Episode 0026: The Secret Library – Lamb by Christopher Moore

Truth be told, we probably could have returned to The Secret Library sooner, but I’ve been avoiding it. Why? Two words: late fees. See, a couple of months ago I checked out a copy of Getting Things Done by David Allen and promptly set fire to it. No book will mock my character flaws in such a manner, do you understand? I will not be mocked!

As it turns out, our android librarian is equipped with neither a sense of irony nor any compulsion toward forgiveness. Nor the slightest inclination to waive a replacement fee, for that matter. However, the whole unpleasant mess has been resolved and we are now prepared to discuss Lamb, The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal, by Christopher Moore.

Promo: The Inner Chapters, Volume 1 by Thomas “cmdln” Gideon, available at Podiobooks.com.

Discussion: Lamb, The Gospel According Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal, by Christopher Moore

• SPOILER ALERT! Chris suggests that if you’ve not read Lamb, you should stop listening to the episode and perhaps listen to something else instead. One possibility: Gray Dancer’s Ropecast, and believe me when I tell you the site is very Not Safe For Work (or Boy Scouts).
• Lamb fills in a very significant gap in the life of Jesus Christ, a 20-plus-year period of the Messiah’s life that is strangely missing from The Holy Bible. I blame the editors.
• Chris spots a similarity with Tom Stoppard’s excellent Hamlet spinoff, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead.

Chief Medical Officer’s Progress Report #2: The Bad Doctor returns to blame yet another new strain of yet another virus on our meddling—we prefer “fiddling”, really—with equine-primate hybridization. As a side note, bonobos (pygmy chimpanzees) really are very cute; it should have worked, dammit!

From the Ministry of Crackpot Schemes and Unfortunate Synergies: Jay is in Hong Kong attempting to procure a wolf-child, but important details seem to have been lost in translation somewhere.

Wrap-up

• Both Overlords gave Lamb high marks: five thousand out of five loaves and fishes.
• We both feel the story is irreverent without being disrespectful.
• The book does contain adult language and adult situations, not to mention Kung Fu.

Next on The Secret Library: The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger.

Lair Keeping

• Our theme music is “Skullcrusher Mountain” by Jonathan Coulton.
• Our Secretary of Artistic Propaganda is Natalie Metzger.
• Our Minister of Crackpot Schemes and Unfortunate Synergies is Jay “The Kingfish” Lynn.
• Our Chief Medical Officer is Dr. John Cmar.
• Our Airborne Legions are led by Commandante David Moore.
• Our Minister of Suspicious Substitutions and Unreasonable Facimiles often operates under the pseudonym The Cynical Optimist.
• Our Minister of Secrets and Subterfuge is classified.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 38:09 — 34.9MB)

Related posts:

1. The Secret Lair Episode 0002: The Secret Library
2. The Secret Lair Episode 0010: What makes a good…ohh, shiny!
3. Episode 0025: I Need a (Super) Hero
4. The Secret Lair Episode 0009: No Fools Allowed
5. Episode 0028: The Time Traveler’s Wife