Episode 57: The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, Oscar Wao VS. Ready Player One, Top 5 Influential Media

Super Fantastic Nerd Hour!

“It’s never the changes we want that change everything.” We explore The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Díaz. How does Díaz’s story about a young geek growing up in New Jersey redefine what it means to be American? How it does mash up fiction and history? What makes this pulitzer prize winning narrative so timey wimey and why are readers calling it the best novel of the 21st century? In the INFINITE CROSSOVER CHAMBER, what novel makes better use of its nerdy references — Oscar Wao or Ready Player One? We share the top 5 media that influenced our lives.

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Show Notes

• 0:00 - 13:30: The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao (non-spoilers)
• 13:31 - 43:00: The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao (spoilers)
• 43:01 - 58:19: INFINITE CROSSOVER CHAMBER: Oscar Wao VS. Ready Player One
• 58:20 - 1:44:32 : Top 5 Influential Media

Links

• Singularity & Co.'s Save the SciFi: The Next Generation
• The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao declared 21st century’s best novel so far
• Cataloguing Cultural References in 'Oscar Wao'
• Junot Diaz Discusses his 'Wondrous' Debut Novel
• How Yunior's Narrative In 'The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao' Acts As An Archival History
• Questions for Junot Díaz
• Junot Díaz aims to fulfill his dream of publishing a sci-fi novel with Monstro
• Super Fantastic Nerd Hour Episode 3: Ready Player One, Wade "Parzival" Watts VS. Scott Pilgrim, Top 5 Nostalgia Media

Top 5 Influential Media

Conrad:

1. The Chronicles of Narnia & The Lord of the Rings
2. The Original Star Wars Trilogy
3. The Clash - London Calling
4. X-Men comics
5. PBS

Ali:

1. Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country
2. IBM PC compatible computers
3. Green Day - Dookie
4. Street Fighter II: The World Warrior
5. Flowers for Algernon