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Books Undone

Books Undone

By: Livia J. Elliot
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A literary analysis podcast, centred in speculative fiction.

Some books are more than a simple story. They hide timeless themes and allegories full of meaning that are always worth discussing—but doing so requires dedication and keen eye for details. Join Australia-based author Livia J. Elliot as she conducts literary and thematic analyses of speculative and literary fiction to find what lays beyond the plot, decipher their invisible meaning, and reflect on their symbolism. If you are a fan of fantasy or sci-fi books, new or old, traditional or self-published, this is the show for you!

Be mindful. Books Undone contains spoilers for the books discussed, which vary in each episode.

2023 Art Literary History & Criticism
Episodes
  • No Exit from Half-Life: Demiurges and Unanswered Questions in Ubik

    No Exit from Half-Life: Demiurges and Unanswered Questions in Ubik
    Nov 12 2025

    Joe, like Plato's escaped prisoner, is forced to confront a possibility that his world is not the 'real' one at all. In this podcast, I analyse Ubik's layered realities.

    Subscribe to my newsletter: https://liviajelliot.substack.com
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    54 mins
  • We Are Someone's Dream: Guests Talk on The Circular Ruins by Jorge Luis Borges

    We Are Someone's Dream: Guests Talk on The Circular Ruins by Jorge Luis Borges
    Oct 1 2025

    "The goal that led him on was not impossible, though it was clearly supernatural: he wanted to dream a man." This is the premise of another mind-blowing, reality-bending short-story by Jorge Luis Borges: The Circular Ruins.

    Join me in a Guests Talk with a dream cast of guests: Jarrod (from The Fantasy Thinker), Kris (from A Fictional Escapist), P.L. Stuart (author of A Drowned Kingdom Saga), Jose (from José's Fantasy Worlds), and Dr Philip Chase (author of The Edan Trilogy).

    Subscribe to my newsletter: https://liviajelliot.substack.com

    Books mentioned (in order):

    • "Gödel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid" by Douglas R. Hofstadter
    • "Stop Doing That Sh*t: End Self-Sabotage" by Gary John Biship
    • "A Drowned Kingdom" by P.L. Stuart
    • "The Way of Edan" by Phillip Chase

    Movies mentioned (in order):

    • "Inception" by Christopher Nolan
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    59 mins
  • When Books Offend Us: What Our Taste Reveals About Ourselves

    When Books Offend Us: What Our Taste Reveals About Ourselves
    Aug 27 2025

    We are slowly losing our ability to question ourselves—our likes, our preferences, our judgements on literature... and from there, we're one step away from no longer questioning why we hate something. After all, "What do you despise? By this are you truly known".

    This episode is actually a response to fellow BookTuber Britton from SomeOkieDude. Back in April (2025) he spoke about political commentary in fiction and made quite a compelling call of action: "[...] if there is a book or show that rubbed you the wrong way, I want you to sit back and think about why it did that. What was it about this piece of media that offended you so much?"

    Let's get this idea undone.

    Transcript & newsletter: https://liviajelliot.substack.com
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    20 mins
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