Rephonic
Artwork for A Meal of Thorns
Speculative Fiction
Identity
Memory
Philosophy
Leena Krohn
Tainaron, Mail From Another City
Piranesi
Susanna Clarke
Perelandra
Literary Criticism
C.S. Lewis
Queer Theory
Loneliness
Fantasy
Science Fiction
Portal Fantasy
Christian Apologetics
Fantasy Literature
The Traitor Baru Cormorant
Existential Themes

A critical book club from the Ancillary Review of Books. Host Jake Casella Brookins invites writers, scholars, and critics to discuss thorny works of science fiction, fantasy, and other speculative genres.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes37Foundeda year ago
Number of ListenersCategories
BooksArtsFictionScience Fiction

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Artwork for A Meal of Thorns

Latest Episodes

Vampire scholar, science fiction studies editor, and ARB co-founder Sean Guynes joins to discuss Kostova’s 2005 historical vampire thriller. We both have fairly negative opinions of the book, but it did lead us to talk about what historical thrillers... more

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Podcasts, reviews, interviews, essays, and more at the Ancillary Review of Books.

Please consider supporting ARB’s Patreon!

• Guest: Eleanor McAdam

• Title: Under The Eye Of The Big Bird by Hiromi Kawakami, translated by Asa Yoneda

• Host: Jake Cas... more

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Podcasts, reviews, interviews, essays, and more at the Ancillary Review of Books.

Please consider supporting ARB’s Patreon!

• Guest: Timothy Moore

• Title: 60 Stories by Donald Barthelme

• Host: Jake Casella Brookins

• Music by Giselle Gabrielle Ga... more

YouTube

Podcasts, reviews, interviews, essays, and more at the Ancillary Review of Books.

Please consider supporting ARB’s Patreon!

• Guest: Ursula Whitcher

• Title: Burning Bright by Melissa Scott

• Host: Jake Casella Brookins

• Music by Giselle Gabrielle... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Eleanor McAdam
Creative writing PhD student with a focus on artificial intelligence and reproductive technology in speculative fiction.
University of Liverpool
Episode: A Meal of Thorns 36 – UNDER THE EYE OF THE BIG BIRD with Eleanor McAdam
Timothy Moore
A writer and instructor with work published in various publications, including Chicago Reader and McSweeney's.
Long Day Press
Episode: A Meal of Thorns 35 – 60 Stories with Timothy Moore
Dr. Ursula Whitcher
Writer, mathematician, and poet with works published in various notable venues
Episode: A Meal of Thorns 34 – BURNING BRIGHT with Ursula Whitcher
Dr. Joy Sanchez-Taylor
Professor at CUNY LaGuardia specializing in science fiction, fantasy, and critical race studies.
CUNY LaGuardia
Episode: A Meal of Thorns 33 – THE FIFTH SEASON with Joy Sanchez-Taylor
Zachary Gillan
Critic specializing in weird fiction, also an editor at the Ancillary Review of Books.
Ancillary Review of Books
Episode: A Meal of Thorns 32 – AUTHORITY with Zachary Gillan
Brandon O'Brien
Seattle's poet laureate, involved in promoting speculative poetry.
Episode: A Meal of Thorns 31 – Seattle Worldcon
Dr. Kaitlyn Casimo
A neuroscientist and science communicator attending Worldcon for the first time.
Episode: A Meal of Thorns 31 – Seattle Worldcon
Kevin Black
Division head for publications for Seattle Worldcon 2025.
Episode: A Meal of Thorns 31 – Seattle Worldcon
Karlo Yeager Rodríguez
Writer of fiction and critic, also host of Podside Picnic
Episode: A Meal of Thorns 30 – STONE OF FAREWELL with Karlo Yeager Rodríguez

Host

Jake Casella Brookins
Host of A Meal of Thorns, known for engaging discussions on literary themes in science fiction and fantasy with various writers and critics.

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 38 ratings
  • Great, thoughtful podcast about science fiction and fantasy

    The only thing keeping me from listening to all of these in a binge is the fact that I need to catch up and read many of the novels under discussion. Broad ranging, informative, and host and guests always care about the books, even the bad ones.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Ouranosaurus
    Canada3 days ago
  • Exceptional

    There aren’t many speculative fiction review podcasts so I was so excited to find this one. I like how guests have expertise in relation to episode’s title selection and I especially enjoy the titles chosen to discuss. There is a nice mix of newer and less recent titles.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    kayemme
    United States5 days ago

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#242
Finland/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

A Meal of Thorns 35 – 60 Stories with Timothy Moore
Q: How do you interpret the themes of Barthelme's stories?
Timothy shares insights into the absurdity, humor, and deeper emotional resonances present in Barthelme's works.
A Meal of Thorns 35 – 60 Stories with Timothy Moore
Q: What has been your relationship with Barthelme's writing?
Timothy reflects on discovering Barthelme during his MFA program, realizing the freedom in fiction writing.
A Meal of Thorns 29 – Readercon & Lovestruck
Q: What are some things you've been reading and enjoying?
Rae Borman mentions Naomi Novik's Scholomance trilogy and reading YA books with her daughter.
A Meal of Thorns 26 – DEATH OF THE AUTHOR with andré m. carrington
Q: Is there anything else you have been reading or working on that's interesting?
Dr. Carrington shares about the recent Eaton Conference and his readings, including 'To Paradise' by Hanya Yanagihara.
A Meal of Thorns 04 – PERELANDRA with Taylor Driggers
Q: Could you talk a little bit about Lewis's relation to Christian apologetics?
Lewis's apologetics aim to provide rationales for belief and practices, particularly Christian beliefs during a time when they were less dominant in society.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About A Meal of Thorns

What is A Meal of Thorns about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Focusing on the intersection of speculative fiction and critical discourse, episodes frequently explore notable works within the sci-fi and fantasy genres, engaging in deep literary analysis and discussions on thematic complexities. Topics range from award nominations and the evolution of genres, to individual author critiques, and intricate storytelling techniques, often featuring insights from diverse guests including authors, scholars, and critics. Unique in its approach, the series not only emphasizes literary merit but also tackles broader socio-political themes, appealing to listeners who appreciate nuanced discussions around literature while encouraging diverse perspectives in speculative writing.

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1. Shelved By Genre
2. Just King Things
3. Side Story
4. Hugo, Girl!
5. Friends at the Table

How many episodes of A Meal of Thorns are there?

A Meal of Thorns launched a year ago and published 37 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on A Meal of Thorns?

Recent guests on A Meal of Thorns include:

1. Eleanor McAdam
2. Timothy Moore
3. Dr. Ursula Whitcher
4. Dr. Joy Sanchez-Taylor
5. Zachary Gillan
6. Brandon O'Brien
7. Dr. Kaitlyn Casimo
8. Kevin Black

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