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Welcome to Night Vale Episodes #1
Mostly Void, Partially Stars
From the authors of the New York Times bestselling novel Welcome to Night Vale and the creators of the #1 international podcast of the same name, comes a collection of episodes from Season One of their hit podcast, featuring an introduction by the authors, behind-the-scenes commentary, and original illustrations.
In June of 2012, the creators of Welcome to Night Vale began airing twice-weekly podcasts. By the anniversary show a year later, the fanbase had exploded, vaulting the podcast into the #1 spot on iTunes. Since then, its popularity has grown by epic proportions, hitting more than 100 million downloads, and Night Vale has expanded to a successful live multi-cast international touring stage show and a New York Times bestselling novel. Now the first two seasons are available as books, offering an entertaining reading experience and a valuable reference guide to past episodes.
Mostly Void, Partially Stars introduces us to Night Vale, a town in the American Southwest where every conspiracy theory is true, and to the strange but friendly people who live there.
Mostly Void, Partially Stars features an introduction by creator and co-writer Joseph Fink, a foreword by Cory Doctorow, and behind-the-scenes commentary and guest introductions by performers from the podcast and notable fans, including Cecil Baldwin (Cecil), Dylan Marron (Carlos), and Kevin R. Free (Kevin) among others. Also included is the full script from the first Welcome to Night Vale live show, Condos. Beautiful illustrations by series artist Jessica Hayworth accompany each episode.
Mostly Void, Partially Stars is an absolute must-have whether you’re a fan of the podcast or discovering for the first time the wonderful world of Night Vale.
In June of 2012, the creators of Welcome to Night Vale began airing twice-weekly podcasts. By the anniversary show a year later, the fanbase had exploded, vaulting the podcast into the #1 spot on iTunes. Since then, its popularity has grown by epic proportions, hitting more than 100 million downloads, and Night Vale has expanded to a successful live multi-cast international touring stage show and a New York Times bestselling novel. Now the first two seasons are available as books, offering an entertaining reading experience and a valuable reference guide to past episodes.
Mostly Void, Partially Stars introduces us to Night Vale, a town in the American Southwest where every conspiracy theory is true, and to the strange but friendly people who live there.
Mostly Void, Partially Stars features an introduction by creator and co-writer Joseph Fink, a foreword by Cory Doctorow, and behind-the-scenes commentary and guest introductions by performers from the podcast and notable fans, including Cecil Baldwin (Cecil), Dylan Marron (Carlos), and Kevin R. Free (Kevin) among others. Also included is the full script from the first Welcome to Night Vale live show, Condos. Beautiful illustrations by series artist Jessica Hayworth accompany each episode.
Mostly Void, Partially Stars is an absolute must-have whether you’re a fan of the podcast or discovering for the first time the wonderful world of Night Vale.
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 6, 2016
461 people are currently reading
7110 people want to read
About the author
Joseph Fink
22 books2,541 followersJoseph Fink is the creator of the Welcome to Night Vale and Alice Isn't Dead podcasts, and the author of the New York Times bestselling novels Welcome to Night Vale, It Devours!, and The Faceless Old Woman Who Secretly Lives in Your Home (all written with Jeffrey Cranor) and Alice Isn’t Dead. He is also the author of the children’s novel, The Halloween Moon. He and his wife, Meg Bashwiner have written the memoir, The First Ten Years. They live together in the Hudson River Valley.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 459 reviews
October 2, 2016
Instead of a review, just imagine me grinning. Manically. Until it seems like I should really stop grinning now. Until you're kind of uncomfortable. Until you back away slowly.
July 15, 2018
A friendly desert community, where the sun is hot, the moon is beautiful, and mysterious lights pass overhead while we all pretend to sleep.
Perhaps you're familiar with the odd goings-on in this scientifically interesting town. If not, first listen to the strange disembodied voices coming from your preferred listening device, and then read this book. I tried reading these podcast scripts aloud in my best James Earl Jones voice, but it is just not the same as listening to Cecil Baldwin describing the Glow Cloud, the horribly racist Apache Tracker, and the vast underground city to be found in the pin retrieval area of the Desert Flower Bowling Alley and Arcade Fun Complex.
Plus the weather forecasts really suck in written form.
But, for fans of the show, this is a treat - a chance to revisit your favorite episodes, and linger over sentences that made you laugh (or shiver) the first time you heard them. All the transcribed podcasts from the first year are here, along with commentary by the writers, plus the script of Condos, the first live Night Vale show.
Next Saturday is the big lottery drawing, listeners, right out in front of city hall, and your community radio station has put together a few helpful tips for winning.
The lottery is, of course, mandatory, but how can you get the best odds for drawing a blank white paper and not one of the purple pieces that means you'll be ceremoniously disemboweled and eaten by the wolves at the Night Vale Petting Zoo and Makeshift Carnival? I know to some of you young people this lottery seems like a barbarous, outdated tradition, but, if not for municipally planned citizen sacrifice each quarter, how else would we find satisfactory meats to feed those sad, scrawny animals?
Perhaps you're familiar with the odd goings-on in this scientifically interesting town. If not, first listen to the strange disembodied voices coming from your preferred listening device, and then read this book. I tried reading these podcast scripts aloud in my best James Earl Jones voice, but it is just not the same as listening to Cecil Baldwin describing the Glow Cloud, the horribly racist Apache Tracker, and the vast underground city to be found in the pin retrieval area of the Desert Flower Bowling Alley and Arcade Fun Complex.
Plus the weather forecasts really suck in written form.
But, for fans of the show, this is a treat - a chance to revisit your favorite episodes, and linger over sentences that made you laugh (or shiver) the first time you heard them. All the transcribed podcasts from the first year are here, along with commentary by the writers, plus the script of Condos, the first live Night Vale show.
Next Saturday is the big lottery drawing, listeners, right out in front of city hall, and your community radio station has put together a few helpful tips for winning.
The lottery is, of course, mandatory, but how can you get the best odds for drawing a blank white paper and not one of the purple pieces that means you'll be ceremoniously disemboweled and eaten by the wolves at the Night Vale Petting Zoo and Makeshift Carnival? I know to some of you young people this lottery seems like a barbarous, outdated tradition, but, if not for municipally planned citizen sacrifice each quarter, how else would we find satisfactory meats to feed those sad, scrawny animals?
December 22, 2020
Bizzaro-lite. Nouveau-weird. What's the appeal? Maybe this: we recognize more what it is to be human when we're shown what is not. Human, I mean.
4 stars. It's weird. You're gonna like it.
4 stars. It's weird. You're gonna like it.
dnf
November 20, 2019This is the first in a set of (at least for now) four books that collect all of the “Welcome to Night Vale” scripts, along with a couple of pages of commentary on each episode. I wasn’t previously familiar with Night Vale, but my 21-year-old daughter told me she listened to the podcasts regularly. Night Vale is a town where weird, sometimes spooky, often creepy things happen on a daily basis, and are reported on with equanimity by our radio announcer, Cecil.
They have a very dry, absurdist type of humor that I enjoyed, and I even listened to two or three episodes on YouTube. But I never really got into them, and it was too easy to set this aside for other more compelling reads.
I think fans of the podcasts will really enjoy these books. They’re probably not the best place to start for newbies, though.
I received a free copy of these books from the publicist for review. Thanks, and sorry they didn’t work out for me!
They have a very dry, absurdist type of humor that I enjoyed, and I even listened to two or three episodes on YouTube. But I never really got into them, and it was too easy to set this aside for other more compelling reads.
I think fans of the podcasts will really enjoy these books. They’re probably not the best place to start for newbies, though.
I received a free copy of these books from the publicist for review. Thanks, and sorry they didn’t work out for me!
December 26, 2017
This is the most I have ever debated with myself on a book rating, and in the end I took a coward’s way out and chose the middle option. This is a 5-star book. This is a 1-star book. I really do not know what to do with it.
On one hand: The entire first year of Welcome to Night Vale is contained in these pages. WtNV is a phenomenal podcast about a very strange desert town where every conspiracy theory ever is just another normal day. I once saw it described as “Lovecraft, Stephen King and Neil Gaiman create a SIMS town, then just leave it alone for a few years and let it evolve as it will.” That’s Night Vale. It’s weird and it’s touching and it’s glorious and it’s creepy and it is never, ever boring.
On the other hand: This book is a script collection, and though all the basic content is here, it is missing out on the lifeblood of Night Vale: the rich, soothing, voice of its narrator, community radio host Cecil Palmer. Cecil, voiced by Cecil Baldwin, is the heart and soul of Night Vale, and I absolutely cannot recommend *reading* these scripts as an introduction to the series. You have to hear it. You *have* to. And without Cecil along to guide us through our yearlong journey, one of the most vital components of the Night Vale experience is absent.
On one hand: It’s a script book! All the Night Vale scripts from year one are in one place for quick and easy reference! It’s searchable! Huzzah!
On the other hand: It’s a script book. There is very little new content being offered here. It’s searchable, but that’s about all it really has to offer. Yes, there are illustrations, one per episode in most cases, but, to be completely honest, most of Night Vale’s merch artists don’t do a lot for my personal tastes. Yes, there is an introduction prior to each script, but there’s not a lot of insight into the creative process, just some train of thought stuff you can take or leave.
And this part gets another paragraph because, honestly, this is my biggest gripe with the book. I wanted more content. I wanted thoughtful creator commentary and annotations and footnotes and running observations about the entire creative process that went into making WtNV the success that it is. I wanted to *know* things. New things. Fun things. Potentially dangerous things. And in this regard, the small previews before each episode were an abyssal disappointment. Give me something new. Something interesting. Something I can’t already get on the podcast. Give me a reason to devote my already-at-capacity shelf space to you, book.
On one hand: There’s no weather! Now, for those not in the loop, Night Vale’s “weather” forecast is a song inserted in the final third of each episode. The musical contributions range from quirky, to powerful, to waitin' for the bus in the rain in the rain, wait-waitin' for the bus in the rain. You will love the weather. You will hate it. You will be confused by it. You will spend entirely too long trying to analyze its deeper meaning. Like Cecil’s voice, the weather is an essential component of the full Night Vale experience, and its absence here (the song title and artist are given, along with a wink/wink nudge/nudge to go look it up if you want to) is very noticeable and detracts from the overall immersion.
On the other hand: There’s no weather! Come on, you know you usually give it a little bit to hook you then skip over it anyway.
So, with all that said, I shall stand firm on my decision to split the difference between my two opinions and settle on 2.5 stars, rounded down since, in Goodreads terms, 2 stars is “It was ok.” And, ultimately, that’s what this book was. Okay. Not good. Not great. Not terrible. Not even “Neat!” Just...okay. And I'm not rating the podcast (which is a solid 5-Star experience, seriously, go listen to it now). I have to keep that in mind. I am rating the book.
I won’t be picking up installment 2 of the Night Vale scripts, and, to be frank, I’m glad the copy I read of this installment is a loaner.
This is the first time I’ve really been disappointed with a component of the Night Vale experience, and that is the most disappointing part of all.
On one hand: The entire first year of Welcome to Night Vale is contained in these pages. WtNV is a phenomenal podcast about a very strange desert town where every conspiracy theory ever is just another normal day. I once saw it described as “Lovecraft, Stephen King and Neil Gaiman create a SIMS town, then just leave it alone for a few years and let it evolve as it will.” That’s Night Vale. It’s weird and it’s touching and it’s glorious and it’s creepy and it is never, ever boring.
On the other hand: This book is a script collection, and though all the basic content is here, it is missing out on the lifeblood of Night Vale: the rich, soothing, voice of its narrator, community radio host Cecil Palmer. Cecil, voiced by Cecil Baldwin, is the heart and soul of Night Vale, and I absolutely cannot recommend *reading* these scripts as an introduction to the series. You have to hear it. You *have* to. And without Cecil along to guide us through our yearlong journey, one of the most vital components of the Night Vale experience is absent.
On one hand: It’s a script book! All the Night Vale scripts from year one are in one place for quick and easy reference! It’s searchable! Huzzah!
On the other hand: It’s a script book. There is very little new content being offered here. It’s searchable, but that’s about all it really has to offer. Yes, there are illustrations, one per episode in most cases, but, to be completely honest, most of Night Vale’s merch artists don’t do a lot for my personal tastes. Yes, there is an introduction prior to each script, but there’s not a lot of insight into the creative process, just some train of thought stuff you can take or leave.
And this part gets another paragraph because, honestly, this is my biggest gripe with the book. I wanted more content. I wanted thoughtful creator commentary and annotations and footnotes and running observations about the entire creative process that went into making WtNV the success that it is. I wanted to *know* things. New things. Fun things. Potentially dangerous things. And in this regard, the small previews before each episode were an abyssal disappointment. Give me something new. Something interesting. Something I can’t already get on the podcast. Give me a reason to devote my already-at-capacity shelf space to you, book.
On one hand: There’s no weather! Now, for those not in the loop, Night Vale’s “weather” forecast is a song inserted in the final third of each episode. The musical contributions range from quirky, to powerful, to waitin' for the bus in the rain in the rain, wait-waitin' for the bus in the rain. You will love the weather. You will hate it. You will be confused by it. You will spend entirely too long trying to analyze its deeper meaning. Like Cecil’s voice, the weather is an essential component of the full Night Vale experience, and its absence here (the song title and artist are given, along with a wink/wink nudge/nudge to go look it up if you want to) is very noticeable and detracts from the overall immersion.
On the other hand: There’s no weather! Come on, you know you usually give it a little bit to hook you then skip over it anyway.
So, with all that said, I shall stand firm on my decision to split the difference between my two opinions and settle on 2.5 stars, rounded down since, in Goodreads terms, 2 stars is “It was ok.” And, ultimately, that’s what this book was. Okay. Not good. Not great. Not terrible. Not even “Neat!” Just...okay. And I'm not rating the podcast (which is a solid 5-Star experience, seriously, go listen to it now). I have to keep that in mind. I am rating the book.
I won’t be picking up installment 2 of the Night Vale scripts, and, to be frank, I’m glad the copy I read of this installment is a loaner.
This is the first time I’ve really been disappointed with a component of the Night Vale experience, and that is the most disappointing part of all.
September 17, 2016
This is perfect for anyone who has just found the podcast {like me!} as well as anyone who has been a long time listener.
I loved getting the brief commentary chapters before each episode and the illustrations were and added bonus.
**Huge thanks to Harper Perennial for sending me the arcs**
I loved getting the brief commentary chapters before each episode and the illustrations were and added bonus.
**Huge thanks to Harper Perennial for sending me the arcs**
October 10, 2016
Hey you. Yeah, you there. The one whose eyes happened to come across this review… are you a Welcome to Night Vale fan? If not, go away. This book isn’t for you! This is a Night Vale book for Night Vale people! No, I don’t care that Joseph Fink, one of the writers of Night Vale, says in his introduction that the book is for you even if you’re not already a fan. It’s not. Go away.
I’ll wait.
*Looks around carefully.* Are all the non-fans gone? Good. The meeting is next Thursday, on the thirteenth minute of the thirteenth hour. It will last precisely thirteen seconds, then all will be known.
…
Oh dear, there seems to be some non-fans still reading. That won’t do. That won’t do at all.
*Sends a guard to escort them to the library*
__________________
So yeah, in terms of the book, it’s great. As it says on the cover/description, the book contains written transcripts of the first year of the show. It also contains introductions by one of the people involved (usually one of the writers, sometimes voice actors) that offer a lot of interesting information in regards to the creation of the episode.
It also features the script for the live show “Condos” which is a nice bonus.
Now some non-fans may be saying, “But wait, you can listen to almost all of this book for free! Did you just pay money for some introductions and a few bonuses?” To which I respond, “Why are you still here? Didn’t the librarians devour your soul yet?”
Another, kinder, response could be as follows: Are you afraid of the inevitable apocalypse that will shut down the Internet, or destroy technology, thus making it where you can never enjoy Night Vale again? Then this book is for you.
I’ll wait.
*Looks around carefully.* Are all the non-fans gone? Good. The meeting is next Thursday, on the thirteenth minute of the thirteenth hour. It will last precisely thirteen seconds, then all will be known.
…
Oh dear, there seems to be some non-fans still reading. That won’t do. That won’t do at all.
*Sends a guard to escort them to the library*
__________________
So yeah, in terms of the book, it’s great. As it says on the cover/description, the book contains written transcripts of the first year of the show. It also contains introductions by one of the people involved (usually one of the writers, sometimes voice actors) that offer a lot of interesting information in regards to the creation of the episode.
It also features the script for the live show “Condos” which is a nice bonus.
Now some non-fans may be saying, “But wait, you can listen to almost all of this book for free! Did you just pay money for some introductions and a few bonuses?” To which I respond, “Why are you still here? Didn’t the librarians devour your soul yet?”
Another, kinder, response could be as follows: Are you afraid of the inevitable apocalypse that will shut down the Internet, or destroy technology, thus making it where you can never enjoy Night Vale again? Then this book is for you.
January 2, 2025
I enjoyed the episodes of the podcast I've listened too .. was super bored reading this although it is very creative and funny
October 10, 2016
Honestly, a written format of the Night Vale podcasts seemed pretty dull before I picked it up. They're definitely meant to be listened to, not to be read. But I found myself enjoying getting to relive every moment. There's also fantastic bonus content before each episode with a short dialogue from the creators and contributors. Interesting and fun all around. I can even hear Cecil's voice with the narration.
January 2, 2020
3,5/5*
Paldies Grāmatu klubam par kārtējo izsviešanu no komforta zonas.
Pusceļā sāku klausīties podkāstu. Man tā bija baudāmāk.
Mazliet par absurdu manai gaumei, pietrūkst kaut kāda kopēja stāstījuma. Kad klausījos, jociņi likās smieklīgi un autobusā ķiķināju, bet nav tādas paliekošas sajūtas.
Paldies Grāmatu klubam par kārtējo izsviešanu no komforta zonas.
Pusceļā sāku klausīties podkāstu. Man tā bija baudāmāk.
Mazliet par absurdu manai gaumei, pietrūkst kaut kāda kopēja stāstījuma. Kad klausījos, jociņi likās smieklīgi un autobusā ķiķināju, bet nav tādas paliekošas sajūtas.
August 30, 2017
I listened to the podcast while reading and the explanations and introductions before each episode were a lot of fun to read, made it even better. Welcome To Night Vale is a special thing.
March 12, 2018
An absolute treat for those who had listened to each episode a few times and has their favorite weather (mine is Destroyer - Poor In Love). The commentary and fun facts were delightful.
Those yet unfamiliar with Welcome to Night Vale should start with either the podcast as Cecil Baldwin's voice does half the charm or Welcome to Night Vale, the novel because Mostly Void, Partially Stars will not make much sense on its own.
Those yet unfamiliar with Welcome to Night Vale should start with either the podcast as Cecil Baldwin's voice does half the charm or Welcome to Night Vale, the novel because Mostly Void, Partially Stars will not make much sense on its own.
October 24, 2018
Imperfect and written by heathens. I think.
I love it. Night Vale is a strange work of art, but a powerful one indeed. I appreciate the creators notes on their creative process before each episode; both the “here is the in-depth meaning behind this thing” (paraphrase) and the “I dunno, art or something” (actual quote). I relate.
I love it. Night Vale is a strange work of art, but a powerful one indeed. I appreciate the creators notes on their creative process before each episode; both the “here is the in-depth meaning behind this thing” (paraphrase) and the “I dunno, art or something” (actual quote). I relate.
December 21, 2022
I have been slowly reading this book for five years and listening to the podcast for six or seven years, and, what can I say. Welcome To Night Vale is the most important piece of media I’ll ever “consume”, fundamentally changed my life for the better in so many ways and I’ll never not recommend it or enjoy revisiting it
August 2, 2018
5/5
Considering this isn't an actual "novel," just transcription of the first year of Welcome to Night Vale podcasts (which I already knew I loved), this was a very easy 5/5 read. One of my favorite parts of the book were the informational asides that preceded each episode. I am a huge sucker for documentaries and "behind the scenes" shows (I mean, growing up I was huge into VH1's 'Pop Up Video', MTV's 'Making the Video', and any docu-series I could watch), so I was ALL about this. As always, the charm in Night Vale is its absurdity, its complete lack of grounding in our reality, but also its pointed sentimentality, and its honesty. At the core of this weird ass series, there lies a beating heart.....one that may or may not have been freshly harvested from your postal worker.
Considering this isn't an actual "novel," just transcription of the first year of Welcome to Night Vale podcasts (which I already knew I loved), this was a very easy 5/5 read. One of my favorite parts of the book were the informational asides that preceded each episode. I am a huge sucker for documentaries and "behind the scenes" shows (I mean, growing up I was huge into VH1's 'Pop Up Video', MTV's 'Making the Video', and any docu-series I could watch), so I was ALL about this. As always, the charm in Night Vale is its absurdity, its complete lack of grounding in our reality, but also its pointed sentimentality, and its honesty. At the core of this weird ass series, there lies a beating heart.....one that may or may not have been freshly harvested from your postal worker.
February 25, 2019
I'm not sure how to describe this book, but that's okay as the universe it is set in probably wouldn't want me to. A collection of the transcripts of WTNV, a podcast with surreal, absurd, and at times grim and uncomfortable sense of humour (one where you laugh out loud while thinking 'oh god'), and some behind-the-scenes bits. However, reading the scripts is not enough - you have to listen to the actual podcast for the weird atmosphere to truly engulf you, chew you for a bit and then if you're lucky, spit you out.
I wondered what section to quote as 99% of the book is quotable, but I particularly liked this passage towards the end:
"You should relax more. It’s not that there’s nothing coming to get you, there’s everything coming to get you. But relax anyway. Just on principle.
Lie down and look up at the ceiling, a ceiling on which you can see nothing skittering, even though there is something skittering, there are so many skittering creatures on your ceiling, but: forget that. Lie down, and look up at the ceiling and breathe with those curiously fragile lungs of yours and remind yourself:
Don’t worry. Don’t worry. All is as it was meant to be. It was meant to be lonely and terrifying and unfair and fleeting. Don’t worry."
I wondered what section to quote as 99% of the book is quotable, but I particularly liked this passage towards the end:
"You should relax more. It’s not that there’s nothing coming to get you, there’s everything coming to get you. But relax anyway. Just on principle.
Lie down and look up at the ceiling, a ceiling on which you can see nothing skittering, even though there is something skittering, there are so many skittering creatures on your ceiling, but: forget that. Lie down, and look up at the ceiling and breathe with those curiously fragile lungs of yours and remind yourself:
Don’t worry. Don’t worry. All is as it was meant to be. It was meant to be lonely and terrifying and unfair and fleeting. Don’t worry."
May 17, 2019
I wish I could tell you the ways in which 'Night Vale' changed my life when I first began listening to the podcast back in 2012 or 2013. I was fresh out of my failed marriage, working my ass off to pay for a divorce, and one of the quotes slid into my life and I never looked back. You know how sometimes you find things and it touches your soul because there's a sudden realization that there is something and someone out there that knows how to touch the weirdest, darkest parts of your soul? And you know how that somehow makes you feel more comforted and more yourself than all the nice words in all the world? That was what Night Vale was and has remained for me - weird, dark, unsettling and somehow, at the end of the day, a comfort that will remind me forever that I'm a weird, weird girl and that that is something beautiful. Revisiting these first 25 episodes through this book was exactly what I needed. I can't wait for the next one.
And until then: "Goodnight, Night Vale. Goodnight"
And until then: "Goodnight, Night Vale. Goodnight"
May 21, 2025
The illustrations and intros are an excellent addition to the already excellent stories.
tbr-fiction-201-to-325
March 1, 2021*Review under construction*
My obsession, let me share it with you! They are releasing the scripts for the episodes as books, so now I have a place to park some notes on the first two seasons of WTNV's community radio broadcast. Right now I'm just pulling together the episode descriptions, with the intent to add links to the weather and put in the proverb for each episode (often my own favorite part of the show). Once the book is out, I will add comments on the extras, and begin my relisten of the first two seasons of WTNV, at which point I'll add a few other notes on the episodes themselves. That's the plan, anyway. The books are scheduled for release September 6, 2016. In the meantime, you can listen to the podcast wherever you like to obtain podcasts, or right here.
1. Pilot: A new dog park opens in Night Vale. Carlos, a scientist, visits and discovers some interesting things. Seismic things. Plus, a helpful guide to surveillance helicopter-spotting.
Weather: "These and More Than These" by Joseph Fink
Proverb:
2. Glow Cloud: A mysterious, glowing cloud makes its way across Night Vale. Plus, new Boy Scouts hierarchy, community events calendar, and a PTA bake sale for a great cause!
Weather: "The Bus is Late" by Satellite High
Proverb:
3. Station Management: It's contract renewal time with Station Management, and negotiations get tricky. Plus, a new city litter initiative, books stop working, and a creeping fear comes to town!
Weather: "Bill & Annie" by Chuck Brodsky
Proverb:
4. PTA Meeting: Last night's PTA meeting accidentally opens a rift in spacetime, and Night Vale faces the consequences. Plus, changes afoot at the Night Vale Daily Journal, controversy at Radon Canyon, and our annual high school football preview!
Weather: "Closer" by The Tiny
Proverb:
5. The Shape in Grove Park: A protest against the removal of the Shape In Grove Park That No One Acknowledges Or Speaks About. Plus, changes to the school curriculum, a growing tarantula problem in town, and musical auditions!
Weather: "Jerusalem" by Dan Bern
Proverb:
6. The Drawbridge: The city faces extensive delays in the revitalization of the Old Town Drawbridge. Plus, time for another pledge drive, changes afoot at the Night Vale Daily Journal, and good news for radio controlled airplane hobbyists!
Weather: "Aye" by Dio
Proverb:
7. History Week: Learn about the storied history of Night Vale during this special week's celebration. Plus, psychological assaults on tourists, highway construction announcements, and metal detectors in schools!
Weather: "Despite What You've Been Told" by Two Gallants
Proverb:
8. The Lights in Radon Canyon: Mysterious lights and sounds are coming from Radon Canyon. Plus, tips on how to win the town lottery, our newest (incorporeal) School Board member, and the Abandoned Mine Shaft finally gets HBO!
Weather: "This Too Shall Pass" by Danny Schmidt
Proverb:
9. PYRAMID: A large, philosophical pyramid appears in town, announcing several messages, but is it what it seems? Plus, best practices for regular skin-checks, an update on the levitating cat, and whatever happened to that vile barber?
Weather: "Last Song" by Jason Webley
Proverb:
10. Feral Dogs: A roving pack of feral dogs terrorizes Night Vale. Plus, a new installment of Community Health Tips, the Fireperson Appreciation Parade, and free admission day at the Museum of Forbidden Technologies!
Weather: "i Know This" by Rachel Kann
Proverb:
11. Wheat and Wheat By-Products: An important announcement from the Night Vale Council for Commerce to regularly consume wheat & wheat by-products. Plus, the dangers of discount bloodstones, property taxes going up, and changes afoot in our health insurance policies!
Weather: "Cigarette Burns Forever" by Adam Green
Proverb:
12. The Candidate: The search for a dangerous fugitive finally comes to an end, but he's gaining some unexpected popularity. Plus, what to do about those noisy sunsets, City Council rejects "breath entitlements," and more issues with Santa Claus at the Night Vale Mall.
Weather: "Of a Friday Night" by Anais Mitchell
Proverb:
13. A Story About You: You listen to a podcast. You check the episode description to see what is in store this time. It is a different kind of description than you are used to. You suspect the episode will be a different kind of episode than you are used to. You listen.
Weather: "You Don't Know" by Mount Moon
Proverb:
14. The Man in the Tan Jacket: A stranger comes to town with a briefcase and an unmemorable face. Plus, controversy with the Daily Journal, another segment of Children's Fun Fact Science Corner, and new security footage from the bowling alley.
Weather: "Movement 1: Invocation of the Duke" by daKAH Hip Hop Orchestra
Proverb:
15. Street Cleaning Day: Today is Street Cleaning Day, and the street cleaners will soon be upon us. Remain calm, and run away screaming. Plus, new music trends from Dark Owl Records, the crackdown on wheat & wheat by-product speakeasies, and we take a look at clouds.
Weather: "A Little Irony" by Tom Milsom
Proverb:
16. The Phone Call: Cecil receives a cryptic phone call from someone who is very close. Plus, a new business plan at the Daily Journal, an important list from the Sheriff's Secret Police, and improvements at the public library.
Weather: "Those Days Are Gone and My Heart is Breaking" by Barton Carroll
Proverb:
17. Valentine: Emergency crews are on hand to help cleanup the aftermath of the worst Valentine's Days in recent memories. Plus, important schedule changes at the Night Vale Airport, the City Council votes to choose an official town language, and updates on the Post Office.
Weather: "Neptune's Jewels" by Mystic
Proverb:
18. The Traveler: A traveler arrives in Night Vale. What does he want? Why has Jerry's Tacos returned? Plus, the mayor calls an emergency press conference, another round of corrections, and a look at the community calendar.
Weather: "Jews for Jesus Blues" by Clem Snide
Proverb:
19A. The Sandstorm: A dangerous sandstorm threatens Night Vale. Plus, baseball opening day, a look at financial news, and Cecil finds himself in a strange new place.
Weather: "Eliezer's Waltz" by Larry Cardozo and Ron Fink, performed by Disparition
Proverb:
19B. The Sandstorm: A dangerous sandstorm threatens Desert Bluffs. Plus, baseball opening day, a look at financial news, and Kevin finds himself in a strange new place.
Weather: "Eliezer's Waltz" by Larry Cardozo and Ron Fink, performed by The Ventura Klezmer Band
Proverb:
20. Poetry Week: It's Poetry Week in Night Vale and folks get a look at a place that should never be seen. Plus, strange new billboards about town and renovations completed at the Night Vale Zoo.
Weather: "Get Me Home" by Robin Aigner
Proverb:
21. A Memory of Europe: Springtime brings with it pleasant memories of a long ago trip to Europe. Plus, exciting news about the end of the world and important information about spiders.
Weather: "Sni Bong" by Dengue Fever
Proverb:
22. The Whispering Forest: A beautiful and alluring forest suddenly appears just outside of town. Plus, school closings, a dream journal mandate, and a moon exhibit at the Children's Science Museum.
Weather: "Winifred" by Seth Boyer
Proverb:
23. Eternal Scouts: Two Night Vale Boy Scouts become the first to ever achieve the rank of Eternal Scout. Plus, an update on the floating cat, changes in who gets to die, and a recruitment drive for a vague yet menacing government agency.
Weather: "Too Much Time" by John Vanderslice
Proverb:
24. The Mayor: The Mayor has gone missing. Plus, Night Vale Community Theater presents Once on this Island, the return of Children's Fun Fact Science Corner, and an update on the Apache Tracker.
Weather: "Biblical Violence" by Hella
Proverb:
Live Show: Condos
Weather: "Double Feature" by Satellite High or "Remember Us" by Gabriel Royal
My obsession, let me share it with you! They are releasing the scripts for the episodes as books, so now I have a place to park some notes on the first two seasons of WTNV's community radio broadcast. Right now I'm just pulling together the episode descriptions, with the intent to add links to the weather and put in the proverb for each episode (often my own favorite part of the show). Once the book is out, I will add comments on the extras, and begin my relisten of the first two seasons of WTNV, at which point I'll add a few other notes on the episodes themselves. That's the plan, anyway. The books are scheduled for release September 6, 2016. In the meantime, you can listen to the podcast wherever you like to obtain podcasts, or right here.
1. Pilot: A new dog park opens in Night Vale. Carlos, a scientist, visits and discovers some interesting things. Seismic things. Plus, a helpful guide to surveillance helicopter-spotting.
Weather: "These and More Than These" by Joseph Fink
Proverb:
2. Glow Cloud: A mysterious, glowing cloud makes its way across Night Vale. Plus, new Boy Scouts hierarchy, community events calendar, and a PTA bake sale for a great cause!
Weather: "The Bus is Late" by Satellite High
Proverb:
3. Station Management: It's contract renewal time with Station Management, and negotiations get tricky. Plus, a new city litter initiative, books stop working, and a creeping fear comes to town!
Weather: "Bill & Annie" by Chuck Brodsky
Proverb:
4. PTA Meeting: Last night's PTA meeting accidentally opens a rift in spacetime, and Night Vale faces the consequences. Plus, changes afoot at the Night Vale Daily Journal, controversy at Radon Canyon, and our annual high school football preview!
Weather: "Closer" by The Tiny
Proverb:
5. The Shape in Grove Park: A protest against the removal of the Shape In Grove Park That No One Acknowledges Or Speaks About. Plus, changes to the school curriculum, a growing tarantula problem in town, and musical auditions!
Weather: "Jerusalem" by Dan Bern
Proverb:
6. The Drawbridge: The city faces extensive delays in the revitalization of the Old Town Drawbridge. Plus, time for another pledge drive, changes afoot at the Night Vale Daily Journal, and good news for radio controlled airplane hobbyists!
Weather: "Aye" by Dio
Proverb:
7. History Week: Learn about the storied history of Night Vale during this special week's celebration. Plus, psychological assaults on tourists, highway construction announcements, and metal detectors in schools!
Weather: "Despite What You've Been Told" by Two Gallants
Proverb:
8. The Lights in Radon Canyon: Mysterious lights and sounds are coming from Radon Canyon. Plus, tips on how to win the town lottery, our newest (incorporeal) School Board member, and the Abandoned Mine Shaft finally gets HBO!
Weather: "This Too Shall Pass" by Danny Schmidt
Proverb:
9. PYRAMID: A large, philosophical pyramid appears in town, announcing several messages, but is it what it seems? Plus, best practices for regular skin-checks, an update on the levitating cat, and whatever happened to that vile barber?
Weather: "Last Song" by Jason Webley
Proverb:
10. Feral Dogs: A roving pack of feral dogs terrorizes Night Vale. Plus, a new installment of Community Health Tips, the Fireperson Appreciation Parade, and free admission day at the Museum of Forbidden Technologies!
Weather: "i Know This" by Rachel Kann
Proverb:
11. Wheat and Wheat By-Products: An important announcement from the Night Vale Council for Commerce to regularly consume wheat & wheat by-products. Plus, the dangers of discount bloodstones, property taxes going up, and changes afoot in our health insurance policies!
Weather: "Cigarette Burns Forever" by Adam Green
Proverb:
12. The Candidate: The search for a dangerous fugitive finally comes to an end, but he's gaining some unexpected popularity. Plus, what to do about those noisy sunsets, City Council rejects "breath entitlements," and more issues with Santa Claus at the Night Vale Mall.
Weather: "Of a Friday Night" by Anais Mitchell
Proverb:
13. A Story About You: You listen to a podcast. You check the episode description to see what is in store this time. It is a different kind of description than you are used to. You suspect the episode will be a different kind of episode than you are used to. You listen.
Weather: "You Don't Know" by Mount Moon
Proverb:
14. The Man in the Tan Jacket: A stranger comes to town with a briefcase and an unmemorable face. Plus, controversy with the Daily Journal, another segment of Children's Fun Fact Science Corner, and new security footage from the bowling alley.
Weather: "Movement 1: Invocation of the Duke" by daKAH Hip Hop Orchestra
Proverb:
15. Street Cleaning Day: Today is Street Cleaning Day, and the street cleaners will soon be upon us. Remain calm, and run away screaming. Plus, new music trends from Dark Owl Records, the crackdown on wheat & wheat by-product speakeasies, and we take a look at clouds.
Weather: "A Little Irony" by Tom Milsom
Proverb:
16. The Phone Call: Cecil receives a cryptic phone call from someone who is very close. Plus, a new business plan at the Daily Journal, an important list from the Sheriff's Secret Police, and improvements at the public library.
Weather: "Those Days Are Gone and My Heart is Breaking" by Barton Carroll
Proverb:
17. Valentine: Emergency crews are on hand to help cleanup the aftermath of the worst Valentine's Days in recent memories. Plus, important schedule changes at the Night Vale Airport, the City Council votes to choose an official town language, and updates on the Post Office.
Weather: "Neptune's Jewels" by Mystic
Proverb:
18. The Traveler: A traveler arrives in Night Vale. What does he want? Why has Jerry's Tacos returned? Plus, the mayor calls an emergency press conference, another round of corrections, and a look at the community calendar.
Weather: "Jews for Jesus Blues" by Clem Snide
Proverb:
19A. The Sandstorm: A dangerous sandstorm threatens Night Vale. Plus, baseball opening day, a look at financial news, and Cecil finds himself in a strange new place.
Weather: "Eliezer's Waltz" by Larry Cardozo and Ron Fink, performed by Disparition
Proverb:
19B. The Sandstorm: A dangerous sandstorm threatens Desert Bluffs. Plus, baseball opening day, a look at financial news, and Kevin finds himself in a strange new place.
Weather: "Eliezer's Waltz" by Larry Cardozo and Ron Fink, performed by The Ventura Klezmer Band
Proverb:
20. Poetry Week: It's Poetry Week in Night Vale and folks get a look at a place that should never be seen. Plus, strange new billboards about town and renovations completed at the Night Vale Zoo.
Weather: "Get Me Home" by Robin Aigner
Proverb:
21. A Memory of Europe: Springtime brings with it pleasant memories of a long ago trip to Europe. Plus, exciting news about the end of the world and important information about spiders.
Weather: "Sni Bong" by Dengue Fever
Proverb:
22. The Whispering Forest: A beautiful and alluring forest suddenly appears just outside of town. Plus, school closings, a dream journal mandate, and a moon exhibit at the Children's Science Museum.
Weather: "Winifred" by Seth Boyer
Proverb:
23. Eternal Scouts: Two Night Vale Boy Scouts become the first to ever achieve the rank of Eternal Scout. Plus, an update on the floating cat, changes in who gets to die, and a recruitment drive for a vague yet menacing government agency.
Weather: "Too Much Time" by John Vanderslice
Proverb:
24. The Mayor: The Mayor has gone missing. Plus, Night Vale Community Theater presents Once on this Island, the return of Children's Fun Fact Science Corner, and an update on the Apache Tracker.
Weather: "Biblical Violence" by Hella
Proverb:
Live Show: Condos
Weather: "Double Feature" by Satellite High or "Remember Us" by Gabriel Royal
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 15, 2019
There’s nothing like listening to the episodes.
November 13, 2016
And listeners: Night Vale is an ancient place, full of history and secrets, as we were reminded today. But it is also a place of the present moment, full of life, and of us. If you can hear my voice, speaking live, then you know: We are not history yet. We are happening now, How miraculous is that?
Utterly bizarre yet somehow surprisingly profound and interspersed with philosophical gems , this collection is a must for fans of the podcast. I basically read this entire thing with the gloriously deep, sonorous tones of the audio narrator, Cecil, in my head, which made for an interesting experience.
In breaking news, the sky. The earth. Life. Existence as an unchanging plain with horizons of birth and death in the faint distance.
It’s the kind of weird that you just have to roll with – it’s all presented so matter-of-factly. You can tell the creators had a helluva lot of fun letting their imaginations run wild, but they somehow make it work. And despite ominous glowing clouds and secret government agencies and conspiracies galore, the inhabitants of this strange little town face dilemmas we too can identify with – love, loss and the existential nature of life.
And really, I think it’s appropriate that I let the genius of Night Vale speak for itself, pardon the pun:
-The past is gone and cannot harm you anymore. And while the future is fast coming for you, it always flinches first and settles in as the gentle present. This now? This us? We can cope with that.
-And night falls on you too. You too have survived, survived everything up to this moment.
-May you, too, find love in this dark desert. May it be as permanent as the blinking lights and as comforting as the dull roar of space.
-And we are healing. Those of us, whoever we are, who survived. Those others of us, whoever we are, who conquered. Whoever you are now, you are home. We are home, Night Vale.
-We are all poetry, Night Vale. Every breath or branch or sigh before another hopeless night of uneasy slumber is itself a verse in a great poem.
-We are in a moment that is still falling, still volatile, and we will never be anywhere else. We will always be in that most dangerous, most exciting, most possible time of all: the now, where we can never know what shape that next moment will take.
-The present tense of regret is indecision.
From the weird one-liner intros that set the scene, to the hilariously solemn adverts, completely out-there news stories, the weather in the form of a song, unspeakably beautiful conclusions and witty proverbs, Welcome to Night Vale is certainly an experience in creativity, and I’m so glad I have this collection to remind me of some of my favourite moments from the podcast.
There’s a thin, semantic line separating weird and beautiful, and that line is covered in jellyfish.
Utterly bizarre yet somehow surprisingly profound and interspersed with philosophical gems , this collection is a must for fans of the podcast. I basically read this entire thing with the gloriously deep, sonorous tones of the audio narrator, Cecil, in my head, which made for an interesting experience.
In breaking news, the sky. The earth. Life. Existence as an unchanging plain with horizons of birth and death in the faint distance.
It’s the kind of weird that you just have to roll with – it’s all presented so matter-of-factly. You can tell the creators had a helluva lot of fun letting their imaginations run wild, but they somehow make it work. And despite ominous glowing clouds and secret government agencies and conspiracies galore, the inhabitants of this strange little town face dilemmas we too can identify with – love, loss and the existential nature of life.
And really, I think it’s appropriate that I let the genius of Night Vale speak for itself, pardon the pun:
-The past is gone and cannot harm you anymore. And while the future is fast coming for you, it always flinches first and settles in as the gentle present. This now? This us? We can cope with that.
-And night falls on you too. You too have survived, survived everything up to this moment.
-May you, too, find love in this dark desert. May it be as permanent as the blinking lights and as comforting as the dull roar of space.
-And we are healing. Those of us, whoever we are, who survived. Those others of us, whoever we are, who conquered. Whoever you are now, you are home. We are home, Night Vale.
-We are all poetry, Night Vale. Every breath or branch or sigh before another hopeless night of uneasy slumber is itself a verse in a great poem.
-We are in a moment that is still falling, still volatile, and we will never be anywhere else. We will always be in that most dangerous, most exciting, most possible time of all: the now, where we can never know what shape that next moment will take.
-The present tense of regret is indecision.
From the weird one-liner intros that set the scene, to the hilariously solemn adverts, completely out-there news stories, the weather in the form of a song, unspeakably beautiful conclusions and witty proverbs, Welcome to Night Vale is certainly an experience in creativity, and I’m so glad I have this collection to remind me of some of my favourite moments from the podcast.
There’s a thin, semantic line separating weird and beautiful, and that line is covered in jellyfish.
July 16, 2017
“We understand the lights. We understand the lights above the Arby’s. We understand so much. But the sky behind those lights, mostly void, partially stars, that sky reminds us: We don’t understand even more.”
This was such a good compilation of the Night Vale podcasts! It's strange reading it and not actually listening to it, but the mood and atmosphere is still really obvious throughout. There are some beautiful illustrations too and each podcast opens with a small note talking about the episode's production. I think if you haven't heard of Welcome to Night Vale, you might find it hard to get in to, which I think is the general consensus of most reviews of the book. I'd say try out a podcast first so you know what you're getting yourself into, or watch a review of the book/first chunk of Night Vale podcasts since theres only so much you can be 'spoiled' on. Overall, it really was great and I do recommend that you give it a read if you enjoy the podcasts!
“Time is like wax, dripping from a candle flame. In the moment, it is molten and falling, with the capability to transform into any shape. Then the moment passes, and the wax hits the tabletop, and solidifies into the shape it will always be. It becomes the past, a solid, single record of what happened, still holding in its wild curves and contours the potential of every shape it could have held.
It is impossible, no matter how blessed you are by luck or the government or some remote, invisible deity gently steering your life with hands made of moonlight and wind, it is impossible not to feel a little sad looking at that bit of wax, that bit of the past. It is impossible not to think of all the wild forms that wax now will never take. ...
... But then you remember, I remember, that we are even now in another bit of molten wax. We are in a moment and it is still falling, still volatile, and we will never be anywhere else. We will always be in that most dangerous, most exciting, most possible time of all: the now, where we never can know what shape the next moment will take.
Stay tune fore... well, let's just find out together, shall we?”
September 19, 2016
I thought this book would bring new stories but it only contains season 1 podcast transcripts.
"The desert seems vast, even endless, and yet scientists tell us that somewhere, even now, there is snow.WELCOME TO NIGHT VALE."
"The desert seems vast, even endless, and yet scientists tell us that somewhere, even now, there is snow.WELCOME TO NIGHT VALE."
November 25, 2019
I read these aloud. It was very refreshing. Gotta love Night Vale ♡♡
July 14, 2023
PROVERB: What has four legs in the morning, two legs at noon, and three legs in the evening? I don’t know, but I trapped it in my bedroom. Send help.
this review is (definitely not) sponsored by the sheriff's secret police!
and hey, don’t forget to try the new invisible pie at Moonlite All-Nite Diner! it has new taste (it has none) and even better texture (also none)!
(subscription to this review will be compulsory and automatic, and will cost a mere $60 a month)
this review is (
and hey, don’t forget to try the new invisible pie at Moonlite All-Nite Diner! it has new taste (it has none) and even better texture (also none)!
(subscription to this review will be compulsory and automatic, and will cost a mere $60 a month)
December 25, 2023
I have read this with absolutely zero previous experience of listening to the podcast (because I unfortunately hate listening to podcasts) and I have nonetheless enjoyed it greatly, and am very much planning to read the next books in this series and then attempt to follow the remaining episodes by listening to them like a normal human being. Godspeed.
March 7, 2024
I discovered the Welcome to Night Vale podcast way back in high school, so this review is 100% nostalgia-blinded, but I loved reading through the scripts of the first year of episodes! Unfortunately, there's not that much else to it, just a little comment (from one of the writers or voice actors) preceding each script and an illustration for each episode. The highlight in terms of bonus content is definitely the script from the first live show since I hadn't read/heard that one before. If you're new to Welcome to Night Vale, I would recommend you listen to the podcast instead since Cecil Baldwin's voice acting and the sound design add so much to the atmosphere of Night Vale. I think this book and the others in this series of collected scripts are mostly for people who are already familiar with the show and just want to relive the first few episodes in this tangible format.
That being said, Welcome to Night Vale in general is worth a listen/read because it creates this very distinct atmosphere that's equal parts spooky, comforting, and funny!
That being said, Welcome to Night Vale in general is worth a listen/read because it creates this very distinct atmosphere that's equal parts spooky, comforting, and funny!
April 9, 2024
Long time listener, first time reader, but I must say, these brilliantly weird stories are just as great in your head as they are in your ears (I couldn't help but imagine it all in Cecil's voice anyways). And the behind-the-scenes intros gave life to the world in a new way. As always, I give Night Vale 5/5 stars, plus my heart, soul, lungs, and all the squishy bits in between.
July 26, 2017
For perhaps the first time in history a couple of books have been created, written and brought together for every single conceivable type of fan, but you’ll have to read to the end of this review to find out exactly how. I am talking of Mostly Void, Partially Stars and The Great Glowing Coils of the Universe that collect all the episodes for season one (the former) and season two (the latter) of one of the most popular podcast shows in history. I am talking, of course, about Welcome to Night Vale, which features an astonishing number of followers and avid listeners, a bestselling novel (with the same title as the show), and a cast that seems to be continually on tour playing to sold-out shows across the globe, while still recording new episodes and releasing them every two weeks.
The last book I had that collected all the episodes for an entire season was for The X-Files, but as addictive as those books were each time they came out before the airing of the new season, the Welcome to Night Vale collections are just as addictive and perhaps more important, for they feature more material. In addition to the complete scripts for every episode of the season, there is bonus material, such as some awesome illustrations that sometimes relate to the current episode being read and sometimes not. The reader can choose to study the image and forget about the haunting soullessness of say the Glow Cloud (ALL HAIL THE GLOW CLOUD!) and lose themselves in the detail of the shocking artwork, or perhaps be terrified by the graphic detail of the illustrations that they immediately go back to reading the script.
Mostly Void, Partially Stars features an introduction by bestselling author and awesome tech-nerd (Boing Boing) Cory Doctorow. A contents list for each episode, providing handy referencing. As well as the script for the live show “Condos.” The Great Glowing Coils of the Universe features an introduction by author and Night Vale contributor Maureen Johnson, as well as the bonus script to the live show “The Debate.” Both volumes feature a piece from the creator of all the awesome music for Welcome to Night Vale, Disparition, as well as all the artists featured on “the weather” segment of the podcast. The other really awesome thing about both books is that they feature intros to each episode. The majority are written by Joseph Fink and Jeffrey Cranor, while others are written by Cecil Baldwin (the voice of Night Vale) and many of the other cast members, guest stars and guest writers for the podcast. The intros provide a back story, a history and/or an insight into a specific episode, or just an entertaining anecdote.
Good you’ve made it this far. So if you’re reading this it means you are familiar in some way to the podcast Welcome to Night Vale, and you may be wondering (though if you’ve read this review fully I don’t really see how) how these books will benefit you. Well, you will likely satisfy one of the categories listed below which each, in turn, explain why you need these crucial Night Vale volumes.
1) You’re a die hard fan of Welcome to Night Vale: You’ve listened to every episode multiple times, you’ve been to many live shows, and you know everything there is to know about the characters. But sometimes you don’t have the option of listening to a particular episode or remembering a particular phrase from the middle of an obscure episode. These books are the tools to accomplish this. You can find that episode and read that phrase in an instant!
2) You’re kind of a fan of the show but haven’t heard everything: So you missed a few episodes here and there, especially in the first couple of seasons. No problem. Just start with Mostly Void, Partially Stars and you can find those “lost episodes” and read them in less than five minutes and get all caught up.
3) This is the first time you’re hearing of Welcome to Night Vale: Firstly, welcome. You’ve made the right choice. Secondly, you now have the option of listening to many many hours of this awesome show, but that takes a lot of time you might not have, especially if you heard the Night Vale cast is coming to a city near you next week and your friend just bought you a ticket and you need to get caught up fast! Well, these two volumes can be digested in record time and then you’ll have a fruitful lexicon for seasons one and two of the show. However, I’d recommend listening to the first episode or two, no, not to boost their download numbers, Night Vale has already broken a lot of records in that regard, but to acclimate yourself to the show and to familiarize you with the deep, baritonally-comforting emanances of the shows narrator, one Cecil Palmer. After that you’ll be able to read each episode from the book with his wondrous voice solidly fixed in your head, equal to a narration by Morgan Freeman or Sir David Attenborough. Now, sit back, relax, and enjoy the wonder that is Welcome to Night Vale.
Originally written on September 5, 2016 ©Alex C. Telander.
For more reviews, check out the BookBanter site.
The last book I had that collected all the episodes for an entire season was for The X-Files, but as addictive as those books were each time they came out before the airing of the new season, the Welcome to Night Vale collections are just as addictive and perhaps more important, for they feature more material. In addition to the complete scripts for every episode of the season, there is bonus material, such as some awesome illustrations that sometimes relate to the current episode being read and sometimes not. The reader can choose to study the image and forget about the haunting soullessness of say the Glow Cloud (ALL HAIL THE GLOW CLOUD!) and lose themselves in the detail of the shocking artwork, or perhaps be terrified by the graphic detail of the illustrations that they immediately go back to reading the script.
Mostly Void, Partially Stars features an introduction by bestselling author and awesome tech-nerd (Boing Boing) Cory Doctorow. A contents list for each episode, providing handy referencing. As well as the script for the live show “Condos.” The Great Glowing Coils of the Universe features an introduction by author and Night Vale contributor Maureen Johnson, as well as the bonus script to the live show “The Debate.” Both volumes feature a piece from the creator of all the awesome music for Welcome to Night Vale, Disparition, as well as all the artists featured on “the weather” segment of the podcast. The other really awesome thing about both books is that they feature intros to each episode. The majority are written by Joseph Fink and Jeffrey Cranor, while others are written by Cecil Baldwin (the voice of Night Vale) and many of the other cast members, guest stars and guest writers for the podcast. The intros provide a back story, a history and/or an insight into a specific episode, or just an entertaining anecdote.
Good you’ve made it this far. So if you’re reading this it means you are familiar in some way to the podcast Welcome to Night Vale, and you may be wondering (though if you’ve read this review fully I don’t really see how) how these books will benefit you. Well, you will likely satisfy one of the categories listed below which each, in turn, explain why you need these crucial Night Vale volumes.
1) You’re a die hard fan of Welcome to Night Vale: You’ve listened to every episode multiple times, you’ve been to many live shows, and you know everything there is to know about the characters. But sometimes you don’t have the option of listening to a particular episode or remembering a particular phrase from the middle of an obscure episode. These books are the tools to accomplish this. You can find that episode and read that phrase in an instant!
2) You’re kind of a fan of the show but haven’t heard everything: So you missed a few episodes here and there, especially in the first couple of seasons. No problem. Just start with Mostly Void, Partially Stars and you can find those “lost episodes” and read them in less than five minutes and get all caught up.
3) This is the first time you’re hearing of Welcome to Night Vale: Firstly, welcome. You’ve made the right choice. Secondly, you now have the option of listening to many many hours of this awesome show, but that takes a lot of time you might not have, especially if you heard the Night Vale cast is coming to a city near you next week and your friend just bought you a ticket and you need to get caught up fast! Well, these two volumes can be digested in record time and then you’ll have a fruitful lexicon for seasons one and two of the show. However, I’d recommend listening to the first episode or two, no, not to boost their download numbers, Night Vale has already broken a lot of records in that regard, but to acclimate yourself to the show and to familiarize you with the deep, baritonally-comforting emanances of the shows narrator, one Cecil Palmer. After that you’ll be able to read each episode from the book with his wondrous voice solidly fixed in your head, equal to a narration by Morgan Freeman or Sir David Attenborough. Now, sit back, relax, and enjoy the wonder that is Welcome to Night Vale.
Originally written on September 5, 2016 ©Alex C. Telander.
For more reviews, check out the BookBanter site.
June 16, 2024
Best Book/Podcast/Universe ever and the reason I fell in love with podcasts <3
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