Ep 768 - Retro, by Jessica M. Goldstein
Summary
In this episode of *Overdue*, hosts Andrew and Craig discuss Jessica M. Goldstein’s debut novel, *Retro*, which features a time travel agency that offers tours to the past for the wealthy. The book follows Ash, a fired office worker who becomes a time travel agent, navigating corporate culture and the allure of nostalgia while uncovering her employer’s sinister "Good Old Days" project. The hosts explore the novel’s satirical take on tech billionaires, the mechanics of time travel, and the societal desire to romanticize the past, noting the book’s strong ending despite a slower middle section.
Topics discussed
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Intro: 2026 and the appeal of the past
Introducing the book 'Retro' and its premise
Author background and inspiration for the novel
Themes of corporate cruelty and pop culture nostalgia
Analysis of time travel tropes in fiction
Author's writing process and labor union influence
Context: Climate change and generational anxiety
Discussion on modernity, internet speed, and choice
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Book details: Recording time and main character Ash
Character dynamics: Ash, Pebbles, and family issues
The Retro company and its CEO Row Temple
Time travel mechanics: The Retro Metro and timeline resilience
Workplace culture and specific time travel destinations
Plot progression: Ash's role and corporate intrigue
Deja encore phenomenon and character development
Climax: Betrayal, slavery, and secret time stops
Critical reception and character criticism
Comparisons to other time travel narratives
Conclusion: Listener engagement and time travel ethics
Outro: Spooktober, Patreon, and next reads
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