Even joins me to talk about the short story "Everything's Eventual", which introduces the unwitting psychic assassin Dinky Earnshaw. Some bad dialogue aside, this Dark Tower side story is tightly written, and does a great job at inducing both paranoia and impostor syndrome.

Radio Free Mid-World

Episode 58: Everything's Eventual

This week, Gwen joins me to talk about the sequel to the 2017 "It" film. This continues the story with an all new cast of grown up Losers returning to Derry to stop Pennywise once and for all. While we have some problems with the pacing, there are some really neat ideas going on here, along with some inspired casting.

Episode 57: It: Chapter 2

Jeremy Greer joins me to observe the birth of Mordred Deschain, and the deaths of Mother Mia and Father Callahan. This section of the book feels like the proper end to Song of Susannah, as our diminished ka-tet risks everything to reunite back in All-World.

Episode 56: The Dark Tower, "The Little Red King"

Zack Johnson joins me to talk about The Talisman, Stephen King's 1984 collaboration with Peter Straub that acts as a rough draft for many concepts in The Dark Tower saga. Jack is a young boy learns that the world has a dual nature. He's given a mission to venture to California, shifting back and forth between America and the Territories, to retrieve the Talisman and save his mother's life. To bad his uncle is standing in his way.

Episode 55: The Talisman

Autumn Greer joins me once more to finish out this book, which climaxes with Eddie and Roland wandering into the Maine home of Stephen King himself to learn about the cosmic stakes of the novel they star in. Meanwhile, Jake and Callahan accidentally cause 9/11 and Susannah is carted into the Dixie Pig to give birth. It's a weird book.

Episode 54: Song of Susannah, Stanzas 11-13

Autumn Greer joins me once more to talk about the middle portion of Song of Susannah, which follows the adventures of Eddie and Roland in Maine in 1977. They arrive in the middle of an ambush organized by the forces of the Crimson King, and face down a completely contemptible Calvin Tower, who is more than ready to renege on his deal. Meanwhile, Susannah and Detta squeeze more answers out of a reticent Mia who is also in denial.

Episode 53: Song of Susannah, Stanzas 7-10

Autumn Greer joins me to talk about Song of Susannah, which is nobody's favorite Dark Tower book. However, it sets the stage for what happens next, so it's important to get the discussion right. Susannah has fled to New York with Black 13, piloted by Mia, Daughter of None. She is being directed to a place where she can give birth to a very dangerous child. Meanwhile, the rest of the ka-tet gets their rescue plan royally boned.

Episode 52: Song of Susannah, Stanzas 1-6

Jim Stormdancer (of Frog Fractions and Video Games Hot Dog fame) joins me to talk about another Tower-related novel, "From a Buick 8". A strange man abandons an even stranger car at a gas station in western Pennsylvania, and it ends up in the custody of a state police barracks nearby. The novel, through flashbacks, tells the story of how a rookie led the charge to investigate the otherworldly happenings spurred on by the car's presence, in what's probably King's most Lovecraftian book to date.

Episode 51: From a Buick 8

Autumn Greer joins me to talk about Bag of Bones, a novel about a writer who loses his wife under mysterious circumstances... which starts him on a collision course against a conspiracy of old racists in a small Maine lake town.

Episode 50: Bag of Bones

Evan Thorne joins me for the last chapters of Wolves of the Calla, where we say goodbye to the Wolves, goodbye to the Calla, and goodbye to any feeling of existential certainty. Things go thoroughly 19 as the preparations come to a close and we get more answers about what exactly the Wolves are doing with those twins they abduct.

Episode 49: Wolves of the Calla, "The Wolves" (Part 2)

Two is one and one is none. That's what we learn in this week's episode, as Autumn Greer joins me to talk about the beginning of the end of Wolves of the Calla. We learn why the older Slightman is cooperating with the Wolves, and we also get closer to figuring out how to protect the Rose. However, it involves Eddie taking a brief jaunt into is old, strange home of Manhattan.

Episode 48: The Wolves of the Calla, "The Wolves" (Part 1)

Somebody saved Donald Callahan's life tonight. Jeremy Greer joins me to learn who, and how. As the ka tet settles into the Calla and tries to learn more about the impending conflict, the Father settles in and shares the remainder of his story... talking about how he hit rock bottom, was attacked by the Hitler Brothers, and saved by some very familiar people.

Episode 47: Wolves of the Calla, "Telling Tales" (Part 3)

Evan Thorne joins me for a history lesson in Calla folkways and close calls, as we learn the tale of Lady Oriza and Gray Dick, and hear from Granpere Jaffords about the time he saw a dead wolf. The ka-tet learns about a potential ace in the hole: the women of the Calla know how to throw sharpened titanium plates. But things start going wrong when Jake witnesses Susannah's nightly fugue states.

Episode 46: Wolves of the Calla, "Telling Tales" (Part 2)

Welcome Home. Autumn Greer joins me to talk about a section of the book that focuses very heavily on Father Callahan, and his journey from 'Salem's Lot, across America's hidden todash highways, and finally to End-World. But we must also make a stop at Calla Bryn Sturgis to talk about Roland's weird rice cum dance. It's an eventful episode.

Episode 45: Wolves of the Calla, "Telling Tales" (Part 1)

Let's go back to the vacant lot, because the Rose is in danger. Zack Johnson joins me once again to talk about the remainder of the Todash portion of the book. Our ka-tet begins to understand the nature of their nocturnal travels, while Father Callahan makes his introductions. Roland and company learn more specifics about the Wolves, and decide that it's their duty to protect this town, even if they don't want protection.

Episode 44: Wolves of the Calla, "Todash" (Part 2)

Welcome to Radio Free Mid-World, a podcast examination of the Dark Tower series of books by Stephen King. Every other week, a panel of hosts will discuss these books that merge fantasy, sci-fi, and western themes... outlining the quest of the last Gunslinger to reach the Dark Tower.