Workers' Lit

What if the treasure was the friends we made along the way but also was very literally a whole lot of treasure?Join us as we travel to 1988 to discuss Paulo Coelho's global phenomenon of a novel, "The Alchemist."We are joined by Kennedy Cooper, host of the podcasts, "The Worst Week Yet" and "The Most Important Election of our Lives." We haven't been able to confirm whether or not they are a real life alchemist, but we have our suspicions...What is it about this book that drove people so wild? Is "Live, Laugh, Love" always a bad thing? Why is Melchizedek here?Check out The Worst Week Yet!Check Out The Most Important Election of Our LivesFollow Kennedy on Bluesky @kennedytcooper.bsky.socialMusic by Solo Monk (@SoloMonk256 on Twitter, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/solomonkart⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,) episode art is from "The Alchemist" graphic novel and also we're there and some emojis too.

Our new website is live! Check out socialistshelf.com for all your Socialist Shelf needs.Today we enter the very gay, very violent, and very authoritarian mind of Yukio Mishima, aka the worst coup-plotter of all time, as we discuss his 1949 work, "Confessions of a Mask." This novel is harrowing at times, ridiculous at others. Absolutely relatable to anyone with closet experience in one moment, and the next he's talking like a return to tradition adult Catholic convert guy with a Greek statue profile picture. Music by Solo Monk (@SoloMonk256 on Twitter, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/solomonkart⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,) episode art is Mishima's ideal society.

Have you ever thought, "Hey, why can't I have a guy strapped to my wall that will basically serve as a living large language model for me and my bored guests?" No? Well, we talk a lot about that concept anyway.This is our discussion of "Liberation Day," a 2022 short story collection from George Saunders. Joining us is confirmed genius, Tom from the Anime Sickos podcast. He likes Saunders, and now so do we. You'll find out why.Themes in this episode: being obviously trapped but not knowing it, getting kicked to death in a theme park, and how even GOATs can be washed at times when they try to write about Donald TrumpCheck out AnimeSickos here! If you listen, you'll also be a certified genius.Music by Solo Monk (@SoloMonk256 on Twitter,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/solomonkart⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,) episode art is kind of abstract but just go with it.

It's time to talk about the quintessential vampire novel, Bram Stoker 1897 gothic horror, "Dracula." *Scary music plays, lightning flashes, we look very cool in an old castle* The Shelfers are joined by Scoob, Bluesky Elder, vampire expert, and longtime follower of the Count. Learn how Bram Stoker was the Forrest Gump of late 19th century literature as he stumbled his way through a prolific but disappointing career that exploded following his death. We ask such questions as...Is Dracula gay? (Yes.) Is Dracula racist? (Also yes.) Is Jonathan Harker a petite bourgeois reactionary? (100% yes.) Does Mina deserve better? (Yes, yes, yes.) Check out Scoob's other passion (posting!) @scoobydouchebag.bsky.social Music by Solo Monk (@SoloMonk256 on Twitter, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/solomonkart⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,) episode art is us doing the long walk (from the book's cover)

It's been a minute, but it's time for another famous Socialist Shelf interview!! We're delighted to feature Andy Boyd, a brilliant playwright and artist to talk about her play, "Occupy Prescott," a funny and thoughtful show about an Occupy Wall Street encampment in the much-smaller-than-Wall-Street Courthouse Square of Prescott Arizona. Purchase "Occupy Prescott" here! Get Andy's other show, "The Trade Federation or Let's Explore Globalization Through the Star Wars Prequels" here! Music by Solo Monk (@SoloMonk256 on Twitter, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/solomonkart⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,) episode art is from the cover of "Occupy Prescott."

We walk. And walk. And waaaalk. Welcome to the twisted mind of Stephen King, AKA Richard Bachman, and his 1979 dystopian horror, "The Long Walk." What if America was bad? Like...even more bad. What if we had young men play sports that killed them...like killed them even more than the ones they do now. The Shelfers investigate. Fascism. Masculinity. Sexuality. Repetitive Writing. We get into it all. Music by Solo Monk (@SoloMonk256 on Twitter, ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/solomonkart⁠⁠⁠⁠,) episode art is us doing the long walk (from the book's cover)

It's a year in review episode but also we do a short story because that's what we doooo, baby.It's been a great year for the show (and in basically no other way). We celebrate it in this episode by the giving of dubious gifts, reflecting on our favorite episodes of the year, and being slightly disrespectful to Jimmy Carter.We also discuss Ted Chiang’s 2001 short story, "Hell is the Absence of God." We get sad and philosophical about it.Music by Solo Monk (@SoloMonk256 on Twitter, ⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/solomonkart⁠⁠⁠,) episode art is us emerging to seize the new year!

It's not just a poem, it an EPIC poem. This week, the Shelfers take on Harry Martinson's 1956 Swedish, sci-fi epic, "Aniara." Joining them is Max Johansson, who will be considered our pod's official Sweden expert from here on out. Proletarian literature, running away from your problems, existential despair, quibbling over translations, nuclear apocalypse!!! This one's got it all. Want more of Max? Well, you'll need to speak Swedish, but if you do, go and check out his podcast, Brodrafolkens! You can also follow him on Instagram @maxjohkna. Music by Solo Monk (@SoloMonk256 on Twitter, ⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/solomonkart⁠⁠,) episode art is us blasting off.

Let's get into the savage heart of the American dream, shall we? Join us as we visit Hunter S. Thompson's pocket dimension version of Las Vegas in his 1971 work of gonzo journalism, "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas." Hear us praise the writing, be moved by the characters, and get really pissed at the author. Music by Solo Monk (@SoloMonk256 on Twitter, ⁠https://www.patreon.com/solomonkart⁠,) episode art self is my proposed new cover for the novel

Abandon Hope All Ye Who Enter Here. Worst of All Possible Worlds’ Josh Boerman, veteran of both the Socialist Shelf and the battle every young man must face, join us as we take on the villainous Arterburn M Stephen and the downright freaky Fred Stoeker’s 2002, sexual purity self-help book, “Every Young Man’s Battle” If you’ve ever wanted to face the intersection of evangelical sexual oppression and the New Right down while laughing about sumo wrestlers and stallions, this is your episode.  Disclaimer: the ideas spouted in this book are really gross, downright heinous. Please keep that in mind as you listen, and feel free to skip this one if the discussion makes you too uncomfortable. More Josh Boerman/Worst of All Possible Worlds: https://www.worstpossible.world/ and @Bosh.Worstpossible.World on Bluesky. Episode art is Fred Stoeker's Instagram feed. He's joined by a few cool folks who are just driving by.