It’s a brother-sister novelist act, as we talk to Claire Berlinski, author of last year’s powerful nonfiction book, Menace in Europe and now of a new novel of Internet dating and espionage, Lion Eyes — and her brother, Mischa Berlinski, whose novel Fieldwork, on missionaries, anthropologists, and murder in the hills of Thailand, was published on the same day as Lion Eyes.

The conversation ranges from Internet dating and blogger romance, to the historical conflicts between missionaries and anthropologists, to the advantages of novel-writing over having to hold a real job. Plus, a year-later look at how the predictions in Menace in Europe — which is now out in paperback — have held up. (And last year’s interview with Claire Berlinski on that book can be found here.)

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As always, my lovely and talented cohost is taking comments and suggestions.

Music is “Black UFOs” and “Temptation” by Mobius Dick. This podcast sponsored by Volvo Motors USA. Buy a Volvo and tell them we sent you!