Episodes

  • Shadows of the Empire Ch. 20-24

    Shadows of the Empire Ch. 20-24
    May 15 2024
    Did something finally happen in these chapters or do Kelly and Emily just have space Stockholm syndrome?? The action is finally picking up: Xizor contemplates creating some deepfake nudes of Leia and then trims his bonsai (not a metaphor). Vader gets real mad his boss sent him to pick up his son from jail. Threepio commits a felony with a cheerful wink. Guri shows off her pottery skills. Leia hits the strip mall on Coruscant before her business meeting with Xizor. Some (perhaps many) more Bothans die to bring us this information. And just as on Myrkr, Luke truly thrives in captivity.

    Also - if you went to watch the prequels on the big screen, tell us all about it!
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    1 hr and 4 mins
  • Shadows of the Empire Ch. 15-19

    Shadows of the Empire Ch. 15-19
    May 8 2024
    Vader and Xizor ratchet up their game of mutual spying and lying. Leia waits around a casino until Guri’s busy schedule of murdering unruly Black Sun associates clears up. Luke and Dash intercept a message from a Bothan spy who may or may not be just a human guy (?) and end up hijacking a load of literal bullshit. And we are left asking what a Twi’lek dye job might entail.
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    54 mins
  • Shadows of the Empire Ch. 10-14

    Shadows of the Empire Ch. 10-14
    May 1 2024
    Some things happen in these chapters! Vader stares down a midlife crisis, wondering why being an all-powerful middle manager is not sparking more joy. Xizor and Vader engage in a battle of wits both IRL and over Zoom. Our hosts wonder if schemes are indeed like plants. We find out the basis of the Emperor and Xizor’s friendship (competing over weird rich guy shit and murdering skilled tradespeople). Lando uses the power of spreadsheets and charisma to advance the plot and win a ton of credits. Luke is exiled on Tatooine and manages to build a lightsaber that doesn’t explode with all his free time. And Dash Rendar may be able to fly, but he can’t outrun his own cringe.

    And as always, we want to hear from you! Drop us a line over at the Han Mail, or come find us in the "book of the month club" chat over at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/DelusionsofGrandeurPod
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    1 hr
  • Shadows of the Empire Ch. 5-9

    Shadows of the Empire Ch. 5-9
    Apr 24 2024
    We start off with some very important Han Mail as we defend the honor of a woman who definitely did NOT write us a nuanced and thorough review on Audible. And after a digression into the net worth of two of literature's greatest manic pixie dream bosses (Talon Karrde and Mr. Darcy), we dive into Shadows again. We get some insight into our villains as they both take some time for self care: Vader spends the day in the med spa getting incandescently angry at Obi-Wan and his own lungs, and Xizor grabs a spontaneous dinner after his sex/murder droid dumps his mistress. Meanwhile, the gang heads off to try and steal Han back from Boba Fett before he can get to Tatooine. Wedge Antilles does all the work and pays his taxes on time while Han Solo stand-in Dash Rendar does all of the quips. A Mara Jade knock-off tries and fails to kill Luke. And we are left asking for justice for Lando, who is *clearly* the best home cook in the EU.
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    1 hr and 15 mins
  • Shadows of the Empire Ch. 1-4

    Shadows of the Empire Ch. 1-4
    Apr 17 2024
    We are finally diving into Shadows of the Empire, by which we mean Lucasfilm's Death Star sized 90's marketing machine. For this is no mere book: it is a weird conglomerate of a novel, several comic books, a video game, collectable figurines, an original soundtrack (!) and probably something else we missed.

    Before we dive into the book itself, Kelly reports back on the first level of the N64 game. We also learn a little about the process of writing it, and the unbelievably specific inspiration for Shadow's sexy villain, Prince Xizor.

    Ok, now for the actual book! We flash between flashbacks of Empire Strikes Back, incredibly bitchy Imperial brunches, Leia hanging out in a dive bar, and Luke's post breakdown residency in Sedona (complete with circus training and jewelry making). Plus, we confront the eternal questions of the EU: how many people know Vader and Luke are related, and when will the rebellion finally court martial a man who has spent most of his time in army stealing equipment and going on vacation?

    Most of our fun facts on the processes of making Shadows came from Stephen Harber's article How Shadows of the Empire Became A Gritty 90s Epic. It's full of great tidbits and also SPOILERS for a thirty year old book most of us have already read.

    And we have a whole new book chat for Shadows over at our Patreon, stop on by: https://www.patreon.com/DelusionsofGrandeurPod
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    1 hr and 4 mins
  • Bonus! Han Mail Bag and A Forest Apart (for real this time)

    Bonus! Han Mail Bag and A Forest Apart (for real this time)
    Apr 10 2024
    Ok, here is the actual show for this week! Apooglies from your very tired delulu crew. It's time for some Han Mail! Plus, a sneak peak of our Patreon bonus episode, A Forest Apart. Listen to chapter one here, or head to our Patreon for the thrilling conclusion: https://www.patreon.com/DelusionsofGrandeurPod.

    Join us on an adventure where we actually get to know what the f*ck Chewbacca is talking about for once! His partner and video game obsessed kid join him on Coruscant for a little family time, but they've barely gotten settled before some vitamin deficient mole people break into the Solos' apartment. The whole family heads to Coruscant's underworld to stop these undernourished Imperial saboteurs from wreaking havoc at the fancy diplomatic reception where Han will be unveiling a new hat.

    We'll be back next week with a whole new book...er, multimedia experience: Shadows of the Empire.
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    27 mins
  • Tatooine Ghost Ch. 21 - 25

    Tatooine Ghost Ch. 21 - 25
    Apr 3 2024
    It's the last set of chapters for Tatooine Ghost! Han Solo finally has a topic for his art history project and it's: "Why My Wife and Her Entire Culture Is Wrong and I Am Right: A Han Solo Thesis." In probably their most relatable moment to date, stormtroopers complain about nepotism (whew brother, wait 'til they learn the truth about the Skywalkers!). Leia Organa Solo has two minutes of talk therapy with her father's childhood best friend and it's just what she needs to decide she wants to get pregnant (that seems.....fine). And most importantly: Chewie is still really good at flying. Don't ever forget it.

    You can head to our Patreon for Chewie (and his nerdy, disobedient teenage son) next week when we cover the BONUS story in this book: A Forest Apart! https://www.patreon.com/DelusionsofGrandeurPod
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    1 hr and 9 mins
  • Tatooine Ghost Ch. 17-20

    Tatooine Ghost Ch. 17-20
    Mar 27 2024
    Our intrepid heroes finally catch up to the Jawas' sandcrawler only to discover a massive droids' rights violation (and a lot of dead Jawas), but no Kitster. Leia has to pause her grandma's diary to rescue Han from certain death (with a key assist from the Squibs). We find out what stormtrooper armor is actually good for (that sweet built in AC). Han is forced to confess he's still got feelings for Killik Twilight. Leia is forced to confess she's got those old Skywalker Force-feelings (ugh). And by the law of Skywalkers/plot devices, she's got a feeling they should head out to old Ben Kenobi's place.

    Plus, a very special announcement. We may be getting towards the end of this book, but we won't be leaving Tatooine anytime soon: the patrons have spoken with one voice, and our next book will be Shadows of the Empire!

    Want a say in future books? Head on over to our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/DelusionsofGrandeurPod
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    1 hr and 1 min