133: Juhea Kim (A Love Story From The End Of The World)
Author's Afterword
Charlie and Juhea Kim (A Love Story From The End Of The World) discuss Juhea's fantastic largely environmental and philosophical short story collection. This is a book that looks at the problems with our present as well as the possible futures that may result from them. General references: Rocky Groundhog Day In The Mood For Love Kpop Demon Hunters Books mentioned by name or extensively: Dante Alighieri: The Divine Comedy Juhea Kim: A Love Story From The End Of The World Juhea Kim: the Divine Comedy Mikhail Bulgakov: The Master And The Margarita Release details: recorded 29th August 2025;...
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132: Clémence Michallon (Our Last Resort)
Author's Afterword
Charlie and Clémence Michallon (Our Last Resort) discuss Clémence's epic multi-thousand-a-day writing streak and how she cuts sentences that don't work, often not replacing them, also Charlie's discomfort with the idea of the morally grey aspect of the novel and Clémence's thoughts that we think of morality in the context of the book/show, and fictional pets staying alive beyond the pages. Please note that the book under discussion is about a murder. Books mentioned by name or extensively: Clémence Michallon: The Quiet Tenant Clémence Michallon: Our last Resort Tyler Keevil: Your Still...
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131: Nikki May (This Motherless Land)
Author's Afterword
Charlie and Nikki May (This Motherless Land) discuss her childhood in Lagos and moving to England, various ways Nikki's story changed over time (quite a lot!), the Nigerian women's relay team of 1992, and the upcoming TV adaptations of both This Motherless Land and Wahala. Please note that there is some swearing in this episode. General references: Nikki made the shortlist of the Nigerian Prize for Literature Books mentioned by name or extensively: Enid Blyton: The Famous Five (series) Jane Austen: Pride And Prejudice Jane Austen: Emma Jane Austen: Mansfield Park Nikki May: Wahala Nikki May:...
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130: Jim C Hines (Kitemaster)
Author's Afterword
Charlie and Jim C Hines (Kitemaster) discuss how his story developed over a number of years, including wonder and physics reasoning in the book, his excellent study of grief (and humour in that context), and his unique and choices in regards to the book world's belief system of an afterlife. Please note there is some very mild swearing in this episode, as well as discussions of cancer and death. Please also note, on a very different subject, that there are spoilers for The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe as well as Serenity (Firefly) and, sort of, for Star Wars: A New Hope. I doubt anyone but...
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129: Julie Kagawa (Fateless)
Author's Afterword
Charlie and Julie Kagawa (Fateless) discuss video games, working with fate and destiny, Julie's brilliant world building and magic system, and the decisions she made about where to end the book. General references: My episode with Samantha Sotto Yambao is 122 Books mentioned by name or extensively: Julie Kagawa: The Iron Fey Julie Kagawa: The Blood Of Eden Julie Kagawa: Talon Games mentioned: Assassin's Creed D&D Final Fantasy X Final Fantasy X-2 Guild Wars 2 Hitman Prince Of Persia Splinter Cell Tomb Raider Release details: recorded 19th May 2025; published 22nd September 2025 Where to...
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128: Maggie Stiefvater (The Listeners)
Author's Afterword
Charlie and Maggie Stiefvater (The Listeners) discuss the lesser-known history of the US hosting Axis diplomats in luxury hotels, the arrangements made to swap diplomats one for one, including disability and mental illness in such a story, Maggie's main character's dachshunds and their relationship to the man they never let pet them, the era-aligned game that Maggie created, and much more. General references: Charlie's conversation with Elaine Chiew is episode 111 Books mentioned by name or extensively: Maggie Stiefvater: Shiver Maggie Stiefvater: The Scorpio Races Maggie Stiefvater: The...
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127: Emily Slapper (Everyone I Know Is Dying)
Author's Afterword
Charlie and Emily Slapper (Everyone I Know Is Dying) discuss her phenomenal book that looks at a young woman spiralling from mental illness. This involves discussing romantic relationships when one is depressed, the affect of parents, the affect of society, and not using labels. General references: I spoke to Samantha Sotto Yambao in episode 122 Books mentioned by name or extensively: Emily Slapper: Everyone I Know Is Dying Sylvia Plath: The Bell Jar Release details: recorded 16th April 2025; published 25th August 2025 Where to find Emily online: Where to find Charlie online: || || || ...
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126: Michael Stewart (Black Wood Women)
Author's Afterword
Charlie and Michael Stewart (Black Wood Women) discuss the persecution of Irish people in the 17th century, the loss of and possible reintroduction of wolves in Britain, and 17th century hippies. Please note that there is discussion of drugs in this episode. General references: Books mentioned by name or extensively: Elizabeth Fremantle: Honey And The Sting Ian D Rotherham: Yorkshire's Forgotten Fenlands Michael Stewart: King Crow Michael Stewart: Walking The Invisible Michael Stewart: Black Wood Women Michael Stewart: Surrounded By My Enemy Stacey Thomas: The Revels Release details: recorded...
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125: Paul McVeigh (I Hear You)
Author's Afterword
Charlie and Paul McVeigh (I Hear You) discuss Paul's time writing stories for the BBC, being an emotional writer, and a traumatic medical experience that has had a big effect on some of his work. Please note there are two incredibly mild swear words in this episode. General references: Paul's play is called Big Man Books mentioned by name or extensively: Kit de Waal: My Name Is Leon Kit de Waal (ed.): Common People Paul McVeigh: The Good Son Paul McVeigh: I Hear You Paul McVeigh (ed.) The 32 Paul McVeigh (ed.) Queer Love Sarah Butler: Ten Things I’ve Learnt About Love Sinéad Gleeson (ed.)...
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124: Sophie Jo (Red Flags)
Author's Afterword
Charlie and Sophie Jo (Red Flags) discuss healthy relationships particularly in the context of young people and in terms of values and hobbies. They also delve into popular media from the '90s and 2000s as included in Sophie's book. General references: Books mentioned by name or extensively: Sally Rooney: Conversations With Friends Sally Rooney: Normal People Sophie Jo: Red Flags Release details: recorded 17th March 2025; published 14th July 2025 Where to find Sophie online: || || || Where to find Charlie online: || || || Discussions 01:35 The inspiration for Red Flags 04:10 More...
info_outlineCharlie and Juhea Kim (A Love Story From The End Of The World) discuss Juhea's fantastic largely environmental and philosophical short story collection. This is a book that looks at the problems with our present as well as the possible futures that may result from them.
General references:
Rocky
Groundhog Day
In The Mood For Love
Kpop Demon Hunters
Books mentioned by name or extensively:
Dante Alighieri: The Divine Comedy
Juhea Kim: A Love Story From The End Of The World
Juhea Kim: the Divine Comedy
Mikhail Bulgakov: The Master And The Margarita
Release details: recorded 29th August 2025; published 24th November 2025
Where to find Juhea online: Website || Instagram
Where to find Charlie online: Website || Instagram || TikTok
Discussions
01:25 The ordering of the stories in A Love Story From The End Of The World. We then go on to discuss the last story in the book and environmentalism
05:56 Looking at the theme of time and using metaphors
12:59 The ending of the first story, Biodome, the film adaptations, and the way Juhea ends her stories on a more general scale
19:45 Notting Hill (the story in the second person) and Juhea's writing of that point of view
24:07 The story Mountain Island and its themes of consumerism and pop idols
29:05 The philosophy, the question of god, in the stories as per two quotes from Juhea's book
37:14 What Juhea is writing now, a novel called The Divine Comedy
Photo credit: Nola Logan