Gnomic Explorations and Musings, or the GEM show, is concerned with language and memory and learning. It focuses on 19th and early 20th-century fiction written in English.It’s a place where you can hear those works read and discussed and explored. It’s also a place where you can hear thoughts about Life, the Universe and Everything; and quotes and refences of every description; and the reflections of a life-long reader, writer, and lover of language.The GEM show aims to entertain and inform. It aims to make the present more understandable by doing the same for the past. It aims to make some converts among the history-haters and scorners of the past. It aims too high, but they do say a man’s reach should exceed his grasp. At least, that’s how it once would’ve been said. You may think you know why it isn’t said that way now, but you can always know more.I hope you’ll join me, the Medieval Gnome, producer and host of The Gem Show, our executive producer Holly Golightly, and our diminutive and incredibly talented engineer, Ivy “Munchkin” McDoodles; in a weekly exploration of and meditation upon 19th-century English language fiction, and a lot of other things. In addition to The Gem Show, I also produce and host Ponder’s Wizardly Portal, a weekly podcast about the Discworld, that world and mirror of worlds created by the late Sir Terry Pratchett, OBE, genius, inveterate punster, all around nice guy, and cat-lover. I invite you to join me there as well.No sentient beings are harmed in the making of these podcasts (unless said beings really, really deserve it; and probably not even then.) Questions and comments to [email protected]. Patreon support strongly encouraged, via https://www.patreon.com/user?u=21210045.We urge you to commit one random act of kindness each week, as well.All the best, Randy (the Gnome), Holly (the executive producer) and Ivy (the engineer)