Mostly Void, Partially Stars

Brings back some of the joy and newness I felt while listening to WTNV way back in high school. The new medium and commentary add something as well, for me. I wish there was more “bonus” material, but thats about my only gripe. Also would have loved an appendix with song lyrics/track notes for the weather

One unexpected gift the Coronavirus has given me is that I am finally listening to Night Vale. I have desperately wanted to for years, but as someone who worked from home (so, no commute) I was never able to figure out when to listen to podcasts... if I tried to listen while doing something else, I would lose track of the story, but I also can't sit and do nothing while listening. So I only ever made it through the first 3-4 episodes in years of trying. I knew I liked it but I just am not a podcast person.

Anyway, during shelter-in-place I've started taking long walks, and I've discovered that walking and listening to a podcast actually works! (...as long as I take the same route every time and don't have to think about where I'm going or crossing busy streets.)

I originally bought this with the intention of reading the episodes instead of listening to them, but now I'm glad I never got around to it, because Cecil's voice is really a big part of the mood and the experience. But having listened to the first year of episodes, this is a lovely companion piece. I enjoyed some of the behind-the-scenes commentary and I picked up on a few things I'd missed in listening to the episodes.

I took my time with this one.
Well, listen, Welcome to Night Vale is a podcast. Its main intent is not to be read, but listened to. It was expected that its transcript would be kind of slow and somewhat tiring. Do not expect to read Mostly Void, Partially Stars all at once, short as it may be.

Having said that, it's delightful. I love Night Vale. Loved the novel, love the podcast—granted, I don't have a healthy relationship with podcasts in general, but we're getting there. If you know and love WTNV already, this is the book for you: it's full of nostalgia, plus extra comments by the show's creators. If you don't—hey! this is your chance! I promise you won't regret it. It is a friendly desert community, after all, where the sun is hot, the moon is beautiful, and mysterious lights pass overhead while we all pretend to sleep.