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A 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.
Episodes
Wednesday Oct 07, 2020
Wednesday Oct 07, 2020
On 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
Kindred by Octavia Butler
Niccolò series by Dorothy Dunnett
The Spring of the Ram by Dorothy Dunnett
The Lymond Chronicles by Dorothy Dunnett
Freeport by Maldoror_Chant
Event Horizon by MonstrousRegiment
Provenance by Ann Leckie
Imperial Radch series by Ann Leckie
Scum Villain fanfic
Beasts Made of Night by Tochi Onyebuchi
The Untamed fanfic
Other Stuff We Mentioned
A Twitter thread and Goodreads review by @newamsterdame
“Racism vs Rep: Missteps of Naomi Novik’s A Deadly Education” by Larissa Irankunda
Temeraire series by Naomi Novik
Uprooted by Naomi Novik
Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik
Organization for Transformative Works
Dracula by Bram Stoker
Time-Life books
Wizards and Witches by Brendan Lehane
Tortall Series by Tamora Pierce
Welcome to Night Vale podcast (specifically Episode 15: Street Cleaning Day)
Circle of Magic by Tamora Pierce
Earthsea Cycle by Ursula K. Le Guin.
The Forgotten Beasts of Eld by Patricia A. McKillip
My Life as a Background Slytherin by Emily McGovern
Transfigurations by Resonant
"House Proud" by astolat
Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card
“The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas” by Ursula K. Le Guin
Be the Serpent Episode 1: False Utopias and… Robot Sex??
“Victory Condition” by astolat (and the quote: ‘the empire of unsheathed knives’)
The Husbands And Wives Show aka Person of Interest
For Next Time
What We Do In the Shadows (2014 film)
Transcription:
The transcript of this episode is available here. Thank you to our team of scribes -- each of you is a gentleperson and a scholar.
Wednesday Sep 23, 2020
Wednesday Sep 23, 2020
On 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
Other Stuff We Mentioned
Qantas Lounge at Heathrow International Airport
The 10th Circle of Hell, ie Newark Liberty International Airport
Supernatural fandom
Hannibal fandom
“What the Water Gave Me” by Florence + the Machine
Muffuletta sandwiches
“I Am All Love Blaseball (And You Can Too)” by Cat Manning
The Sorcerer of the Wildeeps by Kai Ashante Wilson
Yuri!!! on Ice crossovers
A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske
This guy with magnets in his nose
Catalyst by Jennifer Mace
“In the Salt Crypts of Ghiarelle” by Jennifer Mace in Silk and Steel
Macey dearly missing Sentinel AUs
Haikyuu!! anime
Alex’s love for the entire fictional nation of Arasht
Four Pillars Modern Australian gin
Fic Author Feuds on fic sites of old
Hugo Award Winning Archive Of Our Own
Chloe Ting’s ab workout videos
The Chant Literary Universe (CLU) by Alexandra Rowland
Claire Rousseau’s YouTube Channel
For Next Time
A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik
Transcription
The transcript of this episode is available here. A hundred thousand thank you to our wonderful team of scribes! <3
Wednesday Sep 09, 2020
Wednesday Sep 09, 2020
On 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 Dorothy Dunnett
The House of Niccolò series by Dorothy Dunnett
Niccolò Rising by Dorothy Dunnett
Game of Thrones fanfic
Slippery Creatures by K. J. Charles
Supernatural Sexuality with Dr Seabrook
Other Stuff We Mentioned
The Empress of Salt and Fortune by Nghi Vo
Think of England by K. J. Charles
Historical Genital Euphemism Timeline
Feminine Pursuits series
"Victory Condition" by astolat
Freya’s debut A Marvellous Light, out in 2021 from Tor.com publishing
The Curious Case of Victorian pornography
A serious seven minute discussion about kink
Sex politics
For Next Time
Nothing! It's the Extravaganza! We're answering listener questions and playing games!
Transcription
The transcript for this episode is available here. Thank you as always to our beautiful, ever-meticulous team of scribes!
Wednesday Aug 26, 2020
Wednesday Aug 26, 2020
On 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
Summer in Orcus by T. Kingfisher
Other Stuff We Mentioned
Feminine Pursuits series by Olivia Waite
Alice Payne series by Kate Heartfield
Alice Payne Rides by Kate Heartfield
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
Episode 39 of Be the Serpent
Claire Rousseau’s Youtube channel
Finding Faeries by Alexandra Rowland
The Witcher television show
Star Wars prequels
Seeing Like a State by James C. Scott
A Taste of Honey by Kai Ashante Wilson
Yoon Ha Lee’s books
Good Omens TV adaptation
The Empress of Forever by Max Gladstone
Scum Villain's Self-Saving System
Keanu Reeves definitely Not being immortal
For Next Time
"Favorite" by astolat
Transcription
The transcript for this episode is available here. Thank you as always to the eternal beloveds of our hearts: the team of scribes who made this possible!
Wednesday Aug 12, 2020
Wednesday Aug 12, 2020
On 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 Reflected in Water by Zen Cho
The Wild Dead by Carrie Vaughn
Wild Seed by Octavia Butler
Naruto fanfic
“this river runs to you” by sundiscus
Other Stuff We Mentioned
The Secret Lives of the Nine Negro Teeth of George Washington by P. Djèlí Clark
Bannerless by Carrie Vaughn
“Toss a Coin to Your Bitcher” by Suzanne Walker
The Fifth Season by N. K. Jemisin
The Last Wish by Andrzej Sapkowski
The waning droning quality of a hurdy gurdy
Chant Bullshit, courtesy of Alex’s book series
Macey’s eternal dedication to Scum Villain fanfic
The Sorting Hat Chats podcast episode on The Witcher
For Next Time
The Sorcerer of the Wildeeps by Kai Ashante Wilson.
Transcription
The transcript of this episode is available here. Thank you a thousand times to our wonderful team of scribes, who make this possible!
Wednesday Jul 29, 2020
Wednesday Jul 29, 2020
On 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 Ash by Tasha Suri
Demonology and the Tri-Phasic Model of Trauma: An Integrative Approach by Nnm
The Balance arc of The Adventure Zone
The Adventure Zone graphic novel series
Other Stuff We Mentioned
The Watchmaker of Filigree Street by Natasha Pulley
Dominions of the Fallen trilogy by Aliette de Bodard
Sherlock Holmes stories by Arthur Conan Doyle
Empire of Sand by Tasha Suri
Good Omens television series
Lucifer television series
Consolation Songs by Iona Datt Sharma et. al
Uncanny magazine
saltwashed by Jennifer Mace
Ice Planet Barbarians series
Skip Beat! by Yoshiki Nakamura
Haikyū!! by Haruichi Furudate
“five snapped heartstrings” by welcometothehumanrace
‘Fan, Sword and Flame’ by TentacleBubbles
“Victory Lane” by astolat
For Next Time
Transcription
The transcript for this episode is available here. A thousand thank-yous to our incredible team of scribes!
Wednesday Jul 15, 2020
Wednesday Jul 15, 2020
On 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 crossover fanfic
The Black Calhouns by Gail Lumet Buckley
TorCon 2020 panel: A Whole Universe in Pages — Worldbuilding for SFF
The Devil In America by Kai Ashante Wilson
Watchmen miniseries on HBO
Riot Baby by Tochi Onyebuchi
"White Bears in Sugar Land: Juneteenth, Cages, and Afrofuturism" essay by Tochi Onyebuchi
"I Have No Mouth, And I Must Scream: The Duty of the Black Writer During Times of American Unrest" essay by Tochi Onyebuchi
Other Things We Mentioned
Black Lives Matter
A Taste of Honey by Kai Ashante Wilson
The Stabby Queer Ladies Anthology, Silk & Steel
Kerin Cunningham’s Kickstarter
My Chemical Romance
The Unbearable TERFness of J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Witchmark by C. L. Polk
Lumos by birdsofshore
Star Trek
In Flanders Fields, by John McCrae
Eclipse by Mijan
A Winter’s Orbit by Everina Maxwell
Captive Prince by C.S. Pacat
Alexander the Great’s sex life
tissue of silver by fearlessdiva
Maya’s Harry Potter fics
For Next Time
Mating the Huntress by Talia Hibbert
Transcription
The transcript for this episode is available here. Thank you to our amazing team of scribes, as always!!
Wednesday Jul 01, 2020
Wednesday Jul 01, 2020
On 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 Tasha Suri
The Accidental Warlord and His Pack by inexplicifics
Queen’s Play by Dorothy Dunnett
Desdemona and the Deep by C. S. E. Cooney
Other Things We Mentioned
Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien
Vorkosigan saga by Lois McMaster Bujold
City of Lies by Sam Hawke
The Poison Wars series by Sam Hawke
Regeneration by Pat Barker
Jingo by Terry Pratchett
Aubrey & Maturin series by Patrick O’Brian
The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli
Unconquerable Sun by Kate Elliot
Misethere by astolat
K.J. Parker
‘On Sieges’ short essay by K.J. Parker
The Witcher television series
Bioware
Overpowered Mages
Starship Troopers by Robert A. Heinlein
Documentary about the rise of the Ottoman Empire
Ender’s Game film
Honor Harrington series by David Weber
Riftwar Cycle: The Empire Trilogy by Raymond E. Feist
Magician trilogy (Riftwar Saga) by Raymond E. Feist
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman
A Deeper Season fanfic series by lightgetsin & sahiya
Diplomatic Relations by Maldoror_Chant
Sacrifices fanfic series by Lightning on the Wave, a 3.6 million word arc
For Next Time
Transfigurations by Resonant (Harry Potter fanfic)
Transcription
The transcript of this episode is available here. Hail to the scribes, our conquering heroes!!
Wednesday Jun 17, 2020
Wednesday Jun 17, 2020
On 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 by Jenn Lyons
A Chorus of Dragons series by Jenn Lyons
John Wick: Chapter 3 — Parabellum
Other Stuff We Mentioned
The Light Brigade by Kameron Hurley
Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
Agatha Christie vibes
Skeleton Puzzle-Solving video games
Middlegame by Seanan McGuire
The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow
The City in the Middle of the Night by Charlie Jane Anders
A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine
John Scalzi
For Next Time
His Majesty’s Dragon by Naomi Novik
Transcription
The transcript for this episode is available here. We're definitely nominating our transcription team for the Serpents' Award For Best Scribes. ;)
Wednesday Jun 03, 2020
Wednesday Jun 03, 2020
On 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 Emily Nagoski
Other Stuff We Mentioned
Teen Wolf fandom
Big Wolf on Campus fandom
Mo Dao Zu Shi by Mò Xiāng Tóng Xiù
Burnout by Emily Nagoski
The Dark is Rising sequence by Susan Cooper
Over Sea, Under Stone by Susan Cooper
The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper
Greenwitch by Susan Cooper
The Grey King by Susan Cooper
Silver on the Tree by Susan Cooper
The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
Brigadoon musical
Young Wizards series by Diane Duane
His Dark Materials series by Philip Pullman
Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift
Circle of Magic series by Tamora Pierce
Sandry’s Book, by Tamora Pierce
Tris’s Book, by Tamora Pierce
Daja’s Book, by Tamora Pierce
Briar’s Book, by Tamora Pierce
The Little White Horse, by Elizabeth Goudge
Linnets and Valerians, by Elizabeth Goudge
The Abhorsen trilogy by Garth Nix
An Untamed/Abhorsen crossover
A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
Harrow the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
The Unspoken Name by A.K. Larkwood
Diana Wynne Jones
Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
The Wind Singer trilogy by William Nicholson
David Eddings
Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card
The Lost Years of Merlin by T.A. Barron
Eragon by Christopher Paolini
The Acorna series by Anne McCaffrey
The Crystal Singer series by Anne McCaffrey
Dragon Riders of Pern series by Anne McCaffrey
The Belgariad Series by David Eddings
The Greenhollow Duology by Emily Tesh
Cuckoo Song by Frances Hardinge
The Wolves Chronicles series by Joan Aiken
Deeplight by Frances Hardinge
For Next Time
The six finalists for this year's Hugo Award for Best Novel:
The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow
Middlegame by Seanan McGuire
The City in the Middle of the Night by Charlie Jane Anders
Gideon the Ninth by Tamsin Muir
A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine
The Light Brigade by Kameron Hurley
Transcription
The transcript for this episode is available here. Thank you to our beloved scribes, as always, and welcome to the new additions to the scribing team: Kate, BananaLord, Eli, and Marita!