Bookstabber

Bookstabber

Gene and Willow argue about books. Well, Willow does. Gene seems hellbent on finding reasons to like all of them. Can Gene, with professional help, find books Willow will love? Or will they all just make her rant? (Either way, we all win.) Welcome to Bookstabber, featuring Library Comic's Gene Ambaum and Willow Payne

Episodes

January 25, 2024 50 mins

Gene and Willow are transported to a magical -- hey wait, isn't that what always happens? This episode we discuss magical children, Ned Flanders, and Gene's Top Five novellas.

Mark as Played

Willow and Gene are whisked away back to the fantastical world of Narnia. Willow still believes in Aslan, but Gene doesn't believe in magic any more. Who could have expected a reversal like this in the Year of Sword and Sorcery!?!?

Mark as Played
Gene and Willow level up! Get your torches and ten-foot poles ready to explore the Forgotten Realms in -- What do you mean it's not a Drizzt book? Is it an Ed Greenwood book? Oh dang. Wait, is that a dinosaur? The Year of Sword and Sorcery continues.
Mark as Played
November 24, 2023 58 mins
It's the exciting draconic romance everyone is talking about! Action, murder, extreme horniness, and much more. Willow's anger burns with the heat of dragonfire, and Gene's love for books is more durable than dragon scale.   Another installment of the Year of Sword and Sorcery!
Mark as Played

All events can be seen from different perspectives. Gene sees a delightful novella. Willow sees a bog-standard science fiction premise. Does the truth lie somewhere in between? Why would a spacefaring civilization put horns on their heads?! Another installment of the Year of Sword and Sorcery!

Mark as Played
September 28, 2023 62 mins

Gene and Willow are transported to a mystical, magical place- a posh university. They learn about magic, addiction, and navigating difficult relationships. Willow feels a smug satisfaction in finding a book that she likes (and that Gene doesn't!). Another installment of the Year of Sword and Sorcery!

Mark as Played
September 14, 2023 54 mins

Gene and Willow must save the princess from vile monsters, but get derailed talking about The Empire Strikes Back, The Dark Crystal, and Batman’s sexuality. It's another installment in THE YEAR OF SWORD AND SORCERY!

Mark as Played

Gene fondly recalls his childhood in the lands of Prydain while Willow absolutely beefs her Gurgi impression. Once again these two can't agree on anything other than sounding tired! Another epic installment in the YEAR OF SWORD AND SORCERY. 

Mark as Played

Join Gene and Willow on a tour of graphic novels during the Year of Sword and Sorcery (TM). Rakish dragons, monstrous princesses, disembodied witches, and weird leg monsters abound in this exciting podcast! (Discalimer, the podcast is only as exciting as two nerds talking about books ever is.)

Books discussed:

Head Lopper Volume 1: The Island or a Plague of Beasts (2016)

Scales and Scoundrels Book 1 (Definitive Edition) (2021)

Dar...

Mark as Played

Gene and Willow find themselves in debt to a hostile universe full of intelligent slugs, hungry dinosaurs, and horny insects. Can they escape an intergalactic MLM scheme or will they be "retired" into oblivion?

  Trigger Warning: This book contains extremely weird and potentially upsetting ideas not limited to: slavery, sexual assault, gross insect stuff, racial slurs. 
Mark as Played

Long ago, a cursed book was forged in the fires of hell, destined to slay its reader. Willow must take up this book against Gene and make war so great that all the elves, trolls and Aesir tremble in its shadow. Trigger warning: the book (and the podcast discussing it) contains sexual violence. 

Mark as Played

Gene and Willow learn that it takes a lot to become San Francisco's top gumshoe. Move over Columbo, there's a new detective in town, and he's a giant black dragon! 

Mark as Played

Long ago when wizards walked the earth, some of them had magnificent adventures with dragons, giants, and powers beyond comprehension. Willow and Gene read about some wizards who do none of that, and aren't really sure what they're supposed to be doing at all. Will the hero save the day? And does the day actually need saving??

Mark as Played

Within the maelstrom of parallel planes there is a constant: two eternal readers, sometimes allied, at other times opposed. Willow, with her black rune sword, and Gene, heir to the Library Throne, meet again on the field of podcast to delve into classic sword and sorcery.

Mark as Played

Gene and Willow struggle to remember the one true podcast, the podcast which casts all others as shadows. Can they ally themselves with sibling podcasts and take the throne, or will this book lock them in a dungeon? This marks the beginning of The Year of Sword and Sorcery, which Gene is excited for. Willow estimates it will last three months.

Mark as Played

Put on your goggles and galoshes, because you're about to be splattered with viscera! Gene and Willow get this book implanted into their brains and it does not make their lives better. Willow wishes the narrator would shut up and Gene wishes they would stop over-explaining how octopus DNA works.

Mark as Played

Retired Norse God Vidar fights many big, strong men and many hairy giants in onesies. Willow and Gene stare at the cover of the book, confused. Warriors from across the Nine Realms converge to decide if this book is worth reading. 

Mark as Played

Gene and Willow are bound by their Houses to raise the corpse of their podcast. Willow is frustrated about swords and queer representation while Gene enjoys being a smartass.

Mark as Played
December 29, 2022 56 mins

Gene and Willow go beyond the ninth gate armed with charter magic and forty enchanted bells, each named Saranael. They must suss out what lore is actually relevant to the story, and withstand the withering magics of YA romance.

Mark as Played
December 9, 2022 57 mins

Gene and Willow have traveled light years to discover humanity’s glorious past, a science fictin classic from 1970. Does it hold up? Do Willow and Gene embody singular character traits suited for book reviewing? Find out!

Mark as Played

Popular Podcasts

    Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations.

    Math & Magic: Stories from the Frontiers of Marketing with Bob Pittman

    How do the smartest marketers and business entrepreneurs cut through the noise? And how do they manage to do it again and again? It's a combination of math—the strategy and analytics—and magic, the creative spark. Join iHeartMedia Chairman and CEO Bob Pittman as he analyzes the Math and Magic of marketing—sitting down with today's most gifted disruptors and compelling storytellers.

    Crime Junkie

    If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people.

    Stuff You Should Know

    If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

    New Heights with Jason and Travis Kelce

    Football’s funniest family duo — Jason Kelce from the Philadelphia Eagles and Travis Kelce from the Kansas City Chiefs — team up to provide next-level access to life in the league as it unfolds. The two brothers and Super Bowl champions drop weekly insights about their games and share unique perspectives on trending NFL news and sports headlines. Plus, entertaining stories from a combined 21 years in the league, off-field interests, and engaging conversations with special guests. Watch and listen to new episodes every Wednesday during the NFL season & check us out on Instagram, Twitter and Tiktok for all the best moments from the show.

Advertise With Us
Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2024 iHeartMedia, Inc.