The Buddies return to Joe Abercrombie's grim dark world for "Before They Are Hanged," the second book in the First Law trilogy. The Buddies debate whether getting your face smashed in with a mace is the ultimate character development, how useless corporate leadership seminars actually are beneficial, and if chivalry is indeed not dead. So, bring your north man mentality, practice your nose-biting techniques, and join us and all our Buddies from last time: The Bloody-Nine, Bayaz, Jezal, Ferro, Glokta and many more!

Intro (0:00-1:54)

Stock Up/Down (1:55-31:06)

Favorite Scene/Character (31:07-41:18)

Love/Hate (41:19-48:49)

Conclusion (48:50-52:22)

NEXT BOOK: Last Argument of Kings by Joe Abercrombie

The Buddies read the not-so-fiction feeling dystopian classic "1984" by George Orwell this week. The Buddies chat about the good life of being a Prole (drunk, happy, and blissfully ignorant), every day double-think, and how Gen Alpha speak and Newspeak are the same. So grab your victory gin, practice your doublethink, and join us for a pod that asks: would you rather be tortured with rats or buried alive with snakes?

Intro (0:00-1:36)

Stock Up/Down (1:37-32:16)

Favorite Scene/Character (32:17-34:15)

Love/Hate (34:16-44:27)

Listener Mail/Lingering Questions (44:28-49:43)

Conclusion (49:44-53:59)

NEXT BOOK: Before They Are Hanged by Joe Abercrombie

The Buddies blast off for an emergency pod to discuss the 2026 film adaptation of Andy Weir's "Project Hail Mary," starring Ryan Gosling as the loneliest, most attractive genius in space. The Buddies had read the book way back on episode 23, so this was a trip down memory lane. Much of their discussion centered around Gosling's character wardrobe choices, his likeability, and if him being unable to get a date is the most unrealistic part of a movie about alien rock spiders and sentient microbes eating the sun. They also got to their normal cadence of bringing up references to Austin Powers' unfreezing sequence, contemplating whether this is all a Total Recall scenario, and referencing a number other movie comparisons. So, ‘fist my bump,’ and join us for a podcast that promises to be as enjoyable as the movie (maybe).

Intro (0:00-1:50)

Stock Up/Down (1:51-28:49)

Favorite Scene (28:50-32:44)

Love/Hate (32:45-35:45)

Lingering Questions (35:46-39:10)

Conclusion (39:11-41:14)

NEXT BOOK: 1984 by George Orwell