Expounded Universe
289 episodes - English - Latest episode: 13 days ago - ★★★★★ - 58 ratingsJef and Jon review Star Wars expanded universe novels. Every week they discuss a few chapters at a time making their way through some of the strangest and most insufferable entries in the Star Wars canon.
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Episodes
Expounded Universe 139 – You Can Gantoris, Or You Can Gantorthat
July 31, 2020 00:43 - 1 hourhttps://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/expounded-universe-139-you-can-gantoris-or-you-can-gantorthat.mp3 Aw shoot last week we thought we got all the boring intro chapters, but here we are dealing with Leia’s story startup for the episode! Should have guessed! Anyway, Han has crashed, Luke has a plan, and Leia… is rich. Why do they keep doing that? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Expounded Universe 138 – Going Down to Kessel, Going to Have Myself a Mine
July 22, 2020 02:39 - 56 minuteshttps://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/expounded-universe-138-going-down-to-kessel-goin-to-have-myself-a-mine.mp3 You knew we’d cover one of this guy’s books eventually, and here we are! This trilogy features the introductions of known series players like Nataasi Daala and Kyp “White Space Privilege” Durron. We’re still in a place setting stage here, but chills, thrills, and silliness is soon to abound, I promise! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Expounded Universe 137 – Only Hooles Rush In
July 08, 2020 00:49 - 58 minuteshttps://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/expounded-universe-137-only-hooles-rush-in.mp3 Chills, thrills, spills, and a last minute rescue! Oh the joy of it! Every foreshadow comes dramatically home to roost and we’re done! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Expounded Universe 136 – The Titular Line
July 02, 2020 22:41 - 51 minuteshttps://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/expounded-universe-136-the-titular-line.mp3 Tash goes to Smada’s castle to confront that gross old Hutt! Then they escape on a skimboard (no pads this time!) and learn a dark secret. It’s so scary! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Expounded Universe 135 – Slurpin’ the Dirt
June 24, 2020 20:44 - 58 minuteshttps://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2020/06/expounded-universe-135-slurpin-the-dirt.mp3 The GANKS disappeared all of a sudden, and then Zak went out on his cool skimboard (but remembered to wear his awesome pads) while Tash had a spooky adventure! Slurp Slurp! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Expounded Universe 134 – Hey, That’s Smada for You
June 19, 2020 01:42 - 1 hourhttps://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2020/06/expounded-universe-134-hey-thats-smada-for-you.mp3 It was GANKS that shoved our heroes against a wall! And the chapter climaxes keep on rolling, as we meet some familiar heroes, learn about ship maintenance, and go to an Enzeen sleepover. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Expounded Universe 133 – The Sweet Life of Zack and Tash
June 10, 2020 02:25 - 1 hourhttps://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2020/06/expounded-universe-133-the-sweet-life-of-zack-and-tash.mp3 Prepare yourselves for true horror, as we dive into the spooky world of Galaxy of Fear, the tween terror series that wasn’t a cashing in on Goosebumps being a thing. Not at all. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Expounded Universe 132 – Leviathor Ragnarok
May 27, 2020 02:05 - 1 hourhttps://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2020/05/expounded-universe-132-leviathor-ragnarok.mp3 Boy howdy, that was a lot of fun. We got whales, pirate captains, valleys of giant oysters, and an unsurprising revelation about the might Trioculus, all wrapped into a quick little package. Enjoy! Note that this was a super short book and we’re not going to be doing a wrap up on it. We’ll just be taking a quick week off while Jef tries like crazy to source two copies of an old Star Wars book ...
Expounded Universe 131 – Dark Greetings
May 23, 2020 02:15 - 56 minuteshttps://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2020/05/expounded-universe-131-dark-greetings.mp3 Welcome to an Expanded Universe special edition! This book is too short for a full season so we’re making a little snack out of it. But boy are we ever thrilled to be in the exciting world of Star Wars for kids, where everything is taken at face value and the empire knows good and full well they’re the bad guys. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Expounded Universe 130 – The End of Star’s End
May 13, 2020 02:08 - 59 minuteshttps://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2020/05/expounded-universe-130-the-end-of-stars-end.mp3 You know how these wrap up episodes go! We talk about what we liked and didn’t like, then we answer a million listener questions and announce the next book! It’s been 10 seasons now, come on! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Expounded Universe 129 – The Arc of Imprisonment
May 08, 2020 02:15 - 58 minuteshttps://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2020/05/expounded-universe-129-the-arc-of-imprisonment.mp3 And just like that, we’re done. But dang what a way to go. This is exciting in a way these Star Wars books rarely seem to want to shoot for, perfectly content to just kill everyone, blow up the building, and flip everyone off on the way out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Expounded Universe 128 – He’s Dead I Rekkon
April 28, 2020 15:00 - 1 hourhttps://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2020/04/expounded-universe-128-hes-dead-i-rekkon.mp3 A daring space escape and a murder… a murder most foul. Honestly this space scene is one of the coolest ones we’ve seen in a book so far, and it’s just the Falcon, a bad guy, and hundreds of acres of grain. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Expounded Universe 127 – Lament My Wookie
April 24, 2020 03:48 - 1 hourhttps://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2020/04/expounded-universe-127-lament-my-wookie.mp3 Our lovable smuggler team (and their droid named after balls) find their way to the mighty agriplanet to continue the mission! We get to meet Rekkon, the coolest dude we’ve seen in a while, Torm, the obvious traitor, Atuarre and Pakka (cats that don’t really get lines, don’t worry about it). Also Chewie is about as cool here as he’ll ever be. All in all, good times! Learn more about your ad choi...
Expounded Universe 126 – What’s Up, Doc
April 15, 2020 05:15 - 57 minuteshttps://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2020/04/expounded-universe-126-whats-up-doc-1.mp3 Han and Chewie must effect a sneaky escape from Etti IV and find an old friend, but we have a lot of questions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Expounded Universe 125 – Forest Balls
April 10, 2020 00:21 - 56 minuteshttps://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2020/04/expounded-universe-125-forest-balls.mp3 Finally the 70s kick up something interesting! It’s Han Solo at Star’s End, a book that predates Empire Strikes Back! We’re gonna be reading all about the wild adventures of pre-Rebellion Han and Chewie, and literally no one else you’ve ever heard of. So exciting. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Expounded Universe 124 – More of a Crucible
March 30, 2020 21:03 - 1 hourhttps://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/expounded-universe-124-more-of-a-crucible.mp3 As is tradition, we wrap up. We discuss what we liked and didn’t like, if we’d recommend the book in general, and so on. Eventually when we run out of that stuff we answer listener questions for a while and then announce the next book. WHICH WE DO! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Expounded Universe 123 – Hot Golden Showers… of Force
March 27, 2020 20:01 - 1 hourhttps://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/expounded-universe-123-hot-golden-showers-of-force-1.mp3 Okay, let’s bring her home. The entire EU that is, because this is the end. The last of it. Will Luke, Leia and Han die in the monolith? Do the Qrephs somehow win despite being the dumbest morons since Hethrir? I think you know these answers already, but hey, listen on! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Expounded Universe 122 – Powerbodies by Jake
March 17, 2020 21:25 - 54 minuteshttps://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/expounded-universe-122-powerbodies-by-jake.mp3 As boilerplate as the Qrephs have turned out to be, Vestara Khai is a straight up delight. She’s very genre savvy and knows to be completely terrified of Luke and Leia and their terrifying “Light Side” progeny. Who are earning that fear this episode as we spend most of it in the perspective of a villain just watching the old Star Wars heroes rip through defenses like butter. Learn more about y...
Expounded Universe 121 – Mad About Goo
March 13, 2020 01:02 - 1 hourhttps://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/expounded-u-niverse-121-mad-about-goo.mp3 Luke and Leia engage in some recreational muggle-dumping before looking for any excuse at all to murder Mandalorians (that’s how the light side works) while Han runs around behind Barduun/Jhonus Raam and his whole bag of crazy situation. Wackiness ensues. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Expounded Universe 120 – And it turned into a Barduun Blitz
March 03, 2020 20:26 - 57 minuteshttps://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/expounded-universe-120-and-it-turned-into-a-barduun-blitz.mp3 Finally, they stop playing sabacc! After, you know, a whole chapter of them playing sabacc again. Meanwhile the smartest brothers in the universe continue their extremely convincing impression of being horny bumbling dumbfucks. So believable, these smart dudes! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Expounded Universe 119 – To The Pain
February 28, 2020 03:50 - 57 minuteshttps://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2020/02/expounded-universe-119-to-the-pain.mp3 Well, this certainly got way bigger after the last episode? Remember how last time it was Han playing cards with the Qrephs? Well now there’s more people at the table! Remember how last time Ben and Lando spent a bunch of time looking at a floating D8 in space? Well now there’s more people there! Hooray! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Expounded Universe 118 – Pinnace Envy
February 20, 2020 02:24 - 50 minuteshttps://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2020/02/expounded-universe-118-pinnace-envy.mp3 A classic tradition of Star Wars EU books return, as Benny Skywalker spends a whole-ass chapter talkin to Lando about a big D8 they found a picture of. Meanwhile, Luke and Leia escape the Ormni under cover of broad daylight in the largest pinnace in town! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Expounded Universe 117 – The Beast with Two Sabaccs
February 15, 2020 01:44 - 1 hourhttps://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2020/02/expounded-universe-117-the-beast-with-two-sabaccs.mp3 Whoa, halfway point already? Feels like we’re just getting started! Anyhow, Han is tied to a chair so he can play more sabacc. It’s not all bad though, because he’s playing with the dumbest geniuses in the galaxy, the Qreph brothers! Meanwhiler Luke and Leia sneak around a mining ship and dodge a sith with a mysterious new name! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adc...
Expounded Universe 116 – Stake Out
February 05, 2020 17:38 - 55 minuteshttps://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2020/02/expounded-universe-116-stake-out.mp3 I’m sure the plan here was intentional, that two chapters in a row of Skywalkers sitting in spaceships watching things happening “rhymed” or something. Really, the thing that’s fascinating is this new Tahiri character. Who the heck is this lady with a Majin W on her face? Well, let’s find out. And also let’s finally meet Ben Skywalker. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Expounded Universe 115 – Big Money Blastas
February 01, 2020 01:50 - 55 minuteshttps://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2020/01/expounded-universe-115-big-money-blastas.mp3 If you were thinking “boy oh boy I sure hope we get to see some classic Expanded Universe sabacc games today” then I have great news for you. If, however, you were hoping to finally revisit our brainy blue bad guys, well sadly, I also have great news for you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Expounded Universe 114 – Bacta Streets Back, All Right
January 22, 2020 17:18 - 53 minuteshttps://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2020/01/expounded-universe-114-bacta-streets-back-all-right.mp3r Into every Star Wars book review a little rain must fall, and here it comes. At least we learn some surprising Dena Yus secrets, but boy do they come at the cost of wheels a-spinnin. Han has a plan, my friends. Stay fresh, cheese bags. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Expounded Universe 113 – Crash Into Me
January 17, 2020 17:55 - 55 minuteshttps://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2020/01/expounded-universe-113-crash-into-me.mp3 This book continues to baffle our wary expectations, as a chapter begins with a wordy explanation of how one of Lando’s dumb mining operations works and then ends about SOMETHING ELSE! All that and Luke shows up! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Expounded Universe 112 – Puny Jaw Power Body
January 07, 2020 18:40 - 56 minuteshttps://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2020/01/expounded-universe-112-puny-jaw-power-body.mp3 We meet the villains! There’s two of these floaty dorks and boy oh boy do we have a big reveal about them. They’re gonna threaten Lando for a bit, and then Luke will meet a Sullustan and talk about Sullustan sullustuff for a while. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Expounded Universe 111 – You Know, Forest Poles
January 03, 2020 19:49 - 1 hourhttps://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2020/01/expounded-universe-111-you-know-forest-poles.mp3 So in this book, Jaina Solo is 36 years old. In case you were curious how far along in the timeline we’re dealing with, this one is set around roughly 45 ABY (I’m not using that new one and you can’t make me). Crucible is the last book published as an Expanded Universe title before the Legends swap took place, and so far it feels like that was well understood as the book took shape. Learn mor...
X-pounded Universe 110 – Plant X-Plained
December 20, 2019 04:37 - 1 hourhttps://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/expounded-universe-110-planet-x-plained.mp3 The wrap-up, listener questions, and the announcement of the next book. Thankfully our mission was not continuing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
X-pounded Universe 109 – Quatu the Watcher
December 10, 2019 18:26 - 51 minuteshttps://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/expounded-universe-109-quatu-the-watcher.mp3 As we expected, the final chapters of this book break down pretty simply. A satisfying if somewhat short conclusion, along with a little more Worferine (which is our preferred ship name for the Worf/Wolverine bromance abrewin’). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
X-pounded Universe 108 – There Are FOUR CLAWS
December 06, 2019 07:18 - 1 hourhttps://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/expounded-universe-108-there-are-four-claws.mp3 Wait, seriously? Are we this close to done? It seems like the part where anything cool happens didn’t happen. Oh well, we’re in wrap up mode, and if you were Patton Oswalt or something, all wanting to finally see the moment where Xavier and Picard virtually meet, well that’s in here, at least. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
X-pounded Universe 107 – A Colossus Lapse in Judgement
November 27, 2019 07:03 - 1 hourhttps://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2019/11/expounded-universe-107-a-colossus-lapse-in-judgement.mp3 At this point I’m starting to long for the extreme action of a mid-season TNG episode or one of those really wordy Bendis X-Men issues. Sure, there’s stuff going on, but the pace! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
X-pounded Universe 106 – Sovar, So Good
November 22, 2019 02:48 - 59 minuteshttps://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2019/11/expounded-universe-106-sovar-so-good.mp3 Shadowcat enters and promptly leaves the fray! Data turns out to be some sort of alarming mechano-man! And Crusher has a dumb holodeck plan! It’s all going beautifully here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
X-pounded Universe 105 – I Sure Hope Troi’s Okay
November 13, 2019 03:56 - 1 hourhttps://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2019/11/expounded-universe-105-i-sure-hope-trois-okay.mp3 The fight rages on! So much transporting and phaser fighting and descriptions of the super cool powers of two of the definitely coolest X-Men, Banshee and… uhhh well Archangel. In a series of hallways. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
X-pounded Universe 104 – Don’t Be Sad, Jo
November 08, 2019 03:00 - 1 hourhttps://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2019/11/expounded-universe-104-dont-be-sad-jo.mp3 Holy cow the villains! We have villains! They’re improbably stereotypical (gross monsters called the Draa’kon that kill each other for failure? Come the fuck on), but we sure did finally get to see them! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
X-pounded Universe 103 – Shadowcatastrophe
October 30, 2019 01:50 - 1 hourhttps://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2019/10/expounded-universe-103-shadowcatastrophe.mp3 Mysterious aliens arrive and start messing with our transformed friends on Xhaldia! Meanwhile Shadowcat is apparently just wandering through the walls of the Enterprise because X-Men, like wizards, have no sense of right and wrong. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
X-pounded Universe 102 – Just call me Archangel of the Morning, Baby
October 25, 2019 02:25 - 56 minuteshttps://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2019/10/expounded-universe-102-just-call-me-archangel-of-the-morning-baby.mp3 The pride and craftsmanship our author takes in the simple act of a “Wolverine drinks some prune juice” gag is more obvious and satisfactory than any sense of accomplishment either of us has ever felt. And we also wrote a book! Full of gags! Anyway, this time a whole lot of nothing happens! Hope you like nothing! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adc...
X-pounded Universe 101 – Geordi THE Forge
October 11, 2019 14:28 - 1 hourhttps://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2019/10/expounded-universe-101-its-geordi-the-forge.mp3 The X-Trek revolution commences! Erid and his erstwhile mutant family take to the hills and then take over a slum, while … well Dr. Crusher is taking cursory looks at whatever’s up with Archangel. Also Worf and Wolverine fight Turricans and Axelays in the holodeck (just kidding, those are video games). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
X-pounded Universe 100 – BoneStorm
October 02, 2019 03:20 - 56 minuteshttps://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2019/10/expounded-universe-100-bonestorm.mp3 Well last week Picard met the X-Men while Erid met his collection of weird new mutant Xhaldian friends. This week Picard meets Storm specifically while Erid meets the more revolution-inclined among the Xhaldians. Also Geordi and Nightcrawler, just pallin’ around. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
X-pounded Universe 99 – A Thorough Accounting of Powers
September 27, 2019 01:55 - 1 hourhttps://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2019/09/expounded-universe-99-a-thorough-accounting-of-powers.mp3 Picard meets the X-Men who are all acting like they just got their powers today, while Erid is shipped to a private facility and starts assembling the Planet X-Men. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
X-pounded Universe 98 – Very Tidy Seconds
September 17, 2019 03:16 - 1 hourhttps://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2019/09/expounded-universe-98-very-tidy-seconds.mp3 Oh goddammit who let Jon pick the book? It was me? Shoot, complaint withdrawn. YES! It’s time to see what the X-Men and the TNG crew (and Worf if he’s into it) can do together! This is going to be ridiculous. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Expounded Universe 97 – Moonstruck
September 13, 2019 06:06 - 1 hourhttps://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2019/09/expounded-universe-97-moonstruck.mp3 The somewhat less thrilling epilogue. Once we’re all done digging our way through Vector Prime, it’s time to answer a surprisingly large amount of listener questions! And we do exactly that. Then, just when you think it can’t get more exciting, it does, as we announce the next book! What will it be? Well, you’re about an hour from that answer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adcho...
Expounded Universe 96 – The Shield Ships of Fart Planet B
September 05, 2019 16:13 - 1 hourhttps://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2019/09/expounded-universe-96-the-shield-ships-of-fart-planet-b.mp3 The thrilling conclusion! Oh… hold on actually there’s apparently two chapters left? With eight pages in them total? What’s happening back here? Anyway the war rages on til some dramatic stuff definitely happens! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Expounded Universe 95 – Daddy Warshacks
August 30, 2019 01:21 - 1 hourhttps://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2019/08/expounded-universe-95-daddy-warshacks.mp3 Jef is stuck in last week, but the show goes on! The post battle conversations are equal parts thrilling and samey, and someone forgot to watch the twins, so off they go again! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Expounded Universe 94 – Space Invaders and Asteroids
August 21, 2019 17:26 - 59 minuteshttps://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2019/08/expounded-universe-94-space-invaders-and-asteroids.mp3 Today it’s the Solo family(and Kyp) facing off against the might of the big bad Vong, as Prefect Da’Gara brings his fight directly to the doorstep of Lando’s Folly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Expounded Universe 93 – That’s Amore
August 16, 2019 01:21 - 57 minuteshttps://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2019/08/expounded-universe-93-thats-amore.mp3 Oh boy, Luke’s into it now. Ready for another chapter of him taking all day to do something he couldn’t possibly do forever? It’s here! All that and the long-earned rest of a legend on today’s episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Expounded Universe 92 – Big Bad Beetleborgs
August 07, 2019 01:45 - 1 hourhttps://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2019/08/expounded-universe-92-big-bad-beetle-borgs.mp3 As they inevitably must do, the good guys and bad guys finally begin to converge. Yomin straps on all his gooptech while Han encounters some surprisingly political albinos. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Expounded Universe 91 – The Dozen and 2 Avengers: Endgame
July 23, 2019 00:30 - 1 hourhttps://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2019/07/expounded-universe-91-the-dozen-and-2-avengers-endgame.mp3 A chapter focusing on Kyp Durron being a pompous douchebag lost in his own little world? This book just keeps giving us gifts. Also Dani remains a badass and Han sputters and blutters or whatever. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Expounded Universe 90 – What if Episode 5 Again?
July 19, 2019 17:52 - 58 minuteshttps://systemmastery.files.wordpress.com/2019/07/expounded-universe-90-what-if-episode-5-again.mp3 It’s sort of nice to have the main characters compressed into a single narr… hey wait a minute this the same as last time! Indeed, the Yuuzhan Vong continue to rampage around murdering everyone while the Skywalker gang doodles around at a theme park ride. Will this book ever get back on track? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices