William and Jacob are back to discuss the conclusion of Emily St. John Mandel’s Exit Party, and despite their love for her beautiful prose, compelling characters, and mind-bending sci-fi, they're left with one burning question: What the hell was the point? Parallel universes, dystopian surveillance states, doppelgängers, and a mysterious painting all come together in a finale that your hosts find surprisingly underwhelming. Is there some profound message they're missing, or is this book just a well-written nothingburger?

But first…William hunts for Bigfoot and discovers Seattle’s underground goblin scene, Jacob reviews Verity and a truly dystopian Willy Wonka reality show, and both hosts venture outside their usual sci-fi and fantasy reading.

DDDSpod visits the uncanny near future as they discuss Part 1 ("Side A") of Emily St. John Mandel's newest literary genre tease Exit Party. In 2031, Ari is newly released from prison, emerging into an unfamiliar United States that has been torn apart by a recently-ended civil war. A particularly strange house party celebrating the end of the conflict ends with its host's disappearance, which sets off a narrative that spans decades and continents. The novel is compelling, intriguing and thought-provoing– William and Jacob can't wait to finish it next week.

But first, your hosts imagine going on The Traitor's: Normie Edition as secret allies, and wonder what is going on with American Horror Story this season.

William and Jacob are going back to Hell to finish Mackenzie Reed’s I Hope This Email Finds You in Hell, a fast, funny paranormal romance that they had a blast reading, even if its corporate underworld never quite lives up to its diabolical potential. Brie and Luke rescue some kidnapped women, finally get down and dirty, crash a demonic masquerade, uncover Luke’s extremely confusing family history, and discover that the barrier between Earth and Hell is apparently being held together by...you'll have to listen to believe it.

But first...William and Jacob review Resident Evil and Practical Magic 2, two Halloweenie movies they loved for two very different reasons.