#147 — 'Mongrels' by Stephen Graham Jones

It's fall, y'all! And we have three video game questions that need answering! The autumnal discussion begins around 34:45. Before then we check in on what we're reading, watching, and thinking about.Reading?‘The Devotion of Suspect X’ by Keigo Higashino‘The In-Between Bookstore’ by Edward Underhill‘The Stars Too Fondly’ by Emily HamiltonPlaying?Over the Garden Wall (Cartoon Network)The Diplomat (Netflix)Halloween Film SeriesThe Legend of Korra (Nickelodeon)Thinking About?BiowareYou Can See Everything (2026 Documentary)Find us on Bluesky & Instagram: @NovelGamingPodSend us an e-mail: [email protected] by: Katie!Theme song: "Bit Bossa" by Azure

A werewolf story unlike those we've seen before! This month we read the 2016 novel 'Mongrels' by Stephen Graham Jones. But before we run on all fours into discussion, we talk about the things we've been playing, watching, and thinking about lately.Playing?Survivordle & other -ordles (web browser)Neva (PS5)Watching?Twisted Childhood Universe (Horror Movie Series)Survivor Seasons 1, 7, 51 (CBS)Thinking About?Live MusicFind us on Bluesky & Instagram: @NovelGamingPodSend us an e-mail: [email protected] by: Katie!Theme song: "Bit Bossa" by Azure

This month we played the very normal and easy-to-describe 2016 game Pony Island! But before we start clicking on suspicious and perhaps demonic file shortcuts, we check in on some of the things we’ve been reading, watching, and thinking about lately.Reading?'Emily Wilde's Compendium of Lost Tales' by Heather FawcettPlaying?Valheim (PC)Watching? The Devil Wears Prada 2 (Hulu/Disney+)The Strain (Hulu/Disney+)Thinking About?Ed Sheeran, Macklemore, Ms. Rachel'The Brunette Album' by Alaska ThunderfuckFind us on Bluesky & Instagram: @NovelGamingPodSend us an e-mail: [email protected] by: Katie!Theme song: "Bit Bossa" by Azure

This month we read the 2025 graphic novel Go-Man: Champion of Earth by Hamish Steele! (Discussion begins at 28:00) But before we chomp on a glowing plant and grow to the size of a skyscraper, we check in on some of the things we’ve been playing, watching, and thinking about lately.Playing?Spirit Swap (Steamdeck)Penko Park (Switch)Valheim (PC)Watching? 9 to 5 (Disney+/Hulu)Draw 4 (YouTube)Halishy (YouTube)Sketchbook Skool (YouTube)Thinking About?Rampage 40th Anniversary Collaborative Art (TrushToons)Deep Space Discounts, Season 2 (YouTube)Find us on Bluesky & Instagram: @NovelGamingPodSend us an e-mail: [email protected] by: Katie!Theme song: "Bit Bossa" by Azure

Lots of things are better with friends - video games included! Grab a controller and join us as we talk about cooperative video games! Before the conversation starts (32:55), we check in on what we've been reading, watching, and thinking about lately.Reading? 90s Superman Comics (Death of Superman Arc) by a bunch of people'Project Hail Mary' by Andy WeirWatching?Current Superhero Cartoons (My Adventures with Superman, Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, X-Men 97, Batman Caped Crusader)Landscape Artist of the Year (Sky Arts)Thinking About?Hello Kitty x Godzilla CrossoverFind us on Bluesky & Instagram: @NovelGamingPodSend us an e-mail: [email protected] by: Katie!Theme song: "Bit Bossa" by Azure

Drunk spaceships, queer detectives, and death, oh my! All that and more can be found in the 2025 sci-fi cozy mystery novella, 'Murder by Memory' by Olivia Waite. Discussion starts at 27:35. Before we fully investigate, we check in on the stuff we've been playing and watching lately.Playing?Mina the Hollower (Switch 2)Yoshi's Woolly World (Wii U)Golden Sun (GBA)Watching? MCU Spider-Man MoviesWidow's Bay (Apple TV+)Remarkably Bright Creatures (Netflix)Find us on Bluesky & Instagram: @NovelGamingPodSend us an e-mail: [email protected] by: Katie!Theme song: "Bit Bossa" by Azure

We've just woken up from 14 years of being a fish, and what's the first thing we did? Book club! This month we read 2009's Rosemary and Rue by Seanan McGuire, the first in the 19-book October Daye fae private eye series. But before we get into it, we check in on the stuff we've been reading, watching, and thinking about!Playing?Divinity Original Sin 2 (Steam)Baldur’s Gate 3 (PS5)Ball X Pit (NS2)Watching? Robyn music videosSupergirlThinking About?PS5 going exclusively digitalXBox laying off a bazillion studiosFind us on Bluesky & Instagram: @NovelGamingPodSend us an e-mail: [email protected] by: Katie!Theme song: "Bit Bossa" by Azure

Who would you want on your drag team? And who would you invite to a Pride party? Join us as we answer these questions through a gaming draft! We pick the video game characters for the ultimate GAYming celebration. Conversation starts around 35:50. Before all that, let’s check in on some of the things we’ve been reading, watching, and thinking about lately.Reading?'The Immortal Hulk' by Al Ewing and Joe Bennett'The Illegals' by Shaun WalkerWatching?Hacks (HBO Max)Weapons (2025 Film)Thinking About?⁠⁠Alaska Thunderfuck new music!Find us on Bluesky & Instagram: @NovelGamingPodSend us an e-mail: [email protected] by: Katie!Theme song: "Bit Bossa" by Azure

What if Snow White was a warrior princess who could make a sword out of lightning and a cloak out of the night sky? And what if moms were nice?? To explore these questions, we read 'Sleep Like Death' by Kalynn Bayron. Conversation starts around 31:50. Before we take a bite out of that apple, let’s check in on some of the things we’ve been playing, watching, and thinking about lately.Playing?Godzilla & other kaiju games at Kaiju BrooklynNight in the Woods (2017)Watching?RuPaul’s Drag Race All-Stars 11 (Paramount+)Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937 Film)Thinking About?⁠⁠Sony June 2026 State of PlayFind us on Bluesky & Instagram: @NovelGamingPodSend us an e-mail: [email protected] by: Katie!Theme song: "Bit Bossa" by Azure

What happens when a giant rampaging monster is unleashed on the world by an apocalyptic cult? Well, it's pretty simple: lots of destruction. Derek B. Gayle joins us to talk about 2022's 'Terror of Hemasaurus', a smash 'em up homage to Rampage and expression of a solo game dev's frustration with the state of the world and our unwillingness (or perhaps inability?) to save the environment.But before we get into the deep questions, we check in on the stuff we've been reading, watching, and thinking about.Reading?‘Wolfsong’ by TJ Klune‘Bored Gay Werewolf’ by Tony Santorella‘Shy Trans Banshee’ by Tony Santorella‘Syllabus: Notes from an Accidental Professor’ by Lynda Barry‘The Nameless Restaurant’ by Tao WongWatching? Hacks (HBO Max)Gilmore Girls (Hulu/Disney+)The Devil Wears Prada (Hulu/Disney+, HBO Max)City Council of Darkness (Dropout)Thinking About?Final Fantasy VI (Switch)Tomodatchi Life: Living the Dream (Switch 2)‘Dancing on the Wall’ by MUNA ‘Too Much Not Enough’ by Daði FreyrCheck out Derek's podcasts: glitterjaw.comCheck out more from Derek: derekbgayle.comFind us on Twitter & Instagram: @NovelGamingPodSend us an e-mail: [email protected] by: Katie!Theme song: "Bit Bossa" by Azureflux