This week, in "Shattered Light", by Richard A. Knaak: In the first (and only) literary MMORPG, fans of books and video games found the worst of both worlds: a limitless world of possibilities that punishes imagination and demands rigid adherence to an obscure and unfathomable formula. K helps his buddy out of a tricky pickle. Khaki exercises his right to armor bears. Find CoverMyAssCast on Twitter, Gmail and www.covermyasscast.com.
Oct 17, 2019•31 min
This week, in "Greyhaven", by Marion Zimmer Bradley: The children of the cartoon Dungeons & Dragons eventually returned to the real world, but each fled back to this magical realm to reclaim their wondrous, magical destinies — and hide from their regrets, debts and arrest warrants. But there is no escape in: the Realm of Dungeons and Dragons! K quotes @dr5bludgeoning's excellent Twitter joke. Khaki has a lot in common with bears. Find CoverMyAssCast on Twitter, Gmail and www.covermyasscast.c...
Oct 10, 2019•35 min
This week, in "Naked Came the Robot", by Barry B. Longyear: A botched back-alley transition leaves Victor’s mind in the chassis of a sexbot decommissioned for accidentally killing users. Now she must fight for love against a dying planet, a crumbling society, and the unpredictable destructive strength of her synthetic muscles. K tells a story about Napoleon's cutlery. Khaki's back on his bullshit: costumes. With thanks to Friend-of-the-Library Old Pines for the synopsis of this week's book. Find...
Oct 03, 2019•39 min
This week, in "Two Tiny Claws", by Brett Davis: Aging Brontho herder Blaze Maverick rides into town decades after everybody thought he'd perished in the Great Northern Stampede and old feuds flare up in the sleepy western town of Butthole, Montana. K explains how to tell black bears from grizzlies. Khaki sets an example to the Velibraraptors. Find CoverMyAssCast on Twitter, Gmail and www.covermyasscast.com.
Sep 26, 2019•32 min
This week, in “The Quantum Connection", by Travis S. Taylor: In this sequel to Operation: Damocles: With a cordon-sanitaire having been erected around the Gay Belt, our intrepid heroes must fight their way through an alien siege to liberate the only intergalactic communicator in the Solar System. K questions the guano. Khaki's episodic memory is tested. Find CoverMyAssCast on Twitter, Gmail and www.covermyasscast.com.
Sep 19, 2019•28 min
This week, in “Jewel of Tharn", by Jeffrey Lord: It's the Dark Ages, the Church has banned books, beauty, and bare buns! Dick Blade and his magic singing spear must save their nudist colony from the encroaching Crusaders who wish to crush their peaceful ways. Will he convince the local Abbot to forsake the cloth or will the changing seasons force Dick to muffle his cry for freedom? K paraphrases Terry Pratchett again. Khaki knows a little about Naples. Dedicated to our compatriots over at GoodSh...
Sep 12, 2019•36 min
This week, in “Myfanwy's Demon", by Louise Katz: A dildosmith's daughter in medieval Wales, who dreams of making it big as a traveling xylophone soloist accidentally summons the last surviving member of an ancient demonic race, who turns out to be way groovier than Myfanwy could ever have imagined. K has no regrets. Khaki knows a lot about alphabets. Find CoverMyAssCast on Twitter, Gmail and www.covermyasscast.com.
Sep 05, 2019•36 min
This week, in “The Game of Empire", by Poul Anderson: After a drunken wish, Princess Jasmine and her loyal tiger Rajah find themselves transported to a strange alien world where technology makes no sense and there's not a genie nor parrot in sight. K deals with an unwelcome double-helix. Khaki is dragged into Hell. Find CoverMyAssCast on Twitter, Gmail and www.covermyasscast.com.
Aug 29, 2019•39 min
This week, in “Krono", by Charles L. Harness: An embittered wife-and-husband team of planetary surveyors travel to the frontier wilderness of planet Krono, each scheming the other's demise, and find they have more in common than they ever thought. (Do you like piña coladas?) K questions Dorian Grey's gems. Khaki tries to impress at his first performance review. Find CoverMyAssCast on Twitter, Gmail and www.covermyasscast.com.
Aug 22, 2019•38 min
This week, in “Immortality, Inc.", by Robert Scheckley: In an alternate universe where the :CueCat became a success and this absurd device became essential for everyday life, replacing the written word with diagonal barcodes, the inventor of the QR code goes on the run to protect her invention from the Barcode Hegemony and ushers the Information Age into the second dimension. K looks forward to life returning to 'normal'. Khaki turns the tables and ruffles some feathers. Find CoverMyAssCast on T...
Aug 15, 2019•34 min
This week, in “The Harp and the Blade", by John Myers Myers: Two Quantum Leapers find themselves in pre-BCE England; unwilling to admit their true origin to each other they try to set right what once went wrong, unaware that they are, in face, what it is that went wrong. K sure does know a lot about druid stuff! Khaki introduces K to a cool new chair. Find CoverMyAssCast on Twitter, Gmail and www.covermyasscast.com.
Aug 08, 2019•37 min
This week, in “Chicks 'n Chained Males“, edited by Esther Friesner: Kenneth, a college DM accidentally transports himself to a world where those precious few fertile males are little more than valuable but mindless studs, where his encyclopedic nerdery is mistaken for the lost art of sorcery. K has a plan to end the predicament in the library. Khaki tries to stimulate his friend through trickery. Find CoverMyAssCast on Twitter, Gmail and www.covermyasscast.com.
Aug 01, 2019•41 min
Recorded in front of a live audience in the Czech Republic. #OccupyNottingham Worlds collide as quantums and franchises entangle: it's Open Day at the Library! Stalwart, if bewildered, Yours Trulies face the challenge of a real live audience with the same courage and determination as the heroes of this week's unlikely 'book'... K walks a mile (or week) in Khaki's shoes. Khaki adorably encourages audience participation. Find CoverMyAssCast on Twitter, Gmail and www.covermyasscast.com.
Jul 25, 2019•33 min
This week, in “Und Sie Lernen Es Nie“, by K. H. Scheer: Deep behind enemy lines, Blake Whitecock has to rely on unexpected friends when his wits and the fantastic gadgets of Q-division fail him, to vanquish his implacable enemies as the war heats up, in the stunning 25th-hebdomodariversary sequel to WASP. K will never let go of JJ Abrams' treatment of Star Wars physics. Khaki goes on the offensive against the quarrelsome velibraraptors. Find CoverMyAssCast on Twitter, Gmail and www.covermyasscas...
Jul 18, 2019•41 min
This week, in “Telempath“, by Spider Robinson: The day after his daughter's wedding, having waved her off to her honeymoon cruise, retired artist Arthur Robinson sits alone in the park and finally eats the last lunch his late husband made for him... ...utterly soaked in LSD. K explains cheetahs and puppy-eyes. Khaki forgot that we were doing portmaneaus this week and puts everything he has into a Jersey joke. Find CoverMyAssCast on Twitter, Gmail and www.covermyasscast.com.
Jul 11, 2019•39 min
This week, in “Lucky Starr and the Pirates of the Astroids“, by Paul French: SpaceBall! With Solar Systems as their playing fields, hotshot rocket-jockeys knock big ol' rocks around gravity wells and planetary orbits, risking life and limb and continental devastation in hopes of slingshotting to intergalactic fame. Lucky Starr is an up-and-coming reporter embedded with the Pirates to record their meteoric rise, and discovers she has more in common with them than she would ever have suspected. K ...
Jul 04, 2019•45 min
Ayurvedic space hippies think they found the perfect gig, unaware that they're being exploited by scheming planetary real-estate developers — and the very wildlife they think they're protecting...“Destiny and the Dolphins“, by Roy Meyers Boom-Shankar, dear readers-at-home, let's have ourselves a good old-fashioned beach sesh! Make love, not peace. K explains about hemp. Khaki starts a new fashion-related quest. Find CoverMyAssCast on Twitter, Gmail and www.covermyasscast.com.
Jun 27, 2019•39 min
The band didn't read the fine print before they took the new gig, so...“Dew Claws“, by Stephen Gresham. A country crawfish boil, a brandy glass full of brown M&M's, a record deal with fine print and before you know it a small-town band's dreams are blown way out of proportion. Count the toes and the dildos: the rise, fall and resurrection of Swomp Thang. K stealthily tosses a pen at Her Majesty. Khaki gets a promotion, which he now always has had. Special mention to @scattermoon on Twitter f...
Jun 20, 2019•42 min
The first in a science fiction adventure series starring a beautiful sexologist on an intergalactic mission of love.“Yolanda, the Girl from Erosphere“, by Dominique Verseau. In a post-prude universe, a progressive scientist finds herself challenged by outmoded yet newfangled notions of propriety and we happily skate through our incomprehensive/ble knowledge of European sexual liberation. K introduces Khaki to the Book Repair Studio and reassures him repeatedly. Khaki clears his throat repeatedly...
Jun 13, 2019•36 min
Dictatorial forces -- under orders from a cruel {Lord} -- hold the {Princess} hostage, in their efforts to quell the {rebellion}. A lowly {farm-boy} and the {scoundrel} captain of a quick ship, work together with the companionable {droid duo} to rescue the beautiful {princess}, help the {rebels}, and restore freedom and justice to the Galaxy. “Star Fighters“, by Robert E. Mills. We careen through our far-from-comprehensive knowledge of ‘70s swashbuckling space sci-fi as we share a bold and darin...
Jun 06, 2019•41 min
"The Ruby Dice", by Catherine Asaro. This week we open the Grimoire Cage and unleash that most dangerous of bibliographic bogeymen: the Choose-Your-Own-Adventure book! Your stalwart hosts recount very different experiences on their voyage through the number-coded pages of a vast and sprawling adventure, with naught but their wits — such as they are — and a studious commitment to sincere literary reportage to guide them. K battles a Space Dragon (who may or may not be a pirate). Khaki invents a c...
May 30, 2019•31 min
A gang of rogue geneticists, lead by an anarchic pharmacist-cum-messiah-figure, seek to turn the world order upside down by seeding the atmosphere with a virus that restructures human DNA to pull out animal traits. Robert Katz, an early test subject, must find a way to stop them. "RX for Chaos", by Christopher Anvil, as recommended by friend-of-the-library Old Pines. Continuing the trend of hunky cat-men that last appeared in the show back in episode 2, this week's book is all about the hubris o...
May 23, 2019•40 min
“In a world where poor fashion-choices mean death, one man dared to wear orange.” The heir to an inter-stellar fashion empire, on an in-between year, uncovers an unlikely artefact of ancient Zambian space history and sparks a revolution – but the Fashion Police are always one step ahead... K recites the French irregular adjectives and explains where jeans go when they dye. Khaki recites one of his favorite limericks and defends JJ Abrams's oeuvre against unprovoked attacks. Bookmarked passages: ...
May 16, 2019•38 min
"In a world where science and engineering rule while magic merely serves, an industrialist aristocrat’s genius heir finds himself drawn to the allure of a novice kitchen-wizard." Young love blossoms in a world aswirl with conflicts both magical and mundane in an alternate Victorian era where Europe's class system changes under the influx of magical innovations from the flourishing African nations. All that fancy philosophy aside, a cover like this promises certain salacious same-sex shenanigans,...
May 09, 2019•44 min
Poor timing abounds, as ancient secrets are accidentally unlocked through clumsy cultural appropriation – just as mankind prepares to abandon wonder forever. Rival thunder-god wanna-bes Yan-a-bumfit and Perkele enter the ring: place your bets! K recites the Rhyme of British Coinage. Khaki tells K about a Space Thing for a change. Bookmarked passages: Phase 1, Canadian Bear Man, six-wheeled fennecs, abridged and incomplete novels, Readers' Digest, sorting on the Z-axis, Supermarionation, multicul...
May 02, 2019•45 min
Urania returns! Amid the nuclear fires of post-war fascist Italy two avant-garde music acts vie for dominance over the future of European pop music, making unlikely friends and allies along the way. Geiger-punks vs X-Ray Anarchists! K tries to remember "that other vampire writer" and invents "La Bamba No. 5". Khaki needs to get his notes in order, and dwells on his time stuck in the glue traps. Bookmarked passages: Halfway between hooloovoo and octarine, was Homer color-blind? (yes), Byzantium, ...
Apr 25, 2019•41 min
"City on the Moon" by Murray LeinsterReviewed (but not read) by Khaki & K. In which: Donald Atticus, an Earth journalist inspecting an absurdly-domed City On The Moon, becomes embroiled in inter-colonial conflict. But could hehave a secret agenda of his own? ...Yes. yes, he does have a secret agenda you got that, right? K quotes a Ukrainian colleague. Khaki warms up to Chewborka and invents the word 'hemitorus'. And a rival reviewer writes in! Bookmarked passages: Display prances, Fallopian ...
Apr 18, 2019•39 min
Operation: Damocles by Oscar L. FellowsReviewed (but not read) by Khaki & K. In which: K is hip with the kids' lingo and teaches Khaki lots of Space Things. Khaki explains his "photographic memory" and forgets the word "photo". Bookmarked passages: introducing Guinevere, no lasers in space, everything Icarus, the graveyard orbit, useless code names, Fortynite dances, is a jetpack a spacecraft, the secret city of Delaware, Camp Sandyballs, Navajo verb categorization, a three-way fuster-cluck,...
Apr 11, 2019•41 min
"The Fourth "R"" by George O. Smith Reviewed (but not read) by Khaki & K. In which: Rabble-rousing Rodrigo raucously rejects the ruling ranks and rocks out with rebellious renegades to reignite the revolution! Bookmarked passages: Glue Traps Part II, unused Genie bottles, constructivist art and Farscape, top-seasoning of an Executor Class Star Destroyer, Thinking Cap, Cathar gnostics, Taekwondo.exe, past tense of reading, three languages in a trench goat, George R. R. R. R. Martin, the Fourt...
Apr 04, 2019•34 min
"The Secrets of the Martian Moons" by Donald A. Wollheim Reviewed (but not read) by Khaki & K. In which: Peerson Starshine has just been pod-jacked and fights for his life among mountains of Space Guano – ah, who are we kidding! In this episode we tell stories about bridges and brides while imagining a parallel universe where our recommendations and reviews are actually accurate. K does some excellent foley work. Khaki names a Welsh town. Bookmarked passages: the Glue Traps of Hubris, Wother...
Mar 28, 2019•28 min
