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Welcome to the Mercy of Pods, a podcast that is normally about The Captive's War by James S.A. Corey, but today we are covering Drive, the very first chronological novella in the Expanse series, also by James S.A. Corey. This episode is spoilers for the entire Expansiverse!

In this episode:

• We meet Solomon Epstein and Caitlin Esquivel, a pair of star-crossed lovers just trying to make it in this crazy world (of Mars).
• Your hosts discuss the Constitutional Moment that the story finds Mars in, not quite ready for independence but too far gone to be reigned in.
• Clint gets to talk about salutary neglect and how big of a dork Voltaire is, while dispensing necessary fashion advice.
• Brigid wonders if Caitlin is in the Heritage Foundation, and also manages to succeed despite the inherent disability of having a liberal arts degree.
• We talk about the essential irony of being killed by your own creation, something that no story in literature has ever explored.
• Drive is compared to the story of Moses in the bible, and your hosts reflect on legacy while facing imminent death.
• We discuss the timeloop story structure and what it can tell us about the Expanse, The Captive's War, and Livesuit in particular.

Join us next time when we cover the last prequel Expanse Novella, THE BUTCHER OF ANDERSON STATION. Follow the Mercy of Pods on social media at themercyofpods, or email us at themercyofpods@gmail.com. Logo by Matt Howse. Music is Push The Button by Sid Luscious and the Pants.

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Welcome to the Mercy of Pods, a podcast that is normally about The Captive's War by James S.A. Corey, but today we are covering Auberon, a novella in the Expanse series, also by James S.A. Corey. This episode is spoilers for the entire Expansiverse!

In this episode:

• We meet everyone's favorite fascists, Biryar and Mona Rittenour, and cover what hijinks ensue when they try to rule over the unruliest planet in the gate network.
• Your hosts pose the question that everyone else is afraid to ask: WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON WITH LACONIAN BASKETBALL???
• Brigid talks themes and symbols, such as fig trees, grass, light and dark, and big reporter naturals.
• Clint gets way too personal about what Erich's final speech means to him, and makes the case for Erich as the Greatest Hero in Science Fiction.
• There is a far ranging discussion about the least subtle metaphor in literature: the fact that the air on Auberon smells like poop.
• Mona Rittenour and Veronica Deetz are compared with their counterparts from The Captive's War, Tonner and Rickar.
• We talk about the story's messages of choice, the power of impurity, and moral flexibility.
• The podcast checks in with Jacob Mundell, who rules and should be in more things.

Join us next time when we cover the very first and fastest story in the Expanse universe, DRIVE. Follow the Mercy of Pods on social media at themercyofpods, or email us at themercyofpods@gmail.com. Logo by Matt Howse. Music is Push The Button by Sid Luscious and the Pants.

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In this TMOP Minisode, Brigid, Clint & special guest Steph discuss the seismic recent news related to The Captive's War series by James S.A. Corey.

In this minisode:

• We cover the recent revision to Livesuit which erases the Mina/Mira split from the written canon. RIP Mira, we hardly knew ye.
• Your hosts shake their collective fist at JSAC and/or their editors for messing with the podcast's theories and requiring us to update the Livesuit timeline.
• The extremely metal title of the next book is revealed (YAY!) and the estimated release date in 2026 is set (boo.)
• Steph declares her love for Llaren Morse.
• Brigid speculates on how deranged the fan theories are going to get by the time the next book comes out.
• Clint gets very textualist about traps, baits, and spies.
• Various dogs bark more than they probably should on this very professional podcast.

Join us next time when we cover the other Expanse novella about your hero Erich, AUBERON. Follow the Mercy of Pods on social media at themercyofpods, or email us at themercyofpods@gmail.com. Logo by Matt Howse. Music is Push The Button by Sid Luscious and the Pants.

All our links

All our links