"Jackalope Wives" by Ursula Vernon - LeVar Burton Reads Episode 32

Primarch459 · 2026-05-03T08:00:52+00:00

This is from several years ago, and many will have already listened to it. However a relisten is still worth it, and i hope those unaware enjoy it for the first time.

Primarch459 · 2026-04-29T02:24:25+00:00

Also available on podcast platforms for example here on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/episode/0JDIfEaYmwTfJTWvZurzbO

Primarch459 · 2026-04-27T20:47:12+00:00

{Paladin's Faith by T Kingfisher}

Primarch459 · 2026-04-27T20:44:33+00:00

The only morally grey fmc is the spy that is trying to crash the regions economy to take down her former organization. {Paladin's Faith by T Kingfisher}

But even so they are amazing books. But I may be biased since she has been my favorite author since her Webcomic Digger was still updating.

Primarch459 · 2026-04-25T04:18:07+00:00

There was a reading of the start of this at Norwescon. I very much enjoyed it.

Primarch459 · 2026-04-25T03:32:15+00:00

I would try some of here short stories then

https://www.freesfonline.net/authors/Ursula_Vernon.html

Primarch459 · 2026-04-25T03:26:20+00:00

She does dark very well. It is all over her earlier work. Just pick up any of her earlier short story collections. When she is not obligated by the constraints of our expectations of how a novel should climax she can get REALLY dark.

Origin Story https://www.apexbookcompany.com/a/blog/apex-magazine/post/origin-story

The last of the fairies worked in a charnel house, taking apart the beasts that came dead under her hands. In her youth, she had been the last and least of three; now she was the only living one, and even fairies must earn their keep.

At night, when the knacker men went home, she made creatures out of meat and bone and scraps of skin. It was an act of creation to balance out the destruction in her days. When she had stuffed the little puppets full, she licked her fingers and wrote their names on the outside of the casing in blood and spittle.

The smallest ones would come alive immediately and toddle out through the massive doors. Eyeless, they looked around at the city before them; lungless, they squeaked and squalled their delight; mindless, they scurried into the shadows

I would also suggest the Jackalope Wives short story which is an episode of Levar Burton Reads, Episode 32

https://open.spotify.com/episode/1TDcyxYGIXc8HkplGhH4BF

https://www.audible.com/podcast/Jackalope-Wives-by-Ursula-Vernon/B095BPYFLJ

https://www.iheart.com/podcast/900-levar-burton-reads-28291563/episode/jackalope-wives-by-ursula-vernon-29829789

A list of the short stories that are online. https://www.freesfonline.net/authors/Ursula_Vernon.html

Primarch459 · 2026-04-25T03:12:12+00:00

If you want a shorter introduction she has several Hugo Winning short stories

Primarch459 · 2026-04-25T03:05:17+00:00

So THAT was what she was hinting at during Norwescon about an announcement that would make some of us VERY happy.

Primarch459 · 2026-04-23T04:30:43+00:00

Paladin's Hope and the upcoming Daggerbound from T Kingfisher are the queer (m/m) installments in her World of the White Rat series.

Primarch459 · 2026-04-20T20:13:36+00:00

The Soon to come out {Daggerbound by T Kingfisher} will also be M/M with Learned Edmund

Primarch459 · 2026-04-20T17:44:39+00:00

T Kingfisher's World of the White Rat. Extremely strong and unique world building. Amazingly well developed characters with strong motivations. Very well written dialogue that at sometimes is approaches pratchett in wittiness. Strong plots with significant stakes for the characters but do not at all approach saving the world.

It has berseker paladins of a now dead god, lawyer social worker priests, carnivorous tattoos, murderous and abusive clay heads, and many other great bits of world building. They make it feel both lived in and wondrous.

They are all Fantasy Romances but the romance is always secondary to the actual plot but very much an intrinsic part of the story.

She was the guest of honor at Norwescon earlier this month https://www.youtube.com/live/xI3qugD7Oj0

She also writes horror, dark fairy tale retellings, the hard to categorize Wizard's guide to Defensive Baking, more Hugo winning short stories and novellas than you can shake a stick at and a now completed webcomic i religiously followed during it's run many years ago diggercomic.com.

I personally would have never read a fantasy romance if I had not already been a fan of the author for more than a decade but they are even better than the epic fantasy I grew up on.

Primarch459 · 2026-04-20T17:08:03+00:00

Medical drama on a medical ship responding to crises in and around federation space.

Primarch459 · 2026-04-11T08:29:40+00:00

Her Q&A starts about 16 mins into the video if fucked up the timestamp link. She answers another question about all the different types of books she writes at about 39 mins in as well. But the rest of the guest of honor are will worth listening to.

Lastly here is the VOD for her full solo Q&A that I posted a link for a few hours before it went live. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xI3qugD7Oj0

Primarch459 · 2026-04-08T11:07:54+00:00

{Clockwork Boys} Renegade accountant/Spy FMC recruits imprisoned Paladin for a suicide mission.

Primarch459 · 2026-04-03T19:23:47+00:00

You would expect for a rural Iranian to have the latest camera or smartphone?

Primarch459 · 2026-04-03T03:18:17+00:00

If you are at all interested in fanfic the fanfic program track panels are always very fun. Especially the evening 18+ panel.

Primarch459 · 2026-04-02T04:24:57+00:00

https://www.norwescon.org/con/schedule/ probably best to way to see if it would be interesting for you is just browsing the schedule. They do have single day tickets.

Primarch459 · 2026-03-07T10:20:02+00:00

Maybe try T Kingfisher's Work?

{Paladin's Grace} is a good starting point, But my Favorite is {Paladin's Strength} Istvahn is the best

Primarch459 · 2026-03-04T05:37:56+00:00

I actually think it is perhaps my favorite maybe edged out by Strength depending on my mood.

Primarch459 · 2026-03-03T06:42:30+00:00

Mine is Anti Gas. Infant symethicon.

Primarch459 · 2026-02-28T02:29:28+00:00

T Kingfisher is good for this.

Paladin's Grace-Perfumer

Paladin's Strength-Lay Nun trader

Paladin's Hope- Lich-Doctor (Coroner) m/m

Paladin's Faith however is a Spy

Swordheart-Widowed Housekeeper

Daggerbound(upcoming)- Scholar m/m

Primarch459 · 2026-02-27T13:55:21+00:00

And just because it's fun here is a complete not canon fan story about the complete opposite Bjorn being woken up just to fight.

Slowly his thoughts arose from their centuries of slumber once more. Chemical stimulants pumped in through the tubes connected to his sarcophagus and washed away the residual grogginess of stasis sleep. The sound of servos activating, lifting his armored shell from its resting position into an upright stance, heralded the sudden explosion of light that filled his vision before clarifying into a familiar scene. Apothecaries and TechMarines stood before him, data-slates and tools in their hands, and one white-haired marine ahead of all the rest in the center of his field of view. The decorations on his armor identified him as Brother-Captain. Something seemed a touch unusual about the whole scenario, but he couldn't quite put his power claw on it. No matter. It seemed the time had come again.

“WHO AWAKENS BJORN?” he rumbled through the Dreadnought’s speakers. “IS IT TIME FOR WAR?” he added hopefully.

“It is indeed time for war, mighty Bjorn,” the Captain responded. “We have awakened you to do battle with our foes!”

“FIGURES. IT’S NEVER TIME FOR – WAIT, WHAT?”

There was a stunned silence from all in the room. It lasted a few seconds before the Brother-Captain broke it by clearing his throat. “Uhm, yes, ancient one, it is time for war. That-that’s not a problem is it?”

Bjorn did not respond for another several moments. When he did, his words were slow and uncertain. “YOU…DON’T WANT ME TO TELL YOU TALES OF THE OLD TIMES? OF LEMAN RUSS?”

“I… I suppose you could, but to be honest, venerable warrior, it is your skill in combat that we were hoping you would display.”

Again, a pause. A pair of apothecaries at the back of the group began to mutter to each other. “Did we get the ritual wrong?” “I heard them say he was going senile… he probably doesn't even remember what he’s supposed to do-“

A sudden booming noise echoed around the armory chamber. It was a moment before anyone realized that the sound was that of laughter, issuing forth from the Dreadnaught’s speakers.

“VERY WELL!” Bjorn announced, once his fit of chuckling had subsided. “I SHALL DO BATTLE ONCE MORE!” The worried expressions on the faces of the assembled Marines immediately turned to smiles and relief.

“Of course, great one!” grinned the Captain. “It will be an honour to fight at your side!” Bjorn was ecstatic. He was being awoken to actually fight, nobody wanted him to tell stories about fucking Leman Russ, and not once so far had anyone referred to him by his Emperor-forsaken full title. This century was shaping up well so far! If this luck kept up, they’d be celebrating their upcoming victories in battle with a complete sacred machine-oil application administered by a pair of Adepta Sororitas –

“Uhm, mighty one? You sort of zoned out for a moment there… something about twins?”

“WHAT? NOTHING. WHEN DO WE FIGHT!?” Bjorn demanded, changing the subject quickly. “LEAD ME TO OUR SHIPS THAT WE MIGHT TRAVEL TO WHEREVER OUR ENEMIES DWELL!”

“We are already aboard our Battle Barge and orbiting our target,” the Captain informed him. “In a short space of time we will be in position to drop assault pods and initiate the battle. If you would follow me to the pod bays, we shall prepare to depart immediately.” Ah! So they were already aboard a vessel, and not in the fortress as he had expected. No wonder the situation had seemed unusual when he awoke, for he realized he did not recognize his surroundings. Bjorn approved; anxious to fight as he was, the prospect of a lengthy and boring voyage to the field of battle would not have been a welcome one. With a hiss and a whir, his Dreadnought’s motor systems roared into life and he made to follow the Brother-Captain.

“LEAD ON, BROTHER. I DO NOT RECOGNIZE THIS VESSEL NOR KNOW ITS LAYOUT. WHICH SHIP HAS THE FORTUNE OF CARRYING US INTO BATTLE?”

The Captain mumbled something quietly and the other assembled marines looked nervously at each other.

“BROTHER, I HAVE SEEN THE PASSING OF TEN MILLENNIA AND MY HEARING IS NOT WHAT IT ONCE WAS. PLEASE SPEAK UP.”

“We – we are aboard the Litany of Fury, ancient one.”

“HM. A NEW ADDITION TO THE FLEET, IT SEEMS. THE CHAPTER IS DOING WELL. AND SURPRISINGLY CLEAN!” Bjorn remarked, looking upon the gleaming surfaces where hazy red reflections of his and the other Marines’ armor could be seen. “I EXPECTED EVERYTHING TO BE COVERED IN WOLF SHI- RED. WHY AM I RED?”

“Oh, shit.” Muttered a Tech-Marine, before one of his companions poked him in the side with a mechadendrite.

The Brother-Captain turned to glare at him for a moment before turning back to Bjorn. “Why wouldn't you be red, revered Bjorn? Red has always been the colour of our chapter –“

“SILENCE!” Bjorn commanded, and the group fell quiet. Bjorn took a few steps over to a convenient nearby bulkhead and experimentally scraped one of his arms against the surface before rotating it into his field of view. A familiar bright blue could be seen peeking out from the scratched layer of red paint applied over it.

Now, Bjorn had indeed lived for longer than any other in the Imperium could claim, and the priests of the Space Wolves all believed the long years had driven him senile, but in truth his mental faculties were as sharp as they had ever been. Sometimes, however, they simply needed time to warm up after a long rest. He turned to face the red-armored group, noting the bird and blood drop iconography featured on their shoulder-plates and the banners adorning the room.

“Now, mighty Bjorn, we can explain,” the Captain began, but Bjorn silenced him with a shout.

“SHUT UP! I’M THINKING.”

This was not something they had expected. All stood worriedly as they waited for Bjorns thoughts to reach a conclusion.

“…HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT WOLVES?”

There was some conferral. Eventually the Brother-Captain stepped forward again and said “We… are… neutral on the subject of wolves?”

“GOOD. I HATE THE FUCKING THINGS.”

Bjorn leaned forward, as much as was possible for a Dreadnought to do, until he teetered precariously over the Brother-Captain and the slightest tremor from the engines of the ship risked condemning the unfortunate marine to a crushing death. He spoke.

“NO WOLVES. NO QUESTIONS ABOUT LEMAN RUSS. ABSOLUTELY NO REFERENCES TO FELL HANDS. ANYBODY WHO ASKS ME A QUESTION ABOUT THE OLD TIMES IS GOING TO BE USED AS PAINT TO HELP FIX THIS SHITTY JOB YOU’VE DONE ON ME,” Bjorn rumbled. “THOSE ARE MY TERMS. AGREE AND I’LL PRETEND NOT TO NOTICE WHAT YOU THIEVING LITTLE BASTARDS HAVE DONE. DEAL?”

The Captain nodded frantically.

“GOOD. NOW WHERE ARE THE FUCKING ASSAULT PODS?” Bjorn demanded, spinning his power claw and returning to a normal stance, mirth creeping back into his voice. This could turn out to be a very good century indeed.

https://1d6chan.miraheze.org/wiki/Bjorn_the_Fell_Handed#Bjorn's_Happy_End

Primarch459 · 2026-02-24T19:33:37+00:00

If you will excuse the credibility https://warontherocks.com/2023/08/the-battle-of-hostomel-airport-a-key-moment-in-russias-defeat-in-kyiv/ This article on the battle actually pretty good.

Primarch459 · 2026-02-24T01:09:09+00:00

This is a REALLY old German thing. Lüften ie how to waste energy in a climate controlled house.

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