Leave It To The Prose
94 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 2 years ago - ★★★★★ - 10 ratingsYour podcast for science fiction and fantasy literature. Join us as we read and discuss new and old works of speculative fiction.
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Episodes
Ep082 – Epilogue
April 03, 2022 17:44 - 17 minutes - 15.8 MBLeave it to the Prose – the Epilogue Leave it to the Prose is your podcast for science fiction, fantasy, and speculative fiction. Over the past three years Isaac and Reid have enjoyed sharing their reading journeys with everyone and thank you listeners for turning in. We cannot put into words how amazing the response … Continue reading Ep082 – Epilogue →
Re-Release: Ep022 The Court Magician by Sarah Pinsker
March 14, 2022 07:13 - 41 minutes - 38.2 MBThe Court Magician by Sarah Pinsker Is magic real? This is the question posed by Sarah Pinsker’s short story The Court Magician, in which a young boy turns into a magician after learning all of the street tricks that have been nothing more than an illusion. As the magician uses real magic the moral questions … Continue reading Re-Release: Ep022 The Court Magician by Sarah Pinsker →
Re-Release: Ep010 – Tideline by Elizabeth Bear
February 28, 2022 08:13 - 36 minutes - 33.1 MBRe-Release: Tideline by Elizabeth Bear A machine near the end of its life and a curious boy come together and create a relationship that will honor the past and lead into the future. Tideline is a science fiction, award winning, short story by Elizabeth Bear. In this episode of Leave It To The Prose, Reid … Continue reading Re-Release: Ep010 – Tideline by Elizabeth Bear →
Re-Release: Ep052 – A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine
February 14, 2022 08:12 - 1 hour - 62 MBRe-Release: A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine The 2020 Hugo Award for Best Novel, A Memory Called Empire is Arkady Martine’s debut novel of interstellar intrigue. In this episode we dive into the characteristic that this book excel at: worldbuilding. Book Discussion Worldbuilding: The strength of this book. Direct and passive worldbuilding are well-balanced … Continue reading Re-Release: Ep052 – A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine →
Re-Release: Ep012 – Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
January 31, 2022 08:12 - 44 minutes - 41.1 MBRe-Release: Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury In a world where books are burned and the mind is distracted Bradbury gives a character a glimpse at something more. Despite the monumental following of Fahrenheit 451, we take issue in the importance this book takes in the dystopian genre. Is the story a warning or a pontification? … Continue reading Re-Release: Ep012 – Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury →
Re-Release: Ep025 – Trail of Lightning by Rebecca Roanhorse
January 17, 2022 08:10 - 49 minutes - 45.4 MBRe-Release: Trail of Lightning by Rebecca Roanhorse Imagine a world after the oceans have risen and the gods of the previous times have taken physical forms. In Roanhorse’s Trail of Lightning we follow monster hunter Maggie as she seeks to find the witch who is creating people-eating monsters. Along the way Maggie meets up with … Continue reading Re-Release: Ep025 – Trail of Lightning by Rebecca Roanhorse →
Ep081 – 2021 Review 2022 Look Ahead
January 03, 2022 16:09 - 40 minutes - 37.1 MB2021 Review and 2022 Look Ahead Leave it to the Prose is your podcast for science fiction and fantasy discussion. We bring the perspective of a reader and a writer to discuss what works and doesn’t work in storytelling fantastical fiction. 2021 Review 2021 was another big year for Leave it to the Prose, featuring … Continue reading Ep081 – 2021 Review 2022 Look Ahead →
Ep080 – And Then There Were (N-One) by Sarah Pinsker
December 20, 2021 08:01 - 46 minutes - 42.3 MBAnd then There Were (N-One) by Sarah Pinsker Sarah Pinsker explores the multiverse in “And then There Were (N-One).” Within this short story Pinsker explores choice and a theme of “are we the best version of ourselves?” Discussed this Episode The idiosyncrasies of each different Sarah, and how this plays into the main theme and … Continue reading Ep080 – And Then There Were (N-One) by Sarah Pinsker →
Ep079 – The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker
December 06, 2021 08:12 - 50 minutes - 46.4 MBThe Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker In the story of golem finding a purpose and a jinni seeking freedom, Helene Wecker explores human wanting against the backdrop of turn of the century New York City. Discussed this Episode Comparing and contrasting the journey of the Golem and the Jinni. The character-driven plot of … Continue reading Ep079 – The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker →
Ep078 – 2021 Hugo Awards for Best Short Story
November 22, 2021 08:15 - 59 minutes - 54 MB2021 Hugo Awards for Best Short Story The nominations for the 2021 Hugo Awards for Best Short Story “Badass Moms in the Zombie Apocalypse”, by Rae Carson (read on Uncanny Magazine) “A Guide for Working Breeds”, by Vina Jie-Min Prasad (read here) Little Free Library, by Naomi Kritzer (read on Tor.com) “The Mermaid Astronaut”, by … Continue reading Ep078 – 2021 Hugo Awards for Best Short Story →
Ep077 – Magic’s Pawn by Mercedes Lackey
November 08, 2021 08:39 - 48 minutes - 44.6 MBMagic’s Pawn by Mercedes Lackey Magic’s Pawn is the first book in The Last Herald-Mage Series written in 1989. Discussed this episode One of the first openly gay characters in science fiction/fantasy. Vanyel, the protagonist of the book is openly gay; but do to the marketing and era, you have to read the book in … Continue reading Ep077 – Magic’s Pawn by Mercedes Lackey →
Ep076 – House of the Spirits Part 2
November 01, 2021 07:11 - 42 minutes - 38.4 MBHouse of the Spirits by Isabel Allende Part 2 Isaac and Reid continue their discussion of House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende. The second half of the book follows Esteban and his children, and grand child. The book follows the family conflicts and the military coup that occurs in the government. Discussed this Episode … Continue reading Ep076 – House of the Spirits Part 2 →
Ep076 – House of the Spirits Part 1 by Isabel Allende
October 25, 2021 07:15 - 36 minutes - 33 MBHouse of the Spirits Part 1 by Isabel Allende Isabel Allende’s debut novel, House of the Spirits, is a journey in magical realism. House of the Spirits follows four generations of the Trueba family against the backdrop of an unspecified South American country (Chile). In this first discussion of the story, Isaac and Reid dig … Continue reading Ep076 – House of the Spirits Part 1 by Isabel Allende →
Ep075 – The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien
October 11, 2021 07:23 - 50 minutes - 46.6 MBThe Hobbit by JRR Tolkien Before Lord of the Rings there was The Hobbit. To many The Hobbit is the cornerstone work of fantasy writing, introducing readers to the high fantasy realm of Middle Earth. JRR Tolkien originally published The Hobbit in 1937 and ever since it has remained among the popular works of fantasy. … Continue reading Ep075 – The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien →
Ep074 – Dreadnought by April Daniels
September 27, 2021 07:15 - 42 minutes - 38.5 MBDreadnought by April Daniels A modern superhero story. Dreadnought features Danny, our protagonist who gets the superhero mantel thrust upon her. But with the mantel came a body change. Danny physically become a woman, her ideal body. The story of Dreadnought follows Danny as she deals with the good and bad of not only having … Continue reading Ep074 – Dreadnought by April Daniels →
Ep073 – All Systems Red by Martha Wells
September 13, 2021 07:38 - 43 minutes - 40.2 MBAll Systems Red by Martha Wells Martha Wells is an accomplished author, active since 1993. All Systems Red is the first work in the Murderbot series, a series that follows Murderbot as they are the security unit on a seemingly harmless planet. Of course the planet is not as harmless as it was reported to … Continue reading Ep073 – All Systems Red by Martha Wells →
Ep072 Mapping the Interior by Stephen Graham Jones
August 30, 2021 07:10 - 39 minutes - 36.4 MBMapping the Interior by Stephen Graham Jones Mapping the Interior is a ghost story of loss. Published in 2017, Jones explores how the event of a death of a father cascades into a young adult story of finding a way through life. Isaac and Reid strongly recommend this story. Discussed this Episode Displaying and showing … Continue reading Ep072 Mapping the Interior by Stephen Graham Jones →
Ep071 The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro
August 16, 2021 07:20 - 58 minutes - 53.6 MBThe Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro An expansion of the Arthurian Mythos, The Buried Giant follows an elderly couple as they begin to remember a past they had forgotten. Kazuo Ishiguro, a winner of the Booker Award, and author of such works as The Remains of the Day and Never Let Me Go, explores a world … Continue reading Ep071 The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro →
Ep070 Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
August 02, 2021 07:15 - 58 minutes - 53.6 MBBrave New World by Aldous Huxley What does the mass production of biology look like, and what are its consequences? These are the questions proposed in the 1931 book by Aldous Huxley: Brave New World. Episode Discusion: What were our first introductions to Dystopian Fiction? (The Giver, 1984, Harrison Bergeron – by Kurt Vonnegut) A … Continue reading Ep070 Brave New World by Aldous Huxley →
Ep069 Izzy Wasserstein Short Stories
July 19, 2021 07:15 - 40 minutes - 37 MBShort Stories of Izzy Wasserstein Izzy Wasserstein is a prolific new writer, writing and publishing over twenty-five short stories in the past four years! In this episode we discuss three short stories. Episode Discussion Dead at the Feet of a God – read it on Beneath Ceaseless Skies A story written in reverse chronological order. … Continue reading Ep069 Izzy Wasserstein Short Stories →
Ep068 Promise of Blood by Brian McClellan
July 05, 2021 07:20 - 46 minutes - 42.5 MBPromise of Blood by Brian McClellan Promise of Blood is the first book of the Powder Mage Trilogy, a work of Gunpowder fantasy where guns coexist with magic. The story follows the events which occur immediately after a successful coup by the military leader Tamas. The book is an amalgam of mystery, adventure, and political … Continue reading Ep068 Promise of Blood by Brian McClellan →
Ep067 Karen Osborne Short Stories
June 21, 2021 07:25 - 44 minutes - 40.7 MBThe Dead, In Their Uncontrollable Power; The Two Bullet War; and Cratered by Karen Osborne Episode Discussion The Two Bullet War. A beautifully written work that made Reid question the purpose of novels if perfection can be obtained in a short story? A story of three scenes: a death and setup; the story of lovers; … Continue reading Ep067 Karen Osborne Short Stories →
Ep066 The Unbroken by CL Clark
June 07, 2021 07:14 - 49 minutes - 45.1 MBThe Unbroken by CL Clark CL Clark’s debut novel dives into the theme of military occupation and identity. The story follow two characters: Touraine the soldier and Luca the ruler. Touraine will do anything to protect her fellow soliders, the Sands, which immediately means to rise through the ranks and become a leader of the … Continue reading Ep066 The Unbroken by CL Clark →
Ep065 Dragonflight by Anne McCaffrey
May 24, 2021 07:07 - 48 minutes - 44 MBDragonflight by Anne McCaffrey Isaac and Reid dig into the legendary world of Pern. Dragonflight put Anne McCaffrey on the radar of science fiction and fantasy, and introduced the world to Pern. Made up of four stories – the first of two which were published previously as separate short stories – Dragonflight is a story … Continue reading Ep065 Dragonflight by Anne McCaffrey →
Ep064 Nalo Hopkinson
May 10, 2021 06:44 - 35 minutes - 32.7 MBShort Stories by Nalo Hopkinson Nalo Hopkinson is a Jamaican-born Candian speculative fiction author of the unreal. Hopkinson is the 2021 Damon Knight Grandmaster awarded by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA), and the 1999 Astounding Award for Best New Writer (formerly the Campbell award). The Glass Bottle Trick Link to the … Continue reading Ep064 Nalo Hopkinson →
Ep063 The Poppy War
April 26, 2021 07:11 - 1 hour - 55 MBThe Poppy War by RF Kuang Winner of the Astounding Award for Best New Author, RF Kuang’s debut novel, The Poppy War, is a story of realistic war and the horrors humans can inflict on one another. Link to RF Kuang’s Lecture: “The Poppy War in Context: Asian American Speculative Fiction” (Oct 28 2020) … Continue reading Ep063 The Poppy War →
Ep062 Usman T Malik
April 12, 2021 07:15 - 43 minutes - 39.7 MBUsman T Malik: The Vaporization Enthalpy of a Peculiar Pakistani Family and The Wandering City Usman T Malik is an award winning author, and among other awards is a winner of the Bram Stoker Award for Short Fiction. In this episode Isaac and The Vaporization Enthalpy of a Peculiar Pakistani Family A modern myth. The … Continue reading Ep062 Usman T Malik →
The Next Chapter Ep003 Morning Star by Pierce Brown
April 05, 2021 06:13 - 56 minutes - 51.8 MBMorning Star by Pierce Brown Reid and Isaac complete the first Next Chapter series with the third installment in the Red Rising Saga, and the conclusion of the original trilogy. Red Rising by Pierce Brown Discussion Golden Son by Pierce Brown Discussion In This Episode Trilogy Structure – Act One: the development of the world … Continue reading The Next Chapter Ep003 Morning Star by Pierce Brown →
Ep061 Fantasy Magazine Issue 63
March 29, 2021 06:17 - 47 minutes - 43.8 MBFantasy Magazine Issue 63 Fantasy Magazine ran regularly from 2005 to 2011, and sporadically from 2011 to 2020. Now Fantasy Magazine has returned as of November 2020 under the editors of Arley Sorg and Christie Yant. Fantasy Magazine is a monthly publication featuring short fiction, flash fiction, poetry, and non fiction interviews and essays. In … Continue reading Ep061 Fantasy Magazine Issue 63 →
The Next Chapter Ep002 Golden Son by Pierce Brown
March 22, 2021 09:01 - 43 minutes - 39.5 MBLeave it to the Prose – The Next Chapter: Golden Son by Pierce Brown Episode 2 of our first Next Chapter arc we dive into the middle book of the original Red Rising Trilogy: Golden Son by Pierce Brown. The story continues Darrow’s story as he embarks in his ambitious goal of overthrowing the oppressive … Continue reading The Next Chapter Ep002 Golden Son by Pierce Brown →
Ep060 Macbeth by William Shakespeare
March 15, 2021 07:07 - 52 minutes - 48 MBMacbeth by William Shakespeare We went back in time to the works of Shakespeare and how Macbeth solidifies several traditions in speculative fiction. A story or witches, Macbeth follows the titular character as the theme of destiny vs freewill is battled by means of using the fantastical elements of prophecy. The story begins with Macbeth … Continue reading Ep060 Macbeth by William Shakespeare →
The Next Chapter Ep001 – Red Rising by Pierce Brown (Re-Release)
March 08, 2021 08:05 - 1 hour - 56.3 MBRed Rising by Pierce Brown Welcome to Leave it to the Prose – The Next Chapter! An occasional series discussing multi-book series in Science Fiction and Fantasy. This week we re-release our original Red Rising discussion in preparation for our discussions of book 2 (Golden Son) and book 3 (Morning Star). Red Rising, the story … Continue reading The Next Chapter Ep001 – Red Rising by Pierce Brown (Re-Release) →
Ep059 The Giver by Lois Lowry
March 01, 2021 08:07 - 49 minutes - 45.6 MBThe Giver by Lois Lowry In our final mini-series featuring Middle Grade Science Fiction and Fantasy, Reid and Isaac discuss The Giver by Lois Lowry. The Giver follows Jonas, a young man who comes of age to take his role as “the receiver,” and as such learns the perfect world he has been living in comes … Continue reading Ep059 The Giver by Lois Lowry →
Ep058 The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket
February 15, 2021 08:06 - 55 minutes - 50.7 MBThe Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket We continue our four part series of middle-grade speculative fiction from our pasts with The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket, the first book of A Series of Unfortunate Events. In this episode we dive into the unique tone and framing device The Bad Beginning exemplifies. In this episode we … Continue reading Ep058 The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket →
Ep057 The Invasion (Animorphs) by K.A. Applegate
February 01, 2021 08:04 - 38 minutes - 35.3 MBThe Invasion by K.A. Applegate (Book 1 Animorphs) Continuing our series on middle-grade fiction, we discuss many readers’ first science fiction book: The Invasion, book one of the Animorphs series. The series follows a collection of young adults as they are forced on a mission to save the world from brain-controlling slugs! The ability these … Continue reading Ep057 The Invasion (Animorphs) by K.A. Applegate →
Ep056 The Forests of Silence by Emily Rodda
January 18, 2021 08:02 - 40 minutes - 36.6 MBDeltora Quest: The Forests of Silence by Emily Rodda Emily Rodda, the children’s fiction pen name for Jennifer Rowe, is the creator of, among other middle-grade fantasy novels, the Deltora Quest series and universe. In this episode we discuss the first book of the Deltora Quest series: The Forests of Silence. In this first book … Continue reading Ep056 The Forests of Silence by Emily Rodda →
Ep055 Leave it to the Prose 2021
January 04, 2021 08:12 - 32 minutes - 29.4 MBLeave it to the Prose, Your Podcast for Science Fiction and Fantasy Literature Leave it to the Prose is your podcast for science fiction and fantasy literature. We bring the perspective of a writer (Reid) and a reader (Isaac) to critically discuss science fiction and fantasy works. In this episode we look back at 2020 … Continue reading Ep055 Leave it to the Prose 2021 →
Ep054 We by Yevgeny Zamyatin
December 21, 2020 10:12 - 50 minutes - 45.8 MBWe by Yevgeny Zamyatin We, a Russian dystopian novel, and sometimes described as the grandfather of dystopian novels. We is seen as an influential and important work of science fiction and for the genre of dystopia. We follows a scientist who is working on a very important space rocket, but due to a happenstantial introduction, … Continue reading Ep054 We by Yevgeny Zamyatin →
Ep053 Warming Season
December 07, 2020 08:05 - 1 hour - 56.8 MBWarming Season by SR Algernon We return to the works of SR Algernon, Hugo Award Finalist for his short story Asymmetrical Warfare. In Warming Season we follow Officer Dee as he deals with bubbling conflict on the planet 16 Cygni Bb. The planet follows a highly elliptical orbit and the title of the book references … Continue reading Ep053 Warming Season →
Ep052 A Memory Called Empire
November 23, 2020 10:22 - 1 hour - 62 MBA Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine The 2020 Hugo Award for Best Novel, A Memory Called Empire is Arkady Martine’s debut novel of interstellar intrigue. In this episode we dive into the characteristic that this book excel at: worldbuilding. Book Discussion Worldbuilding: The strength of this book. Direct and passive worldbuilding are well-balanced to … Continue reading Ep052 A Memory Called Empire →
Ep051 Dawn
November 09, 2020 08:45 - 46 minutes - 42.7 MBDawn by Octavia Butler Octavia Butler is a legend! In this episode we specifically dive into Dawn, the first book in the Xenogenesis book. Dawn is a story of first contact and discusses the liberty over one’s own body. The book despite being originally published in 1987 feels very relevant as themes of consent and … Continue reading Ep051 Dawn →
Ep050 Frankenstein
October 26, 2020 10:20 - 45 minutes - 42.1 MBFrankenstein by Mary Shelley The monumental work of Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, often believed to be the first work of science fiction. In this episode we discuss the 1813 version. Victor Frankenstein studies natural philosophy and dabbles in alternative methods that culminates in Frankenstein’s creation of the fiend. The fiend runs away, learns, grows and … Continue reading Ep050 Frankenstein →
Ep049 The Specialist’s Hat by Kelly Link
October 12, 2020 06:15 - 38 minutes - 35.1 MBThe Specialist’s Hat by Kelly Link Happy October! To celebrate the spooky month of October we are discussing the ghost story The Specialist’s Hat by Kelly Link. Kelly Link is an award winning author known for genre-combination and magical realism. The Specialist’s Hat contains horror, fantasy, suspense, and realism exemplifying Kelly Link’s style. Find Kelly … Continue reading Ep049 The Specialist’s Hat by Kelly Link →
Ep048 Sheree Renee Thomas
September 28, 2020 06:13 - 47 minutes - 43.9 MBThe Parts that Make Us Monsters and Aunt Dissy’s Policy Dream Book Sheree Renee Thomas is perhaps best known for two anthologies (Dark Matter: A Century of Speculative Fiction from the African Diaspora and Dark Matter: Reading the Bones), but in addition to being an award winning editor Thomas has written many works of fiction, … Continue reading Ep048 Sheree Renee Thomas →
Ep047 Black Leopard, Red Wolf
September 14, 2020 10:10 - 48 minutes - 44.7 MBBlack Leopard Red Wolf by Marlon James What makes a work of art transform a genre? Black Leopard, Red Wolf by Marlon James re-defines the prose standards found within genre fantasy. In this episode of Leave It To The Prose, Isaac and Reid discuss this highly forward-thinking, revolutionary, difficult, and complicated work Black Leopard, Red Wolf. … Continue reading Ep047 Black Leopard, Red Wolf →
Ep046 Fred the Vampire Accountant
August 31, 2020 07:11 - 35 minutes - 32.9 MBFred the Vampire Accountant by Drew Hayes In this episode Isaac and Reid discuss “The Utterly Uninteresting and Unadventurous Tales of Fred, the Vampire Accountant” by Drew Hayes, a collection of short stories where we meet Fred, a vampire who maintained all of his normal, boring, human characteristics. Fred meets a vast cast of characters … Continue reading Ep046 Fred the Vampire Accountant →
Ep 045 Jennifer Marie Brissett
August 17, 2020 07:28 - 44 minutes - 40.7 MBKamanti’s Child and Through the Veil by Jenniffer Marie Brissett Jenniffer Marie Brissett is a Manhattan author and winner of the 2014 Philip K. Dick Special Citation Award and finalist for the Locus Award. Brissett’s work has been published in many magazines since 2009, and has an upcoming book, Destroyer of Light, set to be … Continue reading Ep 045 Jennifer Marie Brissett →
Ep044 The Night Circus
August 03, 2020 07:47 - 50 minutes - 46.6 MBThe Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern In The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern the battle of two types of magic play out against the backdrop of a mysterious circus. We meet the main characters, their motivations, and the plethora of circus acts who will be caught in the middle of the battle for superior magic … Continue reading Ep044 The Night Circus →
Ep043 Hugo Nominees
July 20, 2020 09:01 - 57 minutes - 52.6 MB2020 Hugo Award Nominees for Short Story Award season for science fiction and fantasy is in full swing. Earlier this year the Nebula and Locus award winners were announced, but in early August the Hugo Awards will be given out. In this episode of Leave It To The Prose, Isaac and Reid discuss the current … Continue reading Ep043 Hugo Nominees →
Ep042 Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
July 06, 2020 09:01 - 45 minutes - 41.3 MBHitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams Originally a collection of radio plays, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy is Douglas Adams’s adaptation of these audio stories into a novel format and its subsequent sequels. The Hitchhiker’s Guide follows Arthur Dent as he becomes a hitchhiker in the galaxy. Through Arthur we meet a … Continue reading Ep042 Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy →