Was Robert A. Heinlein's 1959 novel Starship Troopers actually good, or did Paul Verhoeven's campy 1997 film adaptation accidentally create something better? Spoiler: The book reads like military fanfic, and the movie wins by a landslide.

In this premiere episode of "The Book Was Better," we dive deep into the massive differences between Heinlein's militaristic novel and Verhoeven's satirical sci-fi action film. We explore why the movie bombed initially but became a cult classic, how the characters were completely transformed, the controversial fascist themes in both versions, and why the book feels more like military fiction than sci-fi.

Topics covered: Johnny Rico's journey, the Buenos Aires asteroid problem (complete with physics rant), missing sci-fi elements like power suits and psychic echo dogs, Heinlein's real Naval background, and our final verdict on which version actually tells the better story.

Next episode: Frank Herbert's DUNE (all three film adaptations!)

Runtime: 1:20:45

Join the hosts of Ink & Asteroids for their debut episode as they dive deep into Robert A. Heinlein's controversial 1959 classic, Starship Troopers. This isn't your typical sci-fi discussion - discover why this military-focused novel left both hosts questioning whether it truly belongs in the science fiction genre.

What We Cover:

• Why Starship Troopers feels more like military recruitment propaganda than space opera
• The philosophical heavy-handedness that dominates the middle chapters
• Johnny Rico as an unreliable narrator and possible author self-insert
• Cold War era influences and militaristic democracy themes
• The surprising lack of actual sci-fi elements in this "sci-fi" classic
• Women's roles and military segregation in Heinlein's future society
• That saccharine ending with Johnny's father (yes, we call BS too)
• Mini hydrogen bombs as grenades and other questionable tech choices

What happens when a guy reads his first spicy romance book? We gave "The Cryptid" Salt Kiss by Sierra Simone and his reactions are HILARIOUS!

This military bodyguard romance with BDSM elements definitely caught him off guard. From questioning the virgin soldier plot to critiquing military accuracy, his fresh perspective on the romance genre is eye-opening.

⭐ RATINGS: Story 4.5/5 | Spice Level 2/5 ⭐

🔥 WHAT WE DISCUSS:

• First male reader honest reactions
• Plot holes that made us laugh
• Military romance accuracy
• BDSM representation done right
• Male vs female gaze in romance

📚 OCTOBER BOOK: So I Fell For Bigfoot!

👇 JOIN OUR DISCORD for exclusive post-show content!

#BookReview #SpicyBooks #RomanceBooks #SaltKiss #MaleReaction #BookClub #AdultRomance #BookTok

Somehow, our YouTube version of this episode went up perfectly, but the audio version did not!

We are gearing up to come back from our hiatus which ends in Sept, and only just now realized WE HAD NO AUDIO FOR A WHOLE MONTH!

We are so sorry, all. Don't miss this episode, as it is a DOZY!

Content Warning: This episode contains discussions of sensitive material including trauma, BDSM themes, and adult content. Not suitable for children.

After a year-long wait, we finally dive into Rebecca Quinn's highly anticipated finale to the Brutes of Bristlebrook series. "Entwined" promised to be our most anticipated release of the year, but did it deliver? Join us as we discuss the 800+ page conclusion to Eden and the Brutes' story.

We break down everything from character development (or assassination), pacing issues, and the overwhelming amount of explicit content that dominated the narrative. From Jaykob's inexplicable personality shift to Dom's redemption arc, we explore what worked, what didn't, and what we wished had been different.

This episode covers our thoughts on the series as a whole, the challenges of writing ensemble casts, and why sometimes more isn't always better. We also discuss BDSM representation in romance novels and the importance of seeking proper resources for real-life situations.

Resources mentioned are available in the episode description. This is a work of fiction discussion for educational and entertainment purposes only.

Episode 11 of Season 2 - Part of our ongoing series coverage

Episode Highlights: Detailed spoiler-free review of the 800+ page finale Analysis of character arcs and development issues Discussion of pacing and structural problems BDSM representation in romance literature Comparison to previous books in the series Rating breakdown (plot vs. spice level) What we wished had been included from the "ghost book" Author's revision process and ARC feedback impact

Content Warnings: Discussion of trauma and PTSD

BDSM themes and practices

Adult sexual content

References to violence and captivity

Mental health topics

Remember: Fiction is not a substitute for professional help. Resources and hotlines are available 24/7 for those who need support.

National Human Trafficking Hotline

Languages: English, Spanish

Hours: 24 hours, 7 days a week

888-373-7888 Text Info to 233733

National Domestic Violence Hotline

Languages: English, Spanish and 200+ through interpretation service

Hours: 24/7

800-799-7233 Text Begin to 88788

Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

Languages: English, Spanish

Hours: Available 24 hours

988 Text 988

National Mental Health Helpline

1866-903-3787

Content Warning: This episode contains discussions of sensitive material including trauma, BDSM themes, and adult content. Not suitable for children.

After a year-long wait, we finally dive into Rebecca Quinn's highly anticipated finale to the Brutes of Bristlebrook series. "Entwined" promised to be our most anticipated release of the year, but did it deliver? Join us as we discuss the 800+ page conclusion to Eden and the Brutes' story.

We break down everything from character development (or assassination), pacing issues, and the overwhelming amount of explicit content that dominated the narrative. From Jaykob's inexplicable personality shift to Dom's redemption arc, we explore what worked, what didn't, and what we wished had been different.

This episode covers our thoughts on the series as a whole, the challenges of writing ensemble casts, and why sometimes more isn't always better. We also discuss BDSM representation in romance novels and the importance of seeking proper resources for real-life situations.

Resources mentioned are available in the episode description. This is a work of fiction discussion for educational and entertainment purposes only.

Episode 11 of Season 2 - Part of our ongoing series coverage

Episode Highlights:

• Detailed spoiler-free review of the 800+ page finale
• Analysis of character arcs and development issues
• Discussion of pacing and structural problems
• BDSM representation in romance literature
• Comparison to previous books in the series
• Rating breakdown (plot vs. spice level)
• What we wished had been included from the "ghost book"
• Author's revision process and ARC feedback impact

Content Warnings:

• Discussion of trauma and PTSD
• BDSM themes and practices
• Adult sexual content
• References to violence and captivity
• Mental health topics

Remember: Fiction is not a substitute for professional help. Resources and hotlines are available 24/7 for those who need support.

National Human Trafficking Hotline

Languages: English, Spanish

Hours: 24 hours, 7 days a week

888-373-7888 Text Info to 233733

National Domestic Violence Hotline

Languages: English, Spanish and 200+ through interpretation service

Hours: 24/7

800-799-7233 Text Begin to 88788

Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

Languages: English, Spanish

Hours: Available 24 hours

988 Text 988

National Mental Health Helpline

1866-903-3787

In this special episode of The Pretty Little Death podcast, the host shares an original short story written for a supernatural romance contest. Despite receiving over 1,100 submissions and not making it past the first round, the host was so passionate about the writing process that they decided to share "The Harbinger" with their loyal listeners.

The story follows Belethal, a supernatural being known as a Harbinger—an agent of death responsible for collecting souls and bringing them to the afterlife for purification. When she encounters Derek, a charming thief at a wedding reception, she breaks the fundamental rules of her order by falling in love with her target instead of completing her mission. Her dereliction of duty leads to a trial before the Irreverent Mother and her fellow sisters, where she must face the consequences of choosing love over duty.

The narrative explores themes of forbidden love, sacrifice, and transformation as Belethal is ultimately "unwritten" from existence for her transgressions, only to be reborn as a ruby-throated hummingbird—a creature she had always admired during her earthly missions. The story concludes with Derek, unaware of the supernatural drama that unfolded around him, expressing his desire to find the mysterious woman from the wedding.

This episode serves as a special thank-you to the podcast's most dedicated listeners while the regular Book of the Month episode is delayed due to scheduling issues.

In this episode, the hosts discuss their last-minute book switch from "Cades" to "Revenant" by R. Valentine - and they're glad they made the change! This post-apocalyptic vampire series combines elements reminiscent of Twilight with the survival dynamics of The Walking Dead, creating what they call a "grown-up version of Twilight."

Set 20+ years after a viral apocalypse that created zombies (called "kooks"), the story follows Abby, a woman living in a fortified Montana town where benevolent vampires have emerged from hiding to help humanity survive. When vampire Ethan arrives in town, secrets about Abby's heritage begin to unravel.

The hosts give the first book 3/5 stars, praising the realistic relationship development, lack of manufactured drama, and adult handling of conflicts. However, they criticize the vanilla main characters and a major plot hole regarding kept secrets. They note the series improves significantly in later books, with book three being nearly impossible to put down.

Join the critic and the bestie for a nostalgic journey into 90s romance with Lisa Kleypas's "When Strangers Marry." Originally published in 1992, this historical romance takes us to the Louisiana Territory where fiery 19-year-old Lizette escapes an unwanted betrothal by running into the arms of the mysterious and brooding Maximilian.

The hosts dive deep into this pocket edition romance featuring twins, political intrigue, a murder mystery, and Creole culture. They explore character dynamics, the surprising depth beneath the romance, and how this retro read compares favorably to contemporary romances. The episode also includes announcements about upcoming reads, including May's vampire romance "Kade's Dark Embrace" by Kym Grosso.

Rating: 4/5 stars - A solid romance with engaging characters and quick pacing