A couple of weeks ago—after this episode was recorded, but before it was edited and posted—the famous author Stephen King posted online his top ten novels of all time—and among them was Katherine Anne Porter’s Ship of Fools. This 1962 book was the first novel by Porter, a great American writer who had mostly worked in the short story genre and as a journalist and editor. The novel tells of a German passenger liner traveling from Mexico to different ports of Europe in the 1930s. It presents a multinational, highly varied cast of characters. Ship of Fools received rave reviews at first, before then suffering through the obligatory critical backlash. The film rights sold for what at the time was a kaboodle of money and the movie was nominated for and received a number of Academy Awards. Hosts Kirk Curnutt and Scott Yarbrough wrestle with these questions: is this work a great American novel after all? Are we all fools bound on an eternal quest for understanding or relevance or fares with inclusive food and drinks? Why did the author take thirty years (almost) to finish the book? Come steam away with us as we sort it out.

Listeners are warned as always: there be spoilers here!

The film audio clips are from the trailer to Ship of Fools, directed and produced in 1965 by Stanley Kramer and starring Vivien Leigh and Lee Marvin, among others. Released by Columbia Pictures.

The show music is by Lobo Loco. The intro song is “Old Ralley,” and the outro is “Inspector Invisible.” For more information visit: https://locolobomusic.com/.