Book reviews from science fiction to horror to nonfiction, all with a modern pop-culture aesthetic.
Episodes
Monday Mar 13, 2017
Monday Mar 13, 2017
In the summer of 1990 everybody was discussing Twin Peaks - the television phenomenon that kept people in suspense during their season break. Tidbits were teased to fans, including that in Season 2 the secret diary of Laura Palmer would be found. What secrets would it hold? Would it reveal her killer? Viewers would find out, but fans didn't have to wait! Before Season 2 started The Secret Diary of Laura Palmer was released in full to bookstores! Not only officially sanctioned, it was written by Jennifer Lynch, daughter of Peaks co-creator David Lynch. Now Stuart and Arnie discuss all that was found, and how it was made so quickly!
Thursday Feb 02, 2017
Thursday Feb 02, 2017
No, Stuart was not eaten by a sand worm, he's back to discuss Children of Dune -- Frank Herbert's third novel in the Duneverse. Focusing on the children of Paul, this book has incest, political intrigue, and a twist ending. Join Stuart for his thoughts on this novel!
Wednesday Dec 21, 2016
Wednesday Dec 21, 2016
Everybody wants to rule the galaxy...but is it all it's cracked up to be? Now Emperor, Paul Atreides must balance his leadership with numerous plots to undermine him. After the great success of Dune, can Frank Herbert match with the sequel: Dune Messiah? Join Stuart in this review to find out!
Thursday Dec 08, 2016
Thursday Dec 08, 2016
Frank Herbert's 1965 landmark novel DUNE is one of the most celebrated works of the science fiction genre, but does today's reader have to be a Mentat in order to wrap their mind around its dense mythology? Host Stuart In LA promises, "there's nothing to fear.... fear is the mind killer." Join him as he dives headfirst into this first chapter of his six podcast exploration of the Duneverse.
Monday Jul 18, 2016
Monday Jul 18, 2016
In 1990 Robert Ludlum returned to Jason Bourne one last time for The Bourne Ultimatum. This story finds Bourne once again in the crosshairs of Carlos the Jackal. It was a book intended to set a legacy for many Bourne novels to follow in the hands of other writers. So why is this the worst book ever reviewed at Books & Nachos? Join Stuart in L.A. as he tears into The Bourne Ultimatum and tells you why this is a novel you should avoid at all costs!
Monday Jul 11, 2016
Monday Jul 11, 2016
Bourne is back! Robert Ludlum had never written a sequel to any of his novels before. That streak ended in 1986 when Jason Bourne (or really David Webb) has to travel to China in search of the men who kidnapped his woman. This novel bears virtually no resemblance to the Matt Damon film, but is it worth a read? Join Stuart in LA in this review to find out!
Tuesday Jul 05, 2016
Tuesday Jul 05, 2016
This summer is a great time to be re-Bourne! Matt Damon is returning to play Jason Bourne for the fourth time. For many Bourne fans, however, it may be surprising to find out how different these Damon films are from Robert Ludlum's original novels.
Monday Jun 27, 2016
Monday Jun 27, 2016
20 years have passed between the 1996 sci-fi hit Independence Day and this summer's new Independence Day: Resurgence. That time passed in our real world--but it also went by for the fictional characters who survived that alien assault. Fans have long wondered--what happened on July 5, 1996? Were all the aliens killed when the ships went down? Some of this will be revealed in the new movie, but those wanting a fuller explanation can find it in the new novel Independence Day: Crucible by Greg Keyes. It spans all 20 years and follows old characters, like David Levinson and Steve Hiller, as well as new players like Jake Morrison and Dikembe Umbutu.
Did anything happen in that 20-year span to warrant a novel? Join Arnie in this Books & Nachos episode as he summarizes and reviews this new story -- and the comic series Independence Day: Dark Fathom!
Sunday May 01, 2016
Sunday May 01, 2016
The Dead Zone was Stephen King's follow-up to The Stand. This new novel, about a man who gained psychic powers after a head injury, became the author's first number 1 best seller. It has gone on to be adapted to film by David Cronenberg, and a long-running cable TV series.
Monday Mar 21, 2016
Monday Mar 21, 2016
Watchmen. It was the only comic listed on Time Magazine's List of the 100 Best Novels list. It also was in The Comic's Journal's list of the Top 100 Comics of the 20th Century. It has been revered by comic lovers and neophytes alike. Now Arnie and Jakob come together to review all 12 issues of this series, and also give a brief look at the recent Before Watchmen prequel series! Then head to Now Playing Podcast to hear Stuart, Jakob, and Arnie review crew's thoughts on Zack Snyder's film adaptation!