In this episode we are talking about Excession by Iain M Banks - A sprawling sci-fi epic that explores a distant, post-scarcity future, where an interplanetary civilisation called The Culture faces the physics defying titular event the Excession.

Today we are delighted to welcome very special guest David Goodman - Author of The Reluctant Spy (winner of the debut awards at Bloody Scotland and Harrowgate Crime Festival) and his follow up Solitary Agents is out June 4th 2026.

Dave takes us through how Banks utilises paratext to flesh out the interactions between the multitude of godlike AI in this novel and why it is the best means of conveying a lot of information in short amount of time. While paratext is an important literary device, it also holds a deeply personal place in Dave's heart, as reading Excession as a teen revealed to him the power and possibilities of literature

We also chat about the merits of physical media, the evolution of British sci-fi, how Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy is the most influential British sci-fi, and how sometimes plot and character don't need to be the end goal of a novel. We also create our own Excession style spaceship/AI names and include a very confusing Blackberry Messenger text chat to the great novel ever written.

The Next episode of the Binge Reading Bookclub will be out on the 26th March featuring the novel The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow, with special guest Author L.R. Lam.

We are also watching The Chair Company for our brand new show 'Speed Binges' which will be coming out on the 12th March.

LINKS:

STET Podcast Network

Official Site

follow us on Bluesky

email us: contact@bingereadingbookclub.com

Introducing the brand new show - Speed Binges - where your roguish and lovable hosts Nicholas Binge and Hugo Powell will talk about a wide variety of their favorite media, from films to shows, books to albums, nothing is off limits.

For this first episode we read Extremity by our very own Nicholas Binge. A procedural crime drama turned Sci-fi thriller, Extremity explores the impact of late stage capitalism on mankind with uncanny mysteries and clever narrative devices. We decide which actors would best star in each role, whether authors set out to write works specifically to be adapted to TV or film, and answers once and for all what happens at the end of the story.

Join us again for the mainline Binge Reading Bookclub episode on the 26th February for Extremity by Ian M Banks with special guest David Goodman.

LINKS:

STET Podcast Network

Official Site

follow us on Bluesky

email us: contact@bingereadingbookclub.com

In this Episode of the Binge Reading Bookclub, Nicholas Binge and Hugo Powell discuss The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro. Rather than simply referring to the obviously well written 'unreliable narrator' that is Stephens, Nicholas breaks down how Ishiguro permeates the realities of cognitive dissonance into his character development. Nicholas also breaks down what impact this has on the reader, and what approach a budding author wishing to borrow from Ishiguro's works might go about it. Nick also tests Hugo's dignity in a one of a kind buzzfeed style quiz, flipping the usual quiz based interruptions of the show on their heads.

We also chat about upcoming changes to the show- First off, we are releasing 'Speed Binges' mini episodes where Hugo and Nick talk about the merits of other works of art from other mediums, be it music, TV, or Film. Starting out next month with Extremity by Nicholas Binge.

The Next episode of the Binge Reading Bookclub will be out on the 26th February featuring the Novel Excession by Ian M. Banks and special guest David Goodman.

LINKS:

STET Podcast Network

Official Site

follow us on Bluesky

email us: contact@bingereadingbookclub.com