Through The Wind Door

Allies - Part 6 (Arlington)

And here, the final episode on chapters 5-8. Thus far, most of our conversations seem to run long enough that there is enough material for three episodes. That does mean that it might take longer to get through a book if we keep doing three 45-55 min episodes instead of two episodes of around an hour and a half. But given the erratic nature of our recording, it works to have the content stretch. Today we cover:

• A brief exploration on British vs. American humor
• How Chapter 8 is divided - for us - between an entertaining portion and a heavier portion
• Analysis of Thomas's behavior under stress, and an unexpected conflict with his wife
• Our analysis and feelings about Colonel Tremaine
• And finally, a discussion on the naming conventions of Arlington's chapters.

This episode also contains outtakes and further conversation after the outro.

 

The New Century Multiverse Website:

https://www.newcenturymultiverse.com

The New Century Multiverse Podcast Feed:

https://newcenturyshow.podbean.com/

Fireside Alliance: https://firesidealliance.squarespace.com/

 

Intro is "One Person, Listening Now" by Doctor Turtle of FMA

Outro is "A Change Is Gonna Come" by Sam Cooke

Allies - Part 5 (Arlington)

As so often happens, the B episode is where we cover the most ground on our assigned chapters! (As a reminder, those include chapters 5-8) Today's topics include:

• A discussion on the real world Ulysses Grant as well as his incarnation in New Century
• Further analysis on Sarah Arlington as she interacts with Frank, General Curtis, and why she's the official Deputy Director of the NIA
• The differences in Frank's relationships with the Arlingtons
• The frustrating aspects of real world white supremacy and their role in New Century
• Discussion on the comedic and non-comedic aspects of Calvin Wilson, Jeremy Pines, and Donald McTavish

The quote history about Grant: https://quoteinvestigator.com/2013/02/18/barrel-of-whiskey/

More on Victoria Woodhull: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victoria_Woodhull

 

The New Century Multiverse Website:

https://www.newcenturymultiverse.com

The New Century Multiverse Podcast Feed:

https://newcenturyshow.podbean.com/

Fireside Alliance: https://firesidealliance.squarespace.com/

 

Intro is "One Person, Listening Now" by Doctor Turtle of FMA

Outro is "Rocky Mountain High" by John Denver

Allies - Part 4 (Arlington)

Today, we begin our look into chapters 5-8, though focusing mostly on chapter 5 because of the deep dive it takes into Thomas and The Handbook once more. Our discussion includes:

• Our first introduction to Truth, and the many roles she holds in terms of connections, metaphors, and her position of authority
• The beginnings of our analysis of the novel from the perspective of literary tragedy, and a discussion on the nature of hamartia.
• Thomas's goals as regards the RSA and how the Handbook is a tool to enact them, as well as potential consequences of same
• And a discussion on the significance of positive and negative elements of Nostalgia.

OSP on Tragedy: https://youtu.be/TL4ti1EGNiw

OSP on Medea:

https://youtu.be/b7WH30_8vos

 

The New Century Multiverse Website:

https://www.newcenturymultiverse.com

The New Century Multiverse Podcast Feed:

https://newcenturyshow.podbean.com/

Fireside Alliance: https://firesidealliance.squarespace.com/

 

Intro is "One Person, Listening Now" by Doctor Turtle of FMA

Outro is "Shine a Little Light" by James Taylor

Allies - Part 3 (Arlington)

This episode wraps up our discussion on Chapters 1-4 (though focusing mostly on chapters 3 and 4) and includes our thoughts on:

• The developing relationship between Frank and Thomas
• The new dynamic coming from Frank, Thomas, and Sarah all interacting together
• Learning more about Thomas as a father, rather than simply a leader or orator/writer
• What 'The Deputy Director' starts to reveal about Sarah as a character
• More discussions on communication, and musing on how what is revealed explicitly and implicitly about Thomas reflect on his interactions and the Handbook

Which isn't to say these topics won't get more play in future episodes. But every story has a beginning, and more conversations will be had as more is revealed.

The wall hanging referred to in Toby's room:

 

The video of Apple as shared in the outtakes:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1F8iRDmWipNBk7D4uhqoGIrH4V8K3uu-A/view?usp=sharing

 

The New Century Multiverse Website:

https://www.newcenturymultiverse.com

The New Century Multiverse Podcast Feed:

https://newcenturyshow.podbean.com/

Fireside Alliance: https://firesidealliance.squarespace.com/

 

Intro is "One Person, Listening Now" by Doctor Turtle of FMA

Outro is "If Everyone Cared" by Nickelback

 

Allies - Part 2 (Arlington)

Further insights as we delve into more parts of Chapters 1, 2 and 3. Today our topics include:

• The original opening lines of this novel
• Further discussion on the momentous pronouncement at the end of Chapter 1
• The new characters that Chapter 2 and 3 introduce, both historical and fictional
• How Frank uses his people skills to navigate through these new personalities
• A careful discussion about certain religious sects and the danger of lauding faith over logic

And furthermore, discussion on the dangers of this new world that come from within, rather from without, like the wendigo.

Chapter 2 is a breath of fresh air after the intensity of Chapter 1, and help set the stage for things to come in this book and beyond. It's one of my favorite parts of New Century to revisit, so we get into it with gusto.

 

On the Amish: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amish

On the BLM protest by the 'Amish'. https://anabaptisthistorians.org/tag/black-lives-matter/

 

The New Century Multiverse Website:

https://www.newcenturymultiverse.com

The New Century Multiverse Podcast Feed:

https://newcenturyshow.podbean.com/

Fireside Alliance: https://firesidealliance.squarespace.com/

 

Intro is "One Person, Listening Now" by Doctor Turtle of FMA

Outro is "You Gotta Be" by Des'ree

Allies - Part 1 (Arlington)

The second half of Season 4 begins in earnest, as we move into chapters 1-4 of the novel Arlington.

These chapters will be covered by three smaller episode in total, and today we get into:

• A look back on where we've been
• The connecting thread of how these four chapters introduce our four primary narrators
• A discussion of Annie Oakley, and how starting with her narration puts us in familiar territory 
• A change of mood, and a new setting that makes the beginning of the novel line more up with what we learned of the world from the Handbook
• How from the very first chapter, plot twists occur that throw everything into chaos, and set not only the tone for everything going forwards...
• ...but also with it's final lines, the novel telling us exactly what kind of story it is.

 

The New Century Multiverse Website:

https://www.newcenturymultiverse.com

The New Century Multiverse Podcast Feed:

https://newcenturyshow.podbean.com/

Fireside Alliance: https://firesidealliance.squarespace.com/

 

Intro is "One Person, Listening Now" by Doctor Turtle of FMA

Outro is "Hard Times" by Paramore

Dramatis Personae - Part 4 (The Cartographer’s Handbook)

Finally, the end. (just of this novel.)

As feels right, most of our conversation hinges around the tale of Thomas Arlington's life, what is revealed of it in the Handbook at least. It is autobiographical, so there are details yet to be learned in future books. But for now, we discuss what Thomas chooses to say about himself, as well as what that reveals about his character at this time, and whether the intent of his story is ultimately successful.

From there, all our final thoughts from all our Yesterdays in regards to the Handbook. Where it belongs in the reading order, how it stands among other books in the series, and why. Reflecting finally on its place in publication history as the first New Century book, and how things have changed since 2013.

With the full context only hinted at in Secret Rooms revealed - we, like the New Century itself - can move forward into Arlington.

 

The Insidiousness of Root Beer and the Federation: https://youtu.be/6VhSm6G7cVk

Remembering Mattie: https://www.oprah.com/spirit/in-memory-of-mattie-stepanek/2

 

The New Century Multiverse Website:

https://www.newcenturymultiverse.com

The New Century Multiverse Podcast Feed:

https://newcenturyshow.podbean.com/

Fireside Alliance: https://firesidealliance.squarespace.com/

 

Intro is "One Person, Listening Now" by Doctor Turtle of FMA

Outro is "Don't Dream It's Over" by Crowded House

 

New’s Of The Century: Nightfall of the Wendigo, Part 3

Stop your grinnin' and drop your linen. Here is the last of our discussion on the latest New Century book (which won't remain the newest for long, since Back In Time is hot on it's heels.) Our discussion includes (show notes spoiler free)

• The story developments with Seth and the Wendigo.
• Discussion of new characters, and some parallels between them and influencial movies
• The dramatic plot turn, what it means for New Century going forwards, and how shocking it is considering the status quo originally set up by Phase One.
• The importance of closure
• And finally, speculations regarding Back In Time.

14 minutes of outtakes after the outro, some of them podcast related, and some just fun! Rah, Rah, podcasting.

SPOILERS FOR ALL OF NEW CENTURY

Here, a picture of Toby's old hamster, Pongo (listen to outtakes for an explanation.)

The New Century Multiverse Website:

https://www.newcenturymultiverse.com

The New Century Multiverse Podcast Feed:

https://newcenturyshow.podbean.com/

Intro is "Humanity" by Scott Holmes of freemusicarchive.org

Outro is "The Eagle and the Hawk" by John Denver

Dramatis Personae - Part 3 (The Cartographer’s Handbook)

We cover a lot in this one for only a little over an hour of content! (plus over 11 minutes of outtakes)

• The stories of Kaufmann, Sadler, and Tudor, and their roles in discussions the technical elements of being a Cartographer.
• The example set by General Curtis
• The stories of Chorley, Considine, Blaine and Oakley, and their connection to a greater theme
• And finally, the stories of Santos and Wilson, and the role of both the Wider world in the Handbook narrative, and how it will play into future books.

We're coming down to the end of our story, but even with only a little left, our final episode will be plenty long.

 

Part 1 of 8 - Bringing Back What Is Stolen - The Avenging Feminine: https://youtu.be/wmR8A1a8shk

Why African American's Loathe Uncle Tom: https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93059468

Assume the Position with Robert Wuhl (links encompass the story of Nathaniel Hawthorne and Franklin Pierce):

https://youtu.be/KDGZ1Mltv8w

https://youtu.be/rpvveJcYUeA

 

The New Century Multiverse Website:

https://www.newcenturymultiverse.com

The New Century Multiverse Podcast Feed:

https://newcenturyshow.podbean.com/

Fireside Alliance: https://firesidealliance.squarespace.com/

 

Intro is "One Person, Listening Now" by Doctor Turtle of FMA

Outro is "Lean On Me" by Bill Withers

New’s Of The Century: Nightfall of the Wendigo - Part 2

Trigger Warning: While we do not get into a lot of detail on the act itself, once more, the subject of rape comes up. Time stamp is approximately between 29min-49 min.

We begin where we ended last time, on a further discussion of our characters. This includes an analysis on Frank, James, their interactions with each other, and then some fairly heavy conversation in regards to what happens between Yagana and James, and our various thoughts and feelings on it. 

Futhermore, we speculate on Yagana as a character, her motivations, and the complex feelings from us in regards to with her character turns in this novel.

But as always, we try to end with hope.

SPOILERS FOR ALL OF NEW CENTURY

 

The New Century Multiverse Website:

https://www.newcenturymultiverse.com

Intro is "Humanity" by Scott Holmes of freemusicarchive.org

Outro is "Rhymes and Reasons" by John Denver