Episode 135: Kathe Koja's Bad Brains

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The Mikes beat their heads against Kathe Koja's second novel until something finally breaks loose.

It's Cocktail Time!

A Blow to the Head

In a cocktail shaker with ice, add

• 1.5 shots rye whiskey
•  .5 shot Benedictine
•  .5 shot dry vermouth

Shake and strain into a chilled martini glass

Garnish with orange twist.

Chin chin!

Episode 134: Kathe Koja's The Cipher

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The Two Mikes shove it into an unspeakable hole with Kathe Koja and her first novel The Cipher.  What goes in does not always come out quite right, and that should be a lesson to us all. 

It's Cocktail Time!

The Black Hole Martini

• 2 oz. good vodka
• 1 oz. Creme de Ciel or some other blue curaçao
• 1/2 oz. Chambord or some other black raspberry liqueur

Shake with ice and strain into martini glass.  Garnish with a lemon peel.
Chin Chin.

Episode 133: Michael McDowell's Blackwater

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The Mikes (Moncada, Stoffel, McDowell) sandbag furiously to keep from gushing about the excellence of this book.

It's Cocktail Time!

Blackwater

1/2 tsp. food-grade activated charcoal

1 shot simple syrup

2 shots Tennessee whiskey

zest of 1/2 lemon

3 dashes Angostura bitters

Mix all ingredients into cocktail shaker filled with ice; strain into chilled martini glass.

Closing Music: "Perdido" by Spade Cooley Band

Episode 132 : Michael McDowell's The Elementals

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Take a road trip with the Mikes, Michael McDowell, and The Elementals. Can they relax in the Redneck Rivera? Take a sip and tell us, is that sugar or sand in your sweet tea?

Cocktail Time!

Sand in Your Crack

Rim a martini glass with Turbinado sugar.

In a shaker of ice put in:

2 shots dark rum

2 shots light rum

2 shots pomegranate juice

1 shot fresh lime juice

Shake well and strain in the rimmed glass.  Garnish with a lime wedge or a pecan sandy.

Episode 131: Michael McDowell's The Amulet

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The Mikes rejoice to read a real and ripping spinner-rack horror novel from the genre's heyday in the 70s and 80s. Join us as we follow the deadly accessory's trail of destruction through a sleepy/sleazy southern town. Fun summer read!

It's Cocktail Time!

Southern Discomfort

In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, mix 

• 2 shots fresh grapefruit juice
• 2 shots Southern Comfort
• 1/2 shot simple syrup

Shake. In rocks glass rub a slice of fresh jalapeno pepper around the rim, fill with ice and toss in the pepper slice. Strain shaker into glass. Enjoy. Hmm . . . somethin' ain't right . . . 

closing music: "I Keep Forgetting" by Laura Jane Grace

Episode 130: Tim Powers's Three Days to Never

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The Two Mikes can't take it anymore and decide to travel back in time to stop themselves from reading Tim Powers' Three Days to Never.

Cocktail Time!

6 Day Hangover

Arak

2 shots Barrel Proof Wild Turkey

1 shot St. Germaine Liqueur

1/2 shot fresh lemon juice

dash thyme bitters

Swish the Arak around a rocks glass and pour it back in the bottle.  In a shaker put ice and the booze. Shake, pour into the rocks glass and top with the bitters. Garnish with a lemon peel and thyme sprig.

Episode 129: Tim Powers's Declare

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The Mikes go deep undercover and play both sides in a battle to discover the merits of Tim Powers's Cold War/Arabian Nights novel of intrigue and lots and lots of gin/djinn.

It's Cocktail Time!

Spirits of the Air

In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, pour

• 1 shot British gin
• 1/2 shot apple juice (not cider)
• 1/2 shot lemon juice
• 1/4 shot orgeat

Shake and strain into coupe glass. Float a bit of prosecco on top, along with a dash of Angostura bitters. Garnish with a mint leaf. Take flight.

Episode 128: Tim Powers's The Stress of Her Regard

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The Two Mike's rip out their charred hearts and shove them into a paper bag as they read The Stress Of Her Regard by Tim Powers.  Can they free themselves of this everything-plus-the-kitchen-sink-blood-sucking-Nephilim novel by climbing the Swiss Alps or do they just need to down a few hundred cocktails?

It's Cocktail Time!

Maid of the Mountain

2 shot German Brandy like Ashbach
1/2 shot Kirschwasser

Shake with ice. Pour into a tall glass and top with club soda and cherry bitters.

Song: %Origin of Love% by Mika

Episode 127: Cormac McCarthy's The Road

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The Mikes' journey with Cormac McCarthy comes to an end, but they're still stuck on the road. They poke around the ashes and find some canned peaches of beauty nevertheless.

It's Cocktail Time!

Carrying the Fire

Take two espresso cups. In one, pour a shot of cognac or overproof rum and add a sugar cube. Ignite (be CAREFUL!). In a second, make a shot of espresso. Douse the flames in the first cup with the espresso from the second. Garnish with a cocoa nib. Be sure the flame is extinguished, then enjoy. Chin chin!

Closing music: "Water and Ash" by Nick Cave and Warren Ellis