The Book Of The Short Sun Episodes
Feb. 26, 2026
Chapter 11 Part 1 - Gene Wolfe's Return to the Whorl
Intro - Phil and Metz discuss the new adaptation of Animal farm by Angel Studios. Content (8:19) - Discussion of part 1 of Chapter 11 of Return to the Whorl, by Gene Wolfe. Current Read-Along - Seven Surrenders, by Ada Palmer Check out more at alzabosoup.com.
March 5, 2026
Chapter 11 Part 2 - Gene Wolfe's Return to the Whorl
Intro - Metz and Phil discuss the evolution of Stranger Things as a work of fiction. Content (21:02) - Discussion of part 2 of Chapter 11 of Return to the Whorl, by Gene Wolfe. Current Read-Along - Seven Surrenders, by Ada Palmer Check out more at alzabosoup.com.
March 12, 2026
Chapter 12 Part 1 - Gene Wolfe's Return to the Whorl
Intro - Metz and Phil talk about the decline of the mass market paperback. Content (9:48) - Discussion of part 1 of Chapter 12 of Return to the Whorl, by Gene Wolfe. Current Read-Along - Seven Surrenders, by Ada Palmer Check out more at alzabosoup.com.
March 19, 2026
Chapter 12 Part 2 - Gene Wolfe's Return to the Whorl
Intro - Phil tells Metz about The Perfect Pencil Content (12:50) - Discussion of part 2 of Chapter 12 of Return to the Whorl, by Gene Wolfe. Current Read-Along - The Will to Battle, by Ada Palmer Check out more at alzabosoup.com.
March 26, 2026
Chapter 13 Part 1 - Gene Wolfe's Return to the Whorl
Intro - Metz and Phil celebrate 500 episodes Content (5:47) - Discussion of part 1 of Chapter 13 of Return to the Whorl, by Gene Wolfe. Current Read-Along - The Will to Battle, by Ada Palmer Check out more at alzabosoup.com.
April 2, 2026
Chapter 13 Part 2 - Gene Wolfe's Return to the Whorl
Intro - Phil tells Metz about the re-release of Hugh Cook's novels. Content (11:52) - Discussion of part 2 of Chapter 13 of Return to the Whorl, by Gene Wolfe. Current Read-Along - The Will to Battle, by Ada Palmer Check out more at alzabosoup.com.
April 9, 2026
Chapter 14 Part 1 - Gene Wolfe's Return to the Whorl
Intro - Metz and Phil fail to order a wing-flavored martini. Content (4:23) - Discussion of part 1 of Chapter 14 of Return to the Whorl, by Gene Wolfe. Current Read-Along - The Will to Battle, by Ada Palmer Check out more at alzabosoup.com.
April 16, 2026
Chapter 14 Part 2 - Gene Wolfe's Return to the Whorl
Intro - Phil updates Metz on a new Palworld-like, Pickmon. Content (10:28) - Discussion of part 2 of Chapter 14 of Return to the Whorl, by Gene Wolfe. Current Read-Along - The Will to Battle, by Ada Palmer Check out more at alzabosoup.com.
April 23, 2026
Chapter 15 Part 1 - Gene Wolfe's Return to the Whorl
Intro - We announce the books we'll be reading after Return to the Whorl Content (9:03) - Discussion of part 1 of Chapter 15 of Return to the Whorl, by Gene Wolfe. Current Read-Along - The Will to Battle, by Ada Palmer Check out more at alzabosoup.com.
April 30, 2026
Chapter 15 Part 2 - Gene Wolfe's Return to the Whorl
Intro - Phil and Metz try a seasonal peep. Content (9:46) - Discussion of part 2 of Chapter 15 of Return to the Whorl, by Gene Wolfe. Current Read-Along - Perhaps the Stars, by Ada Palmer Check out more at alzabosoup.com.
May 7, 2026
Chapter 16 Part 1 - Gene Wolfe's Return to the Whorl
Intro - Phil explains Bob Dylan's surprising new enterprise to Metz Content (5:45) - Discussion of part 1 of Chapter 16 of Return to the Whorl, by Gene Wolfe. Current Read-Along - Perhaps the Stars, by Ada Palmer Check out more at alzabosoup.com.
May 14, 2026
Chapter 16 Part 2 - Gene Wolfe's Return to the Whorl
Intro - Metz and Phil discuss their playthrough of Split Fiction Content (17:05) - Discussion of part 2 of Chapter 16 of Return to the Whorl, by Gene Wolfe. Current Read-Along - Perhaps the Stars, by Ada Palmer Check out more at alzabosoup.com.
May 21, 2026
Chapter 17 Part 1 - Gene Wolfe's Return to the Whorl
Intro - Metz and Phil discuss the new Backrooms movie trailer. Content (11:25) - Discussion of part 1 of Chapter 17 of Return to the Whorl, by Gene Wolfe. Current Read-Along - Perhaps the Stars, by Ada Palmer Check out more at alzabosoup.com.
May 28, 2026
Chapter 17 Part 2 - Gene Wolfe's Return to the Whorl
Intro - Phil tells Metz about a surprising new fashion item. Content (6:38) - Discussion of part 2 of Chapter 17 of Return to the Whorl, by Gene Wolfe. Current Read-Along - Perhaps the Stars, by Ada Palmer Check out more at alzabosoup.com.
June 4, 2026
Chapter 17 Part 3 - Gene Wolfe's Return to the Whorl
Intro - Metz asks Phil about his wife's new hobby Content (8:36) - Discussion of part 3 of Chapter 17 of Return to the Whorl, by Gene Wolfe. Current Read-Along - Perhaps the Stars, by Ada Palmer Check out more at alzabosoup.com.
June 11, 2026
Chapter 17 Part 4 - Gene Wolfe's Return to the Whorl
Intro - Phil forces Metz to define perfection in television shows. Content (13:40) - Discussion of part 4 of Chapter 17 of Return to the Whorl, by Gene Wolfe. Current Read-Along - Perhaps the Stars, by Ada Palmer Check out more at alzabosoup.com.
June 18, 2026
Chapter 18 - Gene Wolfe's Return to the Whorl
Intro - Phil and Metz celebrate the launch of Super Znes Content (9:37) - Discussion of Chapter 18 of Return to the Whorl, by Gene Wolfe. Current Read-Along - Perhaps the Stars, by Ada Palmer Check out more at alzabosoup.com.
June 25, 2026
Chapter 19 Part 1 - Gene Wolfe's Return to the Whorl
Intro - Phil and Metz introduce the next readalong series: The Demon Princes, by Jack Vance Content (13:29) - Discussion of part 1 of Chapter 19 of Return to the Whorl, by Gene Wolfe. Current Read-Along - The Star King, by Jack Vance Check out more at alzabosoup.com.
July 2, 2026
Chapter 19 Part 2 - Gene Wolfe's Return to the Whorl
Intro - Phil and Metz celebrate National Hamburger Day Content (7:55) - Discussion of part 2 of Chapter 19 of Return to the Whorl, by Gene Wolfe. Current Read-Along - The Star King, by Jack Vance Check out more at alzabosoup.com.
July 9, 2026
Chapter 20 Part 1 - Gene Wolfe's Return to the Whorl
Intro - Phil tells Metz about BookTube reading trends Content (7:30) - Discussion of part 1 of Chapter 20 of Return to the Whorl, by Gene Wolfe. Current Read-Along - The Star King, by Jack Vance Check out more at alzabosoup.com.
July 16, 2026
Chapter 20 Part 2 and Afterword - Gene Wolfe's Return to the Whorl
Intro - Metz and Phil talk about Skigill. Content (7:30) - Discussion of part 2 of Chapter 20 and the Afteroword of Return to the Whorl, by Gene Wolfe. Current Read-Along - The Killing Machine, by Jack Vance Check out more at alzabosoup.com.
July 23, 2026
General Discussion - Gene Wolfe's Return to the Whorl
Intro - Phil and Metz discuss the early summer box office and the success of YouTube filmmakers. Content (9:42) - Discussion of Return to the Whorl, by Gene Wolfe. Current Read-Along - The Killing Machine, by Jack Vance Check out more at alzabosoup.com.
July 30, 2026
General Discussion - Gene Wolfe's Book of the Short Sun
Intro - Metz and Phil try BTS flavored Oreos. Content (8:13) - Discussion of The Book of the Short Sun, by Gene Wolfe. Current Read-Along - The Killing Machine, by Jack Vance Check out more at alzabosoup.com.
Aug. 6, 2026
General Discussion - Gene Wolfe's Solar Cycle
Intro - Phil challenges Metz to a poetry recital. Content (5:38) - Discussion of the solar cycle by Gene Wolfe. Current Read-Along - The Palace of Love, by Jack Vance Check out more at alzabosoup.com.