Dissecting Dragons: Episode 61: Lords of Misrule - Tricksters, Con-artists and Grifters

Episode 61: Lords of Misrule - Tricksters, Con-artists and Grifters in

Speculative Fiction

 

Another April Fool's day has come and gone, and the dragons are feeling pretty confident that no one got one over on them (that they know about) this year. Delving into the origins of 'the Feast of Fools' and looking at traditions here in the the West, SFF authors examine why the 'trickster' character is so beloved in all forms of speculative fiction. From Nordic to Welsh myth, from Poisson d'Avril to Running the Gowk, this episode is a celebration of silliness and laughter, and an examination of the question: do we make fools of ourselves by holding onto our own dearly cherished vanities and follies? Or does that just make it really easy for a trickster to fool us?

 

Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic