Books Undone
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.
Episodes
"Take it back. I want ignorance again. What is the limit of human comprehension? How much can the abyss stare back at you before you flinch?" This is one of the many open questions explored in DISCOVERY, a cosmic horror debut by JAJ Minton.
In this interview, we first dive into the process of crafting a book as a team, and then we dive into some of the key themes, including a human-centric world, religions and cults (including a cu...
Author Spotlights are back, and in this episode I'm in conversation with Bert-Oliver Boehmer, author of the Galacticide series--a modern-but-classical military sci-fi with a dash of first-contact, galactic politics, and fast-paced action.
Join to my newsletter to get bite-sized bookish deep-dives and a free novella, THE GENESIS OF CHANGE: https://liviajelliot.com/
FIND THE GALACTICIDE SERIES: https://www.galacticide.com
READ MY INTERA...
Dance With Me is one of my most personal books, and having a narrator that could translate the literary elements while giving life to a diverse cast was incredibly important. Join me as I chat to audiobook narrator Alison Phoenix, and deep-dive into the perks of audiobook narration.
DANCE WITH ME is available on Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/liviajelliot/dance-with-me
Find Alison Phoenix:
- Website: https://alisonp...
Is life purposeless and meaningless? Can we survive when our purpose is shattered? Those are some of the questions presented in a cerebral book, a gem of Scottish fiction: 'Walking on Glass' by Iain Banks. Let's get this book undone!
TRANSCRIPT:
All the links are in the transcript here: https://liviajelliot.com/blog/2025/02-podcast-walking-on-glass
READ MY INTERACTIVE STORIES:
- On Android: https://bit.ly/unearthedstories
- On iOS: http...
Are books political? I think we're asking the wrong question. Let's dive in!
Join to my newsletter to get bite-sized bookish deep-dives and a free novella, The Genesis of Change: https://liviajelliot.com/newsletter/web/
TRANSCRIPT:
All the links are in the transcript here: https://liviajelliot.com/blog/2025/01-podcast-political-books
READ MY INTERACTIVE STORIES:
- On Android: https://bit.ly/unearthedstories
- On iOS: https://apple.co/48I...
Cyberpunk is back, and we're discussing "The Escher Man", with SPFBO semi-finalist Sarah K Balstrup, FanFi addict reviewer Charlie Cavendish, and the author himself, T.R. Napper.
Join to my newsletter for bite-sized bookish deep dives (and get a free novella!: https://liviajelliot.com/newsletter/web/
READ MY INTERACTIVE STORIES:
We're going back to the Borgesian Labyrinths with "The Garden of Forking Paths." My guests today are Varsha (from Reading by the Rainy Mountain), Jarrod (from The Fantasy Thinker), and Britton (aka SomeOkieDude).
Join to my newsletter for bite-sized bookish deep dives (and get a free novella!: https://liviajelliot.com/newsletter/web/
READ MY INTERACTIVE STORIES:
- On Android: https://bit.ly/unearthedstories
- On iOS: https://apps.apple...
A discussion on the relationship between memory and identity, as presented in The Escher Man, the latest cyberpunk release from T.R. Napper.
Join to my newsletter to get bite-sized bookish deep-dives and a free novella: https://liviajelliot.com/newsletter/web/
TRANSCRIPT: https://liviajelliot.com/blog/2024/20-podcast-escher-man
All the links are in the transcript here!
READ MY INTERACTIVE STORIES:
- On Android: https://bit.ly/uneartheds...
A cross-over discussion about ideas, deconstructing V's iconic phrase and analysing it under the light of V for Vendetta itself, 1984, and The Dispossessed.
Join to my newsletter to get bite-sized bookish deep-dives and a free novella: https://liviajelliot.com/newsletter/web/
TRANSCRIPT: https://liviajelliot.com/blog/2024/19-podcast-bulletproofideas All the links are in the transcript here!
READ MY INTERACTIVE STORIES:
On Android: http...
Today, we're discussing one of the most famous graphic novels out there--V for Vendetta. Not for the faint of heart, and one piece that remains as timeless as 1984. My guests today are Varsha (from Reading by the Rainy Mountain), Jarrod (from The Fantasy Thinker), and Britton (aka SomeOkieDude).
Join to my newsletter for bite-sized bookish deep dives (and get a free novella!: https://liviajelliot.com/newsletter/web/
READ MY INTERACTI...
This time, the Spotlight is on the Doctor of Cyberpunk himself, Ditmar award-winning author, and fellow Aussie, T.R. Napper. Today we're discussing his novella, Ghosts of the Neon God.
Join to my newsletter to get bite-sized bookish deep-dives and a free novella, THE GENESIS OF CHANGE: https://liviajelliot.com/
FIND T.R. Napper: http://www.nappertime.com/
READ MY INTERACTIVE STORIES:
> On Android: https://bit.ly/unearthedstories
In this episode, I discuss reading for world-building, as presented by Ada Palmer on her foreword for The Book of the New Soon. This is a short episode, and spoiler-lite.
Join to my newsletter to get bite-sized bookish deep-dives and a free novella: https://liviajelliot.com/newsletter/web/
TRANSCRIPT: https://liviajelliot.com/blog/2024/17-podcast-worldbuilding All the links are in the transcript here!
READ MY INTERACTIVE STORIES:
It's time for another spotlight, this time featuring author C.B.Lansdell as we talk about her prequel novella, The Tidelings of Dras Sayve. We also touch some topics about her debut book Far Removed, but those are spoiler-free!
Join to my newsletter to get bite-sized bookish deep-dives and a free novella: https://liviajelliot.com/
FIND CB LANSDELL:
> All links: https://cblansdell.com/links/
> Far Removed: https://books2read.com/f...
The speculative element of Fantasy and SciFi makes them a remarkable medium to portray a variety of trauma. In this episode, I'm joined by authors Joshua Walker, B.S.H. Garcia (Bethany), and Calum Lott, alongside reviewer Kristen Shaffer to discuss a range of topics within this theme.
Join to my newsletter to get bite-sized bookish deep-dives and a free novella: https://liviajelliot.com/
FIND THE AUTHORS:
> Joshua Walker: https://j...
Today, we're discussing another famous story from Jorge Luis Borges--Death and the Compass. If you're looking for an accessible Borges story, then this is it. My guests today are Varsha (from Reading by the Rainy Mountain) and Jarrod (from The Fantasy Thinker).
Join to my newsletter for bite-sized bookish deep dives (and get a free novella!: https://liviajelliot.com/newsletter/web/
READ MY INTERACTIVE STORIES:
- On Android: https://...
In this episode, I discuss memory and truth as presented in Shadow & Claw, the first two volumes of The Book of the New Sun, by Gene Wolfe. This is quite a philosophical episode, and I really enjoyed shared it.
Join to my newsletter to get bite-sized bookish deep-dives and a free novella: https://liviajelliot.com/newsletter/web/
TRANSCRIPT: https://liviajelliot.com/blog/2024/16-podcast-shadow-and-claw/ All the links are in the tr...
Today, we're discussing the most Borgesian short-story Borges himself wrote—Tlön, Uqbar, Orbis Tertius. My guests today are Varsha (from Reading by the Rainy Mountain), José (from José's Amazing Worlds), Jarrod (from The Fantasy Thinker), AP Canavan (aka, The Critical Drgaon), and Javier (from JamReads).
Join to my newsletter for bite-sized bookish deep dives: https://liviajelliot.com/newsletter/web/
READ MY INTERACTIVE STORIES:
In this episode, I answer Britton's question of Why are we so fascinated by tragedy? by discussing readers' perceptions of utopia and dystopia/grimdark settings. This is a short-spoiler-lite episode, but I still include some quotes from books as well as my own thoughts.
Join to my newsletter to get bite-sized bookish deep dives: https://liviajelliot.com/newsletter/web/
TRANSCRIPT: https://liviajelliot.com/blog/2024/15-podcast-utopiav...
An interview with author B.S.H. Garcia about her prequel novellas From the Ashes and From the Depths, both of which are part of her epic fantasy series, The Heart of Quinaria. Full disclosure: there are spoilers in this podcast, but only regarding the novellas.
If you want to get bite-sized deep-dives and prose analyses, join to my newsletter: https://liviajelliot.com/newsletter/web/
FIND BETHANY: https://www.bshgarcia.com/
READ LIVIA...
Storytelling and world-building in TTRPGs, video-games, and books (especially fantasy and science) have a lot in common... but also enough difference to be a completely different experience for writers and readers/players alike. Join me in this episode as I chat with game master and writer Gregory Wunderling about key differences between both mediums.
Join to my newsletter to get bite-sized bookish deep-dives: https://liviajelliot.c...
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