William and Jacob are diving back into What We Can Know by Ian McEwan, where a metatextual twist blows up all of 2119 scholar Thomas Metcalfe's assumptions about 2014 poet Francis Blundy and his wife, Vivien Blundy. The 'truth' is far juicier and melodramatic than Thomas ever imagined, and your hosts are strangely moved, even if they can't fully put their finger on the why.

But first... a spoiler-free review of Pluribus season one, thoughts on The Traitors jumbo-sized season premiere, and William shares what came home with him from a reptile expo.

It's a new year and a new season for DRAGON'S DADDIES DEEP SPACE! William and Jacob are kicking off 2026 with a foray into literary fiction with a speculative twist, as they discuss Part One of What We Can Know by Ian McEwan. In the year 2119, human society has been utterly transformed by global warming, nuclear war, and the great Derangement. Narrator Thomas Metcalfe doggedly pursues one of mankind's great mysteries (at least in his own mind)–a long poem that was read aloud by its author in 2014 that was never read or heard again. It's literary, it's dense, it's kind of mind-blowing.

But first...William just doesn't know how to quit The Wandering Inn, Jacob gives quick hit book reviews of what he read over the break (The Blade Itself, Flesh, The God of the Woods and Demon in White), all while your hosts linger in the upside down shadow of Conformity Gate (it's not real, folks).

It's the season finale of DRAGONS DADDIES DEEP SPACE as William and Jacob discuss the conclusion of Sara Raasch's The Nightmare Before Kissmas. Things are getting steamier and spicier than a Mexican hot chocolate (you've been warned) in the Christmas Palace as Christmas Prince Coal Claus and Halloween Prince Hex Hallows are finally ready to confront their feelings, and confront each other's bodies repeatedly, in the lead up to Coal's forced Christmas Eve wedding to his BFF Iris, Princess of Easter. Will Coal and Hex be able to leap the hurdles of family, holiday court and Santa himself in order to find their very own happily ever after? It's a romcom—what do you think?

Stay tuned for your hosts Bests of 2025, or skip ahead to 44:00 for:

• Daddy of the Year
• Alien of the Year
• Dragon of the Year
• Character of the Year
• Queer Romance of the Year
• Biggest Letdown
• Sci Fi Novel of the Year
• Fantasy Novel of the Year
• Best Book of 2025

It's time to deck your halls and trim your trees as Christmas comes to DDDSPod. Naughty Nicholas "Coal" Claus, the heir apparent to the not-so-nice King of Christmas, is lovesick for the Prince of Halloween, betrothed to the Princess of Easter, and all three are locked in a love quadrangle (Coal's brother Kris (also bisexual) is obviously in love with the Princess of Easter). It's a messy situation, made even messier by meddling parents and the omnipresent holiday kingdom tabloids, as your hosts discuss the first half of The Nightmare Before Kissmas by Sara Raasch.

But first, Jacob reminds William to watch Spartacus: House of Ashur, William reveals a shocking false promise (he doesn't know how to quit The Wandering Inn), and both hosts share their reading plans for the holiday break.

NEXT WEEK:

The Nightmare Before Kissmas–the epic conclusion

William and Jacob are fresh back from Thanksgiving feasting, and they do believe they have been changed for the better by Wicked: For Good, though the ‘sequel’ doesn’t defy gravity quite like part 1. Then it’s time for the epic deconstructed/reconstructed Throne of Glass tandem read as they review Empire of Storms and Tower of Dawn by Sarah J. Maas (spoiler alert, they didn’t tandem read, William just read them in the wrong order). They both loved one and loathed the other, and they’re boldly going against the grain with their MalaFirebringer-hot takes.

NEXT WEEK:

The Nightmare Before Kissmas by Sara Raasch (the first half or so)

It's time for the epic conclusion of The Mercy of Gods by James S.A. Corey, as Dafyd and the other hostage humans of Anjiin make their play for the survival of the human race. Jacob and William loved this book (4.5 Stars!) and find a lot to discuss and giggle about along the way.

But first...your hosts can't get enough of Rosalia's LUX, wish for a better IT: Welcome to Derry, Jacob begins a journey through The First Law trilogy by Joe Abercrombie, and William shares an update on Erin Soltice and friends from The Wandering Inn by pirateaba.

Upcoming episodes:

• 11/27: No episode, Happy Thanksgiving
• 12/4: Empire of Storms and Tower of Dawn by Sarah J. Maas

In this week’s reading—The Mercy of Gods by James S.A. Corey Parts 3 and 4—the rules of the alien overlords’ game are becoming more clear to the abducted humans of Anjiin. There are also monkey aliens, hexapods with a World Song, and a horny swarm of nanobots.

But first…your hosts have been busy watching a lot of TV and movies. Jacob shares spoiler-free thoughts on the first two episodes of Pluribus on Apple TV (5 stars, run don’t walk!!!), and both William and Jacob have been allured by the truly bonkers All’s Fair on Hulu (5 very different stars, also run don’t walk!!!!).

NEXT WEEK:

The Mercy of Gods by James S.A. Corey finale: Parts 5 & 6

William and Jacob are back after celebrating All Hallows together in the City of Angels. They dish on William's Halloween extravaganza, and flying CGI demon babies in IT: Welcome to Derry, while Jacob reads a non-scifi or fantasy book (Rejection by Tony Tulathimutte).

Then they're *finally* back in deep space, kicking off their three-episode discussion of The Mercy of Gods by James S.A. Corey, the first in a new space opera series by the author of The Expanse. While it kicks off to a slow and bureaucratic start, things pick up quickly when your hosts encounter their absolute favorite scifi staples: wild alien creatures.

UPCOMING EPISODES:

• November 13: The Mercy of Gods Parts 3 and 4
• November 20: The Mercy of Gods Part 5