Cracked Spines

We are pleased to announce this is NOT an episode about Mortal Kombat. You might be surprised at the challenge that presented. It is, however, an episode about the phenomenal science fiction political thriller, A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine! Sarah and Cyrus discuss the challenges and delights that such a complex world presents, and Sarah definitely doesn't struggle to say the word "imago" even a little bit. Next up, catch our end-of-year wrap-up episode, followed shortly by the long awaited David arc of the Animorphs series! And yes, there will be a Mortal Kombat bonus episode somewhere in the mix. Support the show

Hi, guys! We read more Animorphs. Don't...look at how long its been since the last one. In this episode: Trauma! Murder! Elaborate set pieces! These kids are fighting a war they can't tell anyone about, and they are handling it so well. We discuss character rankings, philosophical quandaries, and the essential nature of Cassie. Like, A LOT of Cassie. Also I realize they aren't actually twelve. Some are thirteen which makes it okay for them to go to war.Support the show

This week on Cracked Spines, Sarah did all the dang work and presents to Cyrus volume one of three Chinese danmei series for their consideration: The Disabled Tyrant's Beloved Pet Fish, The Husky and His White Cat Shizun, and You've Got Mail: The Perils of Pigeon Post. Two-thirds of them are completely insane and the last one is morally reprehensible. Guess which one Cyrus gravitated to. Discussion includes a forty-year-old man's suicide plan being derailed by dick pics, an exploration of how exactly one manages to seduce and be seduced by a fish, the most begrudging recommendation that Sarah's ever given, and more urination featured than one might expect. Media:The Disabled Tyrant's Beloved Pet Fish by Xue Shan Fei Hu The Husky and His White Cat Shizun by Rou Bao Bu Chi Rou You've Got Mail: The Perils of Pigeon Post BlackeggSupport the show

Well, guys. The third of our recorded episodes about Gravity Falls. This is really our Return of the King. Cyrus and Sarah discuss media in-ties for a children's show--Journal Three, Lost Legends, and The Book of Bill, all written by Alex Hirsch. Sarah ponders about the challenges of adapting a story from one medium to another. Cyrus explains why Grunkle Ford is the new Hamlet. We keep remembering too late to be less horny about this, again, animated children's show. To be fair to us though--I mean, The Book of Bill is horny as hell to those with the eyes to see. Check out the first part of our epic $94 million trilogy posted for free on our Patreon right here.Our next episodes will be:Danmei Beat-Down on November 18, where Sarah makes a case for three separate danmei novels and Cyrus chooses which one they'll read in full.A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine on December 2, plus maybe A Desolation Called Peace depending on how much get-up-and-go we have.Support the show