Saga of Rereading Epics

In this read-along book club podcast, Erika Ensign and Lisa Schmeiser reread, reconsider, and “re-feel” epic novels they both loved in their youth — Julian May’s Saga of Pliocene Exile and Galactic Milieu series.

Podcast artwork by Antony Johnston; podcast theme by Null Device.

All Episodes

  • Saga of Rereading Epics cover art
    June 25, 2021 Wrap-up
    11 Wrap-up of Rereading Epics

    Now that we’ve completed our epic reread, we take some time to debrief on the books, the reread, and our whole philosophies of rereading and revisiting media. We even throw in a few reading recommendations for good measure.

    More than anything, we want to thank you all for joining us on this epic journey.

  • Saga of Rereading Epics cover art
    May 25, 2021 The Galactic Milieu Book 3
    10 Magnificat

    We’ve reached the end! Time to cover the final book about this “magnificent family of weirdo psychic Kennedys”.

    Just one more ep of the podcast to go, when we’ll wrap up the entire nine-book epic!

  • Saga of Rereading Epics cover art
    April 25, 2021 The Galactic Milieu Book 2
    9 Diamond Mask

    The Galactic Milieu drama continues with a female protagonist and a corker of a final line!

  • Saga of Rereading Epics cover art
    March 25, 2021 The Galactic Milieu Book 1
    8 Jack the Bodiless

    We have started the final trilogy of Julian May’s epic series with a book that asks “what if the Kennedys, but psychic?”

  • Saga of Rereading Epics cover art
    February 25, 2021 Intervention Book 2
    7 The Metaconcert

    Intervention concludes with a fairly epic showdown. There’s some dark, dark stuff here, but it’s such a wild ride! And Uncle Rogi continues to be a lovely old crank.

  • Saga of Rereading Epics cover art
    January 25, 2021 Intervention Book 1
    6 The Surveillance

    After travelling six million years into the future, Lisa and Erika grapple with a tonal shift, but it’s a shift that feels pretty good once we settle in — in great part because Uncle Rogi is a cantankerous delight!

  • Saga of Rereading Epics cover art
    December 25, 2020 Pliocene Exile Book 4
    5 The Adversary

    Julian May wraps up the Saga of Pliocene Exile. As usual, we have thoughts! And feelings! Who got a good ending? Who got the shaft? How did this strike us now as compared to our first times through? All this and more if you just hit “Play”.

  • Saga of Rereading Epics cover art
    November 25, 2020 Pliocene Exile Book 3
    4 The Nonborn King

    Lisa and Erika really dig into where Julian May might have been coming from. She gave a few of her characters a raw deal, and really tips her hand starting with the title of the book itself. Reading this novel with 2019-brain is a very different exercise than our first reads-through. (Yes, we recorded this episode in 2019.)

  • Saga of Rereading Epics cover art
    October 25, 2020 Pliocene Exile Book 2
    3 The Golden Torc

    The saga continues with the other half of Group Green. We have so many feelings about spoilery recaps, mopey Elizabeth, savvy Mercy, and so much “Oh Bryan. Why?”

  • Saga of Rereading Epics cover art
    September 25, 2020 Pliocene Exile Book 1
    2 The Many-Colored Land

    Erika and Lisa dive headlong into their epic re-read just as Group Green dives headlong into Earth’s Pliocene Epoch. Will either live up to expectations?

  • Saga of Rereading Epics cover art
    August 24, 2020 Intro
    1 Why Read These Books?

    In the inaugural episode of this read-along podcast, Erika and Lisa try to convince you that Julian May’s Saga of Pliocene Exile and Galactic Milieu series are well worth reading, even if they are a bit hard to find.

    You have fair warning before they dive into hardcore spoilers about the series as a whole and what they expect for this re-read.