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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 Sep 23, 2016
Friday Sep 23, 2016
Episode 33: Not so Charming - Male Stereotypes in Speculative Fiction
As Equal Opportunity offenders, this week the Dragons are looking at male stereotypes, harking back as far as folk tales and Greek myth to the Disneyfied princes and diamonds in the rough, to the misunderstood bad boys of modern YA speculative fiction. Be prepared for a frank discussion of gender roles, miscommunication and Scottish werewolves. In the petri dish this week Stephen King, Sarah J. Maas, Stranger Things and many more.
Title music: 'Ecstasy' - Smiling Cynic
Friday Sep 16, 2016
Friday Sep 16, 2016
Episode 32: Escape to the Country - of Editing and Writing Weekends
This week the Dragons have taken a break from the huge mountains of editing they have to do and retreated to St Leonard's wood in Horsham for a writing weekend. SFF authors talk about the thrills, perils and pitfalls og editing your work in preparation for agent submission or publication; look at author rituals and crutches; discuss writing collaboratively; and just generally seek to entertain in the relaxed atmosphere of the country. On the slab this week - Stephen King - On Writing, the bad habits caught by editing, first drafts and rewriting and rather a lot of tea.
Join us for a more relaxed episode away from it all.
Title Music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic
Friday Sep 09, 2016
Friday Sep 09, 2016
Episode 31: The Devil in the Details - Lucifer in Modern Speculative Fiction
This week the dragons tackle the ultimate adversary himself. Despite the focus on the new portrayals of the devil in speculative fiction, SFF authors J.A.Ironsode and M.E.Vaughan start firmly in the past, looking at depictions of 'the great destroyer' from the Old Testament to Dante's Inferno to Milton's Paradise Lost. On the slab for more modern facsimiles we have Constantine, Supernatural, Lucifer, Horns by Joe Hill, a number of books by Stephen King and The Devil Rides Out by Dennis Wheatley.
Join us for a fiendishly good discussion.
Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic
Thursday Sep 01, 2016
Thursday Sep 01, 2016
Episode 30: Bucky Barnes to the Winter Soldier - the Evolution of the Side-kick
This week the dragons look at what makes secondary and tertiary characters so compelling - often to the exclusion of all else. Ever had a side kick character you identified with more than the main character? We may have a theory about that. Examining how secondary characters make the story more accessible and how they act as sub-plot whilst still being the heroes of their own stories,the dragons discuss Lucien from Sarah J Maas' A Court of Thorns and Roses series, Batman and Robin, Lucien, Gandalf, Lucien, Luna Lovegood and Dumbledore, and Lucien.
Join us for an illuminating episode packed with laughs.
Friday Aug 26, 2016
Friday Aug 26, 2016
Episode 29: The Frankenstein Complex - why is 'Fan Fiction' such a dirty word?
Is imitation really the sincerest form of flattery? This week SFF authors J.A.Ironside and M.E.Vaughan tackle the knotty subject of Fan Fiction. The dragons delve deep and look at the problems, the trials, the ethics and the triumphs in manipulating someone else's creations as opposed to using your own. Looking at personal experiences and poking a petri dish culturing some epic examples such as E.L. James, Cassandra Clare and Trudi Canavan, this episode debates the highs and lows of that branch of fan culture where fans become so impassioned they create their own material.
Title music: 'Ecstasy' by Smiling Cynic
Friday Aug 19, 2016
Friday Aug 19, 2016
Episode 28: Gobblefunk and Glyphs - creating words in Children's Fantasy
This week the dragons are delighted to welcome back special guest, James Nicol, who they managed to snatch from his whirlwind tour of Britain after the highly successful release of his book - The Apprentice Witch. James shares his expertise on creating words and terms for children's fantasy fiction. On the slab this week, we also have David Eddings, Harry Potter, Roald Dahl and (strangely enough) Shakespeare. It's all about words this week and words are power. Join us for some linguistic magic.
Title music: 'Ecstasy' by Smiling Cynicfan
Friday Aug 12, 2016
Friday Aug 12, 2016
Episode 27: Harnessing Demons - How Writers use their own faults and insecurities in Writing.
The best examples of all kinds of fiction have an emotional honesty that really connects the readers or viewers to the plot and characters. Where exactly does this depth come from? How can you write and fully utilise your own experiences and failings without turning it into something self-indulgent? How much writing is wish fulfilment? SFF authors M.E.Vaughan and J.A.Ironside will be delving into these questions this week, with a look at Stephen King, the Bronte sisters, and many others, together with insights into their own bodies of work both published and unpublished. Join the dragons as they discuss how to 'harness your own personal demons'.
Title music: 'Ecstasy' by Smiling Cynic
Friday Aug 05, 2016
Friday Aug 05, 2016
Episode 26: A Touch of Faust - Changing Goals on your Protagonist and when this works
From the 'Faust' of the title to Greek tragedy and Shakespeare to films by Pixar and Dreamworks, some of the most satisfying storylines involve the main character getting exactly what they want only to discover that the victory is empt. Either they now no longer want what they were questing for or the price they paid to acquire the object of their desire, was so high that it could hardly be called a victory at all. In the petre dish this week, SFF authors J.A.Ironside and M.E.Vaughan, will be prodding at the story lines and character arcs of Antigone, Faust, Pixar's Cars, Up, Shrek and Toy Story, Stephanie Myer's The Host and Suzanne Clarke's Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell. Join the dragons as they look at that strangely filling morsel - the Phyrric victory.
Title music: 'Ecstasy' bu Smiling Cynic
Friday Jul 29, 2016
Friday Jul 29, 2016
Episode 25: Death and All His Friends - Themes of Death, Dying and Grief in Speculative Fiction
Death comes to us all but apparently it wasn't the Dragons' time since He declined a guest spot on the show,. Instead SFF authors J.A.Ironside and M.E.Vaughan take a look at death in speculative fiction. Why is there so much personification and anthropomorphism of a natural life event? Where does that and concepts like 'Death and the Maiden' date back to? How are death and grief used as motivators (or not) in speculative fiction? On the slab this week Buffy the Vampire slayer, Supernatural, pre-Babylonian and Greek myths about the descent of the goddess to the underworld, Sarah J, Maas' A Court of Mist and Fury and of course, Harry Potter.
Join us for both gallows humour and serious discussion.
Title music: 'Ecstasy' by Smiling Cynic
Friday Jul 22, 2016
Friday Jul 22, 2016
Episode 24: Cognoggins and Clockwork - What makes good Steampunk?
In celebration of the Dragons' 1000th download, we held a competition offering a guest spot on the show as a prize. Our winner, Amelia McKenzie, joins us this week to talk about all things Steampunk.Looking at the origins of steampunk, before it was even a recognised term, in nineteenth century fiction, travelling on through time to the creation of the term and finally arriving in the now, where modern steampunk is more diverse, progressively minded and inclusive than ever, this episode examines a genre made of leftover pieces of other genres but has emerged as something brighter and, in many ways, stronger. This week's dissection includes H.G.Wells, Phillip Reeve, the TV show - Penny Dreadful, The Watchmaker of Filigree Street by Natasha Pulley, as well as The Earl of Brass series by Kara Jorgenson and Dave Robinson's Doc Vandal series.
Tune in and get your cogs whirring as SFF authors J.A.Ironside and M.E.Vaughan check out this great genre with their special guest.
Title music - 'Ecstasy' by Smiling Cynic