In which Preeti and Jenn discuss Merlin's (lack of) interiority, Mary Stewart's stylistic and mythological choices, and the Absolute Unit that is Ygraine.

Next episode: Book V, The Coming of the Bear, Section 6 - The Legend of Merlin

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Read Preeti's story in the new anthology, For the Rest of Us

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In which Jenn and Preeti talk about emotional disconnection, historical infodumps, Big Feelings about Ambrosius and Merlin, and quests.

Next episode: Book V, The Coming of the Bear: Sections 1-5

Get more of Brett Parnell's music at bearinabarnnyc.com

More from Heeral Chhibber at heeral.org

Get merch: tar-valon-or-bust.printify.me/products and northingtron.redbubble.com

Read Preeti's story in the new anthology, For the Rest of Us

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In which Preeti and Jenn discuss timeline wibbly-wobbliness, Merlin's misogyny, #JusticeForNiniane, and the only moment in which they sort of liked Uther.

Next episode: Book IV, The Red Dragon: Sections 6-10

Get more of Brett Parnell's music at bearinabarnnyc.com

More from Heeral Chhibber at heeral.org

Get merch: tar-valon-or-bust.printify.me/products and northingtron.redbubble.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In which the big question is, who is this scared Merlin and what happened to his assurance? Preeti and Jenn debate authorial intent vs. impact, possible theories, the Saxon perspective, and also wow what a banger of a section.

Next episode: Book IV, The Red Dragon: Sections 1-5

The Shieldwall Song (via Holly B): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5uKIgSRVlg

Get more of Brett Parnell's music at bearinabarnnyc.com

More from Heeral Chhibber at heeral.org

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In which Preeti and Jenn spend an hour talking about 35 pages of text, because that's how they roll. Unreliable narrators, historical timelines, Parks and Rec comparisons, the works! But hey, at least it was only one recording session.

Next section: Book III: The Wolf, Sections 7-12 inclusive

Get more of Brett Parnell's music at bearinabarnnyc.com

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Get ready, y'all! Three recording sessions later, Preeti and Jenn dive THE DEEPEST into The Falcon. Join them for parallel characters, big revelations, druids, and all the ugh to Uther.

Next section: Book III: The Wolf, Sections 1-6 inclusive

Dhonielle Clayton's The Belles

British officers and batmen/servants trope (Frodo & Sam): https://www.reddit.com/r/tolkienfans/comments/1iuuez9/is_frodo_and_sams_master_and_servant_relationship/

Malka Older's Mossa and Pleiti series

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In this extra-long episode, Preeti and Jenn dig into the language, atmosphere, and voice of The Crystal Cage: Prologue - Book I: The Dove. (We will fight you for baby Merlin!!!!!)

Hild and Menewood, Nicola Griffith

The story of Dinas Emrys and the two dragons

(Help Jenn find the audio cassette she used to listen to! The opening lines included something like 'Storm clouds marched along the sky. Rain beat against the gray castle walls. Inside, a young boy woke.' It had a male narrator.)

Next section: Book II: The Falcon

Get more of Brett Parnell's music at bearinabarnnyc.com

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As they prepare to dive into their next reread, Preeti and Jenn talk about Mary Stewart as a writer, their personal history with her Arthurian Saga, and what they're expecting, excited for, and nervous about.

Next episode: Prologue - Book 1: The Dove

Nicola Griffith, Hild / Menewood

Get more of Brett Parnell's music at bearinabarnnyc.com

More from Heeral Chhibber at heeral.org

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.