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The Worst Bestsellers

Worst Bestsellers
The Worst Bestsellers
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301 episodes

  • Episode 291 – Dragonflight (Dragonriders of Pern)

    15/06/2026 | 1h 27 mins.
    Flashback Summer continues as we journey 400 Turns into the past with Dragonflight by Anne McCaffrey. Paul from the That Aged Well podcast joined us to discuss the oft-requested Dragonriders of Pern series. Listen to this episode while you weave a beautiful tapestry of flamethrowers.

    Readers advisory: Here.

    Footnotes: Mahna Mahna

    Coming up next: The Celery Stalks at Midnight by James Howe.
  • Episode 290 – Artemis Fowl

    01/06/2026 | 1h 37 mins.
    Flashback Summer is kicking off with a Code Green: LEPrecon alert! We read Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer with our returning guest Mackenzi Lee, author of of many books including Teela: Daughter of Eternos. If this book is Die Hard with fairies, then this episode is technically a Christmas special.

    Readers advisory: Here.

    Footnotes: Artemis Fowl on Wikipedia

    Coming up next: Dragonflight by Anne McCaffrey.
  • Episode 289 – Adult Braces

    18/05/2026 | 1h 31 mins.
    The whole internet has been talking about Adult Braces by Lindy West, so we decided to join the conversation. And who better to join us than Friend of the Show Margaret H. Willison (@MrsFridayNext)? You can find Margaret at Culture Study and you can find us in Key West, petting Ernest Hemingway’s polydactyl cats. Listen now to find out our legally binding ruling on whether or not Lindy West needs a divorce!

    Readers advisory: Here.

    Footnotes: Love Letters: Meredith & Margaret on Lindy West’s Adult Braces

    “Lindy West’s How-Not-To Guide to Polyamory” by Scaachi Koul

    AMA: Nonmonogamy Edition from Lindy West’s Substack

    The Lindy West Deep Dive from Ashley Ray’s Substack

    “Big Love” from Jennifer Weiner’s Substack

    Ijeoma Oluo on Threads

    Coming up next: Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer.
  • Episode 288 – Shadows of the Empire

    04/05/2026 | 1h 26 mins.
    May the 4th be with you! (If you’re listening to this on the day it comes out! If not: may the Force be with you.) In honor of this faux Star Wars holiday, we read Shadows of the Empire by Steve Perry. We were joined by writer and Star Wars enthusiast Nanci Schwartz to discuss this story that’s more than a video game and less than a movie. Many Bothans died to bring you this episode.

    Readers advisory: Here.

    Footnotes: Episode 173 – The Courtship of Princess Leia

    The Birth of Cheesoid

    Gungans and Daddies: All That Jizz

    Coming up next: Adult Braces by Lindy West.
  • Episode 287 – The Vampire Lestat

    20/04/2026 | 1h 20 mins.
    We’re crawling out of our coffins and we’re doing just fine. We were joined by Rebecca Mahoney, author of Thrall, to discuss The Vampire Lestat by Anne Rice. Please do not play this episode in the presence of Akasha, Queen of the Damned–the audio waves will only agitate her.

    Readers advisory: Here.

    Footnotes: Thrall Book Launch event at Porter Square Books on April 24th

    Episode 125 – Interview With the Vampire

    Savage Garden on Wikipedia

    Lestat the Musical

    Coming up next: Shadows of the Empire by Steve Perry.
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We read stuff so you don't have to.
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