Reviews
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Much appreciated
Have to admit, when I found a podcast about Gene Wolfe, I was ready for it to be suuuuper dry but you guys are great, keep it up!
- Bluedeviltj
- July 19, 2023
Fantastic
These guys are great. I recommend reading a couple chapters ahead and then listening to the episode as not only will it provide the insights which you may have missed, but it will also help you remember and identify details you may have thought unimportant and skimmed over.
An absolute must for Gene Wolfe readers! Thanks guys!
- Griffwillpooponu
- May 18, 2023
An incredible experience
Gene Wolfe has quickly become one of my favorite authors. He can of course be a bit esoteric and his genius can fly over the heads of us mere mortals. But don’t fret, because this podcast exists! It enhances reading Wolfe to the point that I would consider it to be nearly essential if you aren’t planning to do multiple readings (or even if you are). They are very careful about not spoiling anything and dive deep into so many things that on a first read you would likely miss. Its incredible. Their passion and meticulous approach is evident from the moment you start listening. If you plan on reading Wolfe or have read Wolfe, check this out! You won’t regret it.
- baldander
- Sept. 1, 2022
Helping Dummies Like Myself Out
Phil and Metz definitely helped my understanding of the entirety of BOTNS and Urth. Little details I might have missed or thought insignificant were expanded on in ways I probably wouldn’t have caught till a 3rd or 4th read.
Recommend for anyone reading the Solar Cycle! Can’t wait for their conclusion of Long and Short sun!
- Fellow Funko Disliker
- MicletteK
- Aug. 31, 2022
Loving the Nightside the Long Sun
As I have recently started rereading Long Sun it has been a delight to have Phil and Metz to guide everyone through the nooks and crannies of each section chapter by chapter. An entertaining walkthrough that I binged over a series of afternoons. Oreb is the true star, and I love your commentary on our winged friend thus far. The only missing star is due to a pronunciation debate I have with you two, Phil and Metz, over Chenille. My ears must be full of fish heads because it sounds like “Chan-el” rather than “Che-neal”, ie a vowel lowering rather than the French pronunciation of Chenille (we Wolfe readers are something else, huh?). I bring this up because the way that French is used in Long Sun seems very deliberate, and along with the then phonetic similarities between S-il-k and Chen-il-le... it feels like an intentional guild by Wolfe that it should be pronounced as such, and not the unintentional Chanel commercial I seem to be hearing in your show. But I’m sure you’ll come around once you’re Lakeside. “Show, good?”. “Yes! Good! Good show!”
- Koz2421
- May 2, 2021
Fish heads!
Phil and Metz bring a perfect balance of insightful close-reading and good humor to their read-alongs of Wolfe's work. If you're a first-time reader or revisiting old favorites, you'll find new perspectives and discoveries in each episode.
- colonelk
- Dec. 7, 2020
Gene Wolfe book club
It's like having a small book club . . . where the other two people did much more research on the book than you did . . . and you can take it with you and even participate sneakily in public . . . and when you occasionally yell at their interpretation, they do not yell back.
Phil and Metz make Wolfe fandom more accessible without at all dumbing it down. I don't always agree with their interpretation (or take on Catholic teachings), but I appreciate hearing their views and their obvious love for this author.
(Also the tiny brain is cute!)
- aure entuluva
- April 10, 2020
The Best Gene Wolfe Podcast on the internet
Genuinely made me understand the Book of the New Sun as I was reading it. Really quite good at minimizing spoilers.
- Danishlightning
- Nov. 28, 2019
Great supplement to a great series
At this point I’ve probably spent nearly as much time listening and reading books about Book of the New Sun than I have
Actually reading the books. You don’t have to agree with every theory or interpretation the hosts throw out but there are often details that they point out that help to add clarity to an incredibly dense series.
- Andy's Profile
- Aug. 25, 2019
The pelagic argosy sights land.
I am humbled by, and grateful for, the thoughtful efforts these two hosts put into analyzing the work of Gene Wolfe. Their love of the material is obvious and they seem familiar with the secondary literature e.g. Borski and Andre-Driussi. Listening to their analysis of The Book of the New Sun was quite valuable, and I imagine anyone familiar with the books would find it so. Looking forward to their takes on the next 8 books and beyond!
- I&O
- May 26, 2019
great companion piece
This podcast was a great companion to accompany book of the new sun. Not too much banter, but enough to keep things light. Great analysis, great personality, and super helpful.
- c_papscott
- April 26, 2019
Wonderful podcast for gene Wolfe fans.
I recommend this to any Wolfe fan or just sci fi fan in general. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed re-reading the stories and books with podcast’s commentary at my side.
Also, the two guys end up adding a point of view that is relatable and fun. Something a deep dive on any Wolfe book certainly can gain from.
- Red Alzabo
- April 26, 2019
Engaging Exegesis
I admit that I slacked on writing podcast reviews until I started my own, and found out how meaningful they are. I've been listening to Alzabo Soup for a while, and these guys are very enjoyable. While I may fall more on the symbolist side of Wolfe interpretation, Phil and Metz really do their homework, and give helpful and well researched insight into one of the more complex works of science fiction/fantasy ever written. It has been great to work my way through this work once again through the eyes of these two super fans. Great job!
- Particle Noun
- Feb. 12, 2019
Top Notch
Excellent and entertaining analysis of Master Wolfe and other works. The hosts have a great rapport. Very enjoyable. Five out of five pringles.
- R. Goodfellow
- Dec. 13, 2018
Yes, there are others like you!
You are not alone in your love of following the obscure clues left by Gene Wolfe. These two gentlemen do an enjoyable and thoughtful job of tracing and weaving the many seemingly loose threads you might have perhaps missed when you did this alone. See new vistas materialize. Well done guys.
- No more worky!!
- Aug. 13, 2018
Excellent reading companion
Really thorough and interesting companion cast for Gene Wolfe stuff. Listening along with my first read through of Book of the New Sun and it's super helpful. Can't wait to check out the other stuff they've covered too!
- islandraiders
- July 2, 2018
A must listen for fans of literary SF
Brian and Metz help you unravel the most tangled of SF stories.
- Sammy_Doc
- June 27, 2018
Mmmm... Alazbo Soup
I discovered Alzabo Soup a few months ago, at exactly the same time as I started to re-read Gene Wolfe's "Book of the New Sun," and I've really been enjoying it. Perhaps more importantly, their commentary on that Book has helped me to understand-- and enjoy the book better myself. Their commentary is insightful and deeply based in close-readings of the text itself. I don't always agree 100% with their interpretations-- but even even when I don't, I still find the prespective they offer to be worth thinking about.
- Jchokey
- May 7, 2018
Great in depth walk through
These guys are great. Give it a listen if you like people taking a deep dive into interesting books. Highly recommend.
- Mr. Jiggz
- April 21, 2018
Amusing and insightful literary nerds
I mean that in the best possible way. These guys are not only great fun to listen to, they are articulate, well-informed, and enlightening in their analyses. Great listen for fans of Wolfean sci-fi lit. Highly recommend.
- Tyler Bumpus
- March 19, 2018
My favorite podcast
These guys are great. Not only are they just fun to listen to, but they give great insight into the greatest writer of our time. They’re the only people I support via Patreon because they are just worth it. (Also, can we get an Alzabo Soup: Bob Fosse Edition episode?)
- EE Patty
- March 15, 2018
It’s like I finally have friends!
After unsuccessfully trying to get all of my friends into Gene Wolfe so I could have some healthy discussion, I stumbled upon this podcast. It’s great to finally hear people discuss things I’ve had floating around in my head ever since I finished BoTNS a year ago! My only problem is that when I try to chime in with Phil and Metz during the show, they never respond :/
- iron halen 5150
- Feb. 6, 2018
Informative and Entertaining Supplement
I started listening in conjunction with reading Shadow of the Torturer for the first time, and I’m happily impressed with Phil & Metz. They give great commentary and insight into a fairly complex book! I appreciate that they’ve taken the time to research possible influences of the themes, characters, concepts, etc, as well as the etymology of the unfamiliar names throughout. I also like how their interpretations of the text sometimes differ and how they take time to argue their points of view. The podcast has definitely enriched my experience as a first time reader of Wolfe, and I look forward to following along throughout the Book of the New Sun. Part of me wishes I had discovered Gene Wolfe and this podcast about a year in the future so I could just binge through the books and analysis, but the other part is happy I’m forced to take my time experiencing Wolfe’s writing.
- Barbecue Johnson
- Jan. 9, 2018
Self-published author
If someone had told me ten years ago that there would a podcast doing in-depth discussions on the works of Gene Wolfe and that would also be entertaining and funny, I would have smiled indulgently and said "Uh-huh. And I suppose that this will be around the same time that Red Vines become a health food that fulfill all needs in the human diet?"
Well, the first thing actually happened. If you are at all interested in the author's works, you need to check this out. You'll be left with a lot of great food for thought (err, no pun intended) plus a small craving for hot sauce.
Still waiting on the Red Vines thing, though. Anyone want to get on that?
- L.R. Gordan
- Dec. 3, 2017
I like it.
I read the books many years ago but have bought them as gifts occasionally. It's a lot of fun to listen to the hosts talk about the texts and and hear all the things I missed on my first reading -- and I missed a lot. I've been listening to this every week.
- graysocks
- Nov. 28, 2017
Awesome for fans of speculative fiction
This podcast does really great readhthroughs of speculative fiction books. I've mostly only listened to their Gene Wolfe read-throughs, but they are excellent. They are currently going through all of Book of the New Sun, which is a serious undertaking.
They do a really good job of getting deep into certain parts of the story without going TOO deep. A lot of literary analysis can often get completely lost in speculation and straining to find imagery or metaphor, etc. Alzabo Soup strikes a really good medium that is enjoyable to listen to while keeping a good pace rather than losing itself in overanalysis.
- Systran
- Nov. 8, 2017
Outstanding
If there was ever an obvious choice of an author to dedicate a podcast to, then Gene Wolfe is it. With their commentary, Phil and Metz are great guides on an exploration of Wolfe - both because of the rigor of their insights and the obvious enthusiasm they share for the subject.
- dpoole88
- Sept. 30, 2017
Great story analysis
If you are a fan of Gene Wolfe, then this podcast is a dream come true. They give in depth and thoughtful analysis of an author who's well crafted work deserves it. If you don't know Gene Wolfe, but you appreciate literature that requires thought and a little effort to fully appreciate, then this is a great place to get insightful comments about some very interesting stories.
- mikes117
- Sept. 22, 2017
- Meowzin'
- Sept. 17, 2017
A must-listen for Wolfe readers
Like many readers of Gene Wolfe, I've often found myself coming up short when plumbing the depths of his works and trying to piece together what's between the lines. Most of the fan / academic discussions of Wolfe available online are either insufferable, inaccessible, or heavily slanted towards someone's personal interpretations. This makes it either impossible or at best frustrating and inconclusive for readers like me to enhance their understanding of the world, themes, and clues that all of Wolfe's stories are soaked in.
Phil and Metz bring a refreshing pair of perspectives as they tackle Wolfe's ouvre page by page. I was worried that a discussion format might cheapen or contort the text, but the way they work is actually an incredible boon to Wolfe readers.
The guys strike exactly the right balance between highlighting the prose, exploring the possible meanings / implications as they are revealed, and still preserving the unique experience of gradual recontextualization that makes these stories the masterpieces that they are.
I'm amazed at how much clarity and excitement this podcast adds to the treasures of my favorite author, and I can't wait for them to get into the Solar Cycle, which they've been working towards for a year now. The New Sun episodes are starting in less than a month!
- Glangton
- Sept. 14, 2017