The Vor Game, Chapters 6 and 7 with Sofia B

31 dec 2024 · The Great and Secret Knowledge

01:19:05

In this episode, Sofia B returns to talk about chapters 6 and 7 of Lois McMaster Bujold's science fiction masterpiece, The Vor Game, featuring our favorite young hero, Miles Vorkosigan!

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Extended Notes

its autumn in Vorbarr Sultana

earth import trees

"Miles glimpsed one such tree. An Earth maple, with carnelian leaves and a silver-gray trunk, across the street. Then the door closed. Miles held that tree before his mind’s eye, trying to memorize it, just in case he never saw it again."

hes taken upstairs in impsec to see the boss, Simon Illyan

Overhult is unsure about leaving Miles alone with Simon

Simon is unconcerned

Miles looks like absolute shit

Simon looks him over

it gives Miles some deja vu

this is an easter egg for those whove read the warriors apprentice

People fear Illyan, but a lot of that is the office

hes been in the job20 years

screwed up during the soltoxin attack

illyan is only afraid of Miles's mom

apparently because of "vivid first impressions"

impressions plural?

Miles used to call him Uncle Simon. now its sir

Simon looks utterly exhausted

"them. The facts appear to be mutating every forty minutes, like bacteria. I don’t suppose you could have picked some more public way to self-destruct? Attempted to assassinate the Emperor with your pocketknife during the Birthday Review, say, or raped a sheep in the Great Square during rush hour?”"

he doesnt understand how Miles could have betrayed his father like this

Miles doesnt think he really did

Count V and aide walk in

Miles is jealous of how brilliant respected tall and handsome Jole is (Vs aide)

"Jole was even worse than Ivan, who while darkly handsome had never been accused of brilliance."

Simon turns off recording equipment

his father hugs him - its quite touching

Miles explains the incident

CV is fiddling with a light pen

Miles is annoyed by this

CV must notice his reaction because he puts it away

this shows he is cognizant of his actions and doesnt want to annoy his subordinates (or his son)

what a contrast with Metzov

CV is furious that Metzov dragooned trainees for the firing squad

"General Metzov, by your account,” said Admiral Vorkosigan, “dragged a platoon of eighteen-year-olds into what came within a hair of being a mass torture-murder.”

Miles nodded in memory. His body still twinged with assorted agonies.

“For that sin, there is no hole deep enough to hide him from my wrath. Metzov will be taken care of, all right.”"

Miles explains that half the techs were Greekies

Illyan is stunned to see that Metzov had no concern for the fallout

Miles says he thought itd be a problem, but he wasnt conscious of it until after the fact

but that doesnt stop him from spinning

"It . . . occurred to me, that if I died with them, at least it would be crystal clear that it hadn’t been some plot of your government or the Vor oligarchy. So that if I lived, I won, and if I died, I won too. Or at least served. Strategy, of sorts.”"

Miles asks if he'll be charged with treason

Illyan says no, but mentions its the second time...

he plans to hide M until it blows over

Miles asks for mercy for the mutineers, since they were in it together

CV explains that if he lets them off, Miles's career will be ruined

"Miles exhaled, a long breath. “In a weird sense, they were my men. Do it. Kill the charges.”

“Will you resign your commission, then?” demanded Illyan. He looked sick.

Miles felt sick, nauseous and cold. “I will.”"

Illyan asks how Miles knew about Metzovs actions during the Komarr revolt

M explains that he and Ivan did it

hes annoyed that Ivan didnt tell Illyan

Miles is trippin so he sits down cross legged

his dad thinks about helping but doesnt

he recommends they fast-penta Ahn

Miles explains how he and Ivan did the research

CV almost laughs

"Airtight security, you said,” murmured Count Vorkosigan, unsuccessfully suppressing a wheezing laugh. “The most expensive yet devised. Proof against the cleverest viruses, the most sophisticated eavesdropping equipment. And two ensigns waft right through it?”

Goaded, Illyan snapped, “I didn’t promise it was idiot-proof!”"

Illyan is so over Miles's bullshit

"This, on top of your earlier escapade with those damned mercenaries, on top of it all—house arrest isn’t enough. I won’t sleep through the night till I have you locked in a cell with your hands tied behind your back.”"

CV proposes that Illyan bring Miles into ImpSec

Illyan realizes no one will have Miles but himself

"None that I could, in honor, lean on to take him. Excepting yourself. I have always”— Count Vorkosigan flashed a peculiar grin—“leaned on you, Simon.”"

they plan to hide him - true exile but not disgrace

"Security can use his talents. Security more than any other department needs his talents.”

“To see the obvious?”

“And the less obvious. Many officers may be trusted with the Emperor’s life. Rather fewer with his honor.”"

CV suggests Miles go to infirmary

he asks about Kyril Island

"The climate was ferocious, the terrain was lethal, a third of the population including my immediate superior was dead drunk most of the time. The average IQ equaled the mean temperature in degrees cee, there wasn’t a woman for five hundred kilometers in any direction, and the base commander was a homicidal psychotic. Other than that, it was lovely.”"

Miles is surprised to learn CV once commanded the base

"How’d you like it?”

“I can’t remember much. I was drunk most of the time. Everybody finds their own way of dealing with Camp Permafrost. I might say, you did rather better than I."

Miles has one more question

"Miles looked up at his father. “Did I do the right thing, sir? Last night?”

“Yes,” said the Count simply. “A right thing. Perhaps not the best of all possible right things. Three days from now you may think of a cleverer tactic, but you were the man on the ground at the time. I try not to second-guess my field commanders.”

Miles’s heart rose in his aching chest for the first time since he’d left Kyril Island. He nodded, satisfied."

Miles goes downstairs to infirmary

the surgeon seems awed by CV

Miles knows the real CV, the one who came home for lunch every day to spend quality time with his son

"Only Miles knew the interior view of those hours, how the big man in the green uniform would bolt a sandwich in five minutes and then spend the next hour and a half down on the floor with his son who could not walk, playing, talking, reading aloud."

when Miles didnt want to do PT, CV would spur him forward

"'You are Vor. You must not frighten your liege people with this show of uncontrol, Lord Miles.”"

M realizes that with CV in his life, no wonder he wasnt awed by Metzov

He's treated for five days in the infirmary then released

"Why can't I go home?" Miles complained to his mother on her next visit. "Nobody's telling me anything. If I'm not under arrest, why can't I take home leave? If I am under arrest, why aren't the doors locked? I feel like I'm in limbo."

"Countess Cordelia Vorkosigan vented an unladylike snort. "You are in limbo, kiddo."

we get a great description of Lady Vorkosigan

he thinks about how she was a captain on an astronomical survey, an explorer, brave

she moves through Barrayaran society with aplomb

"It was the casual fearlessness, Miles decided, that made his mother so unsettling."

Miles complains about not being let out.

Lady V explains the fallout

annoying bit of unnecessary exposition: "Think of it as a funny reservist." She would know this already

Metzov is getting booted by with no court martial.

Miles is still in limbo tho

the plan is for the Barrayaran militaristss to settle down before letting him out

"It all seems so unreal." He hunched back into his pillow. "I only wanted to serve."

She suggests that he could up Vorness and see the galaxy

he counters with why don't you do that?

"Ah." She smiled bleakly at the touche. "Some people's needs are more compelling than guns."

turns out the Count cant come see him to make it look like he's angry

unnecessary exposition: the thing about Aral's high hopes in Miles around his congenital injuries. clearly they both have talked about this already

"Miles sighed glumly. "I want something to do. I want my clothes back."

Ivan doesnt want Miles's limbo stuck on him (like a button on the episode)

Chapter 7

Miles is led to his protected witnesses apartment

he thinks about being a political nonperson

"Was it possible life in limbo was having a chameleon effect, rendering him translucent?"

he has all his stuff from Kyril Island

he looks around. ordinary stuff

there must be bugs all over

Miles didn't have any neighbors

he wanders around but gets gently directed back to his area

he thinks about rappeling down the outside

Miles gets enough food tokens for a month and shudders

He cleans all his stuff and gets dressed

he pretends he's in a cabin on a starship

Someone comes to his door

its a guard, scanning for whatnot

in comes a man, the emperor gregor vor barra

Miles gestures him to sit

asks if Emperor has bugs running

he says he asked for none but who knows with Illyan

Emperor has wine, the private reserve "elegant anesthesia"

Gregor cant stay too long, but they have time to pound a couple bottles

he references Cordelia's religion - what is it?

Mom put Gregor up to it, even provided the wine

calls it ambrosia

made me wish i could still drink wine

Miles thinks about growing up with Gregor, tho he was five years older than Miles Ivan and Elena

Gregor gives sympathy about Miles's military career

he complains about his dull service

he talks about their forebears, how active they were militarily

Miles says they were flung into situations

Mad Yuri killed most of CVs family

Gregors melancholy, Miles wonders if he's thinking about how bad his father was, or if he even knew the truth about Serg's evil

"Nobody who'd known Serg talked about him, Count Vorkosigan least of all. Miles had met one of Serg's victims. Miles hoped Gregor never would."

Miles asks about Gregor's birthday

Gregor says folks are all trying to get him to marry

Miles is like go for it dude, have a son and settle all this schemery

Gregors like you could be one of the schemers

Miles is like have you seen me? bro i look wack. get married have kids

Gregor ponders running away

Miles does not like where this is going

Gregor asks about the chinese emperor who swept up somewhere

Miles is like no dude youre Vor, you cant wander off

Miles tries to distract by playing tacti-go even though he doesn't want to

Gregor tries to beat Miles. Miles goes easy on him, but not too obviously. Gregors having fun

they drink more

"I don't think I've beaten you at this since you were fourteen," sighed Gregor, concealing secret satisfaction at the low point spread of that last round. "You should be an officer, dammit"

Miles explains that the game isnt analogous to real battle. Miles likes it for not being so chaotic

Gregors like wtf why did they send you there, mentions the time Miles commanded a space fleet

Miles is like chill dude thats a secret

also he didnt prove he could obey, only command

Gregor says he doesnt know why Illyan didnt do more with them

he likes that Miles brought them secretly into Barrayar's service

Miles thinks Illyan took the deal to keep them from working for Barrayar's enemies

explains their size and function

Miles sort of tells the story of sneaking in and tricking them all into serving him

he thinks about how wild it was

hes not fond of heights? how has this not come up

Gregor ass ghow Kyril Island compared to battle with the Dendarii?

"Oh, there were certain parallels," Miles admitted. "Both were jobs I wasn't trained for, both were potentially lethal, I got out of both by my skin - lost some skin. The Dendarii episode was....worse."

Miles should have put on tunes, the silence is oppressive

Miles asks Gregor to get him out

Gregor admits that he feels compelled to do what Illyan and Vorkosigan suggest he do

Illyan wants him kept out of sight so thats that

"How much time? Dammit, if I don't get something to do soon, I'm going to be the first case of human spontaneous combustion recorded on vid."

they still havent proven that that is a thing, hilarious

Miles is way drunk now, says they're treating him like a mascot

Gregor knocks over a stack of chips

"Being a mascot isn't bad work, if you can get it." He promises to talk to Illyan about it

Miles gets a job! He's administrative assistant to the guard commander for the building

he's there a month and so over it

he wonders if he'll get out before Winterfair

another month

he starts to watch every training vid in the library

gets halfway before being called to Illyan's office

There he meets his superior, Captain Ungari

specialist in military evaluation

Illyan surprises Miles to report any news on the Dendarii Mercenaries

he only got a bday message from Elena

Simon puts up a holodisplay of wormholes, tells Miles to evaluate the scenario

Miles proves he's got the goods to analyze the data and complete an assessment

this also introduces us to the locations the story will be taking us, a bit of table setting

that ends in a reminder of whats up with Cetaganda

Simon explains their focus

"Wormhole strategy. The devil’s cat’s cradle,” Illyan muttered editorially. He squinted at his glowing schematic. “Four players, one game-board. It ought to be simple. . . ."

theres an arms race developing in the Hegen Hub, planetary governments hiring mercs and building armed jump stations and the like

the Dendarii have been contracted by Aslund to cover while they build a station

we learn that the Dendarii have changed their name back to the Osserin Fleet

Vervain hired someone called Randall's Rangers

Illyan moves on to Cetaganda

he suggests that Pol might react badly to learning Barrayar and the Dendarii have a link

they might turn to Cetaganda

Illyan wants information

"Illyan, generally, wanted information with the same passion that a strung-out juba freak craved a spike. He turned now to Ungari. “So what do you think, Captain? Will he do?”"

"He’s more physically conspicuous than I’d realized.”

“As camouflage, that’s not necessarily a disadvantage. In his company you ought to be nearly invisible. The stalking goat and the hunter.”"

turns out CV thinks they should send Miles out to ascertain info on the Dendarii and the situation in general

asks if Miles could be Naismith again

"To activate that suppressed persona again . . . It wasn’t just a part, Illyan. “I could play Naismith again, sure. It’s stopping playing Naismith that scares me.”"

Miles is freaking out inside but keeping cool

Illyan sends him out to be on hand if they need him to take control of the Dendarii

money to bribe them away from the Hub

Hell be Naismith, keeping it cool

"You will, of course, obey Captain Ungari’s orders. That goes without saying.” Illyan’s direct stare was chill as a Kyril Island midnight.

Miles smiled dutifully, to show he took the hint. I’ll be good, sir—let me off-planet! From ghost to goat—was this a promotion."

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Links

Severance

Silo

Star Trek

Capitol City in Foundation (Trantor)

Mormons in space

Ned Stark

The Warrior's Apprentice

Plum wine

Star Trek: Picard

Spoil Me

S.M. Stirling (Historical Time Travel)

Eric Flint

episode where Davros wants to know how the Daleks failed

Back to the Future

The Doctor who burns down London and Rome

Loki
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The Amulet of Samarkand, Chapters 15-19 with James Lark
23 feb· The Great and Secret Knowledge
In this one, James Lark returns to discuss Chapters 15 thru 19 of The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud. In these chapters, Bartimaeus gets in over his head. Nathaniel feels trapped.

Please join our Discord server and get to know the fam!

https://discord.gg/vtJnpkhd

Possible Show Titles

It's a Mid Bridge

An Amorous Pidgeon

Lark's Tongue

Mango Chutney Territory

Vegetable Teacher

One of the Good Ones

Jeff's podcasts

Shattered Worlds RPG

Everything is Awesome with Jeff and ?

Omniversal Escapades (Jeff’s livestreaming RPG show)

James Lark (composer, podcaster) wrote the theme song for the show Licensed for show use, copyright 2024

Here’s James website for all his activities:

jameslark.co.uk

Social Media

Jeff Richardson

@eljefetacoma on Facebook, Bluesky, Instagram, and Mastodon

James Lark

@worksoflark on Instagram and @jameslark on Twitter

Recommendations

The Substance

Who Back When: A Doctor Who Podcast

Adam Richard Has a Theory

Severance

Anti-Recommendation

Section 31

Links

Doctor Who

"Joy to the World"

Michaelmas

Autumn or Fall?

Sword of Damocles

Luke Skywalker

Steve Martin

Only Murders in the Building

Who's Who

Guiness World Records

Wisden's Cricketer's Almanack

World Book Encyclopedia

The State of the Union

State Opening of Parliament

Blackfriars Bridge

Tasmanian Devil

Larks' tongues

Picadilly Circus

Jermyn Street

Duke Street

Fortnum and Mason

Harrods

Gummi Bears

Nefertiti

A Tale of Two Cities

Boston Tea Party

Boston Massacre

Autons

Mondasian cybermen

Odo from Deep Space 9

Nutella

Tim Burton dresses

Samarkand

Cocaine in Parliament report

Beer Hall Putsch

Bean Dad

The Fly

Malcolm Hulke

"The Doctor's Daughter"

"Planet of the Daleks"

Russel T Davies

David Tennant
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Dispatch from Gallifrey One
22 feb· The Great and Secret Knowledge
In this one, Jeff goes to the Doctor Who convention, Gallifrey One in Los Angeles, California!

Jeff's podcasts

Shattered Worlds RPG

Everything is Awesome with Jeff and ?

Omniversal Escapades (Jeff’s livestreaming RPG show)

James Lark (composer, podcaster) wrote the theme song for the show Licensed for show use, copyright 2024

Here’s James website for all his activities:

jameslark.co.uk

Social Media

Jeff Richardson

@eljefetacoma on Facebook, Bluesky, Instagram, and Mastodon
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In the Mouth of Madness with Jayme Antrim
19 feb· The Great and Secret Knowledge
In this episode, Jayme returns to discuss John Carpenter's In the Mouth of Madness starring Sam Neill.

Please join our Discord server and get to know the fam!

https://discord.gg/vtJnpkhd

Possible Show Titles

Jayme 2

Double Dream

Just Be a Quatto

Evil Cathedral

My Heebies are Jeebed Enough!

The Death of the Author

Swings Down the Ass

Jeff's podcasts

Shattered Worlds RPG

Everything is Awesome with Jeff and ?

Omniversal Escapades (Jeff’s livestreaming RPG show)

James Lark (composer, podcaster) wrote the theme song for the show Licensed for show use, copyright 2024

Here’s James website for all his activities:

jameslark.co.uk

Recommendations

The Thing

They Live

Needful Things

Legend of the Condor Heroes

Social Media

Jeff Richardson

@eljefetacoma on Facebook, Bluesky, Instagram, and Mastodon

Jayme Antrim

Brandoff Offbrand on Facebook

inks

The Mangler

Jurassic Park

Omen 3: The Final Conflict

James Bond

Stephen King

Cast a Deadly Spell

Angelheart

Call of Cthulhu

The Apocalypse Trilogy

Prince of Darkness

Wing Commander

House of the Dead (film)

Dreamcast

Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me

The Seventh Sign

Beverly Hills Cop 2

Demi Moore

Dune (Lynch)

Das Boot

Scrooged

Payback

Gremlins 2: The New Batch

The Carpenters

The Addams Family

The Lawnmower Man

Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare

H.P. Lovecraft

Halloween

The Sixth Sense

An American Werewolf in Paris

The Ring

Michael Wayland

Event Horizon

Happy Gilmore

https://ghostbusters.fandom.com/wiki/Vigo

Clippy

Voldemort

that guy named Quill?

Entertainment Tonight

Kuato

Will Ferrell Emma Thompson movie

Germ theory

Dan Harmon

Rick and Morty

The Hollow Earth Theory

The Dark Tower

Large Marge

Mystery Science Theater 3000

The Robot Monster

9:17

Ridiculously Photogenic Jogger

Canadian bus attack

Evil Dead 2

Army of Darkness

Friday the 13th

Banshee Chapter

Lord of Illusions

House of Leaves

Southern Reach Series

Akira

Fallout

Semiosis

Conan

Warlord

Big Trouble in Little China

Daniel York Loh on Everything is Awesome

Enter the Dragon

Sesame Street
- Luisteren Nogmaals beluisteren Doorgaan Wordt afgespeeld...
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The Vor Game, Chapters 12 and 13 with Sofia B
11 feb· The Great and Secret Knowledge
In these chapters, Miles and Gregor meet some very dangerous people. Jeff and Sofia have a ton of tangents but it sure ain't cuz these chapters are boring! Is this our longest ep to date?

Possible Show Titles

I Forbid It

Tonguewrangler

Two Separate Hats

Jeff's podcasts

Shattered Worlds RPG

Everything is Awesome with Jeff and ?

Omniversal Escapades (Jeff’s livestreaming RPG show)

James Lark (composer, podcaster) wrote the theme song for the show Licensed for show use, copyright 2024

Here’s James website for all his activities:

jameslark.co.uk

Recommendations

The Peace War

A Lot Like Christmas

Unspoiled!

Spoil Me

Social Media

Jeff Richardson

@eljefetacoma on Facebook, Bluesky, Instagram, and Mastodon

Links

Deism

Culture Series

Garfield alarm clock

Em Dash

Red Rising Saga

Artemis Fowl

The Prisoner's Dilemma

Patton

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18423.The_Left_Hand_of_Darkness

Murderbot

Ann Leckie

Neopronouns

A Song of Ice and Fire

Batman Returns

Game of Thrones

James Bond

Ethan of Athos

Ghost Story

Deep Blue Sea

The Stand

A Deepness in the Sky

Connie Willis

Bellwether

Blackout/All Clear

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo

Mistborn

The Lost Metal

Lucid City

R'lyehwatch
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DeForest Kelley: Up Close and Personal with Author Kris M Smith
5 feb· The Great and Secret Knowledge
In this episode, Jeff is joined by author Kris M Smith to discuss his book, DeForest Kelley: Up Close and Personal. The conversation ranges far and wide from topics as diverse as animal rights, transgender issues, caring for terminal loved ones, and Star Trek's beloved Dr McCoy, DeForest Kelley!

Contact Info for Kris M Smith

KrisMSmith in Tacoma on Facebook

email: [email protected]

Jeff's podcasts

Shattered Worlds RPG

Everything is Awesome with Jeff and ?

Omniversal Escapades (Jeff’s livestreaming RPG show)

James Lark (composer, podcaster) wrote the theme song for the show Licensed for show use, copyright 2024

Here’s James website for all his activities:

jameslark.co.uk

Possible Show Titles

Literally Shakin' in My Boots

The Warriors and the Peacemakers

A Ritual of Love

A Total Earthling on the Enterprise

A Fan's Fantasy

The Reel McCoy

The Best Boss I Ever Had

Recommendations

Lakewood Playhouse

Robert Reich

Inequality Media

Heather Cox-Richardson

King's Books in Tacoma

Bookshop.org

Libro.fm

Links

Roy Rogers

Star Trek: The Motion Picture

Dave Barry

Asimov

James Blish

Brad Barry

Ursula K LeGuin

Lucy and Desi

Dick Van Dyke

the salt monster

the horta

Harlan Ellison

City on the Edge of Forever

Star Trek: The Next Generation

Gene Roddenberry

Wagon Train

Joseph Campbell

Yaysayers and Good Guides

Leon Uris

James Michener

The Waltons

Star Trek: Discovery

African serval

DeForest Kelley: Up Close and Personal

the one where the shuttle is underpowered

From Sawdust to Stardust

TOS: "The Empath"

TOS: "City on the Edge of Forever"

TOS: "For the World is Hollow and I Have Touched the Sky"

TOS: "Bread and Circuses"

Apache Uprising

The Law and Jake Wade

Warlock

The Virginian: "Man of Violence"

Bonanza: "The Honor of Cochise"

"The Decision"

Star Trek: TNG "Encounter at Farpoint"

TOS: "The Mantrap"

John Hoyt

Midday Colorado (tv show?)

Paul Winfield

TV Guide

Gunfight at the OK Corral

Hollywood Walk of Fame

A.C. Lyles

Ron Hawk

Lorraine Day

Raintree County

Lee Marvin

Clark Gable

Elizabeth Taylor

2:00:00 - trans talk

Intersex

Womb Man

Gender Justice League

Rainbow Center in Tacoma

The Actor's Prayer

Leonard Nimoy

George Takei

Kelley Phone Tag

The Enduring Legacy of DeForest Kelley

Ted Trail's Apetalk and Whalespeak

Animal Protection Institute

Lakewood Playhouse

Robert Reich

Inequality Media

Heather Cox-Richardson

The Diary of Anne Frank

The Miracle

Fiddler on the Roof
- Luisteren Nogmaals beluisteren Doorgaan Wordt afgespeeld...
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Lower Decks, Season 1, Episode 3 "Temporal Edict" with the Duras Sisters Podcast
27 jan· The Great and Secret Knowledge
Dave and Jeff welcome Rhianna and Ashlyn of The Duras Sisters Podcast to discuss Season 1, Episode 3 of Star Trek: Lower Decks. It's called Temporal Edict and it's a blast! We have a long and fruitful discussion that ranges from the Prime Directive to Mistborn and everything between!

Favorite References

Everyone: Chief Miles Edward O’Brien

Possible Show Titles

Podcasting!

I'm Not Bragging, I'm Just Musing

Please join our Discord server and get to know the whole podcasting family!

https://discord.gg/vtJnpkhd

Jeff's podcasts

Shattered Worlds RPG

Everything is Awesome with Jeff and ?

Omniversal Escapades (Jeff’s livestreaming RPG show)

James Lark (composer, podcaster) wrote the theme song for the show Licensed for show use, copyright 2024

Here’s James website for all his activities:

jameslark.co.uk

Recommendations

Brandon Sanderson's Cosmere

Wind and Truth

The Message by Ta-Nehisi Coates

Starship Tempest

Star Trek Adventures

DeForest Kelley: Up Close and Personal

Social Media

Jeff Richardson

@eljefetacoma on Facebook, Bluesky, Instagram, and Mastodon

The Duras Sisters Podcast

@thedurassisterspodcast on Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky

Links

Prime Directive

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

Star Trek: The Original Series

Star Trek: Voyager

The Greatest Generation

How I Met Your Mother

DeForest Kelley

The Grinder

Star Trek: Prodigy

The Venture Bros.

Firefly

Quantum Leap (2022)

Piranesi

Susanna Clarke

Doctor Strange & Mr Norrell

The Thing

The Thing (2011)

The Thing boardgame

The Thing video game

Who Goes There?

Parks and Recreation

Memory Alpha

Tasha Yar's sister

Section 31

Traitors

Star Trek: Discovery

Shattered Worlds RPG

The Office

The Twilight Zone

M*A*S*H

Andy Griffith

The Silence of the Lambs

Sherlock Holmes

Star Trek: Shattered Universe

Young Han Solo

Harrison Ford

Percy Jackson

Young James Bond

Doctor Who

Akira

Star Trek: The Motion Picture

Star Trek (2009)

Ghost in the Shell

Battle Angel Alita

Dropout: Dirty Laundry with Lower Decks cast

Star Trek: The Next Generation

TNG "The Host"

TERFs

Irish Unification in 2024

The Boys

Master of None

Mission: Chicago

Rick & Morty

The Lion King

TNG "Redemption, Part 1 and 2"

Star Trek "Relics"

The Boondock Saints

Star Trek "The Trouble With Tribbles"

Star Trek: Voyager "Remember"

Star Trek: Discovery "Kobayashi Maru"

Star Trek Beyond

Doctor Who "Frontier in Space"

Star Trek: The Next Generation "Sub Rosa"

Mistborn

The Lost Metal

From Sawdust to Stardust

Star Trek "Spectre of the Gun" and "Shore Leave"

Everything is Awesome Podcast

Gallifrey One

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds
- Luisteren Nogmaals beluisteren Doorgaan Wordt afgespeeld...
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The Vor Game, Chapters 10 and 11 with Sofia B
26 jan· The Great and Secret Knowledge
In this episode, Sofia B returns to talk about chapters 10 and 11 of Lois McMaster Bujold's science fiction masterpiece, The Vor Game, featuring our favorite young hero, Miles Vorkosigan!

Possible Show Titles

Maximum Friction

Tongue-Slashing Gloves

Bahbla

Jeff's podcasts

Shattered Worlds RPG

Everything is Awesome with Jeff and ?

Omniversal Escapades (Jeff’s livestreaming RPG show)

James Lark (composer, podcaster) wrote the theme song for the show Licensed for show use, copyright 2024

Here’s James website for all his activities:

jameslark.co.uk

Recommendations

City of Girls

What We Do in the Shadows

Who Back When: A Doctor Who Podcast

Social Media

Jeff Richardson

@eljefetacoma on Facebook, Bluesky, Instagram, and Mastadon

Links

Halliburton electrocutions in Iraq

Jeff Bezos's penis rocket

The Dollop episode about the hydroplane guy

Altered Carbon

Top Secret

Airplane!

The Simpsons

can you talk without a tongue?

Flowbee

A Song of Ice and Fire

Game of Thrones
- Luisteren Nogmaals beluisteren Doorgaan Wordt afgespeeld...
- Later beluisteren Later beluisteren
The Vor Game, Chapters 8 and 9 with Sofia B
26 jan· The Great and Secret Knowledge
In this episode, Sofia B returns to talk about chapters 8 and 9 of Lois McMaster Bujold's science fiction masterpiece, The Vor Game, featuring our favorite young hero, Miles Vorkosigan!

Possible Show Titles

Ghost Narrator

Jeff's podcasts

Shattered Worlds RPG

Everything is Awesome with Jeff and ?

Omniversal Escapades (Jeff’s livestreaming RPG show)

James Lark (composer, podcaster) wrote the theme song for the show Licensed for show use, copyright 2024

Here’s James website for all his activities:

jameslark.co.uk

Recommendations

The Bean Trees

Star Trek: Lower Decks

Links

Star Trek

The Dresden Files

James Bond

Altered Carbon
- Luisteren Nogmaals beluisteren Doorgaan Wordt afgespeeld...
- Later beluisteren Later beluisteren
Interview with Legendary Author Lois McMaster Bujold, Part Two
15 jan· The Great and Secret Knowledge
Here's part two of our wide-ranging discussion with Lois McMaster Bujold, author of the Vorkosigan Saga and the Five Gods series!

Possible show titles

Emo Gregor

Recommendations

The Untamed

Xianxia

Hotel Del Luna

Mushi-Shi

A Hero Born

Fallout (TV show)

The Doctor's Watcher podcast

Classic Doctor Who on Britbox

Jeff's podcasts

Shattered Worlds RPG

Everything is Awesome with Jeff and ?

Omniversal Escapades (Jeff’s livestreaming RPG show)

James Lark (composer, podcaster) wrote the theme song for the show Licensed for show use, copyright 2024

Here’s James website for all his activities:

jameslark.co.uk

Links

Hiroshima and Nagisaki

polygraph tester who used his system on plants

Doctor Who episode: "The Giggle"

Poul Anderson

Fred Pohl

Harlan Ellison

Jo Walton

Among Others

Sylvia Kelso

SIFF/Nebula

Mary Robinette Kowal

The Calculating Stars

Shades of Milk and Honey

Sorcery and Cecilia: or The Enchanted Cooking Pot

Caroline Stevermer

Death of the Author

Bujold's Goodreads blog

Stephen King vs The Shining

Soleil's The Warrior's Apprentice

Vorkosigan Saga GURPS Sourcebook

Steve Jackson Games

Car Wars

Illuminati: The Game of Conspiracy

Sherlock Holmes

Horatio Hornblower

Lord of the Rings

James H Schmitz - Telzey Amberdon

Cordwainer Smith - worlds of the Instrumentality

CJ Cherryh

Gate of Ivrel

The Dark Tower

The Rise of Skywalker

Diplomatic Immunity

Captain Vorpatril's Alliance

Gentleman Jole and the Red Queen

uterine replicators

Brave New World

Japanese guy busted for hiring multiple surrogate mothers

Swedish childrens' rights to access their biological parents

Isaac Asimov

the Amazon island trope

bioweapons

the Haut (pronounced hawt)
- Luisteren Nogmaals beluisteren Doorgaan Wordt afgespeeld...
- Later beluisteren Later beluisteren
An Interview with Legendary SF Author Lois McMaster Bujold, Part One
15 jan· The Great and Secret Knowledge
Legendary SF author, Lois McMaster Bujold, joins Sofia and Jeff to cover all manner of fascinating subjects, including the Vorkosigan Saga and the Five Gods series. You won't be disappointed! Stay tuned for Part 2!

Jeff's podcasts

Shattered Worlds RPG

Everything is Awesome with Jeff and ?

Omniversal Escapades (Jeff’s livestreaming RPG show)

James Lark (composer, podcaster) wrote the theme song for the show Licensed for show use, copyright 2024

Here’s James website for all his activities:

jameslark.co.uk

Possible show titles

Emo Gregor

Links

The Wonderful Flight to the Mushroom Planet

Robert Heinlein juveniles

Star Trek

Forbidden Planet

The Vor Game

The Greatest Generation

Doctor Who

The Incomparable

Shards of Honor

The Warrior's Apprentice

tight third-person

Pat Wrede "writers get different things for free"

carbon copies

Alexandre Dumas

Ethan of Athos

Lillian Stewart Carl

Dreamweaver's Dilemma

Proto Zoa

Coleco Adam

Worldcon

Betsy Mitchell

Baen Books

Patrick Nielsen Hayden

Analog Magazine

Hugo Awards

The Whole Man

The Ship Who Sang

Falling Free

Barrayar

Borders of Infinity

Brothers in Arms

Toni Weisskopf

On Strategy: The Vietnam War in Context

Roman story about Christian martyrs frozen on a lake

Ender's Game

Prisoner's Dilemma

Ron Miller

Spockinalia

John Ayotte

in medias res
- Luisteren Nogmaals beluisteren Doorgaan Wordt afgespeeld...
- Later beluisteren Later beluisteren
The Amulet of Samarkand, Chapters 11-14 with James Lark
6 jan· The Great and Secret Knowledge
In this episode, James Lark returns to discuss chapters 11 thru 14 of Jonathan Stroud's fantasy masterpiece, The Amulet of Samarkand. In these chapters, we discuss Peter Rabbit, Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle, being handcuffed to your enemy, the election of popes, and more!

Please join our Discord server and get to know the fam!

https://discord.gg/vtJnpkhd

Recommendations

Conclave (2024)

Blue Velvet

Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency (2016)

Citadel Diana

Possible Show Titles

A Noble Entity From Another Place

Unwillingly Entwined

Suppress the Fanboy

Obscene and Fetid and Fug

Jeff's podcasts

Shattered Worlds RPG

Everything is Awesome with Jeff and ?

Omniversal Escapades (Jeff’s livestreaming RPG show)

James's podcast

Neurotic Literature

James Lark (composer, podcaster) wrote the theme song for the show Licensed for show use, copyright 2024

Here’s James website for all his activities:

jameslark.co.uk

Social Media

Jeff Richardson

@eljefetacoma on Facebook, Twitter, Bluesky, Instagram, and Mastadon

James Lark

@worksoflark on Instagram and @jameslark on Twitter

Links

"Resurrection of the Daleks" - Doctor Who

Joe Ford, podcaster extraordinaire

genius loci from Dresden Files

Mills and Boone romance novels

American Psycho

the real Gladstone and Disraeli

Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle

Nicholas Nickleby

The Jungle by Upton Sinclair

Hugo

The Avengers

Lois McMaster Bujold

Strictly Come Hamster

Gary Russell

election of a pope

Isabella Rossellini

Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency (2016)

Peter Rabbit

Watership Down

Dirk Gently (2010)

Sherlock

Douglas Adams

Life, the Universe and Everything

Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

Doctor Who (TV movie)

"Web of Fear" - Doctor Who

Extended Notes

Chapter 11

B is impressed that N is framing his master

N denies it

B explains how unusual it is to target your own master, especially so early in your education

B explains how apprenticeship is meant to work

"Since the days of the Median Magi, students have always lived alone in their mentors’ house—one master to one pupil, conducting their lessons with secrecy and stealth. From ziggurat to pyramid, from sacred oak to skyscraper, thousands of years pass and things don’t change."

B likes that the kid is so ambitious, willing to get his master killed

B hadnt heard of Underwood so he figured he was a lowlevel nobody. This suggests that B has been summoned in the past few decades (unless wizards have extra long lifespans)

"he had all the time-honored attributes that other humans associate with great and powerful magic: a mane of unkempt hair the color of tobacco ash, a long whitish beard that jutted outward like the prow of a ship, and a pair of particularly bristly eyebrows."

Martha is fully dressed and B is relieved. He must not like female nudity - that or hes not into older women

Underwood complains about the spider (B) to Martha

B goes to study, sees a pentacle on the door

B puts on a shield

the amulet sucks up the fire from the trap

he slips in and sees the study

he remarks that the security is pretty weak

he goes into the cabinet and is underwhelmed by the objects inside

he slides the amulet behind a bird token

B goes up stairs but stops when he sees Mrs U leading N down

N knows hes screwed because B is supposed to quietly stick near to him until summoned

U is so rude to N and his wife

B hears Nathaniels name!

B studies the boys appearance and manner

B capers to attract Ns attention

Underwood complains about the PM hanging with Makepeace, who writes misonformation into his plays

he thinks the PM should help the interior dept instead of socializing

U says N has done well enough to perform his first summoning

U thinks the boy is scared of summoning but its actually cuz N is tripping about B hearing his real name

the plan is to summon a natterjack impling or a mouler. B is unimpressed

Ns contact lenses have arrived

N hears a noise at the door

U disregards it

he wants N to bring a book of names

N clearly can tell B got his name

The boots were on the other eight feet now

Chapter 12

He complains about U not teaching him enough

he says how hes read all these books

N says its peaceful and he likes the statue. Who is it?

Its Gladstone!

he was a powerful PM

fought duel with Disraeli over a woman

he gets shirty about it and starts ranting about how good the govt is

she explains that some countries dont need magicians

he says she doesnt know anything because shes a commoner

she says commoners can be smart

he asks if she wanted to be a wizard

she says no and shes happy to be an art teacher

N is surprised she has other pupils

it makes me feel queasy

Mrs U blows in frantic

Apparently U wants him to meet some guests

Miss L thinks this is good news

U is daunted by the thought of meeting all these magicians

they dont look like magicians

N is underwhelmed

U is schmoozing

when he sees N he waves him over

meets three wizards

old tomato face

clammy doughboy

slickback big teeth aka simon lovelace

doughboy has a question

big teeth is super rude

N contradicts one of them

U sends him away

BT observes that hes not afraid of his elders

perhaps you dont think we're your betters?

N doesnt answer cuz hes confused

BT demands a quiz from N

U isnt protecting him at all

N answers all the questions right

Simon asks him about six words of direction

U objects because he shouldnt know that yet

N does it

men are impressed

SL says some rude shit and N claps back

calls him a sore loser

SL has demons attack the boy

everyone is staring at N

he looks to U who is mad at him instead of SL?

he leaves and goes upstairs

he runs into Mrs U

he asks her who the bigteeth guy is

she says its Simon Lovelace

repetition of You're capable of nothing. You're helpless. You're too weak to fight back

does James ever use this technique?

he goes to the workroom and grabs the box of mites

the party is breaking up, with wizards at the door.

N says the words and smashes the box with a hammer

the six mites go for the magicians

Simon bats his away

dough face falls down outside and gets a couple attacking his skin

old man barely reacts, sending his into the carpet, where Simon smashes it with his foot

U is shocked. He goes to doughface and deactivates the mites

N rushes to the schoolroom

Ms Lutyens is there

she realizes N is upset and goes to comfort him

SL uses magic to lift N into the air, tips him up butt first, and spanks him repeatedly until he loses all sense

hes stuck in his room for a month, punished severely. he hd no lessons and could only sit in his room and look out the window

he finds a pen and starts sketching the outside. then he begins intricately plotting his revenge

did you plot anything at age 10? seems unusual

Mrs U is forbidden from talking to him

when school starts again he learns that Ms Lutyens has been fired

chapter 13

he spends a lot of time in the garden, plotting revenge or reading books

he looks to the statue of Gladstone for inspiration, to keep his determination up

he plans to emulate Gladstone by punishing his enemies

N decides to come at Lovelace with sneakiness and trickery, not head on

N pretends to be reformed, wearing a meek and pliant mask

he controls his face just like a master liar/sociopath

he doesnt see U as his master anymore

Underwood not defending him made N lose all respect. A master should treat an apprentice like their child

why didnt U protect him? because hes a coward afraid of Lovelace's power

did you ever have a situation like that?

sacking Ms Lutyens was among U's worst crimes

N could not forgive U for this

Mrs U was his only light, but he couldnt be totally honest with her

he doesnt have his own lenses yet so he used the masters to summon an imp

he makes a polished bronze disc

he waits until the Us leave for a trip

he makes a circle and uses a bowl of rowan wood and hazel

he steps into his circle and begins

he starts his incantation and wishes he had some water

once you start you cant safely stop

a naked baby with yellow eyes and red lips appears

N confines it into the disc

N can now spy all over the place. he keeps the disc hidden under the roof tiles

first he spies on his masters office, but gives up after seeing how boring it is

he spies on Ms Lutyens and her pupil

N orders imp to spy on Lovelace. it balks at this given how powerful S is

this job its not impossible, just difficult

he sees SL typing on a computer

imp is getting bored, N orders him to stay

he says a word that causes the imp pain

he cant get too near in case Lovelaces defenses twig

this brings us to the introduction of the scary huge beardo

L is startled by the mans appearance, suggesting that the guy bypassed all his security. how does he do that?

L whips out a bunch of cash

Imp warns him that a watcher is on its way

N tells him to stay until the last second

L reaches out for his prize

Big Beardo gives him a small parcel, which he frantically unwraps

imp dips out but before he does N sees the amulet

hes being annoying but N demands to know what he saw and heard

L was super eager

Big Beardo says "the Amulet of Samarkand is yours, Lovelace."

six months pass while he prepares his plan. the imp cant get that close again

U is still slowrolling him, thinking hes too dull to teach new things

chapter 14

Bartimaeus decides to manifest as a human next time hes summoned

he decides to look like Ptolemy, a fourteen year old Egyptian boy. he thought it would inspire the boys jealousy and rivalry

B is stoked cuz he has a handle on the kid now

N goes to his circle

B appears in London gear

N tries to order B

Bs like give over, kid

N is losing his cool

Nathaniel goes for the Systemic Vise

Bartimaeus intones Nathaniel's name, followed by a counter-spell

the kid cancels the spell before it can rebound on him

Bartimaeus keeps flippin shit

B says he'll go back to his bag of tricks

the kid busts out the Stimulating Compass

B launches this one back and nearly kills the kid a second time

Bartimaeus is like careful your master will come up to see what youre doing

N isnt worried

he realizes that B learned his name and thats how he could counterspell

(but didnt he already show that he was anxious about it in the scene with the master about getting his name?)

N gets mad when B talks like a teen

he starts to get into a fighting stance, B follows his lead

Ptolemy was very similar in look to Nathaniel, though much better looking (I'm wondering if Bartimaeus's love for him is sexual as well as filial)

N ponders how he can break Bartimaeus without being countered

B hopes that he can exhaust the boy by making him angry

B finds out that N isnt working for anyone else, he's doing it on his own

B tells him some girl tried to take the amulet

N is intrigued, but charges on

he tells B about big beardo

about how he was covered in blood

he thinks Lovelace is up to some bad business

N starts to give B new orders but B explains how he has no leverage

he tells N that he could spill Ns name to friends and enemies

N decides to pull that move where you send multiple copies of the blackmail info to your attorney to be mailed to the media in the event of your death

it works!

B gives in and agrees to continue working
- Luisteren Nogmaals beluisteren Doorgaan Wordt afgespeeld...
- Later beluisteren Later beluisteren
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