The Memory of Whiteness, by Kim Stanley Robinson, and Toki Suntory, Part 1

Michael, Ethan, and special guest Josiah discuss The Memory of Whiteness, by Kim Stanley Robinson while drinking Suntory Toki Japanese whisky.In this episode:Accusations of cuckoo-bird-eryIs this book Faust? Is this book Alastor? Is Alastor Faust?Having a stroke, falling into a singularity: pretty much the same thingThe Contexts of Percy Bysshe Shelley’s Faust Translations, by Mathelinda NabugodiDeterminism leads to free will leads to determinism leads to free will, etcHave you ever heard of a piece of music starting with a prologue???Ethan scoops Josiah, but at least he gives Josiah credit for itLots of mountain stuffThe music of the spheres? THAT’s provocativeEthan loses but is only called out for it the second timeNepenthe, the drug of forgetfulnessSome extremely cool and not at all completely nerdy discussion of different types of genitiveWe are not doing any kind of linking or backgrounding of the punishment song. We’re all suffering togetherNote: Josiah did force the karaoke to go on MUCH longer, but the editors have cut it down purely for the sake of avoiding a copyright strike and for no other reasonNext time Michael, Ethan, and Josiah will continue to discuss The Memory of Whiteness, by Kim Stanley Robinson! Join the discussion! Go to the Contact page and put "Scotch Talk" in the Subject line. We'd love to hear from you! And submit your homework at the Michael & Ethan in a Room with Scotch page. Join us on GoodReads!Get on our Substack!Donate to our Patreon! MUSIC & SFX: "Kessy Swings Endless - (ID 349)" by Lobo Loco. Used by permission. "The Grim Reaper - II Presto" by Aitua. Used under an Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike License. "Thinking It Over" by Lee Rosevere. Used under an Attribution License.(Links to books & products are affiliate links.)