VOK 651 – Klara and the Sun Book Review

Posted on April 15, 2021 by | Leave a comment


Join Bina007 and Zach/Alias as they discuss the latest novel from Kazuo Ishiguro in a spoiler filled review.

Topics include: the notion of a sympathetic AI POV; the nature of religious faith; predicting remote learning and disrupted socalisation; lifting as a comment on helicopter parenting and the college admissions scandal; the future of work in a world of advanced AI and robotics; and the nature of love; the nature of service.


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VoK 650: LOTR Reread – Fellowship Part 4

Posted on April 11, 2021 by | Leave a comment

883858_209887272534155_2037162522_o-1

In this episode of the new reread of The Lord of the Rings, join Vassals Marie (Nymeria), Alix (Aiwendil), Zach (Alias), Matt (Varley) and Adam (drownedsnow) for chapters 6 through 10 of the Fellowship of the Ring, Book 2. We journey through Lothlorien and to the falls of Rauros, with many tangent discussions on Lembas, cherry tomatoes, and fantasy along the way.


Credits:
Edited by Marie
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VoK 649: A Seminar of Ice and Fire (Part 3) – Monsters

Posted on March 31, 2021 by | Leave a comment

In the third installment of A Seminar of Ice and Fire—the VoK series that examines A Song of Ice and Fire through various theoretical texts—the Vassals take on Jeffrey Jerome Cohen’s essay “Monster Culture (Seven Theses).”

We talk about what makes a monster, what monsters we see (or don’t see) in a Song of Ice and Fire, and what particular types of monsters might suggest about the culture that created them.

Hosts:
Sara/DrBlood
Ben/KingJucio
Varley
Peter/Shellfish
Wilson/The Wandering Prophet
Patrick/Ser Patrick the Tall

Credits:
Edited by Shellfish

A PDF of the Cohen reading is available here. For more reading on some of the other topics mentioned in the episode, you can start with Bauman, Zygmunt, Community: Seeking Safety in an Insecure World (2000); and Tajfel, H., “The achievement of inter-group differentiation” (1978).

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VOK 648 Witcher – The Tower of the Swallow Pt 1

Posted on March 26, 2021 by | Leave a comment

Join the Vassals as we meander along with some beekeepers and avoid assassins sent by dangerous sorcerers…a normal day for a Witcher. 
Discussion brought by Adam/Drowned Snow; Bing/Shoeshiner; David/Davidhhh; Kevin/Nuncle Kevin; Marie/Nymeria

Hosts: Marie/Nymeria, Adam/Drowned Snow, David/DavidHHH, Bing/Bing; Kevin/Nuncle Kevin

Edited by: Kevin/Nuncle Kevin

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VoK 647: Creature Chat — Vampires

Posted on March 24, 2021 by | Leave a comment

Creature chat discusses vampires!

Hosts:
Peter/Shellfish
Zander/The Lord Baron
Sara/DrBlood
Jock/munrojock2
Abby/daceymormont
Matt/Varley
Patrick/Ser Patrick the Tall

Content Warning: This episode contains discussion and descriptions of sex and sexuality, bodily fluids, decaying corpses, murder, torture, animal distress, and very bad vampire impressions.

Credits:
Edited by Shellfish

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VoK 646: Fevre Dream (by George R. R. Martin)

Posted on March 21, 2021 by | Leave a comment


The Vassals (and Bastards) review Martin’s second published novel, the  steamboat horror story Fevre Dream. Join Amin, Duncan (aka Valkyrist) and Zach (aka Alias) as they sail down the vampire-infested waters of the Mississipi.

Credits:
Edited by Valkyrist and Amin

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VoK 645: Witcher – Baptism of Fire

Posted on March 17, 2021 by | Leave a comment

The Vassal Witchers go on a wild romp around the continent and pick up new members of our company along the way in true Baptism of Fire style. Join as we discuss the 3rd novel of the Witcher Saga by Andrej Sapkowski. 

Hosts: Marie/Nymeria, Adam/Drowned Snow, David/DavidHHH, Bing/Bing; Kevin/Nuncle Kevin and Katie/Lady Griffin

Edited by: Kevin/Nuncle Kevin

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VoK 644: WandaVision (2021)

Posted on March 15, 2021 by | Leave a comment


Join us as we discuss the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s first fully integrated television/streaming series, WandaVision!

Hosts: Adam (drownedsnow), David (davidhhh), Matt (Blu3arm0r), Amber (amberrocks), and Jock (Munrojock2)

Credits:
Edited by Adam

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VoK 643: It’s A Sin (Russell T. Davies)

Posted on March 13, 2021 by | Leave a comment

Glen (Dagos_Rivers), Marie (Nymeria), David (davidhhh) and Jock (MunroJock2) discuss the hit show ‘It’s A Sin’ which spans a 10 year period between 1981 and 1991 about a group of five friends as they live through the AIDS crisis. #ItsASin

Credits:
Edited by Glen

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VoK 642: A GameShow of Thrones #3 (VOKathon Edition)

Posted on March 11, 2021 by | Leave a comment


During their 24-hour VOKathon, the Vassals face off in another thrilling round of A Song of Ice and Fire trivia. Join quizmaster Duncan (Valkyrist), scorekeeper Matt (Varley), reigning champion Michal (inkasrain), and challengers Abdullah (Quaith from Asshai), Peter (Shellfish), Abby (DaceyMormont), Sara (DrBlood), Zach (Alias), Ben (King Jucio), Matt (mattdaze13), Michael (Khal Wadege) David (davidhhh), Hannah (thewingedshadow), Patrick (TheTall), and Kevin (nuncle kevin).

Who will claim the crown? Who will spit the dummy? There’s only one way to find out!

Credits:
Edited by Valkyrist

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Links
A GameShow of Thrones #2
A GameShow of Thrones #1

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VoK 641: LOTR Reread – Fellowship Part 3

Posted on March 6, 2021 by | Leave a comment


In this episode of the new reread of The Lord of the Rings, join Vassals Marie (Nymeria), Alix (Aiwendil), Zach (Alias), and Adam (drownedsnow) for chapters 1 through 5 of the Fellowship of the Ring, Book 2. We convene for the Council of Elrond and head into Moria as the journey to destroy the Ring begins.


Credits:
Edited by Zach
Kellan the Undying by Drumurboy

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VoK 640: The Hunger Games – The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

Posted on March 1, 2021 by | Leave a comment

Recorded 9 months ago, fresh reaction to the latest installment in The Hunger Games Series by Suzanne Collins. Tributes Abby (DaceyMormont), Adam (drownedsnow), Glen (Dagos_Rivers), Katie (Lady Griffin), Brett (White Raven), Kevin (Nuncle Kevin), and Zach (Alias) provide a review and discuss each of the three parts of the Book.

Credits:
Edited by Glen and Abby.

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VoK 639: Creature Chat – Dragons

Posted on February 24, 2021 by | Leave a comment


The Vassals convene to chat about magical reptiles of various shapes and sizes. So grab your ceiling wax and look out for sharkdoors.

Hosts:
Peter/Shellfish
Michal/inkasrain
Sara/DrBlood
Amber/amberrocks
Zander/The Lord Baron
Marie/Nymeria
Ben/King Jucio
Adam/drownedsnow

Credits:
Edited by Peter

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VoK 638: GRRM’s Thousand Worlds – “The Glass Flower” and “The Stone City” (Review)

Posted on February 11, 2021 by | Leave a comment


The Vassals (and Bastards) conclude their voyage into George R. R. Martin’s science fiction universe. Join Amin, Duncan (aka Valkyrist), Michael (aka Mordion), and Zach (aka Alias) as they review two more short stories from Martin’s Thousand Worlds series – “The Glass Flower” and “The Stone City.”

Credits:
Edited by Valkyrist

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VoK 637: Bridgerton (Season 1)

Posted on February 6, 2021 by | Leave a comment

Review of Season 1 of Bridgerton, a show watched in over 82 million households worldwide.

Hosts: Glen (Dagos_Rivers), Bina (Bina007), Marie (Nymeria), Hannah (shadow_ baby), Matt (Varley)

Credits:
Edited by Glen.

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VoK 636: LOTR Re-read – Fellowship part 2

Posted on January 31, 2021 by | Leave a comment

weathertop

In this episode of the new reread of The Lord of the Rings, join us for chapters 7 through 12 of the Fellowship of the Ring. We meet Bombadil, Strider and Glorfindel as we travel to Bree, Weathertop and the ford to Rivendell.

Hosts: Alix (Aiwendil), Adam (drownedsnow), Zach (Alias), Marie (Nymeria)

Credits:
Edited by Nymeria

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VoK 635: Book Club (Vol.7) – The Darkness That Comes Before (by R. Scott Bakker)

Posted on January 28, 2021 by | Leave a comment


The VOK Book Club reconvene to review the dark fantasy novel The Darkness that Comes Before by R. Scott Bakker (the first book in The Second Apocalypse series). Join Greg (claudiusthefool), Zach (Alias), Alex (LuckyCharms), Matt (Blu3arm0r), Steven (SJLee), Duncan (Valkyrist), Adam (drownedsnow), and lurkers Casey (blue-eyed-queen) and Amber (amberrocks), for an in-depth discussion on grimdark fantasy, amoral characters, historical parallels, and existential philosophy.

Credits:
Edited by Valkyrist

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VoK 634: Creature Chat

Posted on January 25, 2021 by | Leave a comment


The Vassals of Kingsgrave sit down to chat about creatures. Join vassals Shellfish (Peter), Munjorock2 (Jock), Daceymormont (Abby), and DrBlood (Sara) on their expedition into the animal kingdom! Topics of discussion include pets, animal intelligence, and genetic memory. 

Credits:
Edited by Peter

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VoK 633: GRRM’s Thousand Worlds – “The Way of Cross and Dragon” and “And Seven Times Never Kill Man!” (Review)

Posted on January 18, 2021 by | Leave a comment


The Vassals (and Bastards) continue their voyage into George R. R. Martin’s science fiction universe. Join Amin, Duncan (aka Valkyrist), Michael (aka Mordion), and Zach (aka Alias) as they review two more short stories from Martin’s Thousand Worlds series – “The Way of Cross and Dragon” and “And Seven Times Never Kill Man!”

Credits:
Edited by Valkyrist

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VoK 632: 2020 Video Game Roundtable

Posted on January 15, 2021 by | Leave a comment


The Vassals of Kingsgrave return to the video game world to discuss some of their favorites of 2020. Join Zach (Alias), Bing (Shoeshiner), Matt (blu3arm0r), Katie (Lady Griffin), Patrick (Ser Patrick the Tall), and newcomer, Ben (King Jucio), as they rep their best games then take a look ahead at what 2021 may have to offer.

7:30 — FF7 Remake
24:00 — Ghost of Tsushima
35:30 — Crusader Kings 3
48:50 — Persona 5 Royal & Persona 4 Golden
1:02:25 — The Walking Dead: The Final Season
1:11:00 — The Last of Us Part II
1:22:10 — Command & Conquer Remake
1:26:10 — Hades
1:40:45 — Cyberpunk 2077
2:02:50 — Honorable Mentions
2:08:00 — Most Anticipated Games of 2021

Credits:
Edited by Zach

Colors Flying High – Persona 5 Royal OST 
In the Blood (ft. Ashley Barrett) – Hades OST 

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