Dissecting Dragons
321 episodes - English - Latest episode: 2 months ago - ★★★★ - 6 ratingsAuthors J.A. Ironside and M.E. Vaughan talk about books, films and all aspects of speculative fiction, from the nuts and bolts of writing it, to its (occasionally) obscure origins.
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Episodes
Episode 413: Dragon riders & wolf speakers - the Animal Soul Bond in Speculative Fiction
February 09, 2024 00:05 - 59 minutes - 43.2 MBAn interesting slant on both the animal companion and the soul mate tropes, is the 'soul bonded animal' trope. It's been popular in sci-fi and fantasy for many decades but is reaching new levels of popularity with the recent wave of new fantasy. But what is it about being emotionally and psychically connected to an animal - especially a fantastical animal - which captures the imagination? Why is it so much easier to swallow than the equally intense (in a different direction) fated mates tr...
Episode 412: By the Blade - the Evolution of Heroic Fantasy
February 02, 2024 00:16 - 1 hour - 45.9 MBHeroic fantasy better know as Sword & Sorcery, is one of the oldest forms of modern fantasy. It's arguably the progenitor or at least co-parent of both Noblebright and Grimdark, as well as influencing several other subgenres of sci fi and fantasy. And yet despite this, despite its greater accessibility than Epic fantasy, Sword & Sorcery does not enjoy an unblemished reputation. This week the dragons take a look at why and whether that grimy reputation is deserved. In addition, what is is abo...
Episode 411: Kitchen Heroes - Humble Protagonists who get Things Done in Speculative Fiction
January 19, 2024 00:05 - 1 hour - 52.5 MBHave you ever noticed how often a lynchpin character is not, in fact, 'the chosen one'? Or how many times a simple, mundane skill or a knack for being friendly and straight forward saves the day while high powered, flashy characters flounder? This week Jules and Madeleine look at why a 'kitchen hero' - someone who thinks about things like seeing to the horses' hooves or foraging for edible plants or sewing or organising - is an essential character in sci-fi and fantasy. These characters usua...
Episode 410: In a Rural Dream - The Rise of Cottagecore
January 12, 2024 00:05 - 1 hour - 46.6 MBAesthetic movements becoming literary genres is not a new thing; nor is the waxing and waning in fashion of those aesthetics. One such example which is enjoying something of a renaissance is 'cottagecore'. The celebration of a back to basics simple, rural life with emphasis on low conflict and high crafting has reached a huge level of popularity. Not surprising considering the recent slew of socio-economic and geo-political events over the last half a dozen or so years. But how do you add an...
Episode 409: Pitched Perfectly - The Film was Better than the Book
January 05, 2024 00:05 - 1 hour - 64.2 MBThe dragons are starting the year with the controversial take that sometimes the film adaptation of a story is better than the book. Obviously this is a bold take as any book worm will tell you, but is there any truth in it? How much is down to personal preference or accessibility of story? How much is a result of what media you engage with first? And are there stories where the adaptation goes in a completely different direction and does better with the original material than the book? Find...
Episode 408: There’s good news and...more good news - 2023 in review
December 29, 2023 00:05 - 1 hour - 65.3 MBFor the final episode of 2023, the dragons are once again suggesting that the last year wasn't as bad as you might think. Certainly, it wasn't as bad as the 24hr news cycle would have you believe. This week, in a light and hopeful episode, Jules and Madeleine take a look at some of the good things that have happened in 2023 - from advances in medicine and science to conservational wins - before rounding up with some of their favourite speculative fiction moments of the last year. Title m...
Episode 407: Jingle Bell Rock - Storytelling through the medium of songs the Christmas edition
December 22, 2023 00:05 - 1 hour - 54.5 MBTis the season and this week the dragons bring you a festive episode that looks at how songs can tell surprisingly complicated and nuanced stories. Since it's almost Christmas, Jules and Madeleine have chosen well known Christmas songs for those experiment. Join them for a light hearted, sort-of writing based episode - perfect for listening to as you do some last minute present wrapping. The Dragons send Seasons Greetings to all their listeners. Wishing you joy no matter how you celebrat...
Episode 406: A Picture Says a Thousand Words - The Rise of the Graphic Novel
December 15, 2023 00:05 - 1 hour - 56.2 MBThe creation of graphic novels is not only a form of illustration but a type of story telling in its own right, and one with a far older history than you might guess. Despite an undeserved reputation for being a soft form of reading (something they share with audio books) graphic novels are nuanced and multi layered, often able to communicate several things at once in a way that other books just don't. This week, Jules and Madeleine delve into the startling origins of this type of storytelli...
Episode 405: The Fairest of Them All - The Pursuit of Beauty as a Literary Device
December 08, 2023 00:05 - 1 hour - 61.8 MBThere are many physical characteristics which, when used in storytelling, have ingrained concordances with less tangible traits. It's a code we imbibe through fiction starting with folktales and continuing through ever possible genre and storytelling mode. Beauty is one of these characteristics and as real life push back spills over into how fiction is written, descriptions of physical beauty are being scorned. At least by a small very vocal contingent. So just what are you saying when you i...
Episode 404: It was Great Apart from the Ending - Beloved Fiction that Wobbled on the Dismount
November 30, 2023 00:05 - 1 hour - 72.8 MBWriting a book is hard. Ending a book in way that satisfies most of your readers is unbelievably hard - even before you factor in that you will never please everyone. This week Jules and Madeleine take a look at why this is true. Examining books and films they enjoyed but which didn't stick the ending, the dragons list the ways an ending can fail its fans and how to avoid this. On the slab this week: Avengers Endgame, The Mist - Stephen King, The Witcher Season 3 and many more. Title m...
Episode 403: The Old Family Business - Gangster Witches and Legacy Monster Hunters
November 24, 2023 00:05 - 1 hour - 49.4 MBA SFF trope currently rising in popularity is that of the magical crime family. This is especially prevalent in conjunction with magic wielders and witches. This week Jules and Madeleine take a look at why mixing the popular 'gangster' trope with magic is such a winning combination, before comparing it with another staple of the genre - the legacy monster hunter. Technically both have a wobbly relationship with the law, but each are approaching (generally) from opposite directions, so why ar...
Episode: 402 Of Gold and Hubris - Tracing the Origins of Rumpelstiltskin
November 17, 2023 18:04 - 1 hour - 50.9 MBThis week, the dragons bring you another fairy tales in focus episode. Rumpelstiltskin is a mixed bag when you really look at it, but this macabre and often funny tale of deception and trickery has always resonated with children. However, this story dates back far further than the Brothers Grimm. In fact there's good evidence that it may be one of the oldest fairy tales in existence. Join Jules and Madeleine as they take a look at what's hidden in the story, from it's probable bloody origins...
Episode 401: Girls on Ice - a History of the Fridging Trope
November 10, 2023 00:05 - 1 hour - 67.7 MBRegular listeners of the show will already know that very few tropes and writing trends are actually new. All of them have come from somewhere and often those origins are surprising. The fridging trope is one that bears a justifiable amount of scorn but it's also one that exists for a reason and has a shockingly long pedigree. This week, Jules and Madeleine travel back to the earliest recorded origins of this trope, before looking at why it exists and how to take the necessary elements of it...
Episode 400: Strange Fruit in the Gallant South - Exploring the Southern Gothic
November 03, 2023 00:05 - 1 hour - 47.6 MBGothic fiction may have started out as a sophisticated joke, but like so many initially unlikely genres, it picked up a following, developed rules and tropes and then continued to surprise and delight readers for the next two hundred and fifty years. Gothic fiction - like traditional ghost stories - holds up a mirror to the human soul often with unflattering results. Considering its roots in desolate, crumbling castles and stormy nights, its a surprisingly versatile and slippery genre which ...
Episode 399: This Set is Cursed - Strange Events Behind the Scenes at Horror Films
October 27, 2023 00:05 - 59 minutes - 43.4 MBThis week's episode in the October spookathon takes a look at horror films. Now, obviously creepy and strange things happen on the sets of horror films - that's sort of the point. But what about all those accounts of rum goings-on that aren't in the script? Is there a logical explanation? Are they urban legends or promotional stunts? Or could there possibly be something truly inexplicable going on? Find out as Jules and Madeleine pull back the curtain on the darker areas of the silver screen...
DD Episode 398: Joyous Companions Forever - examining the queerness of the vampire genre
October 20, 2023 00:05 - 1 hour - 50.9 MBPart two of a two part episode Continuing both the spooky season and their examination of how vampires in fiction challenge all standards of norm, the dragons delve further into our favourite fanged monsters. This week Jules and Madeleine tackle vampires in conjunction with coming of age, identity and the parallels between sex and death. Under the microscope this time: The Lost Boys, Let the Right One In, The Vampire Diaries by L J Smith and more. Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic
Episode 397: The Beautiful and the Damned - examining the Queerness of the Vampire Genre
October 13, 2023 00:05 - 1 hour - 46.7 MBPart 1 of a two part episode Continuing their month long spookathon, this week the dragons tackle aspects of the vampire genre. In narrative terms vampires have provided an excellent vessel for examining aspects of humanity, whether that's trauma causing monstrousness, or non-conformity. The vampire also has a fairly long queer history and it's no surprise that LGBTQ folks have flocked to films and literature featuring our favourite fanged monsters. How do vampires in speculative fiction ch...
Ep 396: It Came from Out of the closet - The Queer Relationship with Horror
October 06, 2023 00:05 - 1 hour - 51.7 MBIt's October which means two things: Hallowe'en and the Dragons' traditional month long extravaganza of spooky episodes. Heading up the spookathon, Jules and Madeleine take a look at why so many horror films contain queer subtext or are fictional pieces which are easy for LGBTQ people to identify with. Some of this connection is positive and some is less so, but the fascination is real. The dragons look at why that is and what exactly a queer filter can add to an understanding of the horror ...
Ep 395: Weirdstones and Magic Keys - What makes a Children’s book a classic?
September 29, 2023 00:05 - 1 hour - 61.4 MBThere's a lot to be learned about serving your target audience exactly what they want from children's books, especially those which have become children's classics. This week the dragons delve into exactly what raises a children's book above its peers and gives it enduring appeal. Drawing on well known children's classics, modern children's classics and those junior books which they believe will become classics, Jules and Madeleine look at what makes a book last generations. On the slab this...
Ep 394: Divas Debutantes and Girls next door - the best and worst female main characters
September 22, 2023 00:05 - 1 hour - 61 MBThere's still a lot of discourse around what makes a strong female character - an annoying qualifier which many writers feel we can do without - and much of this discussion is contradictory. One reader's good female character is another reader's worst character ever. This week, Jules and Madeleine take a look at several examples, discussing which if either school of thought is right, before adding their own opinions. On the slab this week: Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Twilight, The Walking Dead...
Episode 393: Unlikely Rebels - the Moral Outlaw Trope
September 15, 2023 22:28 - 1 hour - 57.5 MBThere'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 exa...
Episode 392: An Awful Lot of Walking - Mastering Pacing in Speculative Fiction
September 08, 2023 00:05 - 1 hour - 48.4 MBIf 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. Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic
Episode 391: Lost in the Woods - Tracing the Origins of Hansel and Gretel
September 01, 2023 00:05 - 1 hour - 50.7 MBThis 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...
Episode 390: Let the Games Begin - Why the Competition Trope is so Popular in Speculative Fiction
August 25, 2023 00:05 - 1 hour - 46.6 MBIt'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...
Episode 389: Beautiful Misery - The Hunger for the Afflicted Woman in Fiction
August 18, 2023 00:05 - 1 hour - 53.2 MBFiction 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 epi...
Episode 388: A Conflagration of Authors - AI, Audiobooks and Infringement
August 11, 2023 00:05 - 1 hour - 58.3 MBAdvancements 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 c...
Episode 387: Complicated Runes and Ineffable Power - Hard Versus Soft Magic Systems in Speculative Fiction
August 04, 2023 00:05 - 1 hour - 72.8 MBThis 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 syste...
Episode 386: The Art of Not Fitting In - A collection of Not Like the Other Girls Trope Observations
July 27, 2023 11:41 - 1 hour - 60.7 MBThe 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 t...
Episode 385: Both is Good - Examining Bisexual Representation in Speculative Fiction
July 21, 2023 00:05 - 1 hour - 65.9 MBIt 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 bisexuali...
Episode 384: Appearances Can be Deceiving - The Hidden Power of Modern Fairytales
July 14, 2023 00:05 - 1 hour - 69.3 MBDespite 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...
Episode 383: Gaslit Magic and Immortal Monsters Hunters - Incorporating Strong Historical Elements in UF
July 07, 2023 00:05 - 1 hour - 67.6 MBSpecial Guest Episode! This week the dragons are thrilled to welcome C. N. Rowan to the show. As the author of the imPerfect Cathar urban fantasy series, which follows Paul, an 800 yr old immortal who was once a 'perfect' of the group we came to call the Cathars, but is now a magic wielding, monster hunting emotional train wreck with a smart mouth and a nose for trouble. The series is darkly comedic and a lot of fun, which make Chris the perfect person to join the episode's discussion. ...
Episode 382: Part of Your World - Tracing the Origins of The Little Mermaid
June 30, 2023 00:05 - 1 hour - 71 MBIt's been a while since the dragons have done a 'fairy tales in focus' episode so this week Jules and Madeleine take a dive into the origins, inspiration and socio-political interpretations of 'The Little Mermaid'. Written in the early nineteenth century by Danish author Hans Christian Anderson, the story cannot boast the long history of other popular fairy stories. It's also devoid of the usual happy ending and the substitute for happily ever after is oddly unsatisfying and eerie. However, ...
Episode 381: Hard Times in Magic & Logic - Examining the Parameters of Hard Scifi and fantasy
June 23, 2023 00:05 - 1 hour - 57.6 MBHard science fiction has been a recognised term since the 1950s. Hard fantasy is comparatively more recent as a definition but is certainly something which is being applied now to fantasy with a highly logical world, heavy political threads or more challenging storylines. However, there are cons as well as pros to narrowing the field genre wise, and a certain amount of intellectual or literary snobbery creeps in. So what does the qualifier 'hard' mean in reference to sff? What qualities qual...
Episode 380: Will He Escape those Dastardedly Clutches - Why Cliffhangers Are a Bad Idea
June 16, 2023 00:05 - 1 hour - 50.8 MBThere are few things more annoying to a reader than being cheated by the author - whether intentionally or not. One of the most annoying forms of this is the cliffhanger. Originally a device which accidentally emerged from serialised Victorian fiction, it turned into a way of manipulating the audience into buying the next book or watching the next episode. This week, Jules and Madeleine discuss the various types of cliffhangers used in speculative fiction and address why most of the time, us...
Episode 379: Exuding Menace 101 - How to Create Menacing Villains
June 09, 2023 00:05 - 59 minutes - 42.9 MBCreating an actual villain, rather than just an antagonist, is a tricky business. It's easy to go too far and fall into the realms of cartoonish unbelievability. On the other hand, your villain needs to feel like a clear and present danger otherwise what are they doing in your MC's story? This week, Jules and Madeleine take a look at the main pitfalls on the road to making your villain genuinely menacing, as well as offering tips for how to make them villainous and still believable. Under th...
Ep 378: Separated by a Common Language - Examining the Differences between UK and US Urban Fantasy
June 01, 2023 23:37 - 1 hour - 70.4 MBSpecial guest episode! The dragons are delighted to welcome urban fantasy author, Heather G Harris, to the show this week. Heather is the author of the wildly popular Other Realm and Other Wolf series, and her British set UF is packed with humour, unusual creatures and great characters, which makes her the perfect person to join this week's discussion. (As well as a chat about her books and hints about forthcoming projects.) Urban fantasy is something of an umbrella term and can include...
Episode 377: Bringing in Dessert - Serving Up Delicious Endings Against Desperate Odds
May 26, 2023 06:45 - 55 minutes - 40.4 MBThere are many ways to end a story but one of the most popular is triumph against a seemingly insurmountable foe. While there is something very satisfying about bringing your heroes to a point where it seems all is lost before they snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, there are definitely ways to do it wrong. This week Jules and Madeleine take a look a different ways of achieving this kind of ending in a believable way. On the slab this week: Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, Stranger Things ...
Episode 376: In that Time In that Place - the Monomyth and Other Storytelling Modes
May 19, 2023 00:05 - 1 hour - 44.3 MBMost writers at some point become familiar with the idea of the monomyth and the work of Joseph Campbell. However, despite the misleading name, the monomyth is not the only blueprint for all storytelling. While it's very prevalent in almost ever story in the Western world, there are several other storytelling modes which privilege different aspects of a story for a variety of different reasons. This week, Jules and Madeleine take a look at other kinds of story templates, travelling through t...
Episode 375: The Batcherlorette - Bookish Edition
May 12, 2023 00:05 - 1 hour - 55.4 MBEvery so often the dragons like to break away from writing technique and storytelling analysis and do something light and fun. This week they have a list of contenders for the hand of an imaginary batchelorette. Our would be suitors are drawn from the most highly sought after romantic male leads of fiction - from Mr Darcy to Edward Cullen. But just what is it that makes any of our romantic hopefuls appealing? Find out as Jules and Madeleine gently poke fun at them and weigh their finer quali...
Ep 374: Her Fatal Curiosity - Tracing the Origins of Bluebeard
May 05, 2023 00:05 - 1 hour - 60.3 MBWelcome to another 'fairytales in focus' episode. This week the dragons are tackling one of the most gruesome popular folk stories. The story of well known wife murderer 'Bluebeard' has inspired a lot of Gothic and horror fiction, but its own origins - while comparatively recent - are somewhat unusual. In addition, while it's often slammed for being a truly sexist story, digging into the folklore suggests that its 'moral' was probably lost in translation. Jules and Madeleine track the story'...
Ep 373: Circe Morgana and Rosaline - The Problem with Feminist Retellings
April 28, 2023 00:05 - 1 hour - 58.6 MBRetelling a well known myth, fairytale or historical event from a marginalised, often voiceless character's perspective is not a new idea, however it has gained a lot of traction and popularity over the last few years. This is especially true of 'feminist retellings'. Whether the term 'feminist retelling' is more of a marketing term or a true reflection of the contents is up for debate however, and is further complicated by the fact that the word feminism means different things to different ...
Episode 372: Truth Fiction and Outright Absurdity - More Strange Author Mysteries
April 21, 2023 00:05 - 1 hour - 56.3 MBSometimes the lives of authors are stranger or more fraught than the books they write in true truth is stranger than fiction style. Following on from a past episode which tracked the strange deaths and mysteries of four well known authors, the dragons present to you four more authors who lived unconventional lives which were at odds with the time they lived in or even their own storytelling. Tune in this week for a discussion on V.C. Andrews, Thomas Hardy, Wilkie Collins and Emily Dickinson....
Episode 371: Breaking the Stained Glass Window - Language Storytelling Absolutism and Censorship
April 14, 2023 00:05 - 1 hour - 61 MBEvery so often the dragons like to catch up on some of the more bizarre or annoying happenings of the writing world. A certain recent article tipped the scales this time so in this episode Jules and Madeleine are looking at attitudes and trends which have been in the spotlight recently. Is there any benefit to 'scrubbing' beloved but somewhat dated children's fiction? Is there such a thing as a writer who writes too much? What constitutes boring in terms of real life people and fictional cha...
Episode 370: Running with th Wolves - Werewolves in Folklore and Speculative Fiction Part 2
April 07, 2023 00:05 - 1 hour - 52.7 MBIn last week's episode, Jules and Madeleine examined the werewolf in folklore, it's transformation from noble guardian to monstrous predator, and why everything you think you know about werewolves is in fact wrong, This week, the dragons take a look at the werewolf in film and literature. From desirable outlet of wildness to expression of uncontrollable rage, the werewolf has been a favourite monster for decades. This episode considers why. On the slab this week: In the Company of Wolves, An...
Episode 369: Running with the Wolves - Werewolves in Folklore and Speculative Fiction Part 1
March 31, 2023 08:49 - 1 hour - 50.9 MBIn a previous episode, the dragons discussed shapeshifters in folklore and fiction, however they did not devote much time to the European, UK and Irish cryptid - the werewolf. In part one of a two part episode, Jules and Madeleine follow the changes this creature undergoes from early Medieval times to the modern day. Like many aspects of folklore, the werewolf has been shaped by historical events and changing mindsets, and is in many ways more representative of the broad sweeps of European h...
Episode 368: Help I’ve Written a Book - What to do next when you want to get published
March 10, 2023 00:05 - 1 hour - 68.2 MBConsidering that writing and publishing are completely so closely linked, they couldn't be more different in terms of execution for the author. Assuming you manage to be one of the small number of people who actually finish writing a book, you may well find yourself bewildered as to what to do next. Drawing on their decade of experience in the industry, Jules and Madeleine use this episode to give you an overview of your options including why one path might be more suitable for you than anot...
Episode 367: To Like or Not to Like - Writing Likeable Characters in Speculative Fiction
March 03, 2023 00:05 - 1 hour - 57.5 MBA strangely contentious issue when it comes to writing is whether or not your main character needs to be likeable. The vast majority of readers would probably argue in one direction while many subsections of the writing community would argue the opposite. For a subject where it's clear everyone's mileage varies, it's interesting that the question causes such a division and even anger. This week Jules and Madeleine take a look at what a 'likeable character' is in writing terms, as well as how...
Episode 366: The Deserving and the Undeserving - Avoiding Classism in Speculative Fiction
February 24, 2023 00:05 - 1 hour - 59.4 MBSFF has traditionally always been a form of literature where difficult topics are deconstructed and examined. The best examples are those science fiction and fantasy novels which focus on story first, weaving socio-economic or political themes in afterwards. However, it's really easy to include things in your writing which you didn't intend to include. Classism is one of those insidious flavours that can creep in without you noticing it. This week, Jules and Madeleine take a look at how to a...
Episode 365: Amazing Pets and Fantasy Coffee - How to Incorporate Wish Fulfilment Fantasies in Speculative Fiction
February 17, 2023 00:05 - 1 hour - 50.4 MBFun, escapism and entertainment may not be the only reason readers pick up books, but they're fairly high up the list of considerations. Something you might want to keep in mind when you're writing! Jules and Madeleine have talked in a previous episode (or several) about how to keep your readers engaged with your book. This week, the dragons take a look at a specific aspect of that process. Wish fulfilment gets a bad rap in literature terms but delving into what it actually entails, shows th...
Episode 364: There can be only one, no seven - Writing Ensemble Casts in Speculative Fiction
February 10, 2023 00:05 - 1 hour - 49.2 MBWhile most books focus on one, two or three main characters and have secondary characters filling in as needed, sff lends itself well to an 'ensemble cast'. Not to be confused with a large cast which may incorporate many characters but still has only a few POV characters which directly affect the story, an ensemble cast has four or more main characters, each on their own arc, each affecting the plot and resolution equally. This week Jules and Madeleine look at the advantages and pitfalls of ...