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Petra Mayer Petra Mayer is an editor at NPR Books, focusing on genre fiction.
Petra Mayer at NPR headquarters in Washington, D.C., May 21, 2019. (photo by Allison Shelley)
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Petra Mayer

Monday

We're Russian To Finish 'Shadow And Bone'

Jessie Mei Li plays Alina Starkov and Ben Barnes plays General Kirigan and in the Netflix series Shadow and Bone. Netflix hide caption

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Netflix

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

We're Russian To Finish 'Shadow And Bone'

Shadow and Bone is a fantasy series based on a successful set of novels. There's a lot to take in — at least six main characters, people who can wield wind and shadow and light, and a Chosen One. That all sounds familiar, but there's enough here to make this series worth your consideration. Shadow and Bone recently returned for a second season, so we thought it would be a good time to revisit our conversation recorded back in 2021 about its first season, featuring panelists Mallory Yu and Petra Mayer. Petra died unexpectedly later that year, and we always loved having her on the show. Even though we will always miss her terribly, we hope you'll agree how great it is to hear her voice, and her passion, in your podcast feed once again.

We're Russian To Finish 'Shadow And Bone'

Listen · 15:05
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Monday

'The Great Pottery Throw Down' is as soothing as ever

Host Siobhán McSweeney and contestant Alon Shahar in season four of The Great Pottery Throw Down. Love Productions/HBO Max hide caption

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Love Productions/HBO Max

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

'The Great Pottery Throw Down' is as soothing as ever

The Great Pottery Throw Down is one of the gentlest, kindest, and warmest competitive reality shows you will ever see (even when things literally explode). The fifth season aired in the U.K. earlier this year, and it's now streaming on HBO Max. In this encore episode, we talk about a show that will help you relax at the end of even the longest day.

'The Great Pottery Throw Down' is as soothing as ever

Listen · 12:31
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Wednesday

Want To Start Reading Sci-Fi And Fantasy? Here's A Beginner's Guide
Benjamin Rondel/CULTURA/Science Source

Short Wave

Want To Start Reading Sci-Fi And Fantasy? Here's A Beginner's Guide

Today we're bringing you a beginner's guide to reading science fiction and fantasy from our friends at NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour and Life Kit.

Want To Start Reading Sci-Fi And Fantasy? Here's A Beginner's Guide

Listen · 19:39
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Friday

Wednesday

Wednesday

'Foundation' (loosely!) adapts Isaac Asimov's sci-fi epic

Cooper Carter, Lee Pace and Terrence Mann as three differently-aged clones of the emperor in the Apple TV+ series Foundation. Apple TV+ hide caption

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Apple TV+

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

'Foundation' (loosely!) adapts Isaac Asimov's sci-fi epic

Foundation is set in the far future, when humanity has expanded into a vast galactic empire. A mathematician comes forward to announce that he's crunched the numbers — and found that the empire is on the verge of collapse, and humanity is about to enter a 30,000 year dark age. The Apple TV+ series is based on a series of books by Isaac Asimov that was once awarded a Hugo Award for best science-fiction series of all time.

'Foundation' (loosely!) adapts Isaac Asimov's sci-fi epic

Listen · 13:56
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Monday

Business

Supply chain issues are slowing the production of books ahead of the holidays

Shortages of paper and cardboard — plus issues with warehouse and shipping capacity — are causing havoc in the publishing industry right before the holiday shopping season kicks into gear.

Supply chain issues are slowing the production of books ahead of the holidays

Listen · 4:09
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Wednesday

Thursday

Want To Start Reading Sci-Fi And Fantasy? Here's A Beginner's Guide To The Galaxy
Becky Harlan/NPR

Life Kit

Want To Start Reading Sci-Fi And Fantasy? Here's A Beginner's Guide To The Galaxy

If you want to dip a toe in the starry seas of fantasy and science fiction, but you just don't know where to start, Pop Culture Happy Hour is teaming up with Life Kit for a handy beginner's guide. What's the difference between sci-fi and fantasy? Is there one at all? We'll cover all that and throw in some reading recommendations to get you going.

Want To Start Reading Sci-Fi And Fantasy? Here's A Beginner's Guide To The Galaxy

Listen · 20:02
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Thursday

Wednesday

Wednesday

Friday

Comic-Con Is Online Only Again This Year. On The Bright Side, No Lines!

Like last year, the sidewalks around San Diego's convention center are empty and no one is lined up at the famed Hall H. Daniel Knighton/Getty Images hide caption

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Daniel Knighton/Getty Images

Pop Culture

Comic-Con Is Online Only Again This Year. On The Bright Side, No Lines!

No costumed crowds are thronging the streets of San Diego this weekend: For the second year in a row, Comic-Con is online only. But organizers are hoping for a small in-person show in November.

Tuesday