Welcome back to another exciting episode of The Middle of Culture! Your hosts, Peter and Eden, are here to dive into the world of pop culture, sci-fi, and everything in between. This week, we’re braving the cold and tackling a highly recommended novella that’s been on our TBR list for far too long.

What we are checking out:

Peter has been diving into some serious reading, tackling "The Lost Metal" from the Mistborn series and a nonfiction book on philosophy

Eden has been exploring new manga and video games, including finishing "Nichijou" and starting "Indiana Jones and the Great Circle"

A deep dive into "Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes," a spiritual successor to the beloved Suikoden series, and its stunning HD 2D graphics

All Systems Red

We both share our initial thoughts on "All Systems Red," agreeing that it’s an enjoyable read but not necessarily a mind-blowing one

Discussion on the book’s cozy sci-fi reputation and appeal to fans of softer, quieter media

We dive into the book’s exploration of personhood, autonomy, and the dehumanization of cyborgs and AI

Eden brings up the interesting dynamic between Murderbot and the augmented human, and the implications of respectability politic

Both hosts express curiosity about the broader sociopolitical context of the series and the motivations of the antagonistic group

Speculation on how the TV adaptation will handle the casting and portrayal of Murderbot, especially regarding its degendered identity.

Wrap-Up:

Thank you for joining us on this journey through "All Systems Red." We hope you enjoyed our discussion and are as excited as we are to see how the Murderbot Diaries will be brought to life on screen. Stay tuned for our next episode, and as always, take care of yourselves!