Dawn Treader, part 1

As Season Three of the Inklings Variety Hour begins, worlds collide! 

David Bates, of Pints with Jack fame, is hoisted aboard our primitive, deckchairless podcast, as we set sail for sweeter waters!

Why, you can almost feel the sea air! Bracing!

Also joining up with us, we have Eric Geddes from the snowy wastes of Phoenix--whom you might remember from our Christmas episode!

Enjoy part 1 of our two-part coverage of Voyage of the Dawn Treader.  Among other topics, we discuss:

• Whether (and why) this is where Narnia really takes shape
• That amazing first line--and Harold and Alberta's special underwear
• How to repel germs and insects--Lewis brothers style!
• Voyage of the Dawn Treader as satire-turned-adventure tale
• The Miseducation of Eustace Clarence Scrubb
• The genre and structure of this satire-turned-adventure tale-turned-immram
• The superiority of the low-budget BBC adaptation of The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
• Eustace's diary and grade-grubbing
• Slavery, moral fads, "progress" in an egg, bureaucracies, and "efficient" committees--versus pomp and ceremony
• Eustace as Edmund dialed up to 11
• The endragoning of Eustace and fiends in human shape
• Sir Gowther
• How we would create a Star Trek-style adaptation of Voyage of the Dawn Treader...in space (er, Heaven).  Eat your heart out, Gene Roddenberry and Michael Ward!

Next week: Voyage of the Dawn Treader, part 2!

Special thanks to Logan Huggins for amazing work editing/producing this episode!  Enjoy it while you can, folks--he won't be able to edit the next episode, which means Chris will try his hand!

If you like The Inklings Variety Hour, please leave us a good review on iTunes or elsewhere!  Also, please do write in--a big thank you to those who have!  We'd love to meet you!  (Inklingsvarietyhour@gmail.com).  

I'm also always looking for new cohosts or others who would like to contribute to this project, either through editing or social media.  It's been a bit like the ship of Theseus, but if you'd like to hop aboard for a few episodes, I'd love to have you!  

After The Voyage of the Dawn Treader part 2, we'll be talking with J.D. Peabody, the author of the new middle-grade book series, The Inkwell Chronicles--which expands our idea of "the Inklings" and stars "Ronald, Jack, and Dot" as supporting characters.  Feel free to start reading now!