This week on the podcast, Patrick and Tracy welcome Sam J. Miller, author of Red Star Hustle.
About Red Star Hustle: Aran, a happy-go-lucky high-class escort, is on the run after he’s framed for the assassination of his famous filmmaker client. The last thing he needs is to fall for the studly and noble clone of a murderous puppet monarch while he’s trying to stay one step ahead of an ace bounty hunter, who is trying to keep a fatal secret from her toxic boss/mom, which means she can’t stop to worry about a little thing like whether her target might actually be innocent. Set within a universe of epic mech battles, and billions of human-made wormholes that make traveling to a distant star as easy as walking through a door or scheduling car service.
About Sam J. Miller: Sam J. Miller‘s books have been called “must reads” and “bests of the year” by USA Today, Entertainment Weekly, NPR, and O: The Oprah Magazine, among others, and have been translated into nine languages. They’ve also been banned in Florida, and stolen by AI. His work has won the Nebula, Locus, and Shirley Jackson Awards. He’s also the last in a long line of butchers. Sam lives in New York City.
This week’s picks:
- Sam: The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
- Tracy: Murder by Memory by Olivia Waite
- Patrick: Song Sung Blue (Netflix)
- Patrick: Kinder Marinades
Links:
- Sam J. Miller on Instagram
- Tracy Townsend on BluSky
- Patrick Hester on Instagram
- The Functional Nerds Patreon Page
© 2026 Patrick Hester
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