Workers' Lit

This book is weird, and horny, and gnarly, and gross, and exciting, and an all around winner.

Welcome to our discussion of “The Works of Vermin,” Hiron Ennes’ 2025 speculative fantasty slam dunk of a novel. Seriously, go buy this one. Go read it. The episode will still be here when you’re done.

And we’re not alone! Maria Ingrade Mora, author of “A Wild Radiance” and many others joins us as we descend into this labyrinth of class, gender, angst, repression, and artistic agonies.

Questions we discuss: Can art be a revolution? What makes a good plot twist work? Where is the line between effective and overwrought prose? Is it possible to get head so good you join a new political movement?

Go check out Maria’s work and get a copy of “A Wild Radiance!”

https://www.mariamora.net/

Go support Workers’ Lit on Patreon!

https://www.patreon.com/workerslit

(Production Note: Lenore’s internet was a problem so she had to drop out of the episode midway through and we didn’t get any of her audio. As such there may be an occasional odd-sounding moment in the first half because we had to cut around Lenore. Apologies for any confusion this may create!)

It’s the big one. Our most requested text ever. The spectre haunting Europe is now haunting our podcast.

It’s 1848’s “The Communist Manifesto” from Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels!

What are the origins of this earth shattering text? Where does it still hold up, and what needs adjusting for a modern context? Did Marx and Engels ever kiss? We discuss it all!

If you ever wanted to learn about the foundation of communism but bounced off the age of the work or lack of context, this is perfect. And if you’re a certified Marx expert there’s still stuff to love. It’s a good episode!!

Go support Workers’ Lit on Patreon!

https://patreon.com/workerslit

Read or listen to the Communist Manifesto yourself here, it’s not long!

https://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/download/pdf/Manifesto.pdf

https://www.marxists.org/audiobooks/archive/marx-engels/communist-manifesto/index.htm

We've returned to the dark abyss that is the mind of Just Dance Vance.
AJ Ditty of The Worst of All Possible Worlds podcast joins us to take on Vice President JD Vance's newest book, "Communion: Finding my way back to faith."
Vance tells us all how he totally became an authentic Catholic, definitely believes in God, and certainly isn't merely trying to set up a 2028 presidential run.
Topics in this discussion include Vance's quirky millennial-ness, Vance as wife guy, the networks of money behind Vance, and some helpful tips to shut down anyone who tries to say this dude is worth your time.
Link to our original episode on JD Vance (Hillbilly Elegy):
https://open.spotify.com/episode/0MiUlc8fho79aP1twvVDDz
Check out The Worst of All Possible Worlds:
https://www.patreon.com/WorstOfAll
Get tickets to see AJ's play, "Heart of Duckness":
https://portlandstage.my.salesforce-sites.com/ticket/#/events/a0SPa00000dFOunMAG
Go support Workers' Lit on Patreon!
https://patreon.com/workerslit

Grab your three-ringed binders, highlighters, and spellbooks, this week we're talking about "The Incandescent," a 2025 academia fantasy novel by Emily Tesh.
We've got schools, and labor concerns, and demons, and bisexuality, and a fantastic guest: Brandon Crilly, author, organizer, and all around cool guy. You may know his novels, such as "Catalyst" and "Castoff," or perhaps his work on The Expanse RPG. Know him or not, you'll be a fan by the end of this episode!
You can check out everything Brandon's up to here:
https://linktr.ee/brandoncrilly
Go support us on Patreon, where we release exclusive content such as author interviews (including an upcoming one with Brandon himself!)
https://Patreon.com/workerslit

It’s time to talk about a true living legend: Angela Davis.
Educational YouTuber and podcaster RevolutionaryTh0t joins us to talk about the life of one of the greatest thinkers and organizers of our time before we hop into the 1981 book, “Women, Race, and Class.”
Fair warning, this book gets into the truly brutal American history of its three titular topics, so please be aware this episode features discussion of sexual and racial violence.
RevolutionaryTh0t is a non-binary socialist trying to undo decades of Red Scare propaganda and get people to believe in themselves so we can build a better world - one in which the individual can come to full fruition. Check out their fantastic YouTube Channel, as well as the podcast “Half The Sky,” at the links below.
https://www.youtube.com/@revolutionaryth0t
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/half-the-sky-podcast/id6786116578
Go support us and get bonus content at our Patreon!
https://www.patreon.com/workerslit
Listen to the eugenics episode of “Ill Conceived” referenced on the pod here:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/6Y7D9TuIhTD10Awoa3ZdRr?si=akdhoPwvQ_WZWWYJT42ZWA