Overdue

Ep 736 - Consider the Consequences!, by Doris Webster and Mary Alden Hopkins

January 5, 2026

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  • The hosts of *Overdue* are discussing *Consider the Consequences!* (1930) by Doris Webster and Mary Alden Hopkins, which they identify as an early, perhaps the first, published interactive game book. 
  • The discussion reveals that *Consider the Consequences!* features three main characters—Helen, Jed, and Saunders—whose paths the listeners choose, and the book's structure allows for 43 different endings. 
  • Contemporary reviews of *Consider the Consequences!* from the 1930s reveal a critical split, with some dismissing it as 'decidedly not literature' due to its branching narrative structure, while others praised its interactive nature for allowing readers to control outcomes. 
  • The narrative structure of *Consider the Consequences!* forces readers to navigate branching paths for Jed, leading to his eventual success as an artist in Paris when he chooses career over his mother's demands and marriage to Gwen, or his downfall when he compromises his integrity for his brother Alfred in the Saunders path. 
  • The hosts determined that Jed thrives best when separated from his initial environment and relationships, finding his true calling in art after divorcing Gwen and rejecting his mother's immediate control. 
  • Saunders' path, chosen by the listeners, involved a moral compromise to secure his brother's architectural career, resulting in public scandal and personal disgrace, illustrating the book's theme that deviating from one's honest nature leads to failure in crime. 

Segments

Mint Mobile Sponsorship Read
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(00:00:00)
  • Key Takeaway: Promotion for Mint Mobile’s 50% off unlimited premium wireless deal for January.
  • Summary: The hosts discuss post-holiday spending hangover and introduce a sponsorship read for Mint Mobile, detailing their offer for 50% off unlimited wireless plans.
Marley Spoon Sponsorship Read
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(00:01:26)
  • Key Takeaway: Advertisement for Marley Spoon meal kits, focusing on convenience for busy New Year resolutions.
  • Summary: The hosts discuss the difficulty of meal planning and introduce Marley Spoon, highlighting their prepared meals and offering listeners a discount on their first order.
Bookends Podcast Plug
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(00:02:38)
  • Key Takeaway: Promotion for the ‘Bookends’ podcast hosted by Matea Roach, which interviews authors.
  • Summary: A brief advertisement for the ‘Bookends’ podcast where the host asks authors burning questions about their books.
Podcast Introduction and Context
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(00:03:52)
  • Key Takeaway: The hosts introduce the podcast ‘Overdue’ and the specific episode’s focus on a game book.
  • Summary: Craig and Andrew welcome listeners to ‘Overdue’ and mention the recording date (end of 2025). They explain their structure of discussing books and announce they will be breaking format to play a game book.
Introducing ‘Consider the Consequences’
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(00:05:50)
  • Key Takeaway: The episode will focus on playing the 1930 interactive game book, ‘Consider the Consequences!’ by Doris Webster and Mary Alden Hopkins.
  • Summary: The hosts detail their plan to play the book, which they consider the first published interactive game book, involving reader choices.
History of Game Books
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(00:07:00)
  • Key Takeaway: While ‘Consider the Consequences!’ is an early example (1930), recognizable game books coalesced later, leading up to the ‘Choose Your Own Adventure’ series.
  • Summary: Andrew provides context on other branching narrative books published between 1930 and the late 60s, leading up to the famous Edward Packard and R.A. Montgomery series.
Public Domain Status Discussion
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(00:10:05)
  • Key Takeaway: There is confusion regarding the exact year ‘Consider the Consequences!’ entered the public domain, though 1929 works are confirmed for January 1, 2025.
  • Summary: The hosts discuss the book’s recent reissues and the technicalities of its public domain status, referencing Library of Congress information.
Author Backgrounds: Hopkins and Webster
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(00:11:45)
  • Key Takeaway: Mary Alden Hopkins was an active journalist and suffrage movement member who opposed WWI involvement; Doris Webster co-authored several books with Hopkins.
  • Summary: Andrew shares biographical details about the authors, noting Hopkins’s anti-war activism and Webster’s collaboration history, including a romance novel in the public domain.
Other Works by Webster and Hopkins
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(00:15:40)
  • Key Takeaway: The pair wrote several ‘party books’ intended for group interaction, alongside personality tests like ‘Dynamite,’ which warned readers about having their prejudices challenged.
  • Summary: The hosts list other collaborative works, noting their function as social games or self-reflection tools, quoting the intense foreword of ‘Dynamite.’
Contemporary Reception of the Book
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(00:20:10)
  • Key Takeaway: Contemporary reviews were mixed: one dismissed it as ‘decidedly not literature’ because it lacked inevitable endings, while another praised the reader’s agency in determining outcomes.
  • Summary: Craig reads excerpts from 1930s newspaper reviews, contrasting the criticism of its non-traditional narrative structure with the appeal of reader control.
Squarespace Sponsorship Read
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(00:22:50)
  • Key Takeaway: Squarespace is promoted as a tool for building websites, offering services, scheduling, and integrated analytics, appealing to small businesses.
  • Summary: The hosts read new talking points for Squarespace, emphasizing its utility for service-based businesses and offering a discount code.
Starting the Game: Character Selection
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(00:27:26)
  • Key Takeaway: The hosts decide to play the book, starting with an audience poll to select which of the three main characters (Helen, Jed, or Saunders) they will follow first.
  • Summary: After reading the back cover summary, they read the book’s introduction, which sets up the branching narrative structure, and then close the poll.
Helen’s First Choice: Jed vs. Saunders
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(00:31:35)
  • Key Takeaway: Helen must choose between defying her parents to marry the charming but unreliable Jed (H1) or marrying the prudent Saunders (H2). The audience chooses Jed (H1).
  • Summary: The hosts read the setup for Helen’s initial dilemma regarding her two suitors and take a live poll to decide her path.
Helen and Jed Elope
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(00:36:00)
  • Key Takeaway: Helen chooses to defy her family and elope with Jed (H3), but after running out of money, they telegraph their families and move in with Jed’s mother.
  • Summary: Following the elopement choice, the narrative jumps to their return home, where Jed’s mother, Mrs. Harringdale, offers them lodging.
The Second Choice: Living with Mother-in-Law
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(00:40:37)
  • Key Takeaway: Helen must choose whether to accept Mrs. Harringdale’s offer to live with her (H7) or face poverty while trying to support herself and Jed (H8). The audience chooses H7.
  • Summary: The hosts debate the merits of financial stability versus independence, ultimately voting to stay with the wealthy, difficult mother-in-law.
Jed’s Death and Helen’s Next Decision
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(00:43:24)
  • Key Takeaway: Jed dies suddenly, leaving Helen financially dependent on his mother, who refuses separate maintenance. Helen must choose to stay for the child’s inheritance (H14) or leave to work (H16).
  • Summary: The tragic outcome of staying with Mrs. Harringdale is revealed, forcing Helen into another difficult choice regarding her future and her child’s welfare.
Helen Chooses Saunders (H21)
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(00:45:53)
  • Key Takeaway: Helen chooses to marry Saunders (H21) after trying to work, realizing she needs stability for her child, despite still feeling affection for the late Jed.
  • Summary: The audience votes for Helen to marry the reliable Saunders. The narrative jumps forward a year, showing Helen’s dutiful but unromantic marriage.
Helen’s Final Choice: Grief vs. Happiness
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(00:51:35)
  • Key Takeaway: On the anniversary of Jed’s death, Helen chooses to go out with Saunders (H28) instead of visiting Jed’s grave, leading to a realization that having fun is a wife’s duty.
  • Summary: The final choice for Helen’s path is presented: honor Jed’s memory or embrace her living husband’s attempt at a ‘gay evening.’ The chosen path ends the narrative for Helen.
Transition to Jed’s Path
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(00:54:43)
  • Key Takeaway: The hosts move on to explore the path of the second most popular character, Jed Harringdale, starting on page 81.
  • Summary: After concluding Helen’s storyline, the hosts prepare to read the opening section for Jed’s narrative branch, noting his privileged but directionless upbringing.
Jed’s Summer Romance with Gwen
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(00:55:47)
  • Key Takeaway: Jed meets Gwen Murphy during his summer vacation, and they fall instantly in love, leading to Gwen revealing she is pregnant.
  • Summary: The narrative details Jed’s privileged background and his immediate, passionate affair with Gwen, culminating in the news that she requires them to marry.
Jed and Gwen’s Passionate Start
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(00:58:13)
  • Key Takeaway: Jed and Gwen experience intense love at first sight, leading to an all-night drive.
  • Summary: The Scarlet Siren hurries Jed and Gwen to food. Jed is a ‘fairy prince’ to Gwen, and their mutual attraction is immediate, contrasting with Saunders’ more prudent behavior.
Confrontation with Mrs. Harringdale
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(00:59:46)
  • Key Takeaway: Jed’s mother offers Gwen money to release Jed, accusing her of scheming.
  • Summary: Mrs. Harringdale is heartbroken and offers Gwen money, accusing her of trapping Jed. Gwen indignantly denies scheming for a rich husband.
Jed’s Impossible Choice
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(01:00:33)
  • Key Takeaway: Jed is forced to choose between his mother and his pregnant sweetheart, unable to answer if he still loves Gwen.
  • Summary: Faced with choosing between mother and sweetheart, Jed cannot clearly answer Gwen’s question about his love, realizing the severe consequences of his dalliance.
Audience Votes on Jed’s Marriage
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(01:01:09)
  • Key Takeaway: The audience is polled on whether Jed should marry Gwen (J1) or not (J2).
  • Summary: The reader is directed to J1 if Jed marries Gwen, or J2 if he does not. The poll results show J1 winning with 65%.
Marriage Fallout and Criticism
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(01:02:39)
  • Key Takeaway: Jed’s marriage sours as he wilts under criticism from his father-in-law over his business schemes.
  • Summary: Jed is happy initially but soon clashes with Mr. Murphy. Jed loses his sunny disposition under criticism, and Gwen favors the baby’s activity.
Jed’s Escape to Art
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(01:04:38)
  • Key Takeaway: Gwen secures alimony, and Jed travels abroad, finding success as an artist in Paris.
  • Summary: Gwen obtains alimony and moves out. Jed travels abroad, takes up sketching, and becomes absorbed in art school in Paris.
Mother’s Summons and Paris Choice
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(01:05:19)
  • Key Takeaway: Jed’s mother demands he return to manage the estate, forcing a choice between Franklin and Paris.
  • Summary: Mrs. Harringdale writes asking Jed to return home. The audience votes to stay in Paris (J4) rather than return to Franklin (J3).
Jed’s Success with Marion Cole
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(01:08:00)
  • Key Takeaway: Jed falls for Marion Cole, who prioritizes her career, leading him to settle in America.
  • Summary: Jed meets Marion Cole, who is successful in business. She refuses to leave New York, leading Jed to choose her and find success painting Canadian glaciers.
Saunders’ Boring Introduction
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(01:12:58)
  • Key Takeaway: Saunders Mead is introduced as a responsible, if unexciting, young man from a small New England town.
  • Summary: Saunders grew up with cookies in the pantry, worked at the dry goods store, and saved $500 by age 22.
The Investment Dilemma
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(01:16:07)
  • Key Takeaway: Saunders must choose between investing his savings in the store or lending the money to his brilliant brother Alfred.
  • Summary: Mr. Braley offers Saunders a chance to buy into the store. Alfred needs the money for MIT. The audience votes S1 (lend to Alfred).
Graft Scheme Unveiled
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(01:20:34)
  • Key Takeaway: Saunders discovers the aldermen plan to skim $40,000 from the school construction budget.
  • Summary: Donovan offers $10,000 for the Mead property but demands a $2,000 kickback. Alfred was coerced into substituting inferior plans.
Saunders Exposes the Ring
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(01:28:28)
  • Key Takeaway: Saunders exposes the graft, leading to scandal, condemnation, and Alfred running away.
  • Summary: Saunders threatens Donovan, then goes to the opposition paper. The scandal erupts, Mrs. Mead is disgraced, and Alfred flees.
The Moral of Saunders’ Story
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(01:30:52)
  • Key Takeaway: The consequence of Saunders’ deviation from honesty is severe, proving that crime requires total commitment.
  • Summary: Saunders fights to regain respectability. The text concludes that honest people should remain honest, as deviating leads to ruin.
Reflecting on Character Paths
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(01:31:12)
  • Key Takeaway: The hosts note the distinct, sealed realities of Jed and Saunders, and how Helen was marginalized.
  • Summary: The paths are separate universes. Jed found success through Marion, while Saunders failed Franklin by engaging in graft, even with good intentions.