Audiobooks by Mathew Klickstein

See You at San Diego: An Oral History of Comic-Con, Fandom, and the Triumph of Geek Culture

A comprehensive chronicle of Comic-Con International and modern geekdom itself as told through countless intimate, hilarious, and often thought-provoking stories by nearly fifty of the most integral members of today’s convention and fandom community. See You At San Diego is the comprehensive chronicle of Comic-Con International and modern geekdom itself as told through countless stories by nearly fifty of the most integral members of the Comic-Con and fandom scene. This full-fledged oral history—bursting with intimate reflections, hilarious observations, and at times, heartbreaking stories—is about how the geek at last inherited the earth and the story of the transformation of mainstream American pop culture into comic book culture over the past century. Join some of the biggest names in fandom as they launch off at ludicrous speed into the spiraling galaxy of geek culture through the kaleidoscopic lens of the planet’s biggest pop culture gathering worldwide (clocked twice by Guinness!): the San Diego Comic-Con. With such special guests as: Neil Gaiman, Frank Miller, Kevin Smith, Bruce Campbell, Felicia Day, Scott Aukerman, Stan Sakai, Sergio Aragonés, Trina Robbins, the Russo Bros., Lloyd Kaufman, Tim Seeley, Kevin Eastman, and many others. The audiobook also features forewords by Stan Sakai (Usagi Yojimbo) and Jeff Smith (Bone), plus an afterword by Wu-Tang Clan’s own uber-nerd mastermind RZA.

Mathew Klickstein (Author), Curt Bonnem, Dion Graham, Eric Jason Martin, Eunice Wong, Feodor Chin, Grover Gardner, Hillary Huber, James Anderson Foster, Jim Meskimen, Joe Hempel, Liam Dicosimo, Lisa Flanagan, P. J. Ochlan, Scott Shaw, Simon Vance, Tim Paige (Narrator)

Audiobook

So Good to Be Bad: A Really Bad Middle-Grade Reader for Really Good Kids; or, A Really Good Middle-G

Harkening back to nostalgic nuggets such as Matilda and The Goonies, but with a twist of modern storytelling a la Captain Underpants, So Good to Be Bad presents a very unique audio story for young listeners. Moishe "Mushy" Luftmensch, age ten and a half, has a big problem: he's a very good kid ... in a very bad world (and we mean very, very bad! We're talking "tangerine peanut butter and garlic milkshakes" bad!). When Mushy proves to be too good for his, well ... own good ... he's summarily shipped off to a special camp for "good eggs" like him. It's no surprise we end up at a particularly unique camp where kids like Mushy are turned from really good to really bad ... just like they're supposed to be. But while at reformatory camp, Mushy befriends some of the other "good egg" campers, and they decide that maybe now and maybe together they can make their move, escape, and work to change the world-quite literally-for the better. All before it's too late!

Mathew Klickstein (Author), Cary Hite (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Kids of Widney Junior High Take Over the World!

Before they became the world-famous Kids of Widney High, they first had to survive junior high! This rock band, composed entirely of members with developmental disabilities, loves to put on a show, but boy can they can get into fights, trouble, and sticky situations. Join their friend and honorary assistant manager Robbie as he introduces the band members and shows us how they're just like everyone else. From cafeteria food fights to relationship woes, Robbie finds himself immersed in an incredible adventure to get everyone onboard for the big concert while better understanding his new friends with special abilities. Junior high can be tough, but this group of rambunctious misfits is ready to entertain and loves to have a good time! Comes with an exclusive interview with Peewee about disability representation and two unreleased Kids of Widney High songs.

Mathew Klickstein (Author), Cary Hite (Narrator)

Audiobook

Springfield Confidential: Jokes, Secrets, and Outright Lies from a Lifetime Writing for The Simpsons

In celebration of The Simpsons thirtieth anniversary, the show's longest-serving writer and producer offers a humorous look at the writing and making of the legendary Fox series that has become one of the most revered artistic achievements in television history. Four-time Emmy winner Mike Reiss-who has worked on The Simpsons continuously since episode one in 1989-shares stories, scandals, and gossip about working with America's most iconic cartoon family ever. Reiss explains how the episodes are created, and provides an inside look at the show's writers, animators, actors and celebrity guests. He answers a range of questions from Simpsons fans and die-hards, and reminisces about the making of perennially favorite episodes. In his freewheeling, irreverent comic style, Reiss reflects on his lifetime inside The Simpsons-a personal highlights reel of his achievements, observations, and favorite stories. Springfield Confidential exposes why Matt Groening decided to make all of the characters yellow; dishes on what it's like to be crammed in a room full of funny writers sixty hours a week; and tells what Reiss learned after traveling to seventy-one countries where The Simpsons is watched (ironic note: there's no electricity in many of these places); and even reveals where Springfield is located! He features unique interviews with Judd Apatow, who also provided the foreword, and Conan O'Brien, as well as with Simpsons legends Al Jean, Nancy Cartwright, Dan Castellaneta, and more. Like Cary Elwes' As You Wish, Jennifer Keishin Armstrong's Seinfeldia, and Chris Smith's The Daily Show: An Oral History, Springfield Confidential is a funny, informational, and exclusive look at one of the most beloved programs in all of television land.

Mathew Klickstein, Mike Reiss (Author), Mike Reiss (Narrator)

Audiobook

Slimed!

SLIMED! is the first oral history to chronicle the surprisingly complex, wonderfully nostalgic, and impressively compelling story of Nickelodeon, the first kids’ network. Beginning as a DIY start-up in the late seventies, the network forged ahead through the early eighties with a tiny band of young artists and filmmakers, transforming itself into a cultural force in the late eighties and nineties that would change everything about cable television, television in general, animation, and children’s entertainment. Compiled from hundreds of original interviews with writers, actors, producers, artists, and other Nick alumni, this is the incredible story of Nickelodeon straight from those who made it happen. Whether you’ve always wondered if Sam ever fell out of Clarissa’s window, what the real story was behind Ren & Stimpy, how an entire network was built on kids-first entertainment, or you just want to relive some of your favorite television memories, it’s time to get Slimed!

Mathew Klickstein (Author), Nick Podehl (Narrator)

Audiobook