The Infinite Library

John Hagele
  • 5.0 (12)
  • BOOKS
  • UPDATED SEMIWEEKLY

A podcast about books, mortality, and what to do with your limited time with both. Hosted by John & Ben.

  1. 2D AGO

    Episode 58 - "Trouble on Triton" by Samuel R. Delany

    What do you do if you live in the Electric Psychadelic Pussycat Swinger's Club, but you're the one cat too un-groovy to find it shagadelic? This is the vital question at the heart of Samuel R. Delany's "Trouble on Triton". John and Ben get weird, discussing science fiction, the nature of desire, and how this book compares to "The Dispossessed". As always, we hope you enjoy our conversation!

    2h 7m

  2. JAN 27

    Episode 57 - "The Dispossessed" by Ursula K. Le Guin

    It's the first episode of the Spring 2026 Season, and John and Ben are blasting off to the moon of Annares to discuss "The Dispossessed" by Ursula K. Le Guin. We discuss this classic of science fiction with a little help from "To Read 'The Dispossessed'" by Samuel Delany. Topics of conversation include John & Ben's relationship with Le Guin's work, her anthropological lens, and portrayals of gender & sexuality in science fiction. As always, we hope you enjoy the conversation! We'll be back in two weeks with a paired episode focusing on Samuel Delany's "Trouble on Triton"!

    1h 54m

  3. JAN 13

    Episode 56 - "Play It As It Lays" by Joan Didion

    John and Ben cruise down the California highway to the end of this season of The Infinite Library as they read Joan Didion's "Play It As It Lays". Topics of conversation include the portrayal of California in literature, mimesis, and Didion's place as a literary "cool girl". As always, we hope that you enjoy the conversation!

    1h 14m

  4. JAN 11

    Bonus - Best of 2025

    Another year comes to a close and, as is tradition, John and Ben get together to tell you about their favorite books they read in 2025.

    1h 16m

  5. 12/31/2025

    Episode 55 - "Shadow Ticket" by Thomas Pynchon

    Happy (almost) New Year! We're closing out our Thomas Pynchon mini-revue with his latest novel, "Shadow Ticket". Along for the ride is friend of the pod, author TJ Martinson! Topics of discussion include Pynchon's relationship to pop culture, the use of alternate history in literature, and whether Pynchon offers us as readers an 'out' to our present circumstances. As always, we hope you enjoy the conversation! Check out TJ's books here!

    1h 55m

  6. 12/16/2025

    Episode 54 - "Bleeding Edge" by Thomas Pynchon

    This week, we jump forward over 50 years into Thomas Pychon's career (and over all his most read books) to discuss 2013's "Bleeding Edge"! Along for the ride through Y2K is friend of the pod, Dan. Topics of discussion include reading the 2010s through the 2000s, the role of technology and espionage in Pynchon's works, and 9/11. As always, we hope you enjoy the conversations.

    1h 54m

  7. 12/02/2025

    Episode 53 - "V." by Thomas Pynchon

    This week, we start our mini-revue of the works of Thomas Pynchon with his first novel: "V." We discuss our individual relationships with Pynchon's writing, his place in the larger world of contemporary literature, and what we liked and disliked about this strange first novel of his. As always, we hope that you enjoy the conversation!

    1h 56m

  8. 11/11/2025

    Episode 52 - "Major Arcana" by John Pistelli, Pt. 2

    This week, we conclude our discussion of John Pistelli's "Major Arcana". We hope you enjoy another two-parter!

    1h 22m
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
12 Ratings

About

A podcast about books, mortality, and what to do with your limited time with both. Hosted by John & Ben.

Information

  • Creator
    John Hagele
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    72
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © John Hagele
  • Show Website
    The Infinite Library

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