The Seventeen Year-Old Who Invented Science Fiction
With Guillermo del Toro's Netflix adaptation of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein in the news, we thought we would bring out an episode we did for Annotated several years ago. It's a great story and we had fun doing this one. Enjoy.
This episode of Annotated was written by me, Jeff O’Neal, and directed by Jeremy Desmon.
Sound editing and design by Kyle O’Neal. Our thanks to Mahvesh Murad for being our Mary Shelley, Bob Schinsky for being our Lord Byron, Amanda Nelson for being our Jane Clairmont and Kyle O’Neal for taking on the role of Percy Shelley.
Further reading recommendations:
Mary Shelley by Miranda Seymour
The Lady and Her Monsters by Roseanne Montillo
Romantic Outlaws by Charlotte Gordon
Mary Shelley by Muriel Spark
Mary Shelley: Romance and Reality by Emily W. Sunstein
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22:50
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22:50
How Much Does Genre Matter to Readers?
Prof. Laura McGrath joins Jeff and Rebecca to talk about what some studies can tell us about just how much readers care (and don't) about genre.
Subscribe to the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.
The Book Riot Podcast is a proud member of the Airwave Podcast Network.
Discussed in this episode:
Laura's newsletter: TextCrunch
English, James and J.D. Porter, "The Eclectic Reader." JCA: The Journal of Cultural Analytics. August 20, 2025
Peterson, Richard A. “Understanding Audience Segmentation: From Elite and Mass to Omnivore and Univore.” Poetics, vol. 21, no. 4, 1992, pp. 243–58
Check out Zero to Well-Read!
Subscribe to The Book Riot Newsletter for regular updates to get the most out of your reading life.
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1:06:24
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1:06:24
The 2025 Nobel Prize in Literature, NBA Finalists, and more award season news. PLUS: Hachette CEO David Shelley
Sharifah Williams joins Jeff to talk about the 2025 Nobel for Literature, National Book Award finalists and more award season news. Then, Hachette CEO David Shelly talks to Jeff about book banning, inclusivity, and other issues facing the publishing world.
Subscribe to the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.
The Book Riot Podcast is a proud member of the Airwave Podcast Network.
Discussed in this episode:
Check out Zero to Well-Read!
Subscribe to The Book Riot Newsletter for regular updates to get the most out of your reading life.
The 2025 Nobel Prize in Literature
2025 National Book Award Finalists
Kirkus Prize Announced
Baker & Taylor going away?
The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson
Audition by Katie Kitamura
Near Flesh by Katherine Dunn
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1:23:53
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1:23:53
Zero to Well-Read: TWILIGHT by Stephenie Meyer
A drop-in of the most recent episode of Zero to Well-Read, in which Jeff O'Neal and Rebecca Schinksy are joined by Book Riot editors Vanessa Diaz and Kelly Jensen to talk about Stephanie Meyer's cultural juggernaut: Twilight. This was a lot of fun.
Subscribe to the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.
The Book Riot Podcast is a proud member of the Airwave Podcast Network.
Discussed in this episode:
Check out Zero to Well-Read!
Subscribe to The Book Riot Newsletter for regular updates to get the most out of your reading life.
Apply to write for Book Riot
This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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1:23:57
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1:23:57
Anthropic Settlement Portal Shows All. Mostly.
Jeff and Rebecca talk about the opening of the portal to submit claims against the $1.5 Billion Anthropic settlement, Reading Rainbow's relaunch, One Battle After Another, and more of the week's book news.
Subscribe to the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.
The Book Riot Podcast is a proud member of the Airwave Podcast Network.
Discussed in this episode:
This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Check out Zero to Well-Read!
Subscribe to The Book Riot Newsletter for regular updates to get the most out of your reading life.
Apply to write for Book Riot
Authors can find out if they’re eligible for a settlement from Anthropic
Reading Rainbow is coming back with a new host
Publishing has a gambling problem
Florida district judge rejects first amendment argument in book banning base
Kamala Harris’s 107 Days on track to be best-selling memoir of the year
107 Days by Kamala Harris
Midnight Timetable by Bora Chung
Replaceable You by Mary Roach
Enshittification by Cory Doctorow
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News in the world of books and reading, including hot industry releases, adaptations, publishing industry events, and more with Book Riot’s Jeff O’Neal and Rebecca Schinsky.
Book Riot is the largest independent editorial book site in North America and home to a host of media, from podcasts to newsletters to original content, all designed around diverse readers and across all genres.
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