Escapists Anonymous
The Fantasy Fiction Book Club and peer support network for fantasy literature fanatics.
Two friends, Sam and Dan, explore the epic worlds of fantasy fiction literature as they select books to deep-dive into. Read along with us and join in the conversation on our social media @escapistsanonymouspod.
Episodes will include spoilers, so make sure you've read the sections that we're covering.
If you're a fan of Joe Abercrombie, Patrick Rothfuss, Peter V. Brett, Brent Weeks, Terry Pratchett, Tolkein, Raymond D. Feist, Brandon Sanderson, Ben Aaronovitch and other authors that would fit in this list, join the Escapists Anonymous community of fantasy enthusiasts.
Escapists Anonymous
#58 Alan Moore: I Hear a New World
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Sam and Dan review I Hear a New World, the second book in the Long London series by Alan Moore.
SPOILER ALERT: This episode contains spoilers. We strongly recommend reading this book before listening.
Join us as we return to the strange and surreal world of Long London to discuss whether I Hear a New World lives up to the promise of The Great When. We explore the novel's shifting structure, dense prose, and dreamlike narrative, as the boundaries between Long London and short London become increasingly blurred.
We also dive into the book's central themes of change, gentrification, and cultural transformation in post-war London, asking what Alan Moore is really trying to say about history, progress, and the city itself. Along the way, we debate the relationship between Dennis and Grace, the role of sex and desire in the story, and whether some of the novel's characters and plot developments feel fully realised or are laying the groundwork for future instalments.
From its rich symbolism and real-world cultural references to its atmospheric storytelling and unconventional approach to plot, we unpack what worked, what didn't, and where we think the Long London series is heading next.
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