Isaac Asimov

Nightfall | Isaac Asimov | Literary Roadhouse Ep 93

Discussion Notes: Nightfall

Find this week’s story here: Nightfall by Isaac Asimov.

Next week’s story: The Ways You Are Gone by Kami Westhoff.

Rated: Clean

Gerald, Maya, and Anais discuss Isaac Asimov’s classic and much-celebrated short story “Nightfall.” Boy do the hosts bicker on this episode! Anais loved the story, Maya hated it, and Gerald liked it, but without Anais’s bright-eyed enthusiasm. The hosts debate ad nauseum whether it’s more important to have great prose or great plot. Yes, we want and deserve both, but the lack of which is easier to tolerate? So what’s more important to you, the language or the idea?

 

And yes, the hosts did manage to find time to discuss the themes of the actual story, and draw parallels between this fictional world and ours.

Did we miss a crucial piece of this story? Tell us below!

Also, don’t forget to rate the story! For the history of our goofy system, see Anais’ post “Read Short Stories or Ray Bradbury Cries.” On a scale of 1-6 Bradberries, how do you rate this story? Tell us in the comments below or via voicemail.

Lastly, your reviews on iTunes help us grow. Please search Literary Roadhouse in iTunes and leave reviews for all of our shows.

The Last Question | Isaac Asimov | Literary Roadhouse Ep 89

Discussion Notes: The Last Question

Find this week’s story here: The Last Question by Isaac Asimov.

Next week’s story: Herding Vegetable Sheep by Ekaterina Sedia.

Rated: Clean.

This week our hosts discuss The Last Question by Isaac Asimov. From the beginning, Rammy and Anais loved this story and could hardly contain their excitement. Gerald started lukewarm and slowly grew to love the story as well, particularly for the subtle and clever ways that humans the Mulivac evolve over time. Meanwhile Maya could concede that the story’s twist ending was satisfying, but the lack of deep characterizations were not. Bad news for Maya, however, as Anais’s love of the story and Asimov’s ideas means that she’ll try to get more Asimov on the show. Poor Maya!

Did we miss a crucial piece of this story? Tell us below!

Also, don’t forget to rate the story! For the history of our goofy system, see Anais’ post “Read Short Stories or Ray Bradbury Cries.” On a scale of 1-6 Bradberries, how do you rate this story? Tell us in the comments below or via voicemail.

Also your reviews on iTunes help us grow. Please search Literary Roadhouse in iTunes and leave reviews for all of our shows.