he reads, touching on content creation strategies.", "He mentions the website WeAreNotSaved.com for archives and transcripts, wrapping up the extensive review session.", "The format is solo, with the host delivering monologue-style critiques without guests or interviews.", "Recurring themes include the value of empathy in historical fiction, the realism of action scenes, and the consumption of long genre series.", "The host contrasts classic literature with contemporary genre works, often favoring the latter for entertainment despite acknowledging Shakespeare's greatness.", "Key moments include the critique of 'We Solve Murders', the analysis of tech messiahs in 'Stop All the Clocks', and the personal reflection on fandom."]

As heard by us

A sprawling fiction backlog makes a dry case for reading beyond the algorithm.

We Are Not Saved turns a backlog of 15 fiction reviews into a brisk test of literary judgment, moving from Hamlet's ghost and revenge plot to a speculative tech messiah, then into Brayton Cole's Pyrebound, with its malignant star, dying priests, and fragile fires.

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Why you'd press play

You want a long review backlog ramble that starts with Hamlet, passes through tech-messiah disillusionment, and reaches a 620-page fantasy novel.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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