Popular fiction across space and time, and queer bush doof thriller in Thomas Vowles' Our New Gods

The latest best-selling novels from Taylor Jenkins-Reid (Atmosphere) and Fredrik Backman (My Friends) explore 1980s astronauts, ambition and romance; and teenage anguish, friendship and art. Emotive and cinematic, how often is popular fiction written for the screen?Speaking of the screen, screenwriter Thomas Vowles’ debut novel Our New Gods takes us on a twisted psychological thriller through gay saunas, bush doofs, and the grit of Melbourne’s queer scene.BOOKSThomas Vowles, Our New Gods, UQPFredrik Backman, My Friends (Translated from Swedish by Neil Smith), Simon and SchusterTaylor Jenkins-Reid, Atmosphere, Hutchinson Heinemann(Keep scrolling to see all other books mentioned on the program)GUESTSTegan Bennett-Daylight, author and teacher of creative writing, whose books include the novels Bombora and What Falls Away; the essay collection, The Details; the short story collection, Six Bedrooms; and the Young Adult novels Royals and (her latest) How to Survive 1985. She’s a Bookshelf regular.Richard Aedy, longtime Radio National colleague (whose programs included The Money and Life Matters); now producing a podcast for the Productivity Commission: The ProdCast; Also a Bookshelf regular.  OTHER BOOKS MENTIONEDTaylor Jenkins-Reid, Daisy Jones & The SixHolden Sheppard, King of DirtBret Easton Ellis, The ShardsTegan Bennett-Daylight, RoyalsTegan Bennett-Daylight, How to Survive 1985Fredrik Backman, A Man Called OveFredrik Backman, BeartownFredrik Backman, Anxious PeoplePercival Everett, JamesSamantha Harvey, OrbitalCeridwen Dovey, Only The AstronautsTaylor Jenkins-Reid, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn HugoTaylor Jenkins-Reid, Malibu RisingTaylor Jenkins-Reid, Carrie Soto is Back: A NovelKaliane Bradley, The Ministry of TimeKevin Barry, The Heart in WinterKevin Barry, Night Boat to TangierSarah Holland-Batt, The JaguarMichelle de Krester, Theory & PracticeSharleigh Crittenden, The Un-doing (Published in Island magazine #173)Ben Lerner, The Hatred of PoetryBen Lerner, The Topeka SchoolBen Lerner, Leaving the Atocha StationBen Lerner, 10:04CREDITSPresenter, Kate Evans & Cassie McCullaghProducer, Kate Evans & Salome Lines-MorisonSound Engineer, John Jacobs & Anne-Marie de BettencorExecutive Producer, Rhiannon Brown