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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 13, 2017
Friday Jan 13, 2017
Episode 49: Barghests, Bogey Beasts and Black Shuck - Black Dogs of the British Isles.
This weeks the dragons delve into the many myths of ghostly black hounds found in Britain. From Black Shuck to the Barghest, Garmr to the Gallows Hound, Kirk Grim to Lean Dog, our sff authors discuss how this archetype came about and what exactly Black Dogs represent to the human mind. Looking at The Whitby Witches by Robin Jarvis, Dracula by Bram Stoker, The Hound of the Baskervilles and many example from folklore, the dragons unpick this strange phenomenom.
M.E.Vaughan also enjoys putting J.A.Ironside on the hot seat again since Black Dogs feature in her forthcoming novel 'I am the Silence' - release date 19th January 2017. So there will be a fair bit of dissecting of the Unveiled Series to date and a bit of behind the scenes info on Book Two (no spoilers - promise!)
Title music - Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic
Friday Jan 06, 2017
Friday Jan 06, 2017
Episode 48: Mermaids, Sekies and Sirens - Legends of the Sea
SFF authors J.A.Ironside and M.E.Vaughan return with the New Year and a whole host of topics, old and new, in the quest to find what makes good speculative fiction. Kicking the New Year off, a look at the folklore and legend surrounding part human creatures of the sea and what this says about our feelings towards the water as a provider and as a fearful destructive force. The dragons will also be taking a look at how water represents the sub-conscious in myth and legend, the transformative power of the sea and several aspects of Mermaid folklore. On the slab this week Hans Christian Anderson's The Little Mermaid and Song of the Sea among many other examples.
Title Music - 'Ecstasy' by Smiling Cynic
Friday Dec 30, 2016
Friday Dec 30, 2016
Episode 47; 2016 - The Best Bits
The Dragons would like to wish all their listeners a very Happy New Year!
We can probably all agree that in many ways 2016 has been a big pile of excrement, however the Dragons are determined to look back on it, and look forward to 2017, with enthusiasm for everything good the year did bring. SFF authors M.E.Vaughan and J.A.Ironside share their favourite books, films, TV series and moments of 2016 and talk about their hopes, plans and the new release they are looking forward to in the new year. In the petri dish this week Fantastic Beasts and where to Find Them, Rogue One, The Forbidden Wish by Jessica Khoury, Rebel of the Sands by Alwyn Hamilton and many, many more. See 2016 produced a lot of good art! Join us in looking back on the best bits.
Title Music - Ecstasy bu Smiling Cynic
Friday Dec 23, 2016
Friday Dec 23, 2016
Episode 46: Winter Festivals - Traditions and Stories in the Dark
Welcome to the Dragons' winter holiday episode in which they will be looking at a variety of Winter traditions both old and new. Everything from Santa Claus' origins to why we build snowmen, the idea of a white Christmas and the pagan origins of the rebirth of the year king. Join us for a festive episode that explores just why we need to come together and celebrate in the darkest time of the year. On the slab this week, several Christmas films and stories but in particular Dicken's classic A Christmas Carol compared with the Muppets Christmas Carol.
Wishing all out listeners a Very Merry Christmas, A Happy Solstice, A cool Yule or other Winter Festival/ Non-denominationa holiday of choice!
Title music - Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic
Friday Dec 16, 2016
Friday Dec 16, 2016
Episode 45: Time and Tide and the Rose-tinted Glasses - Our Fascination with the Past
This week, the Dragons examine the popular and tangled issue of time travel and the temperol mechanics of narrative. Just why is there such a fascination with leaving our own time to go forwards or back? Why the endless questions on whether we would change an aspect of history? What makes time travel such a good narrative vehicle? SFF authors M.E. Vaughan and J.A.Ironside tackle those question and more. In the petri dish this week Back to the Future, Outlander, Dr Who, Madeleine L'angle's Swiftly Tilting Planet and Ray Bradbury's A Sound of Thunder.
Title music - 'Ecstacy' by Smiling Cynic
Friday Dec 09, 2016
Friday Dec 09, 2016
Episode 44: Writing Sex Scenes - it's not as Hard as You Think
This week our intrepid dragons tackle a somewhat grey area in fiction writing. Like scenes of violence or fight scenes, sex scenes can help to move a narrative along and expose a lot about a character (no pun intended) but just how do you make a sex scene pull its weight? How can you avoid accidental funnies or dry biological description? Looking at some examples across the board in fiction, including some examples of things you definitely want to avoid, J.A.Ironside and M.E.Vaughan attempt to answer these questions in a light but informative show. On the slab this week Outlander, A Court of Mist and Fury, The Butcher's Hook by Janet Ellis and many more.
Title Music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic
Friday Dec 02, 2016
Friday Dec 02, 2016
Episode 43: Standalones to Series - the pros and cons of One-offs and the neverending Series
This week the Dragons weigh up the advantages and disadvantages of standalones, duologies, trilogies, quartets and ongoing series in books, TV and other speculative fiction. On the slab this week Jim Butcher's Dresden Files, Charlaine Harris' Sookie Stackhouse books, Supernatural and many more.
Title Music - "Ecstasy" by Smiling Cynic
Thursday Nov 24, 2016
Thursday Nov 24, 2016
Episode 42: Let us make Men - From Golems to Androids
This week the dragons take a lot at the long tradition of creating in our own image. Rooted in mythology, folklore and biblical tales, SFF authors M.E.Vaughan and J.A.Ironside trace the journey of the artificial human in speculative fiction from Golems to women made of flowers to androids, robots, mechanoids and cylons. This episode delves into the age old question what makes us human - the presence of free will or the ability to recognise and respect it in others. In the petri dish this week: The Golem and the Djinni by Helene Wecker, Battlestar Galactica, Humans and West World.
Join us as we peel back the skin on man vs creation.
Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic
Friday Nov 18, 2016
Friday Nov 18, 2016
Episode 41: Balancing the Real and the Fantastical - Writing Relatable Epic Fantasy
The release date for the second edition of The Sons of Thestian is fast approaching so this week SFF author, J.A.Ironside, gets a little of her own back and grills fellow dragon, M.E.Vaughan on all things epic fantasy. With a special look at The Harmatia Cycle, the dragons explore what makes epic fantasy work, how you develop it from a basic idea into a full blown and rounded world, and the secret toavoiding a ponderous and bloated narrative. Also on the slab David Eddings' Belgariad, Terry Goodkind's The Sword of Truth and Trudi Canavan's The Magician trilogy. Join us for out of this world fantasy and a sneaky advance look at 'The Blood of the Delphi'.
Title music - 'Ecstasy' by Smiling Cynic
Friday Nov 11, 2016
Friday Nov 11, 2016
Episode 40: Strange, Horrible and Who - the Egotism of Genius
This week the Dragons tackle all the Drs - Strange, Horrible, Who, Frankenstein and Stark - in an effort to get behind modern depictions of the evil genius and the heroic genius. Just what does this preference for cleverness over pure brawn have to say about how society has evolved? What attracts us to it and how do we make ourselves comfortable with the idea? What are the perils and pitfalls of a brain bigger than average? Find out in this episode as SFF authors J.A.Ironside and M.E.Vaughan wheel in a large selection on the metaphorical gurney.
Title music - Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic