Pagenerd

by the pagenerds
  • 4.7 (57)
  • Books
  • Biweekly

Pagenerd is a sci-fi book club for people who suck at book clubs. You can read along if you want, but we’ll tell you what happens and have some fun figuring out the science, plot and characters along the way. In each episode we pick a sci-fi novel — current or classic — and explore its world and characters, discussing what it would be like to exist in that novel and how well it's realised on the page. If you do want to read along then you'll find a full list of what we're reading for upcoming episodes at pagenerd.com. Pagenerd is Sarah Stockdale, Tommy Guy, Richard Vieweg and Andrew Corway. Jay Cockburn is the producer.

  1. 3d ago

    Contact, by Carl Sagan

    This week, the crew tackles Contact by Carl Sagan, a science fiction novel written by an actual scientist, and boy, you can tell. The science is fascinating, the ideas are enormous, and the exposition is delivered with all the subtlety of a university lecture. Sarah, Tommy, Rick, and Andrew dive into humanity's search for extraterrestrial life, the tension between science and religion, and a book that asks the big question: is science God? And then doesn't really answer it? We debate whether a book can have too many explanations (spoiler: yes), and whether brilliant ideas can make up for some truly aggressive exposition. It's ambitious, thoughtful, and very likely the intellectual grandfather of some of our favourites, like The Three-Body Problem. Some of us will allow it (not Andrew). A big shoutout to our friends at Book Outlet / Book Depot for sponsoring this episode! They do sell out so if you see a good deal, nab it! You can find some incredible Pagenerd books at Book Outlet, here are some of my recs: The Dispossessed by Ursula Le Guin Wild Seed by Octavia ButlerSpace Oddity (the sequel to Space Opera) by Cathrynne M Valente   Pagenerd is Sarah Stockdale, Tommy Guy, Richard Vieweg and Andrew Corway. Jay Cockburn is the producer. New episodes launch every two weeks. If you want to read along with future episodes then you'll find a full list of what we're reading next at pagenerd.com, and support us at patreon.com/pagenerd. You can reach the nerds at Pagenerdhq@gmail.com — tell us about your local library or favourite indie book store!

  2. Oct 27

    Duma Key, by Stephen King

    It's spooky season! This week, the gang heads to Florida (already terrifying) to tackle Stephen King's Duma Key. A novel so long, it contains all of the King classics: a lonely Florida man, a human-sized frog with teeth, twin child ghosts, lots of dolls, questionable descriptions of teenage girls, a demon with a flair for the arts, and altogether too much walking on the beach. Sarah, Tommy, Rick, and Andrew dive into the creepy, the bizarre, and the occasionally uncomfortable, debating whether King sticks the landing or simply launches himself into the ocean.   Pagenerd is Sarah Stockdale, Tommy Guy, Richard Vieweg and Andrew Corway. Jay Cockburn is the producer. New episodes launch every two weeks. If you want to read along with future episodes then you'll find a full list of what we're reading next at pagenerd.com, and support us at patreon.com/pagenerd. You can reach the nerds at Pagenerdhq@gmail.com — tell us about your local library or favourite indie book store!

    Duma Key, by Stephen King

  3. Oct 13

    Carrie, by Stephen King

    It’s officially spooky season at Pagenerd, so we’re kicking off the creepiness with Stephen King’s first weird book about teenage girls: Carrie!  This episode has everything: lots of different kinds of blood, your high school bully, telekinesis, bearkenisis, famous authors contributing to 70s porno mags, hell-prom, rock showers and trauma showers.  This episode is a pure romp; I hope you join us for the ride.    Pagenerd is Sarah Stockdale, Tommy Guy, Richard Vieweg and Andrew Corway. Jay Cockburn is the producer. New episodes launch every two weeks. If you want to read along with future episodes then you'll find a full list of what we're reading next at pagenerd.com, and support us at patreon.com/pagenerd. You can reach the nerds at Pagenerdhq@gmail.com — tell us about your local library or favourite indie book store!

    Carrie, by Stephen King

  4. Oct 6 ·  Bonus

    An interview with Emily St. John Mandel

    She’s really here. Our Queen Emily St John Mandel joins Sarah and Tommy for a chat about her brilliant new novel Exit Party, writing, America, and the low thrum of existential dread we live with day to day. ESJM is also the author of ‘nerd faves: Station Eleven, Sea of Tranquillity (which is an early episode of ours), The Glass Hotel, and The Singer’s Gun. We are so grateful for her time; please go pick up Exit Party at your local indie bookstore right now. Pagenerd is Sarah Stockdale, Tommy Guy, Richard Vieweg and Andrew Corway. Jay Cockburn is the producer. New episodes launch every two weeks. If you want to read along with future episodes then you'll find a full list of what we're reading next at pagenerd.com, and support us at patreon.com/pagenerd. You can reach the nerds at Pagenerdhq@gmail.com — tell us about your local library or favourite indie book store!

    An interview with Emily St. John Mandel

  5. Sep 29

    Exit Party, by Emily St. John Mandel

    We are back with Our Queen Emily St. John Mandel, and her incredible new American dystopian novel, Exit Party, that asks: What happens if gestures around we keep this shit up? This novel has everything. Surveillance-state-flavoured fascism, well-lit parties, a fabulous art collector dame, murder, gun smuggling, neglectful parents, pretty decent parents, secret police, and multiversal travel. It will make you think, panic lightly, and maybe even find hope and joy in the sinking ship that is American democracy. The nerds are extra excited for this one, because we got our bespeckled eyeballs on this novel before it came out. And we’ll have a bonus surprise, with royalty, for you next week! Pagenerd is Sarah Stockdale, Tommy Guy, Richard Vieweg and Andrew Corway. Jay Cockburn is the producer. New episodes launch every two weeks. If you want to read along with future episodes then you'll find a full list of what we're reading next at pagenerd.com, and support us at patreon.com/pagenerd. You can reach the nerds at Pagenerdhq@gmail.com — tell us about your local library or favourite indie book store!

    Exit Party, by Emily St. John Mandel

  6. Sep 15

    The Three Body Problem, by Liu Cixin (Part 2 of 2)

    Don’t listen to this podcast or we will conquer you. The Pagenerds are back with part two of The Three Body Problem, and things are about to get chaotic, and not just mathematically. The nerds dive into alien nanotech, real, uh, slicey innovation, human computers and human jerky. The second half of this book is breakneck, it’s such a fantastic trip, and we can’t wait for you to strap on your extraterrestrial VR headset and take it with us.And a big thank you to Adobe Acrobat for sponsoring this episode.  Pagenerd is Sarah Stockdale, Tommy Guy, Richard Vieweg and Andrew Corway. Jay Cockburn is the producer. New episodes launch every two weeks. If you want to read along with future episodes then you'll find a full list of what we're reading next at pagenerd.com, and support us at patreon.com/pagenerd. You can reach the nerds at Pagenerdhq@gmail.com — tell us about your local library or favourite indie book store!

    The Three Body Problem, by Liu Cixin (Part 2 of 2)

  7. Sep 1

    The Three Body Problem, by Liu Cixin (Part 1 of 2)

    This week the dream team reads The Three-Body Problem, a book that asks the important question: What happens when you combine trauma and nihilism with intergalactic phone tag? Sarah, Tommy, Rick, and Andrew nerd out over solar amplification, broken physics, space-age VR, and the dick-measuring contest that is billionaire space travel. This episode is truly a chaotic era. And Rick finally asks the rest of the team a question that he’s been stewing over for the entire history of Pagenerd. It’s not what you think it is. This one is big, weird, philosophical science fiction with ideas that will stick in your brain long after you finish it.   Come wander into the dark forest with us.     Pagenerd is Sarah Stockdale, Tommy Guy, Richard Vieweg and Andrew Corway. Jay Cockburn is the producer. New episodes launch every two weeks. If you want to read along with future episodes then you'll find a full list of what we're reading next at pagenerd.com, and support us at patreon.com/pagenerd. You can reach the nerds at Pagenerdhq@gmail.com — tell us about your local library or favourite indie book store!

    The Three Body Problem, by Liu Cixin (Part 1 of 2)

  8. Aug 25 ·  Bonus

    Introducing: CBC Bookends, with Sci-Fi Legend Robert J. Sawyer

    Just like we love public libraries, we pagenerds also love public broadcasting. So we want to introduce you to a show by some podcast friends of ours over at the CBC: Bookends, with Mattea Roach. If you like Pagenerd we think you'll enjoy this episode so we're sharing it in our feed for you to enjoy. In this episode: If an asteroid were hurtling towards Earth, and you had no other choice … would you upload your mind to a computer to survive? Robert J. Sawyer explores that dilemma in his new novel, The Downloaded 2: Ghosts in the Machine. The Canadian sci-fi legend’s latest is all about technology and identity at the end of the world … and as someone who has thought a lot about mortality, Robert has a unique perspective on how technology, humanity and death align. Robert tells Mattea Roach about why he likes to write about cheating death, the harmony of science and religion and a personal experience he’s sharing for the first time. Go here to check out CBC Bookends! Pagenerd is Sarah Stockdale, Tommy Guy, Richard Vieweg and Andrew Corway. Jay Cockburn is the producer. New episodes launch every two weeks. If you want to read along with future episodes then you'll find a full list of what we're reading next at pagenerd.com, and support us at patreon.com/pagenerd. You can reach the nerds at Pagenerdhq@gmail.com — tell us about your local library or favourite indie book store!

See All (25)

Trailer

4.7
out of 5
57 Ratings

About

Pagenerd is a sci-fi book club for people who suck at book clubs. You can read along if you want, but we’ll tell you what happens and have some fun figuring out the science, plot and characters along the way. In each episode we pick a sci-fi novel — current or classic — and explore its world and characters, discussing what it would be like to exist in that novel and how well it's realised on the page. If you do want to read along then you'll find a full list of what we're reading for upcoming episodes at pagenerd.com. Pagenerd is Sarah Stockdale, Tommy Guy, Richard Vieweg and Andrew Corway. Jay Cockburn is the producer.

Information

  • Creator
    by the pagenerds
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    25
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Pagenerd
  • Show Website
    Pagenerd

You Might Also Like