Summary: <br> Welcome to Episode 147 of Speculate! The Podcast for Writers, Readers and Fans. In this episode we begin a brief two-show set on the work of <a href="http://www.danielpolansky.com/">Daniel Polansky</a>, looking at his new novella The Builders, published by <a href="http://read.macmillan.com/tordotcompublishing/the-builders-daniel-polansky?utm_source=blackgate&utm_medium=Banner&utm_term=na&utm_content=552x156_preorder_buynow&utm_campaign=9780765384003">Tor.com</a>. Joined by new addition to the team <a href="http://michaelrunderwood.com/">Mike Underwood</a>, we chat about the <a href="http://www.redwallabbey.com/">Redwall</a> meets <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0105695/">Unforgiven</a> nostalgia which The Builders unabashedly embraces, the excellent tone and pacing, the wonderfully detailed characters (despite the brief time we have to get to know them), and the sense of humor which keeps an otherwise dark tale from sinking into a morass of despair and gloom. We also set the stage for our upcoming discussion with several Tor.com notables about the novella and Tor.com’s general approach to publishing, which has been attracting a great deal of notice and praise–and which both Mike and Brad, with works due out from them in the future, were drawn to as well. If you like what you hear, don’t forget to check back next week when we’ll have that discussion with the Tor.com people. And if you haven’t done so already, please continue supporting our <a href="https://www.patreon.com/speculate">Patreon</a>, which will give you exclusive content and other goodies from us every month. Thanks for supporting us here and via our <a href="https://www.patreon.com/speculate">Patreon</a> page, and thanks as always for listening to and spreading the word about the show!<br>
