Be The Serpent
102 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 2 years ago - ★★★★★ - 97 ratingsA podcast by three red-headed fantasy authors talking about everything from academic mythology to dick jokes (and sometimes, both at once), as well as the role of fanfiction as an integral yet oft-overlooked part of the literary conversation and in the broader cultural context. It is, obviously, a podcast of extremely deep literary merit.
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Episodes
Episode 101: Jumping the Shark
April 07, 2022 15:13 - 1 hour - 44.8 MBAnd here you thought that the Twitter announcement on April Fool's Day about our upcoming shark episode WAS the joke! No! The joke is on us because we had to watch Sharknado for this prank! Also Jaws and Deep Blue Sea. What We’re Into Lately If They Haven’t Learned Your Name by silentwalrus Succession The Big Bad Wolf series by Charlie Adhara The Absolute Book by Elizabeth Knox The City We Became by N.K. Jemisin Sorrowland by Rivers Solomon “A Cornstalk Fiddle” by notbecauseofvictories ...
Episode 100: Superstravaganza
December 01, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 82 MBOn this week's episode, we have a two-hour special to answer questions sent in by our darling listeners! Thank you to everyone who has been with us through the last four years! The Great Hiatus begins now, but we will return for at least one more episode next year! Get hype! What We’re Into Lately My Name Beyond Evil Honey Girl by Morgan Rogers All the Feels by Olivia Dade Frankenstein by Mary Shelley And This, Your Living Kiss by opal_bullets The Courtier’s Love Affair (and Othe...
Episode 99: Detective Boyfriends
November 17, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 45.7 MBOn this week's episode, we're celebrating the release of Freya's debut book by talking about detectives in love! The tentpoles are Of Dragons, Feasts, and Murders by Aliette de Bodard, A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske, and the fanfic If Life Was A Movie We’d Have A Better Soundtrack Than This by galaxysoup. What We’re Into Lately Dark Rise by C. S. Pacat The Saint of Steel series by T. Kingfisher that ruthless love by alherath The Warrior of the Third Veil by Victoria Goddard The Sis...
Episode 98: [SPOOKY NOISES]
November 03, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 46.5 MBHappy (slightly belated) spooky season, darling listeners! On this week's episode we're talking about afterlife career plans and... well, ghosts! Tentpoles this week are Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas, the film Ghost, and the Inception fic, “The Boy Who Spoke With Ghosts” by AvocadoLove. What We’re Into Lately Squid Game The Discord of Gods by Jenn Lyons A Chorus of Dragons series by Jenn Lyons The Library of the Dead by T.L. Huchu My Words Will Be Your Light by Page161of180 The Memory ...
Episode 97: A Symphony of Serpents
October 20, 2021 10:01 - 1 hour - 43 MBOn this week's episode, we're discussing music! Musicians! Being gripped by the madness of creation! Selling one's soul for art! The tentpoles this week are the film Amadeus, the fanfic "String Theory" by toft, and Ryka Aoki’s Light from Uncommon Stars. What We’re Into Lately The Hellion’s Waltz by Olivia Waite Peter Cabot Gets Lost by Cat Sebastian The Angel of the Crows by Katherine Addison Symphony for the City of the Dead by M. T. Adderson The Dawnhounds by Sascha Stronach Compas...
Episode 96: Changing Places
October 06, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 46.6 MBOn this week's episode, we're discussing body swap fic! Swapping bodies! Trading meatsuits! It's all fun and comedy, right? ...Or is it? Anyway, the tentpoles for this episode are the anime film, Your Name, the fanfic Vinculum by Skadiseven, and the Farscape episode, "Out of Their Minds." What We’re Into Lately Bombshell by Sarah MacLean The Devil and the Dark Water by Stuart Turton Schmigadoon! (on Apple TV) Hunger Makes the Wolf by Alex Wells Pressure Machine by the Killers Camp...
Episode 95: The Jasmine Throne
September 22, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 45.2 MBOn today's episode we're doing another deep dive on the marvelously sapphic fantasy novel The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri! What We’re Into Lately The Secrets of Charlotte Street series by Scarlett Peckham - book 2: The Earl I Ruined - book 3: The Lord I Left Seducing the Sorcerer by Lee Welch The Bachelor’s Valet by Arden Powell Game of Thrones fanfic Hunger Makes the Wolf by Alex Wells cast your bitterness into the sea by Kilerkki Campaign Skyjacks Till Human Voices ...
Episode 94: Into the Woods
September 08, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 43.9 MBOn this week's episode, Macey is forcing us to put on our hiking shoes and dragging us out into the forest to look at some "really nice moss." The tentpoles we’re discussing are Princess Mononoke, Silver in the Wood by Emily Tesh, and Ursula K. Le Guin’s story ‘Vaster Than Empires and More Slow.’ What We’re Into Lately ‘a kind of dwell and welcome’ by leupagus Reputation by Lex Croucher Seven Days in June by Tia Williams orange_crushed ‘s Untamed fics (esp Pentimento.) And What Can We O...
Episode 93: The Glamorous Authorial Life
August 25, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 45 MBOn this week's episode we're discussing the glamorous authorial life -- authors (and other publishing professionals) through the lens of how they're depicted in media. Tentpoles this week are the film Stranger Than Fiction, the K-Drama Romance Is a Bonus Book, the story “The Bookmaking Habits of Select Species” by Ken Liu and The Unstrung Harp by Edward Gorey. What We’re Into Lately Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories by Ken Liu Sorrowland by Riv...
Episode 92: Podcasting: The Musical!
August 11, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 46.1 MBOn today's episode, we're bursting into song at socially inappropriate times to talk about... musicals! Our tentpoles are the Bollywood musical Aaja Nachle, the first two episodes of Galavant, and the musical Wicked. What We’re Into Lately Battle Royal by Lucy Parker Summer Sons by Lee Mandelo Penric’s Demon by Lois McMaster Bujold Harrow the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir Red Azalea by CeNedraRiva The Changeling by Annerb The Armistice series by Annerb World Ain’t Ready by idiopathicsmile surviv...
Episode 91: Anything You Can Do, We Can Do Better
July 28, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 46 MBOn this week's episode we’re discussing classics rewritten by women! The tentpoles are Unconquerable Sun by Kate Elliott, The Chosen and the Beautiful by Nghi Vo, and Beowulf, translated by Maria Dahvana Headley. What We’re Into Lately Subtle Blood by KJ Charles For the Wolf by Hannah F. Whitten Luca “Choosing” by Susan Taitel The Imaginary Corpse by Tyler Hayes Victoria Goddard’s books: Tales of the Nine Worlds series Greenwing & Dart series Other Stuff We Mentioned Will Darl...
Episode 90: Extravaganza
July 14, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 45.8 MBOn this week's episode, we are once again answering YOUR burning questions, dear listeners! What We’re Into Lately The Hands of the Emperor by Victoria Goddard When No One is Watching by Alyssa Cole Bareknuckle Bastards series by Sarah MacLean Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki Women, Race & Class by Angela Davis The Untamed fanfic “vinculum” by Skadiseven Heaven Has A Road But No One Walks It by Silvestris The Return of Fitzroy Angursell by Victoria Goddard History Channel “...
Episode 89: A Particularly Heartless Wizard
June 30, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 45.1 MBOn today’s episode, we're finally getting around to doing our Diana Wynne Jones Episode! Well, sort of -- it's not exactly a deep-dive. Our tentpoles this week are Howl’s Moving Castle, Howl’s Moving Castle, and two Howl’s Moving Castle fanfics — “Hearts and Their Consumption” by setepenre_set and “Second Time Lucky” by labellementeuse. What We’re Into Lately Rosaline Palmer Takes the Cake by Alexis Hall Sistersong by Lucy Holland Half a Soul by Olivia Atwater A Taste of Gold and Ir...
Episode 88: Singing a Song of Angry Men
June 16, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 45.3 MBOn today's episode we are talking about dystopian stratified societies and "layered cities". Our tentpoles this week are An Unkindness of Ghosts by Rivers Solomon, the Snowpiercer movie (the original one), and “To the Victor, The Spoil” by Annakovsky. What We’re Into Lately Black Water Sister by Zen Cho The Witness for the Dead by Katherine Addison Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo The Devil Comes Courting by Courtney Milan Empress of Forever by Max Gladstone marigolds by c...
Episode 87: Let the Games Begin!
June 02, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 45.4 MBOn this week's episode, we're discussing those models of decorum and tranquility: Games, and game-adjacent narratives! The tentpoles this week are the C-drama version of Hikaru no Go, the film Jumanji: Into the Jungle, and the fanfic you wait and you wonder who’ll take on your odds by paperclipbitch. What We’re Into Lately The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrum The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward The Wolf and the Woodsman by Ava Reid All the Murmuring Bones by A.G. S...
Episode 86: 9 to 5 (What a Way to Make a Living)
May 19, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 46.1 MBOn this week's episode, we're discussing jobs, occupations, and vocations, both fantastical and mundane despite the fantastical settings. The tentpoles for this episode are Rupert Wong, Cannibal Chef by Cassandra Khaw, Hench by Natalie Zina Walschots, and “Always Near” by afrai. What We’re Into Lately A Master of Djinn by P. Djèlí Clark How to Find a Princess by Alyssa Cole Hollow Empire by Sam Hawke The Gauntlet by Karuna Riazi Piranesi by Susanna Clarke Hiding in the Leaves by...
Episode 85: Girl Meets House
May 05, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 45.5 MBOn today's episode, we're getting unseasonably spooky as we talk about Gothic novels! The tentpoles for this episode are Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, the film Crimson Peak, and the Untamed fanfic Imago by astrophyllite. What We’re Into Lately Word of Honor The View Was Exhausting by Mikaella Clements and Onjuli Datta Die, Volume 1 by Kieron Gillen and Stephanie Hans Dread Nation by Justina Ireland Don’t Look Back series by acuteneurosis ShuoshuoChinese Trading for a Li...
Episode 84: Not With a Bang...
April 21, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 46.6 MBOn this week's episode, we're talking about postapocalyptic fiction, specifically stories set in the wake of a climate apocalypse. The tentpoles are Trail of Lightning by Rebecca Roanhorse, the fanfic "Moebius" by AuroraNova and Mad Max: Fury Road. What We’re Into Lately The House of Niccolò series by Dorothy Dunnett Act Your Age, Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert Parks and Recreation The World Figure Skating Championship A Face Like Glass by Frances Hardinge love, in fire and blood by ci...
Episode 83: Space Sweepers!
April 07, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 47.1 MBOn today's episode we're buckling on our space shoes, picking up our space harpoons, and charging up our space laser guns, because we're doing a deep dive on the new South Korean scifi film, Space Sweepers. What We’re Into Lately An Unkindness of Ghosts by Rivers Solomon The House of Always by Jenn Lyon Disarmed by Sarah Rees Brennan Word of Honor The Midnight Bargain by C.L. Polk Mexican Gothic by Sylvia Moreno Garcia Boku no Hero Academia fanfic of the Star Wars crossover varie...
Epsode 82: On Wednesdays, We Wear Pink
March 24, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 45.8 MBOn this week's episode, we're getting the gang back together to talk about girl gangs, teen squads, and spooky witchy girls! The tentpoles this week are The Scapegracers by Hannah Abigail Clarke, Ring Shout by P. Djèlí Clark, and the fanfic “21st Century Girls” by springgreen. What We’re Into Lately Foul is Fair by Hannah Capin The Prophets by Robert Jones Jr. Amari and the Night Brothers by B. B. Alston The Gentle Art of Fortune Hunting by K.J. Charles Riot Baby by Tochi Onyebuchi ...
Episode 81: An Apology, and a Collection of Recs
March 10, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 45.5 MBOn this week's episode, we're discussing a few changes we're making in our approach to the podcast, and we're gushing about some of our favorite recent and upcoming works, including Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko, The Duke Who Didn’t by Courtney Milan, and She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan. What We’re Into Lately Seven of Infinities by Aliette de Bodard Fireheart Tiger by Aliette de Bodard The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri The Queer Principles of Kit Webb by Cat Sebastian A ...
Episode 80: Extravaganza
February 10, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 60.3 MBOn this week's episode, we're bringing you an extra-long, extra special surprise: We're playing a one-shot of an RPG, using a game system designed by Alex, which uses a tarot deck rather than dice! Enjoy! As per the outro of this episode, the links to our statements in response to feedback we received on Episode 71: Macey’s statement RE BTS ep 71 Freya’s statement RE BTS ep 71 Alex’s statement RE BTS ep 71 For Next Time We're taking a week off our regular release schedule. Never ...
Episode 79: These Newfangled Toys
January 27, 2021 11:00 - 1 hour - 47.7 MBThis week we're talking about new technologies, platforms, and formats of storytelling! The tentpoles this week are the first episode of Campaign Skyjacks, the interactive fiction game Stay by E. Jade Lomax, and the twitter threadfic Still Waters aka Turtle Creek. What We’re Into Lately Untamed by Anna Cowan The Chosen and the Beautiful by Nghi Vo The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald These Violent Delights by Micah Nemerever Qi hun Hades Yesterday Upon The Stair by PitViperOfDoom 24 ...
Episode 78: Baby, Remember My Name
January 13, 2021 11:00 - 1 hour - 44.1 MBOn this week's episode, we're discussing celebrity culture, the cost of fame, and three brilliant tentpoles: A Knight’s Tale, Spoiler Alert by Olivia Dade, and “#bakudeku” by rageprufrock. What We’re Into Lately The Midnight Bargain by C. L. Polk On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong CryoBurn by Lois McMaster Bujold Eager by Ben Goldfarb live from new york by varnes The Murder of Crows by cerbykerby Hades My Hero Academia Other Stuff We Mentioned Realm of Ash by Tas...
Episode 77: Sneks Bless Us, Everyone!
December 30, 2020 11:00 - 59 minutes - 42.5 MBHappy holidays, everybody! On this episode, we're sticking with the theme of the season and discussing holidays in fiction! The tentpoles this week are the Doctor Who episode “A Christmas Carol,” the Disney film Coco, and the Scum Villain's Self Saving System fanfic “Shang Qinghua's No Good Very Bad Several Iterations Of A Day.” What We’re Into Lately The Art of Theft by Sherry Thomas How to Catch a Queen by Alyssa Cole Four Letter Word For Intercourse by bendingsignpost The Scapegra...
Episode 76: Structure?? I Don't Even Know 'Er!
December 16, 2020 10:00 - 1 hour - 41.9 MBOn this week's episode, your Serpents were in the middle of National Novel Writing Month, so they used their smart juicy brains and planned an episode without ANY TENTPOLES WHATSOEVER. It's a craft discussion episode!! What We’re Into Lately The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow Phoenix Extravagant by Yoon Ha Lee May the Best Man Win by Z. R. Ellor The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells “Artificial Condition” by Martha Wells “Rogue Protocol” by Martha Wells where the stars ...
Episode 75: Bread and Roses
December 02, 2020 11:00 - 1 hour - 46 MBOn today's episode, we're talking about bards and storytellers! What is art even FOR? The tentpoles this week are Dragonsinger by Anne McCaffrey, “With a Conquering Air” by inexplicifics, and When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain by Nghi Vo. Other Stuff We Mentioned Chronicles of Ghadid series by K. A. Doore Space Opera by Catherynne M. Valente Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo Mad Max: Fury Road meme face Viable Paradise roommates The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner Murder wife from Luth...
Episode 74: Darling, It's Better Down Where It's Wetter
November 18, 2020 11:00 - 1 hour - 44.3 MBOn this week's episode, we're talking about mermaids, sirens, selkies, and other moist ladies who may or may not want to eat your whole face off! Guess what: The sea is terrifying! Fuck the sea! Tentpoles this week are The Deep by Rivers Solomon, Into the Drowning Deep by Mira Grant, and the Studio Ghibli movie Ponyo. What We’re Into Lately Piranesi by Susanna Clark Return of the Thief by Megan Whalen Turner Division Bells by Iona Datt Sharma Lynchpin by ShanaStoryteller Please miss p...
Episode 73: Game, Set, and Match
November 04, 2020 11:00 - 1 hour - 48.5 MBOn this week's episode, we're talking about sports! The tentpoles are Unseen Academicals by Terry Pratchett, Bend It Like Beckham, and “Thirty Years and Change” by sunsmasher. What We’re Into Lately Unconquerable Sun by Kate Elliott Fence: Striking Distance by Sarah Rees Brennan Binging with Babish Scum Villain fanfic The Untamed fanfic Yuri!!! on Ice fanfic (because nostalgia) Drowned Country by Emily Tesh Scum Villain anime Haikyuu!! Other Stuff We Mentioned Blaseball Sp...
Episode 72: Fangs for the Memories
October 21, 2020 10:00 - 1 hour - 45.4 MBOn today's episode, we're getting into that Spooky Season mood and talking about the dreaded VAMPYR. Or vampire, as Macey and Freya insist on pronouncing it. The tentpoles this week are “Small Changes Over Long Periods of Time” by Kellen Szpara, What We Do in the Shadows, and “pro bono” by astronicht. Note: This episode has been edited to amend a sidebar discussion we had in response to discussion about the racist representation in A Deadly Education, which we tentpoled in the previous e...
Episode 71: Back To School (feat. Naomi Novik)
October 07, 2020 10:00 - 1 hour - 44.5 MBOn this week's episode, we're joined by glamorous guest star Naomi Novik to talk about magical boarding schools and the purposes of structured education. The tentpoles this week are A Deadly Education and Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. Note: This episode has been edited to include a content warning just after the introduction. Please check the transcript for the full text. What We’re Into Lately Will Darling Adventures series by K.J. Charles The Sugared Game by K.J. Charles K...
Episode 70: Extravaganza
September 23, 2020 10:00 - 1 hour - 45.4 MBOn this week's episode, we're taking a break to answer questions submitted by our listeners and play a fun game! It's the Extravaganza! \o/ What We’re Into Lately Catch and Kill by Ronan Farrow Down to Agincourt series by seperis The Game of God by seperis How Long ‘til Black Future Month? by N. K. Jemisin What the Water Gave Me by iesika Knock Down the House Blaseball Other Stuff We Mentioned Qantas Lounge at Heathrow International Airport The 10th Circle of Hell, ie Newark Li...
Episode 69: Nice Nice Nice
September 09, 2020 10:00 - 1 hour - 47.1 MBOn this week's episode, we're putting on some mood lighting, we're pouring a glass of wine, and we're talking about some sexy things. And also about sex when it's more funny than sexy. The tentpoles for this episode are: “Favorite” by astolat, Sense8, particularly episode six of season one, and The Care and Feeding of Waspish Widows by Olivia Waite. What We’re Into Lately When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain by Nghi Vo Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall The Lymond Chronicles by Dorot...
Episode 68: Who Wants to Live Forever?
August 26, 2020 10:00 - 1 hour - 46 MBOn this week's episode, we are pondering the nature of mortality -- and immortality! We're discussing demigods and other sorts of very, very long lived folks. The tentpoles for this week are The Old Guard, The Sorcerer of the Wildeeps by Kai Ashante Wilson, and “The god of scraped knees.” by spqr. What We’re Into Lately The Care and Feeding of Waspish Widows by Olivia Waite Alice Payne Arrives by Kate Heartfield Mexican Gothic by Sylvia Moreno-Garcia Fiyah, issue 15 Summer in Orcus by ...
Episode 67: Toss a Coin to Your Serpents
August 12, 2020 10:00 - 1 hour - 45.5 MBOn this week's episode, Macey gets her feet tangled in her cardigan, Freya tries to convince everyone to submit Extravaganza questions via 5-star iTunes reviews, and Alex is very tired. Oh, and we're also doing a deep-dive on a single tentpole: The Witcher tv show! What We’re Into Lately The Black God’s Drums by P. Djèlí Clark Ring Shout by P. Djèlí Clark The Haunting of Tram Car 015 by P. Djèlí Clark Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert Haikyuu!! The Order of the Pure Moon Refle...
Episode 66: You Break It, You Bond It
July 29, 2020 10:00 - 1 hour - 43.9 MBOn this week's episode, we’re discussing soulmates and soul bonds! Everyone have your assigned buddy? Remember to hold hands so nobody gets lost! The tentpoles for this episode are Mating the Huntress by Talia Hibbert, Fated by maydei, and “Deconstruct” by flowercity. What We’re Into Lately The Lost Future of Pepperharrow by Natasha Pulley “Of Dragons, Feasts, and Murders” by Aliette de Bodard Lady Sherlock series by Sherry Thomas A Study in Scarlet Women by Sherry Thomas Realm of A...
Episode 65: Transfigurations
July 15, 2020 10:00 - 59 minutes - 42.5 MBOn today's episode we're talking about Harry Potter, the unbearable TERFness of JK Rowling, and the power of fanfic to reclaim and transform problematic canons: We're doing a deep-dive on the fanfic "Transfigurations" by Resonant! What We’re Into Lately Greenlight by Benjamin Stevenson The Letdown TV series Pink Slip by Katrina Jackson The Sorcerer of the Wildeeps by Kai Ashante Wilson Seraphina by Rachel Hartman What married people do by Shamelesscooper, a Scum Villain/Untamed crosso...
Episode 64: The Art of War
July 01, 2020 10:00 - 1 hour - 47.5 MBOn this week's episode, we're looking at a selection of small scenes from several different pieces of media: The Expanse, Naomi Novik’s His Majesty’s Dragon, an Alexander the Great documentary, K. J. Parker’s Devices and Desires, and Bujold’s The Warrior’s Apprentice. What We’re Into Lately Murderbot novellas by Martha Wells Network Effect by Martha Wells Riot Baby by Tochi Onyebuchi Lymond Chronicles by Dorothy Dunnett The Angel of the Crows by Katherine Addison Empire of Sand by Tas...
Episode 63: Hugo Award Slate Review -- Best Novels of 2019
June 17, 2020 10:00 - 56 minutes - 51.7 MBOn this week's episode, we're doing a whirlwind survey of the six finalists from this year's Hugo Award for Best Novel: The Light Brigade by Kameron Hurley, Middlegame by Seanan McGuire, A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine, Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir, The City In the Middle of the Night by Charlie Jane Anders, and The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow! What We’re Into Lately Slippery Creatures by KJ Charles A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik The Memory of Souls ...
Episode 62: Overwhelming Ancestral Nostalgia
June 03, 2020 10:00 - 1 hour - 57 MBOn this week's episode we're kicking back to discuss some of the beloved fantasy books of our youth, including The Circle of Magic series, the Abhorsen series, the Dark Is Rising series, and others! What We’re Into Lately The Spare by Miranda Dubner Girl Gone Viral by Alisha Rai The Fever King by Victoria Lee The Electric Heir by Victoria Lee Unholy Union by NeverwinterThistle Middlegame by Seanan McGuire The Scum Villain’s Self-Saving System by Mò Xiāng Tóng Xiù Come As You Are by ...
Episode 61: A Time and a Place
May 20, 2020 10:01 - 1 hour - 56.5 MBOn this week's episode, we're discussing historical fantasy, and Freya makes a truly brilliant point about what this genre really IS. The tentpoles today are The Watchmaker of Filigree Street by Natasha Pulley, A Criminal Magic by Lee Kelly, and “Duende” by astolat. What We’re Into Lately Sorcerer to the Crown by Zen Cho Glitch A Marvelous Light by Freya Markse! Tor.com Dr. Manhattan The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo Master and Commander by Patric...
Episode 60: Extravaganza
May 06, 2020 10:00 - 1 hour - 58.2 MBOn this week's episode, it's time for another extravaganza of questions from our darling listeners! What's Freya's favorite nonfiction book? How quickly can Macey bring up chaos theory? Will Alex make any progress convincing their cohosts to wear snek onesies for the digital Hugo ceremony? What We’re Into Lately: Swordheart by T. Kingfisher The Winter Prince by Elizabeth Wein The City We Became by N. K. Jemisin Foundryside by Robert Jackson Bennett Harrow the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir U...
Episode 59: Everybody Wants To Be A Cat
April 22, 2020 10:00 - 1 hour - 55.9 MBOn this week's episode we're a lil loopy from quarantine, but we're still having fun! We're talking about non-human protagonists this week, with the tentpoles for discussion being The Unspoken Name by A.K. Larkwood, All Systems Red by Martha Wells, and the film Ratatouille. What We’re Into Lately A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine Rules for Vanishing by Kate Alice Marshall Birarley by Aster Glenn Gray The Unconquered City by K.A. Doore perhaps even friends by hirokiyuu The Gr...
Episode 58: College Experience 101
April 08, 2020 10:00 - 57 minutes - 52.3 MBWelcome back to campus, students! It's the episode about college AUs and university settings! On today’s episode, we’re discussing The Student Prince by FayJay, Pamela Dean’s Tam Lin, and the pilot episode of The Magicians. What We’re Into Lately Band Sinister by K. J. Charles Stormsong by C.L. Polk The Husky and His White Cat Shizun fic The Untamed fic The Name of All Things by Jenn Lyons Other Stuff We Mentioned Witchmark by C.L. Polk The Husky and His White Cat Shizun by Me...
Episode 57: We All Fall Down
March 25, 2020 10:01 - 1 hour - 56.3 MBOn this episode, we are shifting into a more serious register to talk about plague narratives. In light of the current pandemic, we urge you to check in with yourself before listening to this episode--are you doing okay? Are you good to listen to this right now? Please take care of yourself, and don't listen to this episode right now if it'll be an emotional overload for you. It'll always be here for you later. That said, the tentpoles for this episode are: The Monster of Elendhaven, The D...
Episode 56: The Title of the Episode
March 11, 2020 10:00 - 58 minutes - 53.7 MBOn this week's episode, we're diving into a very self-referential discussion of the metatext! Tentpoles this week are the film The Handmaiden, the fanfic “Steve Rogers at 100,” and A Choir of Lies by our very own Alexandra Rowland. What We’re Into Lately Empire of Sand by Tasha Suri Realm of Ash by Tasha Suri The Impossible Contract by K. A. Doore Georgette Heyer The Untamed The Scum Villain’s Self-Saving System by Mo Xiang Tong Xu Heaven Official’s Blessing by Mo Xiang Tong Xu T...
Episode 55: There's a Form for That
February 26, 2020 11:00 - 1 hour - 59.4 MBOn this week's episode, we're talking about bureaucracies! Macey brought a fun little game so Alex and Freya could use their imaginations! We're also talking about two great tentpoles: Going Postal by Terry Pratchett and the Harry Potter fanfic “Little Red Courgette” by blamebrampton. What We’re Into Lately The Empress of Salt and Fortune by Nghi Vo She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan A Skinful of Shadows by Frances Hardinge The Scum Villain’s Self-Saving System by Mo Xiang...
Episode 54: Somewhere Over The Rainbow
February 12, 2020 11:00 - 59 minutes - 54.5 MBOn this episode, we're discussing portal fantasies! We're yelling about how mad we are at Aslan! We're finding out Freya's middle name! We're talking about some great tentpoles: The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow, “Every Heart a Doorway” by Seanan McGuire, and the 2005 movie The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. What We’re Into Lately Little Women by Louisa May Alcott Little Women 2019 movie Learn My Lesson by Katee Robert The Scum Villain’s Self-Saving System Our ...
Episode 53: The Untamed (featuring guest star Ruoxi Chen!)
January 29, 2020 11:01 - 1 hour - 60.6 MBOn this episode, the Serpents are welding themselves to their bullshit with the help of a friend, glamorous guest star and kickass editor Ruoxi Chen! We're yelling about the Chinese fantasy drama, The Untamed! Welcome to Year Three of the podcast!! What We’re Into Lately Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert Thief series by Megan Whalen Turner On Grand Strategy by John Lewis Gaddis The Luminous Dead by Caitlin Starling Wilder Girls by Rory Power The Scum Villain’s Self-Saving Sy...
Bonus Episode: Strange Horizons Special!!
January 22, 2020 11:00 - 1 hour - 55 MBWHAT'S THIS? An episode on a Wednesday that isn't an Episode Wednesday!? Yes, it's true! Last year we pitched in to help our esteemed colleagues at Strange Horizons with their Kickstarter by pledging to do a special episode if they reached a certain landmark amount of donations. This week, we're bringing you that episode and talking about three amazing short stories that Strange Horizons published! The tentpoles this week are “Hunting the Viper King” by Kathryn Harlan, “Regret, Return, Reign...