Dissecting Dragons

Dissecting Dragons: Episode 26: A Touch of Faust - Changing Goals on your Protagonist and when this works

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

Dissecting Dragons: Episode 25: Death and All His Friends - Themes of Death, Dying and Grief in Speculative Fiction

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

Dissecting Dragons: Episode 24: Cognoggins and Clockwork - What makes good Steampunk?

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

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.