Dissecting Dragons

Dissecting Dragons: Episode 23: Genius Loci - Writing Real World Places in Speculative Fiction

Episode 23: Genius Loci - Writing Real World Places in Speculative Fiction

We've all read books that are set around a place you can visit in real life. A lot of Speculative Fiction hangs together so well because it uses elements of the mundane as a structure on which to hang the fantastical. So what exactly separates the mediocre offerings from books that evoke a place so vividly, you feel you were there? SFF authors M.E.Vaughan and J.A.Ironside settle in for an examination of what makes 'the spirit of the place' and how do you evoke it in your own writing. On the slab this week Phil Rickman's Merrily Watkin's Series, Tales of the Wyrd Museum by Robin Jarvis and good look at why London is such a difficult yet rewarding beast to write.

Title music: 'Ecstasy' by Smiling Cynic

Dissecting Dragons: Episode 22: Once More Around the Sun - Celebrating Terrible Birthdays in Speculative Fictio

Episode 22:Once More Around the Sun - Celebrating Terrible Birthdays in Speculative Fiction

On a lighter note this week, the dragons take a look at birthdays in speculative fiction. Just why exactly do SFF characters have such dreadful birthdays? Looking at birthdays traditions juxtaposed with apocalypses and tragedy, SFF authors M.E.Vaughan and J.A.Ironside examine the Bad Birthday phenomenon. In this week's teeming petri dish: Harry Potter, Buffy the Vamire Slayer, The Hallowed Ones by Laura Bickle, Christopher Pike and many more. Tune in for much hilarity regarding that strangest of festal occasions - the birthday.

Title music: 'Ecstasy' by Smiling Cynic

Dissecting Dragons: Episode 21: Down with the Empire - exploring political themes in YA Speculative Fiction

Episode 21: Down with the Empire - exploring political themes in YA Speculative Fiction

This week, the dragons take on the many different forms of government and rulership, examining how they are portrayed in YA speculative fiction - and what this means regarding the world we live in and the youth who will inherit it. Under the microscope this week: George Orwell's Animal Farm and 1984, Victoria Aveyard's Red Queen, Erika Johannson's Queen of the Tearling, Star Wars and Maria V Snyder's Poison Study Series. Featuring co-hosts and SFF writers J.A.Ironside and M.E.Vaughan

Title music: 'Ecstasy' by Smiling Cynic

Dissecting Dragons: Episode 20: Clash of the Titans - Superheroes vs Superheroes

Episode 20: Clash of the Titans - Superheroes vs Superheroes

On a lighter this week, the Dragons went to the movies. Welcoming back special guest and superhero/ comic book expert (as well as SFF writer) Ben Berman Gahn, the dragons take a look under the hood of the superhero vs superhero story arc. What makes it so appealing? Why have fans been having discussions on who would win a fight if Superman was pitted against Batman which are still going strong after 70 years?! Under the microscope this week Marvel's X-Men: Apocalypse, Captain America: Civil War and DC's Dawn of Justice.

Opening music; 'Ecstasy' by Smiling Cynic

Dissecting Dragons: Episode 19: Was that REALLY necessary? The overuse of Sexual Violence in Speculative Media

Episode 19: Was that REALLY necessary? - the overuse of Sexual Violence in Speculative Media

The dragons have never shied away from hard hitting or difficult topics and this episode reflects that as they tackle the uses of sexual violence in Speculative Fiction and Media. Rape scenes and sexual violence are on the increase in Speculative (and other) TV series and films. SFF authors J.A.Ironside and M.E.Vaughan look at why this is happening. What does it ultimately achieve? What are the likely negative and positive outcomes? Under the microscope this week: HBO series Game of Thrones and George R R Martins A Song of Ice and Fire books,  Terry Goodkind's Sword of Truth series and Outlander among many other examples. Join us for an episode that pulls no punches but offers advice on better ways to create your villains and drive your plots.

Special notice: The Dragons are delighted that they have almost reached the 1000 download milestone. To celebrate when they pass this target, they are inviting any listener whether they are a writer or not, to join them on the show and talk about an aspect of speculative fiction that interests them. To take part please comment here on podbean, on facebook or on tumblr. Special guests will then be chosen at random. We look forward to speaking to you.

Title musice: 'Ecstasy' by Smiling Cynic

Dissecting Dragons: Episode 18: Oh not another Zombie Movie - the Rise and Fall (and Rise) of the Living Dead

Episode 18: Oh not another Zombie Movie - the Rise and Fall (and Rise) of the Living Dead

From Haitian folklore to George Romero, the unlikely decayed and mindless form of the zombie has captured our imagination. Just why is that? Unlike their undead or bestial cousins in folklore, there are no pretensions to sexiness with zombies, so why the ongoing fascination? Why do we keep bringing them back? This week SFF authors M.E.Vaughan and J.A.Ironside ask those very questions, digging under the corpse to get at the psychology. From the gritty, survivor show 'The Walking Dead' to the more metaphorical 'Warm bodies' by Isaac Marion, from Max Brooks 'World War Z' to films such as 'Zombieland' and 'Shaun of the Dead', our intrepid Dragons examine exactly why this corpse keeps rising.  

Title music: 'Ecstasy' by Smiling Cynic

Dissecting Dragons: Episode 17: Magnus Bane to Jack Harkness - LGBTQA+ Representation and Diversity in Speculative Fiction

Episode 17: Magnus Bane to Jack Harkness - LGBTQA+ Representation and Diversity in Speculative Fiction

This week, the dragons are pleased to welcome special guest, Hamish Steele, to talk about LGBT diversity in Speculative Fiction. Hamish is a writer and a cartoon artist, who has spoken on a number of LGBT panels. We all want diversity amongst out characters but how exactly can we as writers go about providing it in a way that shows a broad understanding? As readers, what should we be looking for? Drawing on examples from Cassandra Claire's The Mortal Instruments, Steven Universe, Dr Who, C.S. Pacat's Captive Prince Trilogy and Jane Steele by Lyndsey Faye, SFF authors J.A.Ironside and M.E.Vaughan examine sexual diversity in Speculative fiction under the microscope. 

Dissecting Dragons: Episode 16: Rattling Bones and Poltergeists - the Good, the Bad and the Ugly of Ghost Stories

Episode 16: Rattling Bones and Poltergeists - the Good, the Bad and the Ugly of Ghost stories

 This week the dragons delve into the dark subconscious of the human mind in an examination of where ghost stories come from, why they inspire us, what makes a good ghost story and jut why do people go towards the sinister noise instead of running away from it? 

On the slab this week M R James, Edgar Allan Poe, Susan Hill - The Woman in Black, in all it's incarnations - as well as spooky films such as The Blair Witch Project, Crimson Peak, The Sixth Sense and Poltergeist. Join SFF writers M.E.Vaughan and J.A.Ironside as they dip a claw into the dark waters of the paranormal.

Title music - 'Ecstasy' by Smiling Cynic

Dissecting Dragons: Episode 15: Moustache Twirling 101 - the Mechanics of writing a Villain

This week the Dragons have a particular eye for villainy in speculative fiction. Drawing on their own likes, dislikes, fear and frustrations, SFF authors M.E.Vaughan and J.A.Ironside, say what worksof them, what doesn't and why, as well as looking at the difference between the villain and the anti hero. Categorizing examples of different types of villains, Guardians of the Galaxy, Terry Goodkind's Sword of Truth series, George R,R,Martin's Song of Ice and Fire series, Aliens, Flash Gordon, Jurassic Park and Peter S. Beagle's The Last Unicorn all get a turn on the slab. Tun in for a rigorous discussion on shaking the creases out of your bad guy. 

Title music - 'Ecstasy' by Smiling Cynic.

Dissecting Dragons: Episode 14: Main Mission - Gaming Narrative, the Future of Storytelling

Episode 14: Main Mission - Gaming Narrative, the Future of Storytelling

This week the dragons are delighted to introduce Liam Bowles, CEO of Enigmatic Studios, for a poke around the innards of 'Gaming Narrative'. Examining what makes narrative driven video games work and where they may take us in the future, SFF authors, J.A.Ironside and M.E.Vaughan, look at popular franchises such as The Elder Scrolls, Tomb Raider, Devil May Cry, Assassin's Creed and Mass Effect. Drawing on Liam's experience as a 'game maker' as well as the added perspectives of a game voice actor and writer, and a layperson gamer, this episode tackles the narrative vision in speculative games. Just how closely related to books and films are they? And do they scratch an itch that other media just can't touch? Tune in to find out.