If there is one thing Luke loves, it’s a quest. 

Luke picks three essential reads that define the epic fantasy genre, diving deep into epic world-building, intricate magic systems, and characters on journeys of impossible scale.
(00:00) Intro
(00:39) Listener Recommendation: A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin
(07:58) Introducing Epic Fantasy
(08:25) Personal Connection: Fantasy as an Escape
(13:58) What to Expect: Not Just Swords and Soldiers
(15:25) Defining Epic Fantasy vs. Fantasy
(17:16) Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb
(17:47) The Painted Man by Peter V. Brett
(18:08) The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan
(19:49) Call to Listeners: Share Your Epic Fantasy Stories 

We want to hear from you! Send us your audio by emailing us at GoodBooks@nine.com.au. 

Follow all the action on our socials: 

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/inthegoodbooks_podcast/
TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@inthegoodbooks_podcast 

If there is one thing Luke loves, it&rsquo;s a quest.&nbsp;
Luke picks three essential reads that define the epic fantasy genre, diving deep into epic world-building, intricate magic systems, and characters on journeys of impossible scale.
<ul>
<li>(00:00) Intro</li>
<li>(00:39) Listener Recommendation:<a href="https://books.apple.com/au/book/a-wizard-of-earthsea/id983251342"> A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin</a></li>
<li>(07:58) Introducing Epic Fantasy</li>
<li>(08:25) Personal Connection: Fantasy as an Escape</li>
<li>(13:58) What to Expect: Not Just Swords and Soldiers</li>
<li>(15:25) Defining Epic Fantasy vs. Fantasy</li>
<li>(17:16) <a href="https://books.apple.com/au/book/assassins-apprentice/id461086811">Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb</a></li>
<li>(17:47) <a href="https://books.apple.com/au/book/the-painted-man/id380680883">The Painted Man by Peter V. Brett</a></li>
<li>(18:08) <a href="https://books.apple.com/us/audiobook/the-eye-of-the-world/id1591041805">The Eye of the World by&nbsp;Robert Jordan</a></li>
<li>(19:49) Call to Listeners: Share Your Epic Fantasy Stories&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
We want to hear from you! Send us your audio by emailing us at GoodBooks@nine.com.au.&nbsp;
Follow all the action on our socials:&nbsp;
Instagram -<a href="https://www.instagram.com/inthegoodbooks_podcast/"> https://www.instagram.com/inthegoodbooks_podcast/</a> TikTok -<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@inthegoodbooks_podcast"> https://www.tiktok.com/@inthegoodbooks_podcast</a>&nbsp;

What’s your story? Everyone has one — the ones we read and the ones we live.

In The Good Books is a new weekly podcast that serves as a community for those who believe in the power of a good story.

Each week, host Luke Bateman shares the books that have shaped his world, from timeless classics to buzzy bestsellers. He’ll also sit down with the most fascinating voices in the literary world — from bestselling authors to emerging new talent — as they reveal the inspirations behind their work.

This is more than a book club; it's a space to explore how the stories we consume influence the lives we lead.

We want to hear from you! Send us your audio by emailing us at GoodBooks@nine.com.au. 

Follow all the action on our socials: 

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/inthegoodbooks_podcast/
TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@inthegoodbooks_podcast

What&rsquo;s your story? Everyone has one &mdash; the ones we read and the ones we live.
In The Good Books is a new weekly podcast that serves as a community for those who believe in the power of a good story.
Each week, host Luke Bateman shares the books that have shaped his world, from timeless classics to buzzy bestsellers. He&rsquo;ll also sit down with the most fascinating voices in the literary world &mdash; from bestselling authors to emerging new talent &mdash; as they reveal the inspirations behind their work.
This is more than a book club; it's a space to explore how the stories we consume influence the lives we lead.
We want to hear from you! Send us your audio by emailing us at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:GoodBooks@nine.com.au">GoodBooks@nine.com.au</a>.&nbsp;
Follow all the action on our socials:&nbsp;
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/inthegoodbooks_podcast/ TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@inthegoodbooks_podcast

Luke Bateman shares the books that have shaped his world, from timeless classics to buzzy bestsellers. A community for those who believe in the power of a good story.

In The Good Books with Luke Bateman

There’s A Reason It’s Called Epic Fantasy

Join The Good Books Club as Luke reviews Kristin Hannah's epic Alaskan survival story, The Great Alone. 
(00:00) Intro
(00:34) Listener Audio
(03:19) The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah  
(04:12) First Impressions
(05:22) Immediate Takeaways
(07:20) The Setting of Alaska
(08:16) Key Themes
(11:57) Complex Characters
(15:50) SPOILER WARNING: The Ending 
(21:17) Call to Listeners: Your Experiences of the Book
(23:53) The Next Book Club Pick: The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons

We want to hear from you! Send us your audio by emailing us at GoodBooks@nine.com.au. 

Follow all the action on our socials: 

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/inthegoodbooks_podcast/
TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@inthegoodbooks_podcast 

Join The Good Books Club as Luke reviews Kristin Hannah's epic Alaskan survival story, The Great Alone.&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>(00:00) Intro</li>
<li>(00:34) Listener Audio</li>
<li>(03:19) <a href="https://books.apple.com/au/book/the-great-alone/id1298301624">The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah&nbsp;&nbsp;</a></li>
<li>(04:12) First Impressions</li>
<li>(05:22) Immediate Takeaways</li>
<li>(07:20) The Setting of Alaska</li>
<li>(08:16) Key Themes</li>
<li>(11:57) Complex Characters</li>
<li>(15:50) SPOILER WARNING: The Ending&nbsp;</li>
<li>(21:17) Call to Listeners: Your Experiences of the Book</li>
<li>(23:53) The Next Book Club Pick: <a href="https://books.apple.com/au/book/the-bronze-horseman/id660542444">The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons</a></li>
</ul>
We want to hear from you! Send us your audio by emailing us at GoodBooks@nine.com.au.&nbsp;
Follow all the action on our socials:&nbsp;
Instagram -<a href="https://www.instagram.com/inthegoodbooks_podcast/"> https://www.instagram.com/inthegoodbooks_podcast/</a> TikTok -<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@inthegoodbooks_podcast"> https://www.tiktok.com/@inthegoodbooks_podcast</a>&nbsp;

BOOK CLUB: The Great Alone

Matthew Reilly steps into The Writer's Room to discuss his latest books The Detective and the creative process behind his bestselling novels.
(00:54) Matthew Reilly's Books Shaped Luke's Reading Journey
(02:55) Getting Young Guys Back to Reading: The Power of Ice Station and Hell Island
(05:01) Influential School Books: To Kill a Mockingbird and Lord of the Flies
(07:31) Literary Influences
(09:07) Advice to His 19-Year-Old Self 
(13:43) The Epic Scope of Mr. Einstein's Secretary
(14:16) Finding Sam Speedman's Voice in The Detective
(17:10) Every New Book Must Be Better Than the Last
(22:01) Not Surprising the Reader with Unsolvable Twists
(27:55) Obsessiveness in Writing
(33:42) Writing for Book Clubs
(39:15)The Impact of Killing Off a Character in Scarecrow
(44:34) Matthew Reilly's "Good Book"

We want to hear from you! Send us your audio by emailing us at GoodBooks@nine.com.au. 

Follow all the action on our socials: 

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/inthegoodbooks_podcast/
TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@inthegoodbooks_podcast

Matthew Reilly steps into The Writer's Room to discuss his latest books The Detective and the creative process behind his bestselling novels.
<ul>
<li>(00:54) Matthew Reilly's Books Shaped Luke's Reading Journey</li>
<li>(02:55) Getting Young Guys Back to Reading: The Power of&nbsp;<a href="https://books.apple.com/au/book/ice-station-a-scarecrow-novel-1/id400435296">Ice Station</a> and <a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/hell-island/id391539854">Hell Island</a></li>
<li>(05:01) Influential School Books:&nbsp;<a href="https://books.apple.com/au/book/to-kill-a-mockingbird/id872474975">To Kill a Mockingbird</a> and <a href="https://books.apple.com/au/book/lord-of-the-flies/id6566191006">Lord of the Flies</a></li>
<li>(07:31) Literary Influences</li>
<li>(09:07) Advice to His 19-Year-Old Self&nbsp;</li>
<li>(13:43) The Epic Scope of&nbsp;<a href="https://books.apple.com/au/book/mr-einsteins-secretary/id6449238791">Mr. Einstein's Secretary</a></li>
<li>(14:16) Finding Sam Speedman's Voice in <a href="https://books.apple.com/au/book/the-detective/id6747740568">The Detective</a></li>
<li>(17:10) Every New Book Must Be Better Than the Last</li>
<li>(22:01) Not Surprising the Reader with Unsolvable Twists</li>
<li>(27:55) Obsessiveness in Writing</li>
<li>(33:42) Writing for Book Clubs</li>
<li>(39:15)The Impact of Killing Off a Character in&nbsp;<a href="https://books.apple.com/au/book/scarecrow-a-scarecrow-novel-3/id427123250">Scarecrow</a></li>
<li>(44:34) Matthew Reilly's "Good Book"</li>
</ul>
We want to hear from you! Send us your audio by emailing us at GoodBooks@nine.com.au.&nbsp;
Follow all the action on our socials:&nbsp;
Instagram -<a href="https://www.instagram.com/inthegoodbooks_podcast/"> https://www.instagram.com/inthegoodbooks_podcast/</a> TikTok -<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@inthegoodbooks_podcast"> https://www.tiktok.com/@inthegoodbooks_podcast</a>

The Writer’s Room: Matthew Reilly

Warning: Get tissues. 

Luke recommends the most emotionally powerful novels. why we often seek out books that make us cry and how they help us process our own feelings.
(00:00) Intro
(00:39) Listener Audio
(02:42) Books That Still Bring Me to Tears
(04:16) Impenetrability is Harmful
(07:11) Loss in Magician by Raymond E. Feist
(09:12) Loneliness in The Witcher
(11:17) Sacrifice in The Demon Cycle by Peter V. Brett 
(13:36) Reunion in Fool's Fate by Robin Hobb
(15:32) Historical Fiction: The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
(17:41) Post-Apocalyptic Fiction: The Road by Cormac McCarthy
(19:17) Conclusion: Vulnerability is Strength
(22:02) Closing Remarks

We want to hear from you! Send us your audio by emailing us at GoodBooks@nine.com.au. 

Follow all the action on our socials: 

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/inthegoodbooks_podcast/
TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@inthegoodbooks_podcast 

Warning: Get tissues.&nbsp;
Luke recommends the most emotionally powerful novels. why we often seek out books that make us cry and how they help us process our own feelings.
<ul>
<li>(00:00) Intro</li>
<li>(00:39) Listener Audio</li>
<li>(02:42) Books That Still Bring Me to Tears</li>
<li>(04:16) Impenetrability is Harmful</li>
<li>(07:11) Loss in <a href="https://books.apple.com/au/book/magician/id551435334">Magician by Raymond E. Feist</a></li>
<li>(09:12) Loneliness in <a href="https://tv.apple.com/au/show/the-witcher/umc.cmc.2379gzkqenvex1jeityu9hjos">The Witcher</a></li>
<li>(11:17) Sacrifice in <a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-demon-cycle-5-book-bundle/id1499290776">The Demon Cycle by Peter V. Brett </a></li>
<li>(13:36) Reunion in <a href="https://books.apple.com/au/book/fools-fate/id461084420">Fool's Fate by Robin Hobb</a></li>
<li>(15:32) Historical Fiction: <a href="https://books.apple.com/au/book/the-nightingale/id937590673">The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah</a></li>
<li>(17:41) Post-Apocalyptic Fiction: <a href="https://books.apple.com/au/book/the-road/id6477905987">The Road by Cormac McCarthy</a></li>
<li>(19:17) Conclusion: Vulnerability is Strength</li>
<li>(22:02) Closing Remarks</li>
</ul>
We want to hear from you! Send us your audio by emailing us at GoodBooks@nine.com.au.&nbsp;
Follow all the action on our socials:&nbsp;
Instagram -<a href="https://www.instagram.com/inthegoodbooks_podcast/"> https://www.instagram.com/inthegoodbooks_podcast/</a> TikTok -<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@inthegoodbooks_podcast"> https://www.tiktok.com/@inthegoodbooks_podcast</a>&nbsp;

There’s A Reason It’s Called Epic Fantasy

In The Good Books with Luke Bateman

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