Summer Book Bingo 2026: The Books That Stood Out
Galaxies and Goddesses: A Sci-Fi & Fantasy BookcastShow Notes
In this episode of Galaxies and Goddesses, Andrea and Elizabeth wrap up Summer Book Bingo by sharing some of their favorite reads from the challenge. They talk about books that they couldn’t put down, the strange ways a Bingo category can change how you look at a book, and some thought provoking weird little books. A few are sci-fi, a few are fantasy, and some are just really great stories about community and character.
01:36 Books We Couldn't Put Down 07:22 The Books That Made Us Look Twice 12:35 Excellent Standalone Novels 18:32 Weird Little Books 26:17 One Word Title 27:34 A Book to Make You Smile
Books discussed in the episode: Good People — Patmeena Sabit (Debut Novel)
The Correspondent — Virginia Evans (Bird on the Cover)
White Fang — Jack London (Bird on the Cover)
Dungeon Crawler Carl — Matt Dinniman (First Person POV)
The Buffalo Hunter Hunter — Stephen Graham Jones (Standalone Novel)
The Everlasting — Alix E. Harrow (Time Travel)
This Is How You Lose the Time War — Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone (Time Travel)
The Factory — Hiroko Oyamada (In Translation)
The Empress of Salt and Fortune — Nghi Vo (Novella)
Small Things Like These — Claire Keegan (Novella)
Beartown — Fredrik Backman (One Word Title)
Lobster Is the Best Medicine — Liz Climo (Read in a Day)
Books also listed on our Bookshop.org affiliate storefront: https://bookshop.org/shop/galaxiesandgoddesses Additional References: The Tales Behind the Branding of 32 Storied Book Publishers. Brian LaRossa. https://brianlarossa.medium.com/the-tales-behind-the-branding-of-32-storied-book-publishers-f14679107742
More from Galaxies and Goddesses: A Sci-Fi & Fantasy Bookcast
Andrea and Elizabeth return to Robin Hobb’s Farseer Trilogy to discuss Assassin’s Quest, the epic conclusion to Fitz’s journey. They explore Fitz’s search for purpose, the role of prophecy, and how his growing circle of companions helps him along the way. They also debate whether the ending feels rushed or satisfying, consider the mysteries left unanswered, and share their ratings for the final book.
What actually makes a book horror? In this spooky season episode, Andrea and Elizabeth explore where horror, fantasy, science fiction, and literary fiction start to blur together. They discuss unsettling books without traditional monsters, monsters that aren't necessarily scary, and the horror of human behavior and systemic injustice. Along the way, they discover that horror can take many forms, and perhaps the genre is harder to define than they thought.
In this episode of Galaxies and Goddesses, Andrea and Elizabeth dive into Royal Assassin by Robin Hobb, the second book in the Farseer Trilogy. They talk about Fitz's growth from a young assassin into someone with deeper relationships, stronger alliances, and a much bigger role in the politics of Buckkeep. As the enemies seem to be at every turn, who is the biggest threat and are we really seeing the whole picture?
In this episode of Galaxies and Goddesses, Andrea and Elizabeth dive into books on their TBRs for years, or even decades. This week, they're talking about the books and authors they've read a book or two and want to keep reading, from Margaret Atwood and Brandon Sanderson to Stephen King and George R.R. Martin. They discuss intimidating series, unfinished stories, forgotten books on their shelves, and the many ways book logistics influence what they actually read next.
In this episode of Galaxies and Goddesses, Andrea and Elizabeth dive into Robin Hobb’s Assassin’s Apprentice. As the first book in the Farseer Trilogy, the story follows Fitz, a young royal bastard who is drawn into the dangerous world of court politics and magic. They talk about why this classic fantasy felt surprisingly familiar, yet how Hobb’s detailed writing and worldbuilding pulls in the reader. They also discuss favorite characters, the mysterious magic systems of the Skill and the Wit, and why they’re excited to read more.