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Episodes
Authors J.A. Ironside and M.E. Vaughan talk about books, films and all aspects of speculative fiction, from the nuts and bolts of writing it, to its (occasionally) obscure origins.
Episodes
Friday Jan 25, 2019
Friday Jan 25, 2019
Episode 153: A Pirate's Life for Me - Myths, Stories and Crime on the High Seas
The pirate is a controversial, often highly romanticised figure in fantasy and even science fiction. Connected both with the myths and ghost stories of the sea, and with the same connotations as the highwayman or outlaw in folk ballad, the pirate is a tricky archetype to pin down. Some speculative fiction readers have a knee jerk aversion to fantasy depictions of such characters when their real life counterpoints were often violent and unprincipled. This week, the dragons delve into both the history and the romanticised fiction of pirates. While historical pirates (and Jules and Madeleine have restricted themselves to 1600 - 1800s!) were hardly heroic figures, they weren't merely thugs who travelled by sea. From the oft broken 'Pirate's Code' of Captain Bartholomew Roberts' Articles to the little known and surprisingly progressive practice of 'matolage', historical pirates were far more multi dimensional that opinion, common record or fiction give them credit for. But just where did the romantic 'Pirates of the Caribbean' type figure come from? Tune in to find out. On the slab this week - Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson, Peter Pan by J. M. Barre, Red Seas Under Red Skies by Scott Lynch and many more.
Title Music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic
Friday Jan 18, 2019
Friday Jan 18, 2019
Episode 152: The Universe in Motion - Expanding Series & Reader Opinion in Speculative Fiction
As readers and consumers of Speculative Fiction, there's nothing worse than a beloved series coming to a satisfying conclusion...and then finding out that despite all previous assurances, it's being continued in the future or a spin off is happening. Or is it really that bad? We all have 'don't touch' fandoms for books and films that have special meaning for us and it can be very annoying when an author or producer retcons situations, world or characters, but just how vocal about this is it reasonable to be? And isn't it a good thing for fans to be given more of what they already love? This week the dragons delve once more into the world of fandoms, looking at growing series and spin offs of popular franchises and shared universes. And finishing with a few tantalising hints about their own shared fantasy universe for future projects. Under the microscope this week; Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find them, DC, Marvel and many more.
Title Music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic
Friday Jan 11, 2019
Friday Jan 11, 2019
Episode 151: Reading Like a Writer - How Critical Reading Informs the Writing Process
The dragons kick off the new year with an episode for writers. There's much (and somewhat prescriptive) opinion on how much you should read in order to be a functional writer. But what if you just don't read very fast or have a disadvantage that makes it difficult? Does that count you out of the running? Jules and Madeleine take a look at what 'reading like a writer' really means before branching out into how reading different genres and challenging yourself with media you wouldn't normally consume, all adds value to your creativity. Spoiler - you don't have to finish 100s of books a year. You don't have to enjoy the classics. You already have everything you need, here's how to recognise it. (Sidebar, when Jules says how many books she's read, she means in 2018 - not even she is that fast!)
Title Music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic
Friday Jan 04, 2019
Friday Jan 04, 2019
Episode 150: The Twilight Zone - When Fandoms are Attacked in Speculative Fiction
It's a strange fact but liking something so much that you form a fandom is generally treated with derision. This is never more true that when the subject of said fandom hits a level of success that the 'default audience' considers inappropriate to the subject matter. So exactly who is this generally understood 'default audience' supposed to represent? And why is there a negative knee jerk response to other audiences forming fandoms? The Dragons did consider starting the year with a nice, safe topic for about 45 seconds and then said 'nah' and dove straight in the deep end with something meaty and contentious instead. Join Jules and Madeleine as they grapple with this strange phenomenon and the rage it naturally inspires.
Title Music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic
Friday Dec 28, 2018
Friday Dec 28, 2018
Episode 149: 2018 - The Good, the Bad and the Utterly Bizarre
Happy New Year to all our listeners!
Another year ends and in preparation for 2019, Jules and Madeleine are looking back on what they loved and hated, as well as found totally nuts, over the last year. From Marvels Cinematic universe to Broadway plays, from soap shaped like genitalia to political farce, the dragons have got it covered. Naturally plenty of books make the list too! Plus as the pair look back on what they have accomplished in 2018, they also provide tantalising hints of their project line-ups for the next year. Join them for an hour of light-hearted reflection.
Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic
Friday Dec 21, 2018
Friday Dec 21, 2018
Episode 148: The Holly and the Ivy - The Root of the Carol
As we near the end of another year, the dragons turn their enquiring minds to more festive matters - like the rampant use of very pagan imagery in Christmas carols. The word carol has come to mean a specifically festive song with religious overtones, but once the word carol - derived from a verb in Old French - simply meant a circle dance with singing. Intrigued by this and other avenues of interest when it comes to Christmas songs, Madeleine and Jules delve in to the history of carol singing, examining the repeated motifs and themes and looking at just where the tradition came from. Naturally there will be folklore in this episode!
Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic
Friday Dec 14, 2018
Friday Dec 14, 2018
Episode 147: Trading Capes - When Villains become Heroes
Characters changing their allegiances is a staple of all types of fiction, especially those of the speculative stripe. A popular trope expressing this is when a character discovers that they are the villain and has some kind of moral epiphany, resulting in them changing sides in a conflict. This week the dragons take a look at this very specific kind of redemption arc. Why is it such a satisfying trope? What insight does it give a reader or viewer into the character? And why is this type of protagonist much easier to engage with than a more typical 'chosen one' or 'hero'? On the slab this week; She-ra, The DC and Marvel universes, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and many more.
Title Music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic
Friday Dec 07, 2018
Friday Dec 07, 2018
Episode 146: The Hollywood Treatment - What the Movies Changed
No matter which side of the 'book was better/ movie was better' argument you fall down on, film adaptations of books are here to stay. In many ways this is a positive since it generates new interest in the original book and connects with a fresh group of potential fans who might not have discovered the book in any other way. There are other advantages too. And then there are the times when a film absolutely guts a good story because it changes too many aspects of the book. So what do some film adaptations work while others fail? Is it simply interfering with reader head canon or is there something more pernicious at work? This week the dragons examine the world of film adaptations using popular examples such as Twilight, The Lord of the Rings, Howl's Moving Castle and many more.
Title Music: 'Ecstasy' by Smiling Cynic
Friday Nov 30, 2018
Friday Nov 30, 2018
Episode 145: Away with the Faeries - Girls versus Supernatural Queens
The dragons have discussed faery abductions in folklore, song and fiction before, of course, but there is one theme that bears closer examination. Tam Lynn retellings are rife in speculative fiction often in cases where the authors haven't consciously drawn on the folk tale. The story of someone going either into the underworld or into Faerie traces its roots back through nine hundred years of folklore and back into Norse, Celtic and Greek myth. This week Jules and Madeleine look at why this is such an enduring story. On the slab this week - East of the Sun, West of the Moon, the Tale of Baldr the Beautiful, Orpheus and Eurydice, Tam Lynn and many more.
Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic
Friday Nov 23, 2018
Friday Nov 23, 2018
Episode 144: Private Eyes and Underworlds - Crime Meets Urban Fantasy
This week the dragons are delighted to welcome fellow author, Laura Laakso, to the show. Laura is the author of the recently released literary urban fantasy novel, Fallible Justice, which is the first in the Wilde Investigations series. Under discussion this week is the sub section of Urban Fantasy featuring a private investigator. What is it about these characters that captures reader imaginations? Is it characterisation, world building or plot that most draws the reader in? And why is mystery or crime mingled with urban fantasy such a potent mixture? Join Jules and Madeleine as they delve into the world of the PI, and hear all about Laura's awesome new series at the same time. Under the magnifying glass this week: The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher, October Daye by Seanan McGuire, Peter Grant series by Ben Aaronovitch and, of course, Wilde Investigations by Laura Laakso.
Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic