Universal Geek Book Club discussion

Late but quick thoughts about Welcome to Night Vale. I read the book a few months ago for The Chicago Nerds Book Club and this time I decided to listen to the audiobook to see if I missed anything and get a different experience.

While I did enjoy the story overall but I still think it takes too long for the main story to get started. And the only thing I really got out of the audiobook version was Cecil's dramatic voice whenever "King City" is said.

I came to this book as a lover of the podcast. I enjoy the absurdity and the quiet menace of Night Vale. I probably would have enjoyed this book more as a companion piece after I discovered the podcast.

I didn't enjoy it so much now. It felt... forced? I think Paul hit the nail on the head that the preamble to the main story was too much and everything seemed to be unnecessarily drawn out.

I did find the general story to be compelling and loved the (at times) forced cameos of my favorite characters. Mayor Dana, the only radio station intern to survive, who should have been the focus on a Night Vale book, felt a bit too forced. Steve Carlsberg's presence was perfect, though.

I liked the book resolved one of the big mysteries in the Night Vale universe, so it felt worthwhile. And I enjoyed it built on the NVU by giving us King City (as opposed to just having Desert Bluff). I am way behind on the podcast so I don't know how any of the book played out in the show.

All in all, this is a book for people who love the podcast. I can only imagine how people who don't listen to the show would understand it.