Dissecting Dragons

Episode 393: Unlikely Rebels - the Moral Outlaw Trope

There's something very appealing about a moral outlaw character, Whether it's Robin Hood, stealing from the rich to give to the poor or a barely leashed Jack Reacher doing what's right rather than what the law defines as appropriate. Our fiction is full of those who exist outside the law, crossing the line into the dark without ever losing audience sympathy. This week Jules and Madeleine take a look at why this trope is so popular, how you can incorporate it in your own work and just why exactly it pops up in some very surprising genres. On the slab this week: Legally Blonde, the Hunger Games, Twilight and many more.

 

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Episode 392: An Awful Lot of Walking - Mastering Pacing in Speculative Fiction

If there is one skill that's essential for getting readers to keep reading and yet gets thought of last amongst writing advice, it's that of pacing. Nor is it an easy skill to master since it varies depending on genre, style, voice and reader taste. This week the dragons take a look at some tips and tricks that can help you crack the art of pacing, with a look at a few examples along the way. 

 

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Episode 391: Lost in the Woods - Tracing the Origins of Hansel and Gretel

This week the dragons present another 'fairy tales in focus' episode and they certainly couldn't have picked one with grimmer origins. Hansel and Gretel, though comparatively a young story in fairy tale terms, has its origins in some very real and very dark historical events. While the well known tale is beloved by children - not least for the house made of sweets - its themes are multi-layered and complex. This week Jules and Madeleine take a look at what lies behind the gingerbread cottage from Medieval famine to infanticide. On the slab this week: The Witch of Duva - Leigh Bardugo, Indexing - Seanan McGuire, The Great Hunger - Martin Gilbert and many more. 

 

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Episode 390: Let the Games Begin - Why the Competition Trope is so Popular in Speculative Fiction

It's hardwired into humans (and pretty much every other organism) to compete, which is why it should come as no surprise that 'competition' is one of the most 'buttery' tropes you can write into a book. This week, Jules and Madeleine take a look at exactly why and how you can utilise this in your own work. Whether it's as escapism, tickling the problem solving brain cells or to add stakes, competition adds a uniquely engaging element to fiction. On the slab this week The Hunger Games Suzanne Collins, The Fourth Wing - Rebecca Yarros, the Karate Kid and many more.

 

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Episode 389: Beautiful Misery - The Hunger for the Afflicted Woman in Fiction

Fiction featuring the 'afflicted woman' trope is not a new subgenre but it's enjoying somewhat of a renaissance lately. The 'sad girl' of literary fiction has recently spent a lot more time hanging out in genre fiction which give the dragons the opportunity to dissect the trope. So what is it about the 'afflicted or messy woman' that's so appealing? Is it entirely about catharsis or is there a more sinister element? How has she been depicted in other forms of art? Find out in this week's episode. On the slab - Fleabag, Penny Dreadful, Woman Eating - Claire Kohda and many more.

 

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Episode 388: A Conflagration of Authors - AI, Audiobooks and Infringement

Advancements in Artificial Intelligence are now creeping into how art is shaped and produced. It's no exaggeration to say that this will change the face of the book industry. Understandably, many creatives are very concerned about what this means for them and their livelihoods as the genie is well out of the bottle and unlikely to ever be put back. While the dragons are not experts on the subject, they are here to have an open discussion about matters as they stand. It isn't the end of the creative process and there are ways to use the technology in an ethical manner. So don't panic - the dragons may not have all the answers but they can probably point you in the right direction.

Episode 387: Complicated Runes and Ineffable Power - Hard Versus Soft Magic Systems in Speculative Fiction

This week the dragons are delighted to welcome Olivia Atwater - author of Half a Soul and Small Miracles - to the show. Olivia's fantasy novels cross several genre lines and magic systems play a strong role in the stories, which makes her the perfect person to join this episode's discussion. 

Magic systems in fantasy have evolved a long way since the advent of recording traditional folk tales in writing and the dawn of modern epic fantasy. There are now a variety of different types of systems which broadly fall within the hard (defined) and soft (nebulous) categories. In fact many fantasy novels employ a combination or even both at once, so does it matter which you use? What does the magic system add to the story and how do you shape it for best effect? 

Under the microscope this week: The Lord of the Rings - JRR Tolkien, The Old Kingdom series - Garth Nix, Small Miracles - Olivia Atwater and many more.

 

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Episode 386: The Art of Not Fitting In - A collection of Not Like the Other Girls Trope Observations

The topic of the 'not like the other girls' trope is a potentially fraught one. For starters, it's not always clear where a piece of fiction falls into this trope with opinions varying greatly. This week Jules and Madeleine revisit this thorny issue, taking a look at how things have progressed over the last few years and whether it might not be time to examine whether the calling out of the trope is not in fact as potentially harmful as the trope itself. And what exactly does all that have to do with underwear?

On the slab this week: Anne with an E, Little Women, The Hunger Games and many more.

 

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Episode 385: Both is Good - Examining Bisexual Representation in Speculative Fiction

It will come as no surprise to regular listeners that the dragons are passionate about good diverse representation in speculative fiction, and they've certainly discussed segments of that huge topic before. This time, Jules and Madeleine are focusing on how bisexuality is depicted in SFF, both for good and ill, and in ways that are frankly misunderstood. So just how important are labels? Can you have good representation without them? And what are some of the real bugbears about how bisexuality is displayed and how people misinterpret it that really annoy both dragons? 

On the slab this week: The Witcher, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid, The Boys and many more.

Episode 384: Appearances Can be Deceiving - The Hidden Power of Modern Fairytales

Despite discussing folktales and fairy stories regularly and at length, the dragons haven't really touched on 'modern' original fairy tales. That is books or stories written using fairy tale story modes but often set in contemporary or even futuristic settings. Contrasting the contemporary with the traditional fairy tale really highlights how steeped the both are in the politics and morality of the time, whilst still capturing that timelessness of themes. This week Jules and Madeleine take a look at a selection of case studies including Elizabeth von Arnem's The Enchanted April, Elizabeth Goudge's The Little White Horse and George Orwell's Animal Farm.

 

Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic