We are back with a book that dares to ask the question "What if being unemployed is worse than going to work?" as we start our series on Kurt Vonnegut's Player Piano! This book deals with an alternative version of America where human labor has been fully replaced with an automated world run by engineers and managers. It has a lot to say about labor, human dignity, how we find purpose, and much more! In this part we will be talking about the plot of the book, breaking it down in case you haven't read it or in case it has been a while since you read it. Then join us back next week for Part 2 where we will talk about the historical context of the book so it makes a little more sense!

Other stuff discussed this episode:

Good Material by Dolly Alderton

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Want to support our podcast and a local bookstore? Check out our page on Bookshop.org to pick up any book we cover on the show, or our personal favorites!

It's time to put on those headphones and drift away, because The Satire Fire is back with another edition of the Fire Mixtapes! In this episode we will be discussing the conceptual album Animals by the legendary Pink Floyd. This album adopts some of the imagery and symbolism of Animal Farm to tell a story of British dissatisfaction and rebellion in the 1970's. Strap in to hear our hosts take on the task of breaking down the music and lyrics of this album to tell you all about the satire it is using as well as how successful we think it is! Then be sure to join us again next week for the start of our series on Player Piano by Kurt Vonnegut.

Other stuff discussed this episode:

Heavy Metal by Cameron Winter

Beach Read by Emily Henry

A/B by Kaleo

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Want to support our podcast and a local bookstore? Check out our page on Bookshop.org to pick up any book we cover on the show, or our personal favorites!

We have reached the end of our series on George Orwell's Animal Farm which can only mean one thing; it's time to put the context and the plot together to see what this whole thing is about! In this week's episode we will be looking at how successfully this book is communicating its message, if that message is any good, and how relevant the message still is today. Is it actually possible to fit the entirety of the Russian Revolution in a book this small without losing something important? That's what we aim to find out! Then be sure to join us back next week for our interlude episode where we will discuss the album Animals by Pink Floyd!

Other stuff discussed this episode:

NW by Zadie Smith

Beach Read by Emily Henry

Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and Bluesky to stay up to date on upcoming episodes.

Want to support our podcast and a local bookstore? Check out our page on Bookshop.org to pick up any book we cover on the show, or our personal favorites!