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 52: Let Us Tell You Our Thoughts on Yaoi...
January 15, 2020 11:00 - 59 minutes - 54.3 MBOn this week's episode, we're reminiscing about some of our favorite anime and talking a little about how it influenced our writing! The tentpoles for this episode are: Hikaru no Go, Yakitate!! Japan, and Princess Tutu. What We’re Into Lately The Untamed & Untamed fic Harrow the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir Gilded Cage by K.J. Charles Mutual Admiration Society: How… by Mo Moulton The Rise of Skywalker (2019) Thief by Ava March Mo Dao Zu Shi donghua Mo Dao Zu Shi by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu Ot...
Episode 51: How to Romance Your Dragon
January 01, 2020 11:00 - 56 minutes - 51.5 MBOn this episode, we're talking about dragons, specifically dragons that shapeshift into a hot person so you can kiss them. Well, ok, in one of the tentpoles a girl smooches the actual dragon-shaped dragon, but we'll get to that. The tentpoles this week are In the Vanishers’ Palace by Aliette de Bodard, the movie On Drakon, and “O Captain, My Captain” by novembersmith. What We’re Into Lately The Monster of Elendhaven by Jennifer Giesbrecht The Untamed The Impossible Contract by K.A. Do...
Episode 50: Extravaganza (Agony Aunt Special)
December 18, 2019 11:00 - 57 minutes - 52.8 MBOn this week's episode, we're playing Agony Aunt to fictional characters! What sort of problems have we been presented with this week, and how many times can we suggest "threesomes" as an answer? What We’re Into Lately Chilling Effect by Valerie Valdes The Descent of Monsters by J.Y. Yang The Untamed “i blinked (and there you were)” by Della19 Waves by IncompleteSentanc the lone traveller, standing strong by bubblewrapstargirl before you by theformerone Docile by K.M. Szpara C...
Episode 49: And I Shall Sit Here Consumed With Lust for the Rest of the Evening
December 04, 2019 11:00 - 1 hour - 55.7 MBOn this week's episode we're discussing another of our favorite tropes of all time: enemies-to-lovers! The tentpoles are Captive Prince by C.S. Pacat (specifically the second book, Prince's Gambit), the 1995 miniseries adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, and the fanfic Lumos by birdsofshore. What We’re Into Lately The Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury Call Me By Your Name by André Aciman Transformers fanfic by astolat One Strange Rock The Purge (TV series) Wu Tang: An American Saga Wa...
Episode 48: Girls Just Wanna Have Fun (And Stab Things)
November 20, 2019 11:00 - 1 hour - 56.2 MBOn this week's episode, we're talking about female reimaginings and digging into some gender stuff! The tentpoles are rageprufrock’s The Least of All Possible Mistakes, Ghostbusters (2016), and the pilot episode of Elementary. What We’re Into Lately The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary The Unspoken Name by A.K. Larkwood Bon Appétit Test Kitchen’s Youtube channel Return to River Cottage (referred to by Macey as Back to the Cottage, one in a series of documentaries by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingsta...
Episode 47: Clothes Maketh Man
November 06, 2019 11:00 - 1 hour - 55.8 MBOn this week's episode we're discussing the use of fashion and clothing in works of deep literary merit! The tentpoles are Shades of Milk and Honey by Mary Robinette Kowal, the 2015 film Cinderella, and the graphic novel The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang. A piece of news!! Macey is running a kickstarter for SILK AND STEEL, an amazing fantasy anthology of queer women! Come getchur sword lesbians! What We’re Into Lately Duchess by Design by Maya Rodale Spellbound by Allie Theri...
Episode 46: Welcome to Goth Camp
October 23, 2019 10:00 - 59 minutes - 54.6 MBIt's the spookiest time of year, so we're talking about a trio of spooky tentpoles! By which we mean Peak Goth Asthetique: Gideon the Ninth, by Tamsyn Muir, The Addams Family, and Repo! The Genetic Opera. What We’re Into Lately The Nightmare before Christmas Sweeny Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Welcome to the Black Parade by My Chemical Romance Chronin by Allison Wilgis Rurouni Kenshin Oxford Time Travel universe by Connie Willis Too Much Lip by Melissa Lucashenko Work...
Episode 45: Not Your Usual Family Reunion
October 09, 2019 10:00 - 1 hour - 59.3 MBOn this week's episode, we're discussing found families! The tentpoles are “Stilinski's Home for Wayward Wolves” by owlpostagain, Monstrous Regiment by Terry Pratchett, and the pilot episode of Firefly. What We’re Into Lately The House of Sundering Flames by Aliette de Bodard An Artificial Night by Seanan McGuire Down to Agincourt by seperis Embers by Vathara (also on fanfiction.net) “Sunny with a Chance of Storms” by Mysecretfanmoments and SuggestiveScribe The Library of the Un...
Episode 44: Sympathy for the Devil (Live From WorldCon)
September 25, 2019 10:00 - 51 minutes - 47 MBYes! It is here, at last! The recording of our first-ever live show, performed about a month ago at WorldCon in Dublin, Ireland! We're talking about villain redemption, and we've got some great tentpoles this week: the film Maleficent, and two fanfics, “Looking Glass Country” by astolat and “Three Days” by zamwessell. Other Stuff We Mentioned Les Misérables by Victor Hugo Smallville The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris Sorting Hat Chats Sleeping Beauty Once Upon a Time Snow Whit...
Episode 43: Two Great Tastes That Taste Great Together
September 11, 2019 10:00 - 1 hour - 56.5 MBOn today's episode, we're discussing fusions and crossovers! The tentpoles are the first Avengers movie, the fanfic With Fire in Their Eyes by Asuka Kureru, and the fanfic Polaris by setissma. What We’re Into Lately Milkman by Anna Burns Valentine by Jodi McAlister This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone Black Sails Westworld Emily Tesh Jenn Lyons Game of Kings Oh My General Good Omens “we could turn the world to gold” by nikkiRA “You, Soft and ...
Episode 42: Comedy, the Universe, and Everything
August 28, 2019 10:00 - 1 hour - 58.4 MBOn today's episode, we're discussing what exactly makes things funny. Hardly any dick jokes in this one, folks. (Get it? HARDly? it's a dick joke!) Anyway, our tentpoles (wink wink) this week are The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, The Emperor’s New Groove, and the Hamilton fanfic, “our gilded age” by screamlet. What We’re Into Lately Their Brilliant Careers by Ryan O’Neill Which Witch by Eva Ibbotson Schitt’s Creek Harry Potter Lettered (writer in Schitt’s Creek and Harry Potter...
Episode 41: The Democratic Republic of Serpents
August 14, 2019 10:00 - 58 minutes - 54 MBOn this episode, we're talking about politics! It's gonna get.... kind of weirdly emotional. The tentpoles this week are “Corridors of Power” by blythely, “Hand in Unlovable Hand” by Annakovsky, and Cheesecake and the Art of Political Warfare by Sakana Sara. What We’re Into Lately Middlegame by Seanan McGuire Slow Horses by Mick Herron The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid Semiosis by Sue Burke Red White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston “Lie Back and Think of Di...
Episode 40: Extravaganza
July 31, 2019 10:00 - 1 hour - 61.1 MB*bangs on pots and pans* It's the Extravaganza! We're answering listener questions and definitely not sneaking in a question or two of our own! This is all completely legitimate and above-board! What We’re Into Lately Hither Page by Cat Sebastian The Lady’s Guide to Celestial Mechanics by Olivia Waite, Kaleidotrope podcast Jenn Lyons’ Ruin of Kings Lots of Good Omens stuff, including: Raven (singlecrow)’s Good Omens fic “Salinity (And Other Measures of Brackish Water)” by drawlight ...
Episode 39: The Serpents' School of Witchcraft and Wizzzardry
July 17, 2019 10:00 - 59 minutes - 54.8 MBOn this episode, we're talking wizards! We're comparing the magic systems of Brandon Sanderson's The Emperor's Soul and RB Lemberg's "Geometries of Belonging". Also, Freya has designed a fun game for Alex and Macey! What We’re Into Lately Silver in the Wood by Emily Tesh The Name of All Things by Jenn Lyons Chronin by Alison Wilgus Catalyst by Jennifer Mace A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine Lots of Good Omens shit, including: Alex’s Good Omens fanvids “Bohemian Rhapsody” and “...
Episode 38: A Hugo Award Special -- The Novels of 2018
July 03, 2019 10:00 - 58 minutes - 53.5 MBOn this episode, we're doing a bird's-eye view of the six finalists from this year's Best Novel ballot of the Hugo Awards! What We’re Into Lately Luminous Dead by Caitlin Starling Prince of Air and Darkness by M.A. Grant Schitt’s Creek Borne by Jeff Vandermeer Annihilation by Jeff Vandermeer Sungkyunkwan Scandal The Flowers of Vashnoi by Lois McMaster Bujold Good Omens (the miniseries) Other Stuff We Mentioned The Calculating Stars and The Fated Sky by Mary Robinette Kowal...
Episode 37: Emotions Are Hard, Let's Do Murder!
June 19, 2019 10:00 - 1 hour - 56 MBOn this week's episode, we're discussing ASSASSINS! Tentpoles this week are The Perfect Assassin by K.A. Doore, the television show Killing Eve, and the movie Mr. and Mrs. Smith. What We’re Into Lately The Calculating Stars by Mary Robinette Kowal The Hating Game by Sally Thorne A Duke in Disguise by Cat Sebastian Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir The Fisherman by John Langan Ship of Smoke and Steel by Django Wexler Killing Eve Proper English by K.J. Charles Salt: A World History...
Episode 36: There's No Place Like Home
June 05, 2019 10:00 - 59 minutes - 54.7 MBOn today’s episode we’re discussing magical houses! Are some of them sentient? How do they communicate? Is a haunted house a magical house? The tentpoles this week are: “House Proud” by astolat, House of Many Ways by Diana Wynne Jones, and The Veldt by Ray Bradbury. What We’re Into Lately Proper English by KJ Charles A Prince on Paper Alyssa Cole Sicily: An Island at the Crossroads of History by John Julius Norwich Everything astolat Fall Out Boy’s discography The Poetry of Pablo ...
Episode 35: Well, Canaveral, I Don't Think We're in Kansas Anymore
May 22, 2019 10:00 - 1 hour - 56.2 MBOn this week's episode, we're talking about space operas.... IN SPAAAAACE. The tentpoles this week are The Tea Master and the Detective by Aliette de Bodard, the fanfic A Deeper Season by lightgetsin and sahiya, and the pilot episodes of Farscape and Killjoys. What We’re Into Lately The London Celebrities series by Lucy Parker Monty Don’s Italian Gardens Detective L "Quid Pro Quo" by Dira Sudis Other Stuff We Mentioned Ancillary Justice series by Ann Leckie Noel Streatfield Elementary...
Episode 34: Misethere
May 08, 2019 10:00 - 1 hour - 55.3 MBOn this episode, we're doing a deep-dive on a single tentpole, and we are extremely back on our bullshit. It's time to talk about astolat's Witcher fanfic, "Misethere"! What We’re Into Lately Amnesty by Lara Elena Donnelly le Carré Miranda in Milan by Katharine Duckett Not for Use in Navigation by Iona Datt Sharma Strange Grace by Tessa Gratton A Taste of Honey by Kai Ashante Wilson “Dreaming of Sunshine” The Magicians The Natural History of Dragons Komarr A Civil Campaign The Tropic of S...
Episode 33: Turn In Your Badge and Gun!
April 24, 2019 10:00 - 1 hour - 58 MBOn this episode, we're discussing police procedurals! Who breaks the rules? Who goes by the book? Tentpoles this week are A Private Reason for This by femmequixoitc, Midnight Riot by Ben Aaronovitch, and the first episode of the TV show Luther. What We’re Into Lately My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite Mrs. Martin’s Incomparable Adventure by Courtney Milan Romance is a Bonus Book (2019) The Unspoken Name by AK Larkwood (forthcoming, 2020) Spectred Isle by KJ Charles “Sig...
Episode 32: Save the McGuffin, Save the World
April 10, 2019 10:00 - 58 minutes - 53.4 MBOn this week's episode, we're talking about time travel fix-it fics! How sexy can a paradox get? Are there multiple timestreams or just one? Can anyone keep all of this straight?! The tentpoles are the fanfic World Without End by Sorted, the book To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis, and the TV show The Umbrella Academy. What We’re Into Lately The House of Binding Thorns by Aliette de Bodard Docile by K.M. Szpara Welcome to the Goddamn Ice Cube by Blair Braverman Brianna Teintze’s Lo...
Episode 31: A Podcast of Three Cities
March 27, 2019 10:00 - 1 hour - 56.1 MBOn this episode, we're talking about cities so vibrant they might as well be characters in their own right! Our tentpoles are “The City Born Great” by N.K. Jemisin, the Mortal Engines movie, and City of Lies by Sam Hawke. What We’ve Been Reading/Watching The Magicians The Wicked King by Holly Black My Favorite Thing is Monsters by Emil Feris Symphony for the City of the Dead by M.T. Anderson Other Stuff We Mentioned Leningrad Symphony The Hunger Games Mortal Engines [book] Discworld s...
Episode 30: Extravaganza
March 13, 2019 10:00 - 1 hour - 60.9 MBIt's time for another Extravaganza! This week, we're getting tipsy, answering listener questions, and revealing our brand new Patreon! Please consider supporting us there so that we can pay the scribes for their amazing work! What We’ve Been Reading The Ruin of Kings by Jenn Lyons A Choir of Lies by Alexandra Rowland Russian Doll (2019) The Umbrella Academy (2019- ) Erkenci Kus (the Turkish soap opera) Other Stuff We Mentioned Doctor Who Pacific Rim (never explicitly stated, but this ...
Episode 29: Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Bi
February 27, 2019 11:00 - 1 hour - 57.3 MBOn this episode of Be the Serpent, we're talking about spies and secret agents, and we speculate about whether they screen for bisexuality in the hiring process (this episode was almost called "No, Mr Bond, I Expect You to Bi"). The tentpoles this week are the fanfic Ulysses by girlbookwrm, the movie Atomic Blonde, and the book City of Stairs by Robert Jackson Bennett. What We’ve Been Reading Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker The Regeneration trilogy by...
Episode 28: Genderpalooza
February 13, 2019 11:00 - 59 minutes - 54.9 MBOn this episode of Be the Serpent, we're talking about gender, relationships, and the worldbuilding thereof! The tentpoles this week are a selection of Steven Universe episodes, The Black Tides of Heaven by JY Yang, and “An Ever Fixed Mark” by imperfectcircle. What We’ve Been Reading Heroine Complex series by Sarah Kuhn A Perfect Spy by John le Carre Empresses in the Palace Sea and Civilization: A Maritime History of the World Nirvana in Fire Le Guin short stories The Royal Tailor The Gran...
Episode 27: I'm Not a Lady, I'm a Witch!
January 30, 2019 11:00 - 1 hour - 58.6 MBOn this episode of Be the Serpent, we're talking about witches! Our tentpoles this week are I Shall Wear Midnight by Terry Pratchett, “In Which Lettie Makes Demands” by ryfkah, and the movie Practical Magic. What We’ve Been Reading The Vorkosigan Saga by Lois McMaster Bujold Lethal White by Robert Galbraith (aka J.K. Rowling) The Underwater Ballroom Society by Stephanie Burgis and Tiffany Trent Wild Beauty by Anna-Marie McLemore The Lie Tree by Frances Hardinge Flight of Magpies by K.J. Ch...
Episode 26: Alien Fucking, or Where There's a Will, There's A Way
January 16, 2019 11:00 - 1 hour - 56.6 MBAs you may have heard, there's been a slight rearrangement of episode topics, due to the fact that the audio of our original recording of Episode 26 (witches!) was haunted. Therefore, this week we're talking about, well, exactly what it says on the tin. In other words, Dead Dove: Do Not Eat. Our tentpoles this week are The Shape of Water, "And I Awoke and Found Me Here on the Cold Hillside" by James Tiptree Jr, and "Bro: discover new talent." by Laylah (Homestuck fic). What We’ve Been Readi...
Episode 25: Kill Your Darlings
January 02, 2019 11:00 - 1 hour - 58.8 MBOn this episode of Be the Serpent, we're talking about character deaths in fiction. In other words: MURDERRRRRRRRR. The tentpoles this week are "Freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose" by Synecdochic, the first Hunger Games movie, and "Singing My Sister Down" by Margo Lanagan. (Warning: Spoilers!) What We’ve Been Reading A Useful Woman by Darcie Wilde We Rule the Night by Claire Bartlett Ruin of Kings by Jenn Lyons Other Stuff We Mentioned Rebecca Kuang’s The Poppy War B...
Episode 24: The Room Where It Happens
December 19, 2018 11:00 - 1 hour - 59.1 MBOn this episode, the Serpents take a break from reading things to debrief about how their projects for National Novel Writing Month went! What We're Into Lately: Witchmark by C.L. Polk Sing for the Coming of the Longest Night 1491 The Bodies of the Girls Who Made Me: Fanfic and the Modern World Think of England fanfic The Ruin of Kings by Jenn Lyons The 2018 Olympics Other Stuff We Mentioned National Novel Writing Month Court of Fives Episode 5: “Oh Captain, My Captain" (BtS feal...
Episode 23: Drastically Redefining Protocol
December 05, 2018 11:00 - 58 minutes - 53.4 MBOn this episode, the Serpents were in the middle of National Novel Writing Month, so we settled in for a cozy chat about just one tentpole, one of our favorite fanfics: "Drastically Redefining Protocol" by rageprufrock! What We're Into This Week Regeneration trilogy by Pat Barker Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston sundown starts at half-past six by halfdesertedstreets Out of play, out of competition by thenorthface “Dangerous if Unbound” by astolat Venom fanfic Other Stuff...
Episode 22: Out of Cheese, Error, Redo from Start
November 21, 2018 11:00 - 59 minutes - 54.7 MBOn this week's episode we're talking about Groundhog Day AUs! We're discussing the original trope-namer, the 1993 movie Groundhog Day; the Yuri!! On Ice fic "Maelstrom" by feelslikefire, and the flash fiction piece, "The First Stop Is Always the Last" by John Wiswell. What We’re Reading The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton The Possessed by Elif Batuman My Most Excellent Year by Steve Kluger City of Blades by Robert Jackson Bennett Freya’s Yuri!!! in Space fics Torn by...
Episode 21: Believing the Little Lies
November 07, 2018 11:00 - 1 hour - 58.5 MBOn this episode, we're back on our bullshit to talk about worldbuilding with mythology. Our tentpoles this week are Alexandra Rowland's A Conspiracy of Truths, Barry Hughart's Bridge of Birds, and KJ Parker's "Let Maps to Others". What We’re Into This Week In the Vanisher’s Palace by Aliette de Bodard Kakashi/Iruka fic by, particularly, Maldoror and thehoyden Teetering on the brink of Venom fanfic Other Stuff We Mentioned Terry Pratchett Pliny’s letters Graffiti in Pompeii Memes ...
Episode 20: Extravaganza
October 24, 2018 10:00 - 1 hour - 62.9 MBIt's time for another Extravaganza episode! This week we're taking a fantastic selection of listener questions and trying to pressure Freya into making some Weird Sounds! What We’re Into This Week The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson Band Sinister by K.J. Charles Homestuck Torn by Rowenna Miller Wynonna Earp Other Stuff We Mentioned “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson Georgette Heyer Les Miserables The Chinese drama Guardian...
Episode 19: You and Me and Our Boyfriend Makes Three
October 10, 2018 10:00 - 1 hour - 56.3 MBOn this episode of Be the Serpent, we're discussing OT3s (One True Threesomes). After all, it's twentygayteen, people! Give us more polyamory in canon media! Our tentpoles this week are “The Rundown Job” (Leverage season 5, episode 9); “Always Starts the Same, with a Boy and a Girl”, by lightgetsin (White Collar fanfic); and “Didn’t Know How Lost I Was”, by Annakovsky (Star Wars fanfic). What We’re Into this Week Mother of Invention edited by Tansy Rayner Roberts and Rivqa Rafael The Beast...
Episode 18: Heist, Heist, Baby
September 26, 2018 10:00 - 58 minutes - 54 MBOn this episode of Be the Serpent, we're talking about heists and thieves and how much we love them. We almost called this episode "Sticky Fingers, Stolen Hearts". The tentpoles for this week are Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo, Ocean's 8, and two Inception fics by imperfectcircle: "Palm, Ditch, Steal" and "Load, Misdirection, Switch". What We’re Reading: Jane Doe by Victoria Helen Stone A Conspiracy of Truths by Alexandra Rowland Witchmark by CL Polk 1688: A Global History by John E. Wil...
Episode 17: A Bump in the Night (The Sexy Kind)
September 12, 2018 10:00 - 1 hour - 60 MBOn this episode of Be the Serpent, we're talking about sex -- why we write about it, why we read about it, and more. Our tentpoles this week are Kushiel's Dart by Jacqueline Carey, An Unnatural Vice by KJ Charles, and the entire genre of F/F fanfiction (with three great recs from us)! What We’re Reading Heroine Worship (Sarah Kuhn) A Duke by Default (Alyssa Cole) Alex finally played Dragon Age: Inquisition! Other Stuff We Mentioned Leverage The Hugo Awards Bad Sex Awards from the Lit...
Episode 16: A Bump in the Night, and Not the Sexy Kind
August 29, 2018 10:00 - 56 minutes - 51.5 MBOn this episode of Be the Serpent, we're talking about some creepy stuff! Guest star Ryan Boyd, of the horror podcast Rank and Vile, joins us to discuss Clive Barker's "Jacqueline Ess: Her Will and Testament", both the book and movie versions of Annihilation by Jeff Vandermeer, and the Hannibal fanfic "Where All Ladders Start" by emungere. What We’re Reading Black Sails fanfic Silver in the Wood by Emily Tesh Consider the Fork: A History of How We Cook and Eat by Bee Wilson The Henchm...
Episode 15: My (Psychic, Firebreathing) Little Pony
August 15, 2018 13:07 - 1 hour - 61.7 MBOn this episode, we're talking about horse books! It's just that a lot of the horses in these horse books have wings... and... breathe fire... so yeah. But they're horses and it's a horse book! Listen to find out why! The tentpoles for this episode are Anne McCaffrey’s Dragonriders of Pern, You Drive Through the Dust by Dira Sudis, and the movie How to Train Your Dragon. What We’re Reading A Hat Full of Sky by Terry Pratchett Newt’s Emerald by Garth Nix The Lie Tree by Frances Hardinge ...
Episode 14: Once Upon a Something
August 01, 2018 10:19 - 1 hour - 63.5 MBOn this episode of Be the Serpent, we're discussing fairytales: how do they work, what purpose does their beauty and terror serve, and why are they so intertwined with everything we read? Our tentpoles this week are Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik, Stardust (the movie), and the Yuri on Ice fanfic "hood & glove". What We’re Reading: Revenant Gun by Yoon Ha Lee Armistice by Lara Elena Donnelly Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang The Starlit Woo...
Episode 13: Machiavellian Overthinkers
July 18, 2018 10:00 - 1 hour - 59.4 MBOn this episode of Be the Serpent, we're discussing some of our favorite sneaky, conniving little shits and their schemes, both successful and embarrassing. The tentpoles for this episode are A Civil Campaign by Lois McMaster Bujold, Lithograph by romantic_drift, and Jingo by Terry Pratchett. What We’re Reading: Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado Mark Oshiro’s Anger is a Gift Seeing Like a State by James C. Scott Queen’s Gambit by bedlamsbard Unfit to Print by K. J. Charle...
Episode 12: Yes, It Goes On and On, My Friends
July 04, 2018 10:00 - 1 hour - 57.6 MBOn this episode of Be the Serpent, we're talking about our favorite long-form stories -- epic fantasy, extremely long podcasts, and the slowest of slowburn fanfics. What We’re Reading: Dark Lord of Derkholm by Diana Wynne Jones Under the Pendulum Sun by Jeannette Ng Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer Hild by Nicola Griffith The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang Other Stuff We Mentioned: The Chrestomanci series by Diana Wynne Jones Ammonite by Nicola Griffith Speechless The Dragonriders of Pern se...
Episode 11: It's All About the Money, Money, Money
June 20, 2018 10:00 - 1 hour - 59.6 MBOn this episode of Be The Serpent, we're discussing economics-- no wait! Come back! It's going to be fun! Money in fantasy settings, alternative currencies, worldbuilding... All the stuff you like! Our tentpoles this week are The Traitor Baru Cormorant by Seth Dickinson, the movie In Time, and the fanfic “Freeport” by Maldoror_Chant. (And if you haven't yet checked out the podcast's official Discord chat, you're missing out!) What We’re Reading: The Henchmen of Zenda by KJ Charles Spinni...
Episode 10: Extravaganza
June 06, 2018 10:46 - 1 hour - 67 MBOn this special episode, we're not talking about a theme -- we're answering a cornucopia of amazing questions from our darling listeners! It's the one you've all been waiting for! It's the extravaganza! And, as announced in the episode, our lovely scribes have launched a Discord chat for fans of the show! Check it out here! What We’re Reading: Heroine Complex by Sarah Kuhn An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson Space Opera by Cat Valente Last Call at the Nightshade Lounge by Paul ...
Episode 9: Like Rome, But With Lasers
May 23, 2018 10:25 - 54 minutes - 49.7 MBOn this episode of Be the Serpent, we're discussing space empires! We talk a little bit about the history of empires, writerly tips for constructing an empire, and the problems of imperialism. The tentpoles this week are: Ancillary Justice (and the rest of the Imperial Radch trilogy) by Ann Leckie, Star Wars, and The Course of Honour by Avoliot What We’re Reading: The Cruel Prince by Holly Black Space Opera by Catherynne M. Valente “Maggie Fitzgerald and the Saltwater Drip” by antistar_e ...
Episode 8: Once More, With Feelings!
May 09, 2018 11:00 - 58 minutes - 53.8 MBOn this episode of Be the Serpent, we're discussing "Theft of Assets, Destruction of Property" by Helenish, Think of England by KJ Charles, and the television show Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries, as well as a full buffet of romance tropes. And we're joined by a guest, the lovely Amanda Jean from The Hopeless Romantic podcast!! Things we mentioned: Think of England by KJ Charles Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries Theft of Assets, Destruction of Property by Helenish The Hopeless Romantic with...
Episode 7: Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells the Story
April 25, 2018 11:00 - 1 hour - 58.5 MBOn this episode of Be the Serpent, we're talking about historiography, propaganda, narrative control, Macey's misspent youth as a frozen meat salesperson, and some excellent pieces of fiction: "Written by the Victors" by Speranza, the Broadway show Hamilton, and The Fifth Season by NK Jemisin. Things We Mentioned: "Written by the Victors" by Speranza Hamilton by Lin-Manuel Miranda The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin The House of Niccolò series by Dorothy Dunnett Person of Interest fanfic ...
Episode 6: Cross Your Stars and Hope to Bi
April 11, 2018 11:00 - 53 minutes - 49.3 MBOn this episode of Be The Serpent, we're talking about bisexuals in fiction. And because this is us, we have to come up with a taxonomy for them. So join us as we debate the merits and charms of the Chaos Disaster, the Sad Floppy Disaster, the Punch-You-in-the-Face Disaster, and the Terrifying, Competent Force of Nature Not-A-Disaster. The tentpoles this week are: The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue (Mackenzi Lee), The World That You Need series (Dira Sudis), and In Other Lands (Sarah R...
Episode 5: O Captain, My Captain
March 28, 2018 11:00 - 1 hour - 59.1 MBOn this episode of Be the Serpent, we're talking about The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison, Jupiter Ascending, and "Dangerous if Unbound" by Astolat -- what do these have in common? Fealty relationships! Other things we mentioned: Disney princesses Noblebright & the hieros gamos (again) A Conspiracy of Truths by Alexandra Rowland The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison Jupiter Ascending "Dangerous if Unbound" by Astolat The Queen’s Thief series by Megan Whalen Turner The Empire Tril...
Episode 4: The Bastard's Lying to You!
March 14, 2018 11:00 - 1 hour - 55 MBOn this episode of Be the Serpent, we're talking about LIAR by Justine Larbalestier, Yuri!! On Ice, "The Women Men Don't See" by James Tiptree Jr, and the joys and delights of unreliable narrators. Things we mentioned: Spoilers, spoilers, spoilers Liar (Justine Larbalestier) Yuri!!! On Ice (2016) "The Women Men Don’t See" (James Tiptree Jr.) Kingsman (2014) The Captive Prince series (C. S. Pacat) Alex’s debut book, A Conspiracy of Truths (forthcoming, Fall 2018) The Italians (John Hooper)...
Episode 3: Apocalypse Sometime, Maybe Next Tuesday
February 28, 2018 11:00 - 52 minutes - 48.3 MBOn this episode of Be the Serpent, we're talking about The Book of the Unnamed Midwife by Meg Elison, the Broken Earth Trilogy by N.K. Jemisin, "Sailor's Delight" by jinjurly, and what we'd do in the event of an apocalypse. Things we mentioned: The Book of the Unnamed Midwife (Meg Ellison) Star Wars Mad Max: Fury Road "Sailor's Delight" Broken Earth trilogy (N. K. Jemisin) School’s Out Forever Lord of the Flies In the End (Alexandra Rowland) "Solfege" (Freya Marske) “The Day it Fell Apart...