Author: Lulu

Episode twelve is out! As always, you can listen on Podbean, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, etc.

This week, Pie and Lulu discuss Nghi Vo’s novel The Chosen and the Beautiful, a history fantasy retelling of The Great Gatsby starring Jordan Baker. Topics include the way Vo integrates magic into the classic novel, Jordan’s adaptational identity as a bisexual Vietnamese woman, and an overabundance of enthusiasm for the idea of demonic bargains. 

Content warnings: discussions of racism and a murder-suicide

Other media mentioned:

• Uncanny X-Men by Chris Claremont
• Exit Strategy by Martha Wells
• The Gutter Prayer by Gareth Ryder-Hanrahan
• Perfect on Paper by Sophie Gonzales
• Teen Titans: Raven and Teen Titans: Beast Boy by Kami Garcia and Gabriel Picolo
• The Great Gatsby (2013) directed by Baz Luhrmann 
• The Empress of Salt and Fortune by Nghi Vo
• Pride and Prejudice and Zombies
• The History of Papercutting and the Magic of The Chosen and the Beautiful by Nghi Vo on Tor.com
• Self-Made Boys by Anna-Marie McLemore (coming fall 2022)

Episode 11 is out!

This week, Pie and Lulu travel to gang-ruled 1920s Shanghai to discuss These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong, a historical fantasy retelling of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Topics include the novel’s dramatic romance, the atmospheric historical setting, and how Gong puts her own spin on the classic tale of love and rivalry.

As always, you can listen on Podbean, Spotify, iTunes, Apple Podcasts, and more.

Other media mentioned:

• In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado
• The Wicked and the Divine by Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie
• The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri
• The Books of Ambha by Tasha Suri
• Batman: Under the Red Hood by Judd Winnick
• Suicide Squad: Bad Blood by Tom Taylor
• Gotham Academy by Becky Cloonan and Brenden Fletcher
• The Green Knight (2021) directed by David Lowery
• Romeo + Juliet (1996) directed by Baz Lurhmann
• Romeo & Juliet (2013) directed by Carlo Carlei
• Our Violent Ends by Chloe Gong

Content warnings: discussions historical colonialism and imperialism, medical horror, plagues/pandemics, self harm/suicide, and gang warfare

Episode ten is out! As always, episodes are available to listen on Podbean, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, etc.

This week, Pie and Lulu explore their most literary and intellectual pastime during the pandemic: reading a lot of X-Men comics. Covering comics from the eighties to the present day, topics include favorite characters, underrated comic runs, and thoughts on the unusual current status quo of the X-Men. Oh, and also cosmic tragedies, coming out stories, and karaoke–you know, all the usual staples of superhero comics.

Comics discussed in-depth:

• Astonishing X-Men (2012-2013) by Marjorie Liu
• All-New Wolverine by Tom Taylor
• House of X/Powers of X by Jonathan Hickman
• Rictor and Shatterstar’s publication history
• Rogue and Gambit’s publication history
• Generation X by Christina Strain
• The Dark Phoenix Saga by Chris Claremont
• Iceman by Sina Grace
• Hellions by Zeb Wells

Other comics and media mentioned:

• Heathen by Natasha Alterici
• Uncomfortable Labels: My Life as a Gay Austistic Trans Woman by Laura Kate Dale
• These Feathered Flames by Alexandra Overy
• The Wolf and the Woodsman Ava Reid
• House of M by Brian Michael Bendis
• X-Force by Craig Kyle and Chris Yost
• X-Men: Season One by Dennis Hopeless
• All-New X-Men by Brian Michael Bendis
• Young Avengers: Children’s Crusade by Allan Heinburg
• New Mutants (1983) by Chris Claremont
• X-23: Innocence Lost by Craig Kyle
• X-23 by Marjorie Liu
• The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August by Claire North
• New X-Men by Grant Morrison
• X-Factor Investigations by Peter David
• Rogue and Gambit: Ring of Fire by Kelly Thompson
• X-Men Gold by Marc Guggenheim
• Mr. and Mrs. X by Kelly Thompson
• Excalibur by Tini Howard
• Days of Future Past by Chris Claremont
• X of Swords by Jonathan Hickman and various others

Content warnings: Discussions of the Holocaust, racism in comics, (fictional) human experimentation, and homophobia

Our ninth episode is out!

This week, it’s all about gothic vibes! Pie and Lulu take a look at two gothic-inspired novels: Down Comes the Night by Allison Saft and Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. We discuss the spooky atmospheres and isolated manor settings that both of the books share, as well as our love for the female protagonists. Also, why are we both afraid of mushrooms now? Listen to find out why!

As always, you can listen to this episode on Podbean, Spotify, Stitcher, Apple Podcasts, Overcast, iTunes, and Google podcasts.

Other media mentioned:

• Fierce Femmes and Notorious Liars by Kai Cheng Thom
• X-Men: From the Ashes by Chris Claremont
• The Pearl Thief by Elizabeth Wein
• Legendborn by Tracy Deonn
• Made You Look (2020) dir. Barry Avrich
• A Far Wilder Magic by Allison Saft
• Fullmetal Alchemist
• The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

Content warnings: discussions of eugenics, incest, racism, cannibalism, abuse, medical horror, gun violence, murder, and suicide

Episode eight is out!

This week, Pie and Lulu take a dive into two very different takes on vampires: the 2014 comedy-mockumentary What We Do in the Shadows and S.T. Gibson’s gothic novella A Dowry of Blood. We discuss comedic versus traditional interpretations of vampires, immortal roommate drama, and how human the heart of vampire stories can really be.

As always, you can listen to this episode on Podbean, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iTunes, Stitcher, and more!

Other media mentioned:

• The Deep by Rivers Solomon
• How Long ‘til Black Future Month? by N.K. Jemisin
• The Dig (2021)
• What We Do in the Shadows (TV show)

Content warnings: discussions of an abusive relationship and all the death/blood-drinking/murder that vampires entail.

This week, Pie and Lulu dive into two fantasy novels featuring dead gods: Deeplight by Frances Hardinge and Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor. We discuss world-building, portrayals of fantasy religions, and how these books use the concept of dead divinities to explore the power of belief and storytelling.

As always, you can listen to Never the Twins Shall Meet on Podbean, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Overcast, iTunes, Stitcher, or Google podcasts!

Other Media Mentioned:

• Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
• The Queen’s Thief Series by Megan Whalen Turner
• The Inheritance Trilogy by N.K. Jemisin
• The Midnight Lie by Marie Rutkoski
• Eragon by Christopher Paolini
• Daredevil (Marvel comics)

Content warnings:

Discussions of murder, body horror, ableism, emotionally manipulative relationships, drowning, PTSD, slavery, genocide, infanticide, and rape.

In a somewhat chaotic sixth episode, Pie and Lulu revisit their superhero comic nerd roots by rereading Young Avengers. A teenage superhero team originally created in 2005 by Allan Heinburg and Jim Cheung, members of the Young Avengers have gone on to become popular throughout the Marvel universe, starring in team books, solo stories, and epic comic crossovers. Starting back at the first run and reading all the way up to recent months, we discuss one of the most bonkers family trees at Marvel, LGBTQ+ representation in superhero comics, and the difficulties of life as a superpowered teen crimefighter, as well critiquing what has or hasn’t held up in the years since we first discovered these comics.

You can listen on Podbean, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, and more!

Content warnings: discussions of drug addiction, sexual assault, antiblack racism, human experimentation, depression, and suicidal ideation.

Comics discussed in-depth:

• Young Avengers (2005) by Allan Heinburg and Jim Cheung
• Young Avengers: Children’s Crusade by Allan Heinburg and Jim Cheung
• Young Avengers (2013) by Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie
• Empyre by Al Ewing & various others
• Lords of Empyre: Emperor Hulkling by Chip Zdarsky and Anthony Oliveira
• King in Black: Wiccan and Hulkling by Tini Howard (correction: with art by Luciano Vecchio)

Other comics & media mentioned

• I Hope You’re Listening by Tom Ryan
• All-New Wolverine by by Tom Taylor
• House of M by Brian Michael Bendis
• Runaways by Brian K. Vaughn and Adrian Alphona
• X-Factor Investigations by Peter David
• Hawkeye by Matt Fraction
• Vengeance by Joe Casey
• Marvel Boy by Grant Morrison
• New X-Men: Academy X by Nunzio DeFilippis and Christina Weir
• The Wicked and the Divine by Kieron Gillen
• America by Gabby Rivera
• America Chavez: Made in the USA by Kalinda Vázquez
• Guardians of the Galaxy by Al Ewing
• X-Factor by Leah Williams
• Marvel Voices: Pride anthology (upcoming)
• Hawkeye by Kelly Thompson
• West Coast Avengers by Kelly Thompson

In this week’s episode, Pie and Lulu exclaim their love for the fantasy novel The Unspoken Name by A.K. Larkwood. Topics include how the novel melds science fiction and fantasy, its laugh-out-loud humor, our love of stories about the multiverse, the casual inclusion of gay and lesbian characters, and an over usage of the phrase “dubious wizard father figure.”

You can listen to this episode on Podbean, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Google podcasts.

Content warnings: mentions of murder, violence, cults, and human sacrifice.

Other media mentioned:

• Crier’s War by Nina Varela
• Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger
• Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
• The Tombs of Atuan by Ursula K. Le Guin

In this week’s episode, Lulu and Pie take a dive into two mythology-infused superhero comics: Angela: Queen of Hel by Marguerite Bennett and Midnighter and Apollo by Steve Orlando. Topics include the way these two comics retell the classic myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, LGBTQ+ representation, demons made of ramen, and monopoly-playing supervillains.

You can listen to our fourth episode on Podbean, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, iTunes, and more!

Content warnings: discussions of death, slavery, homophobia, and human experimentation

The third episode of Never the Twins Shall Meet is up! You can list on Podbean, Apple Podcasts, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, or Google Podcasts.

In this week’s episode, Pie and Lulu dive into three adaptations of Twelfth Night, Shakespeare’s classic comedy: the National Theatre’s 2017 production, the Public Works musical, and the web series Twelfth Grade (Or Whatever). Topics include how these adaptations explore the play’s themes of gender and sexual fluidity, gay pirates, and why it’s probably a bad idea to marry someone just because he looks like your crush.

Content warnings: discussions of homophobia and transphobia