Dissecting Dragons

Episode 466: The Better Angels of Our Nature - 2025 in Review

Fri, 02 Jan 2026 00:05:00 +0000

2025 has felt like a bit of a slog for many people - including, at points, the dragons. But despite that, and despite some longstanding terrible events in the News, lost of amazing things have happened this year. As has become tradition, Jules and Madeleine take a look a selection of 'good news' items from 2025 - including developments in science, technology and medicine, wins in conservation and environmental preservation and even a bit of culture. Join us for an upbeat discussion of the best bits of the year.

Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

Episode 465: Tinsel and Time Loops - Temporal Chaos at Christmas

Fri, 26 Dec 2025 00:05:00 +0000

On the surface, you probably wouldn't immediately think of time travel when you think of Christmas stories, and yet there is a distinct connection which is hard to deny. Nor does it date to when Dr Who regularly began to deliver Christmas special episodes - it goes far further back than that. For the final episode in this year's festive selection, the dragons dive into why Christmas is the perfect setting for a time travel story. From liminal spaces where impossible deliveries take place in a single night to the chance to go back a right a wrong, learn from a mistake or take a missed opportunity, Christmas magic and temporal mechanics go hand in hand.

Under the mistletoe this week - The Chronicles of St Mary's, A Christmas Carol, Torchwood and many more.

Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

Episode 464: Krampus The Grinch and Holiday Mischief - Why Christmas Needs Villains

Fri, 19 Dec 2025 00:05:00 +0000

Every enduring Christmas story has a villain woven in somewhere - whether that's King Herod in the nativity or Ebenezer Scrooge, the Grinch of Hans Gruber in Die Hard. Whether the audience is rooting for huge redemption arc or waiting for the bad guy to take a nosedive off the Nakatomi Plaza, there's something about a festive story that uniquely lends itself to a good villain. This week Jules and Madeleine delve into what makes a good Christmas villain; where do they come from? (The answer is surprisingly far back!) And how do you create your own?

On the slab this week - A Christmas Carol, The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, The Winter Smith and many more.

Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

Episode 463: A Season of Giving - Gifts as Plot Devices in Speculative Fiction

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 15:41:09 +0000

Sliding towards the festive season, Jules and Madeleine take a look at gifts. Everyone loves a present, right? But what does a present actually signify? Are they always good things or can they be sinister or manipulative? From fae gifts to mystical burdens, the dragons take a deep dive into the sort of present you can't exchange for something else on your xmas list.

Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

Episode 462: Beauty is a Beast - the Problem with Ugly Characters in Speculative Fiction

Fri, 05 Dec 2025 15:04:23 +0000

'Ugly' is a subjective term, of course. Tastes vary and opinions are heavily influenced by how we perceive someone or how much we like them. However, there are plenty of characters in speculative fiction who even on the page do not fit the parameters of being conventionally physically attractive. When those books are translated to the screen, often the 'it' actors of the moment are cast in these roles because they are often great characters. And this is where the cognitive dissonance sets in. Social media and the drive towards a physical ideal which can only be attained through wealth and extreme intervention adds another, somewhat more troubling dimension as platforms like Instagram directly influence beauty standards and celebrity popularity. Have we lost the ability to see a normal human as attractive? Find out in this week's episode. On the slab this week - Bridget Jones' Diary, Harker & Blackthorn, Game of Thrones, Howl's Moving Castle and many more.

Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

Episode 461: The Girl with a Sword - strong female characters and the death of nuance

Fri, 28 Nov 2025 00:05:00 +0000

Moving slightly away from spooky season and weird folklore, the dragons are clocking in with a writing episode. At the moment, Romantasy is the biggest whale splashing around in the sea of fantasy, partially drowning out other subgenres (at least temporarily). While romantasy is a lot of fun, it's caused further changes in the 'strong female character' trope which are less fun. This week, Jules and Madeleine revisit the subject, looking at what really defines 'strength' in character terms and how to best write your own female character, even with Romantasy putting a thumb on the scales. Under the microscope this week - Jane Eyre, Anne of Green Gables, The Hunger Games and many more.

Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

Episode 460: Folklore of the Forgotten - Mythic Creatures Born From Obsolete Jobs

Fri, 21 Nov 2025 00:05:00 +0000

How many jobs and professions have existed over the centuries which we now no longer know anything about? Who thinks about warreners and coopers? Fowlers and knocker-ups? And yet this now unnecessary work lingers in surname origins and in the strange tales that grow up around these jobs. This week, still feeling semi spooky and continuing their recent folklore deep dive, Jules and Madeleine take a look at the urban myths which sprang up and are still springing up, around jobs made obsolete by time and new technology. Why do with mythologise the mundane? What are the origins of folklore arising from old trades? And how can you use this in your writing? Find out in this week's episode.

Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

Episode 459: The Ghost in the Machine - Folklore Meets Firmware in Speculative Fiction

Fri, 14 Nov 2025 00:05:00 +0000

Still in the spooky zone, this week Jules and Madeleine take a look at the fascinating phenomenon of folklore being created in real time. There have always been parallels between technology and superstition, magic and science. As technology moves further into the non tangible realm of digital space, ghosts and other entities have begun to echo this shift. So what exactly is the part that folklore plays in this? Are all our ghosts going digital? And why do such disparate subjects actually go hand in hand? Find out in this week's episode.

Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

Episode 458: The Mummy Unwrapped - Bandaged Horror to Unlikely Romantic Hero

Fri, 07 Nov 2025 00:05:00 +0000

As far as the dragons are concerned it's still spooky season and this week, they are featuring one of the most beloved 'universal monsters' - the Mummy. From Ancient Egypt to Victorian obsession to post war film era, the Mummy has been a symbol for secrets and forbidden knowledge, often reflecting discomforting truths back at us. Jules and Madeleine take a look at why this is a universal monster - what are its origins? When did it first start appearing in fiction? And what does the creature mean to us today?

On the slab this week - Lok No 249 - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, The Beetle - Richard Marsh, Ramses the Damned - Anne Rice and many more.

Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

Episode 457: The Graveyard Shift - Nightmares Sleep Paralysis & Dreamscapes in Folklore and Modern Horror

Fri, 31 Oct 2025 00:05:00 +0000

Sleep - something so mundane we do it around eight hours out of every twenty-four - makes a great vehicle for horror. Judging by folkloric record and cross cultural points of similarity, it's been part of horror for millennia. From old hag syndrome to nightmares to the simple but essential necessity of being unaware and vulnerable for blocks of time, sleep is it's own carnival of terror. This week Jules and Madeleine delve into why, tracking through folklore into modern horror and looking at how you can use sleep effectively in your own writing. (Aside from aiming for eight hours a night, that is!)

Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

Episode 456: Haunted Attics & Cursed Kitchens - the Paradoxical Terror of the Mundane

Fri, 24 Oct 2025 00:05:00 +0000

This week's spooky season offering dives past the whole haunted house experience to go deeper. What if the haunting was more specific? An attic or cellar is well known trope, but what about a playground? A nursery? A clock or a mirror? What do those things say about the state of the main character's mind in storytelling? And what exactly is the quiet terror of the mundane more effective than dripping gore and howling monsters? Jules and Madeleine tackle these questions and more.

On the slab this week: Rebekah - Daphne du Maurier, The Yellow Wallpaper - Charlotte Perkins Gilman, The Scald Crow - Grace Daly and many more

Episode 455: Tangle Bottles & Bone Charms - Everyday Magic in Folklore & Fiction

Fri, 17 Oct 2025 00:05:00 +0000

It's time for episode three of the dragons' spooky season extravaganza and don't be deceived by the title. Folk Magic can go to some pretty dark places... This week, Jules and Madeleine take a look at a magic system that relies on mundane objects and folk knowledge. In fact this type of magic is, on the surface, so mundane that many people would argue that it's more superstition than a magic system. It forms a backbone in many folk horror and dark fantasy stories and even creeps into sci-fi and urban fantasy. So where does the magic of the mundane originate from? What is its logic? And how do you incorporate it in your own world building?

On the slab this week - October Daye - Seanan McGuire, Terry Pratchett's Discworld, Practical Magic and many more.

Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

Episode 544: The Uninvited Guest - Unseen Entities and Invisible Fear in Myth and Modern Horror

Fri, 10 Oct 2025 00:05:00 +0000

Continuing their spooky season, this week the dragons pose a question: what's more frightening? The object of terror can see or the entity you can't?

A fear of non tangible threats is baked into the essential human make up - we would hardly have survived to evolve as we have if our ancestors had not had the capability to 'what if' about predators concealed in shadows or long grass. This is reflected in fairy tales, folklore, gothic fiction all the way up to modern horror. Jules and Madeleine delve into how this trope hits the fear centres in the brain and how you as a writer can use it. On the slab this week - The Invisible Man - H G Wells, The Little Stranger - Sarah Waters, It Follows and many more.

Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

Episode 453: The Outsider - When the Gothic meets the Contemporary

Fri, 03 Oct 2025 00:05:00 +0000

The dragons are back just in time for spooky season. They are naturally kicking off their favourite season with a new slant on and old favourite subject - the Gothic. But what exactly do 'outsiders' have to do with Gothic literature? As it turns out, quite a lot. Jules and Madeleine take a joyful autumn romp through this little mentioned but essential ingredient of the genre from it's literary inception up to its quirky, spooky modern day equivalent.

On the slab this week classics such as Dracula, Frankenstein & Jane Eyre, as well as Penny Dreadful, the Addams Family and Wednesday.

Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic.

Episode 452: A Bull on the Tongue - 10 years of Writing

Fri, 08 Aug 2025 00:05:00 +0000

Approximately ten years ago, both dragons signed their first publishing contracts. Since then it's been a riotous series of highs and lows and new adventures - including the creation of this podcast. This week, Jules and Madeleine look back over the last decade. Would they have written their first books the same way if they'd been writing them now? What is the relationship between writing and creativity and where does creative inspiration come from? Where do they see themselves going in their writing from here? And just what is good etiquette around reviews? Join them for a semi- biographical episode about the ups and downs of being a writer.

(Please note this is the last episode of this season - the Dragons will be back in October for spooky season)

Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

Episode 451: The Work place dystopia - The soul crushing reality of the modern workplace in SFF - part 2

Fri, 01 Aug 2025 00:03:00 +0000

Part Two of a Two Part Episode

Continuing on from last week's examination of how depictions of the work place in fiction have transitioned over the decades from daily grinds where hard work will reward the worthy to places where you can find fun and family (if you're a team player) to recent depictions of bleak office hellscapes where baffled, exploited employees are required to perform a series of increasingly bizarre and senseless tasks (Severence - we're looking at you), this week Jules and Madeleine delve into the archetypes of this genre. Why might you want to write an anarchist or a saboteur? Why is sci-fi such good fit for telling workplace stories and why might you want to write one? And just what can we learn from these stories?

Under the microscope this week: Severence, Fight Club, Squid Game and many more.

Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

Episode 450: The Work place dystopia - The soul crushing reality of the modern workplace in SFF

Fri, 25 Jul 2025 00:06:00 +0000

Part one of a two part episode

Sci-fi and fantasy have portrayed many workplace settings over the decades - engineers and pilots on space craft, for example, or fairy smiths and kitchen witches in fantasy. However while fantasy has been leaning into the idea of leaving unfulfilling work and finding a perfect cosy profession, sci-fi has been delving into the nightmare of the bad workplace. This week, Jules and Madeleine take a look at the common criticisms and fallacies of the workplace highlighted by fiction, and just why this is finding an avid audience now.

Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

Episode 449: The Crumbling Castle - Disney's Downward Spiral

Fri, 27 Jun 2025 18:29:08 +0000

Disney, purveyors and creators of magical family friendly (mostly) entertainment have existed through an interesting and checquered 9 decades. The company is responsible for some of the most beloved fairytale retellings and pioneered the animated feature film. However, it's not all magic kingdoms and pixiedust. As with all multi billion dollar corporations, there's a dark side.

The company has shapeshifted several times over the decades and interestingly, it seems to be undergoing a change again right now. Whether that will be for good or ill remains to be seen. This week the dragons look at why Disney might have a creativity problem and why the family friendly image is more of a facade than ever.

Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

Episode 448: Unbelievably Popular - why do bad books become best sellers?

Fri, 06 Jun 2025 00:05:00 +0000

Have you ever picked up a book, full of anticipation, only to quit 100 pages in? Or maybe you read the whole thing and were left annoyed and baffled when you reached the end? Welcome to the baked in cognitive dissonance of the bookish community. Uber hyped books can turn out to be...bad. Not just bad in your opinion but objectively bad when employing the metrics of writing skill, storytelling and production values. So why exactly are they selling millions of copies? This week, Jules and Madeleine delve into the roots of this question. Is it really a matter of opinion? Can you measure the fitness of a book based entirely on measurable considerations? Is it ever fair to call any book bad? Join the dragons as they interrogate their own beliefs on the subject.

Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

Episode 447: Wit & Readability - 250 years of Jane Austen

Fri, 23 May 2025 00:05:00 +0000

If you've noticed all the celebrations, new editions of Austen's work, new adaptations and not a few arguments over issues which seem to amount to 'who's the biggest fan?' then you may have an inkling that it is a major Jane Austen landmark this year.

Celebrating the 250th year since Jane Austen's birth, the dragons have decided to do their own thing and judge a pageant of Jane Austen adaptations in film, TV, theatre and book form, in an effort to find their own favourite adaptation of Austen's work.

Under the magnifying glass this week - 1995 Pride & Prejudice, Ang Lee's Sense & Sensibility, Bridget Jones' Diary and many more.

Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

Episode 446: Getting Your House in Order - Writing as a Career or a Serious Side Gig

Fri, 16 May 2025 00:33:12 +0000

Making a living from writing comes with practical considerations which the actual creative process doesn't prepare you for (probably). This week Jules and Madeleine delve into how to be a healthy creative ( spoiler alert: sleep is really important), what you need to consider when planning your finances, what legal considerations you need to bear in mind and a variety of other issues which writers often blithely ignore. We know. We did.

Join the dragons as they talk candidly about the less glamorous side of being a writer.

Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

Episode 445: No More Mr Nice Guy - the Geek Misogynist in Speculative Fiction Part 2

Fri, 09 May 2025 00:05:00 +0000

Part 2 of a 2 part episode.

This week, Jules and Madeleine return to the 'nice guy' trope. A trope that probably started with good intentions but soured quickly. Can this trope affect perceptions in real life? If so, how far does that go? Can you write a genuinely nice guy? And what is the 'nice guy renaissance'? On the slab this week: Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Harker & Blackthorn and many mor

Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

Episode 444: No More Mr Nice Guy - the Geek Misogynist in Speculative Fiction part 1

Fri, 02 May 2025 00:05:00 +0000

The dragons are back! Join us for an exciting season delving into new writing topics and speculative fiction takes.

This week, Jules and Madeleine take a look at the 'nice guy' trope. While the term is relatively new, the character type is not, cropping up in Shakespeare, Austen and even in folklore. While this was a character archetype introduced originally to balance the over-muscled, over-sexed and under-brained macho male lead of the seventies and eighties, writers took their collective eye off the ball and things went south pretty quickly. So what is a 'nice guy' and why does something so innocuous sounding carry so much collective dirt? Find out in part one of a two part episode.

On the slab this week: Friends, Little Women - L M Montgomery, Shakespeare's Much Ado about Nothing and many more.

Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

Episode 443: 2024, the Real Life Experience - A Year in Review

Fri, 27 Dec 2024 00:08:00 +0000

As we bid adieu to 2024, the dragons are once again looking back on a year of news. There have been some definite low points, however there has also been a lot of good news this year which may have gone unremarked. Jules and Madeleine are redressing that balance with a selection of good news stories, scientific discoveries and reminiscences on their favourite books and films of the year. Join us for a hopeful episode as we gear up for taking 2025 by the horns.

(This is the last episode of 2024 but we will be back in February after a short break)

Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

Episode 442: The Witches of Midwinter - Following the Wild Dance and Furious Hosts of Christmas

Fri, 20 Dec 2024 00:05:00 +0000

It's that time of year again: frantic last minute shopping, swearing at rolls of Sellotape, covering fir trees with bling....and the dragons emerge with a festive folkloric offering that adds a bit of shadow to the season.

This year Jules and Madeleine take a look at the strange relationship between Christmas and witchcraft. If that sounds implausible, stick around - there is a bizarre logic behind it. As with many folkloric traditions, the Christmas witch goes back centuries but some of the modern iterations bring a new level of horror to the tradition. We remember Father Christmas but forget Perchta. We tell stories about St Nicholas but forget St Lucy and her alter Ego, Bloody Lucy. And just who led the wild hunts during Saturnalia and later the twelve days of Christmas? Find out in a special festive episode.

Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

Episode 441: Remaking the 80s - Rewriting Classic Films for a Modern Audience

Sun, 15 Dec 2024 12:49:50 +0000

There are few phrases as bedight with dubious associations as 'for a modern audience'. In terms of storytelling, are we saying that the original story was flawed? That tends not to go down well with fans of the original. Or, conversely, does the phrase mean that a modern audience is somehow incapable of engaging with the original and needs to have the material dumbed down? Despite the trickiness of the situation, there has been an upsurge in reboots and remakes lately with even more scheduled for release in 2025. This week the dragons delve into why that is and whether it's a good use of storytelling muscles or not?

On the slab this week: Fright Night, Road House, Disney Live action and many more.

Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

Episode 440: The Devil's Music - the Occult, Rock'n'Roll and Storytelling

Fri, 06 Dec 2024 00:05:00 +0000

Music has a peculiar relationship with the supernatural, and no branch more so than the occult. Certain musical genres have a long association with the devil, both in folklore and urban legend. But why is that? Where did those stories originate? And how has this shaped modern horror and SFF? This week the dragons dive into Rock'n'Roll to unravel the devil's music. On the slab this week - The Infernal - Kim Wilkins, We Sold Our Souls - Grady Hendrix, Evil in Me - Brom and many more. Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

Episode 439: It Grows in Darkness - Mushrooms in Horror and SFF

Fri, 29 Nov 2024 00:06:00 +0000

From devices of comedy to alien antagonists to symbols of deep seated corruption, mushrooms and fungi make strangely appropriate side characters. They are used as set dressing, as indicators of other realms and as terrible weapons. Appropriately, they have woven tendrils so firmly through fiction that it's pretty much impossible to work out when they first entered storytelling cannon - potentially it was when storytelling pre-dated written language. This week, Jules and Madeleine take a look at these strange beings, examining how they have been used in a variety of genres and how you might want to use them in your own writing.

Under the microscope this week - The Haunting of Hill House - Shirley Jackson, What Moves the Dead - T Kingfisher, The Last of Us, The Girl with All the Gifts - M R Carey and many more.

Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

Episode 438: Jeeves Blackadder and Puss - Canny Domestics and Sneaky smart servants

Fri, 22 Nov 2024 00:23:07 +0000

On a lighter note this week, the dragons delve into a well loved trope which has its origins in folk and fairy tales, shifting and adapting for audiences over the centuries to reflect the socio economics of the time. The clever servant-foolish master dynamic is one which is still enjoyed today, balancing inequalities of social position, wealth and status with intellect, cunning and personability. The trope is a shapeshifter - played for laughs, delivered straight and used as supporting story. This week, Jules and Madeleine take a look at why.

On the slab this week - The King's Knight, Blackadder the 3rd, Jeeves and Worcester and many more.

Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

Episode 437: Popular, you're gonna be popular - or are you? - Why Stage Production Musicals Often Fail on the Big Screen

Fri, 15 Nov 2024 00:05:00 +0000

It's no secret that the dragons are fans of musicals, so they should be delighted by all the film adaptations of popular stage shows, right? Well, that's not entirely the case. There are a variety of reasons why a stage production may not work as a film and vice versa, not withstanding any internet drama that blows up in the wake of an adaptation. This week, Jules and Madeleine take a look at why these adaptations can fall flat.

Under the spotlight this week: Into the Woods, Beauty and the Beast, Sweeney Todd, Les Miserables and many more.

Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

DD 436: The Tiffany Problem - When Reality is too real for Speculative Fiction

Sat, 02 Nov 2024 00:46:16 +0000

It's pretty well established that truth is stranger than fiction, but what do you do when the facts are literally too unlikely for a reader to swallow? When historical accuracy or authenticity is likely to bounce your reader out of your story for being unrealistic? Welcome to The Tiffany Problem. This week Jules and Madeleine examine this phenomenon, follow a trail through some examples and finally, offer suggestions for how to counter it while still being accurate in your storytelling.

Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

Episode 435: Snatchers surfers and Hitchers - Bodysnatching in Speculative Fiction

Fri, 25 Oct 2024 00:05:00 +0000

Possession is a regular trope in horror and sci-fi. The idea that a physical body could be taken over by an external entity is as disturbing as it is enticing. However, there are many sub categories of this kind of bodysnatching, from parasites that physically puppeteer to Freaky Friday-esque body swaps. This week, Jules and Madeleine delve into the humour and horror of the trope, drawing on a wide range of speculative fiction and there own work where appropriate.

On the slab this week: Buffy the Vampire Slayer, V, the Bodysnatchers and many more.

Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

Episode 434 -The Allure of the Curse - Speculative Fictions Oldest Trope

Fri, 18 Oct 2024 18:05:59 +0000

Generations of a family punished for the ill-advised actions or an ancestor? Crossed paths with the sidhe and worded an answer impolitely? Fallen foul of someone's desire for revenge? Chances are, in speculative fiction, the problem will turn out to be a curse. It may not really be the oldest speculative fiction trope but it's definitely got history.

In this episode of the Dragons' spooky season, Jules and Madeleine drill down on the well used SFF and Horror trope of 'the curse'. How can you use the trope in a way that reads as fresh and novel? What are the main types of this trope? And what historical precedent is there for this occurrence in fiction?

On the slab this week: Howl's Moving Castle - Diana Wynn Jones, Unveiled, The Ring and many more.

Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

Episode 433: The Woods, the Mountains and Emptiness - an Examination of Survival Horror

Fri, 11 Oct 2024 00:05:00 +0000

Continuing with the spooky season, this week the dragons delve into the popular sub genre of survival horror. While you could argue that the point of every horror story is survival, this sub genre takes it to the next level with characters pitted against nature, the wild and even space - sometimes with a twist of the supernatural thrown in.

But how do you go about writing survival horror that lands? What attributes should you be looking for in a main character? Why is setting so important? Join Jules and Madeleine for a discussion on all this and more.

On the slab this week: Devolution - Max Brooks, Alien, The Luminous Dead - Caitlin Starling and many more.

Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

Episode 432: Haunt Sweet Home - How to Write a Haunted a House

Fri, 04 Oct 2024 00:05:00 +0000

The dragons kick off spooky season with a look at one of the staples of horror - the haunted house. It's so ubiquitous now that haunted house stories are really a sub genre in their own right with their own tropes and conventions. So why do some haunted house stories work while others fall flat? This week Jules and Madeleine present a blueprint on how to build your own haunted house story complete with flickering lights, sordid history and reappearing blood stain. Rattling chains in the attic optional.

On the slab: The Haunting of Hill House, The Haunting of Bly Manor, The Little Stranger and many more.

Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

Episode 431: This is Fine - Writing Trauma in Scifi and Fantasy part two

Fri, 27 Sep 2024 00:05:00 +0000

Part two of a two part episode Most speculative fiction will involve traumatising your main character at some point but how do you make it clear to a reader or viewer that this is what is happening without ponderously 'telling' it? What narrative techniques can be employed to show this instead? How do you deliver the message with emotion without tilting over into melodrama? How do you make trauma believable? This week Jules and Madeleine delve into this tricky part of storytelling. On the slab - The Stand - Stephen King, The Mask Falling - Samantha Shannon, The Blood of the Delphi and many more. Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

Episode 430: This is Fine - Writing Trauma in Sci-fi & Fantasy

Fri, 20 Sep 2024 00:06:00 +0000

Part one of a two part episode

Most speculative fiction will involve traumatising your main character at some point but how do you make it clear to a reader or viewer that this is what is happening without ponderously 'telling' it? What narrative techniques can be employed to show this instead? How do you deliver the message with emotion without tilting over into melodrama? How do you make trauma believable? This week Jules and Madeleine delve into this tricky part of storytelling.

On the slab - Daredevil, Twilight, I Belong to the Earth and many more.

Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

Episode 429: All in the Details - How to Use Description in Speculative Fiction part 2

Fri, 13 Sep 2024 00:03:00 +0000

Part 2 of a 2 part episode

Following on from last week's over view episode, this week Jules and Madeleine get, appropriately, into the details of what to include or exclude when writing and worldbuilding. Speculative fiction can, by it's very nature, require extensive world building which in turn requires plenty of detail. But how do you know what to include or exclude? How much detail should you go for? Is there such a thing as too much detail?

On the slab this week - Harker & Blackthorn, The Sons of Thestian, Strange the Dreamer - Laini Taylor, Immortal Pleasures - V Castro and many more

Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

Episode 428: All in the Details - How to Use Description in Speculative Fiction part 1

Fri, 06 Sep 2024 13:44:15 +0000

Part 1 of a 2 part episode

The dragons are back and gearing up for spooky season. This week, Jules and Madeleine take a look at the thorny issue of 'details'. Speculative fiction can, by it's very nature, require extensive world building which in turn requires plenty of detail. But how do you know what to include or exclude? How much detail should you go for? Is there such a thing as too much detail?

On the slab this week - The Book of Strange New Things - Michel Faber, Fire & Hemlock and Howl's Moving Castle - Diana Wynne Jones, Lorna Doone - R D Blackmoore and many more.

Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

Episode 427: The Boys are Back in Town - the Dark Heart of the Superhero Genre

Fri, 02 Aug 2024 00:05:00 +0000

Please note this episode contains spoilers for all the shows and books mentioned!

It's the human in superhuman which is the interesting aspect of the superhero genre, which is why the genre is so good at holding up a dark mirror to the worst aspects of humanity as well as being aspiration. This week Jules and Madeleine delve into the murky waters of dark superheroes looking at parallels between fame, money, consumerism and politics. How are superheroes the new pantheon of gods? Isn't a dark superhero just a villain? And why are writers drawn to telling these stories?

On the slab this week - The Boys, The Umbrella Academy, Velveteen vs by Seanan McGuire and many more.

This is the season finale but the dragons will be back in September.

Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

Episode 426: Change, Uncertainty and Unhappiness - making low stakes compelling

Fri, 26 Jul 2024 00:05:00 +0000

Not every story can be or needs to be high octane intensity. In fact some of the best books are objectively quiet affairs. Low stakes does not mean low story or lack of compelling reading or viewing experience however. This week, Jules and Madeleine take a look at why low stakes can be just as enthralling as high stakes, and in many ways can provide deeper connections between the reader and the characters. How do you make a low stakes story compelling? What are the dos and don'ts of writing low stakes? And how do you keep a reader's attention focused on your MC when the world isn't ending?

On the slab this week - Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree, The Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness, Swordheart by T Kingfisher and many more.

Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

Episode 425: A Thousand Ships - The Awkward Side of Retelling Greek Myths

Thu, 18 Jul 2024 23:26:24 +0000

Myths and stories from the classical world have always been popular inspiring works of art, poetry, books and plays across centuries. Lately, Greek mythology has enjoyed an even bigger revival powered by the era of the 'feminist retelling'. However, while many of these books may be enjoyable stories in their own right, they are almost always bad retellings of the original source material - although 'original' is a relative term. This week, Jules and Madeleine take a frank look at why this happens, why overlaying a modern lens over literature that is several thousand years old is often doomed to failure and how you can find a balance between anachronistically modern and incomprehensively contemporaneous with the original. On the slab this week - A Thousand Ships - Natalie Haynes, The Song of Achilles - Madeline Miller, The Silence of the Girls - Pat Barker and many more.

Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

Episode 424: Starving Artists and Worshipped Writers - unrealistic depictions of creatives in Film and TV

Fri, 12 Jul 2024 00:05:00 +0000

Every profession has at some point suffered from misrepresentation in fiction, however the inaccurate way writers are often depicted in screenplays is especially ironic. However, the dragons do acknowledge that exaggeration and outright fabrication often make for better storytelling so with that in mind, Jules and Madeleine take a look at the main writer character types used in fiction. From tormented geniuses to hardbitten hacks, this tongue in cheek episode is full of characterisation ideas if you ever want to include a writer character in your own writing.

On the slab this week - Argylle, Limitless, The Help and many more.

Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

Episode 423: Memory became legend legend became myth - the dawn of the fantasy genre part 2

Fri, 05 Jul 2024 00:05:00 +0000

If you're a long term listener, you'll already be aware that the concept of 'genre' is mostly just a tool to aid categorisation, especially when it comes to selling books. That said, there are points on the timeline that are considered recognised emergence points for specific major genres. This week, Jules and Madeleine take a look at the evolution of fantasy: where did the idea come from? When did it diverge from fairy tales and folklore? And how did it become the speculative fiction power house genre it is today? Part 2 of a 2 part episode. Title music - Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

Episode 422: Memory became legend legend became myth - the dawn of the fantasy genre part 1

Fri, 28 Jun 2024 00:05:00 +0000

Part 1 of a 2 part episode.

Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

Episode 421: Impossible Monsters - Dinosaurs and Megafauna in Speculative Fiction

Fri, 21 Jun 2024 00:05:00 +0000

Dinosaurs and prehistoric megafauna have been capturing human imagination for centuries. Certain myths may well have been partially shaped by the discovery of dinosaur bones, whilst our progressing understanding of the dinosaurs 180 million year reign and how it ended, has coloured our understanding of our own place in the natural order.

No surprise then that dinosaurs should appear in so much fiction - both written and staged or filmed. This week, Jules and Madeleine take a look at why these creatures hold such fascination for us, and why they have bled into fantasy and science fiction in a way that cannot be erased.

Under the microscope this week: Jurassic Park - Michael Crichton, The Palaeontologist - Luke Dumas, Dinotopia and many more.

Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

Episode 420: Never Coming Home - The Moving Beyond Bereavement and Death is a Sad Thing Tropes

Fri, 14 Jun 2024 00:05:00 +0000

Storytelling is a powerful tool for exploring difficult issues - both in terms of catharsis and also at a distance. This is especially true for death and bereavement. While the dragons have discussed grief in speculative fiction before, this week they are examining bereavement as a storytelling mode in its own right.

How do you write bereavement in a way that isn't overwhelming, off-putting or just false? What are the popular tropes which explore this issue? And just why might you include it in sff anyway? On the slab this week - Fruits Basket, Star Trek: Discovery, A Symphony of Echoes - Jodi Taylor and many more.

Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

Episode 419: The Sun, the Moon & the Spindle - Tracing the Origins of Sleeping Beauty

Fri, 07 Jun 2024 00:05:00 +0000

It's time for another episode in the fairytales in focus series and this week the dragons are delving into one of the best known and (inexplicably?) best beloved. The tale of the Sleeping Beauty has gone through many permutations over the centuries and most likely has an oral tradition that was even older. It has been co-opted by Medieval Romantic poetry, pops up in Norse sagas, and was even used as code for aspects of Gnostic Christian movements. So what is it about this story which is so enduring? Is it the cursed child theme? The political coding in some versions? Or does it resonate with something even deeper? Find out in this weeks extended episode.

On the slab this week - The Witchwood Knot - Olivia Atwater, A Long Long Sleep - Anna Sheehan, Tchaikovsky's ballet and many more.

Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

Episode 418: the Dark Decent - Transforming a Hero into a Villain in SFF

Fri, 31 May 2024 00:05:00 +0000

The villain who redeems themself is a highly popular trope, but so is it's mirror and sister trope - the hero who becomes the villain. Operating on the assumption that no one is born 'bad', this trope is an engaging look at how someone might gradually descend into villainy and not even realise until after they have arrived. This week, the dragons discuss how to tackle this storyline in a way that is believable and leaves your reader feeling satisfied by the story rather than cheated. On the slab this week - Star Wars, Breaking Bad, Dune - part II and many more.

Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

Episode 417: An Abundance of Janes and Cathys - Retellings of the classics and why they usually suck pt 2

Fri, 24 May 2024 00:05:00 +0000

Nineteenth century novels remain rich fodder both for adaptation and complete reimagining. However, it is rarely as easy as writers and screenwriters believe to strike the balance between respect for the source material, alteration to provide accessibility for a modern audience and presenting the themes which made the book a classic in the first place. This week Jules and Madeleine take a look at what can go right and what can go horribly wrong when using classics as the basis for your story.

Under the microscope this week - Ill Will - Michael Stewart, Bridget Jones' Diary - Helen Fielding, Persuasion and many more.

(This is part two of a two part episode)

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Episode 416: An Abundance of Janes and Cathys - Retellings of the classics and why they usually suck part 1

Fri, 17 May 2024 00:05:00 +0000

Under the microscope this week - Iron Mask - Tina Connelly, Jane Steele - Lyndsey Faye, Wide Sargasso Sea and many more.

(This is part one of a two part episode)

Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

Episode 415: Seafarers, Swashbucklers and Chaotic Archaeologists - the evolution of Adventure Fiction

Fri, 10 May 2024 00:05:00 +0000

From unlikely and surprisingly hardy explorers to accidental time travellers, adventure fiction combines the best of wonder and thrilling pace. Understandably seen as popcorn fiction by some due to its focus on pacey events and in-the-nick-of-time rescues, adventure fiction has a surprisingly long and distinguished pedigree. This week Jules and Madeleine travel back through the adventure fiction family tree, tracing it's origins forward to the slick Hollywood blockbusters and fast paced modern reads. Above all, the dragons focus on why this type of content is fun and engaging - something which various genres are capitalising on. On the slab this week - The Three Musketeers - Alexandre Dumas, The Lost City, Indiana Jones and many more.

Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

Episode 414: Seasons May Change - Stars Farmers & Wild Weather Calendars

Fri, 03 May 2024 00:05:00 +0000

After a brief sabbatical, the dragons are back with an all new set of episodes!

This week, Jules and Madeleine delve into the folkloric symbolism and the physical reality of the seasons. Many writers overlook the importance of the seasons, and the various levels on which we interact with them, which means they miss an easy opportunity for world building, character development, atmosphere and symbolism. How do seasons work in your fantasy world? Does your protagonist follow an agricultural, astrological, or personal calendar? How does the season reflect the mood? Can the changing of the seasons be symbolic of the character’s journey? These are all worth considering!

On the slab this week - George R R Martin - A Song of Ice and Fire, Tamora Pearce - Circle of Magic, The Hamartia Cycle and many more.

Episode 413: Dragon riders & wolf speakers - the Animal Soul Bond in Speculative Fiction

Fri, 09 Feb 2024 00:05:00 +0000

An 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 trope? And just how can the soul-bound animal companion help move on the story and shape the main characters arc? Follow the dragons down the rabbit hole this week as they delve in to all these questions and more.

On the slab: Fourth Wing - Rebecca Yarros, The Dragonriders of Pern - Anne McCaffrey, Hid Dark Materials - Philip Pullman, Faebound - Saari El-Arifi and many more.

Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

Episode 412: By the Blade - the Evolution of Heroic Fantasy

Fri, 02 Feb 2024 00:16:53 +0000

Heroic 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 about Sword & Sorcery that so easily captures the imagination? How has it evolved over the decades? And is it pure esca[ism, or are there deeper themes? On the slab this week: Robert E Howard's Conan the Barbarian, Xena Warrior Princess, Ladyhawk, Silverglass by J F Rivkin and many more.

Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

Episode 411: Kitchen Heroes - Humble Protagonists who get Things Done in Speculative Fiction

Fri, 19 Jan 2024 00:05:00 +0000

Have 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 usually don't possess cool powers or above average ability with a sword. Often they're the ones every is surprised made it as far as they did. And yet, when you really pick apart their story arc, you discover that the entire mission would have failed without them. On the slab this week: Lord of the Rings, Heart's Blood - Juliet Marillier, Swordheart - T. Kingfisher and many more.

Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

Episode 410: In a Rural Dream - The Rise of Cottagecore

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 00:05:00 +0000

Aesthetic 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 aesthetic to your writing? What makes cottagecore so versatile and able to overlay a variety of genres? And is it technically a genre in it's own right yet? Find out in this week's episode.

Under the microscope this week: Practical Magic, Bloom - Delilah S Dawson, Kiki's Delivery Service and many more.

Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

Episode 409: Pitched Perfectly - The Film was Better than the Book

Fri, 05 Jan 2024 00:05:00 +0000

The 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 out in this week's episode. On the slab - The Witches of Eastwick - John Updike, Wicked - Gregory McGuire, Ella Enchanted - Gail Carson Levine and many more.

Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

Episode 408: There’s good news and...more good news - 2023 in review

Fri, 29 Dec 2023 00:05:00 +0000

For 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 music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

Episode 407: Jingle Bell Rock - Storytelling through the medium of songs the Christmas edition

Fri, 22 Dec 2023 00:05:00 +0000

Tis 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 celebrate.

Episode 406: A Picture Says a Thousand Words - The Rise of the Graphic Novel

Fri, 15 Dec 2023 00:05:00 +0000

The 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 storytelling, looking at what makes a graphic novel work and drawing on examples from their favourites. Under the microscope this week: Punderland by Linda Sejic, Mouseguard by David Peterson, The Boys by Garth Innis and many more.

Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

Episode 405: The Fairest of Them All - The Pursuit of Beauty as a Literary Device

Fri, 08 Dec 2023 00:05:00 +0000

There 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 incorporate physical beauty in your character make up? The dragons are willing to bet you're saying more than you perhaps realise. This week Jules and Madeleine explore what associations come package with this characteristic, why you might want to use it (despite the naysayers) and how to do it in a way that enriches your character, rather than detracts from them.

On the slab this week: The Picture of Dorian Grey - Oscar Wilde, Rouge - Mona Awad, Fairest - Gail Carson Levine and many more.

Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

Episode 404: It was Great Apart from the Ending - Beloved Fiction that Wobbled on the Dismount

Thu, 30 Nov 2023 00:05:00 +0000

Writing 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 music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

Episode 403: The Old Family Business - Gangster Witches and Legacy Monster Hunters

Fri, 24 Nov 2023 00:05:00 +0000

A 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 are both equally popular? On the slab this week: Supernatural, One for my Lover - Olivie Blake, The Mayfair Witches series - Anne Rice and many more.

Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

Episode: 402 Of Gold and Hubris - Tracing the Origins of Rumpelstiltskin

Fri, 17 Nov 2023 18:04:28 +0000

This 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 as a tale of bargaining and sacrifice to its more modern retellings as a horror story or an upbeat fantasy. On the slab this week: Gilded - Marissa Meyer, Spinning Silver - Naomi Novak, A Curse as Dark as Gold - Elizabeth C Bunce and many more.

Title music: Ecstasy by smiling Cynic

Episode 401: Girls on Ice - a History of the Fridging Trope

Fri, 10 Nov 2023 00:05:00 +0000

Regular 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 and use it in your own work in a way that isn't problematic. From Ancient Greece to World War II, from Early Medieval Wales to the Arthurian Cycle, the dragons take a tour through time and storytelling.

Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

Episode 400: Strange Fruit in the Gallant South - Exploring the Southern Gothic

Fri, 03 Nov 2023 00:05:00 +0000

Gothic 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 probably explains why it takes some interesting turns when it travels across the pond. American gothic or southern gothic followed a similar evolutionary path from being a ghastly joke to taking on a life and power of its own. This week, Jules and Madeleine look at the key differences between the parent and child genres as they delve in to what makes the Southern Gothic tick like the Tell Tale Heart. Under the microscope this week - Edgar Allen Poe, Anne Rice's Mayfair Witches, Rosemary Clement Moore's The Splendour Falls and many more.

Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

Episode 399: This Set is Cursed - Strange Events Behind the Scenes at Horror Films

Fri, 27 Oct 2023 00:05:00 +0000

This 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. On the slab this week - Nightmare on Elm Street, The Twilight Zone, The Possession and many more.

Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

DD Episode 398: Joyous Companions Forever - examining the queerness of the vampire genre

Fri, 20 Oct 2023 00:05:00 +0000

Part 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

Fri, 13 Oct 2023 00:05:00 +0000

Part 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 challenge rigid norms regarding sex and sexuality? Why do they make such good vehicles for exploring family and the other? And what exactly was Bram Stoker driving at with some of his very un-Victorian story choices? Drink deep listeners - it's not merely wine. On the slab this week: Carmilla - Sheridan le Farnu, Christabel - Samuel Taylor Coleredge, What we do in the Shadows, Castlevania and more.

Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

Ep 396: It Came from Out of the closet - The Queer Relationship with Horror

Fri, 06 Oct 2023 00:05:00 +0000

It'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 genre. On the slab this week - Halloween, Jennifer's Body, The Rocky Horror Picture Show and many more.

Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

Ep 395: Weirdstones and Magic Keys - What makes a Children’s book a classic?

Fri, 29 Sep 2023 00:05:00 +0000

There'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 week - The Weirdstone of Brisingamen - Alan Garner, The Whitby Witches - Robin Jarvis, Howl's Moving Castle - Diana Wynne Jones and many more.

Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

Ep 394: Divas Debutantes and Girls next door - the best and worst female main characters

Fri, 22 Sep 2023 00:05:00 +0000

There'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 and many more.

Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

Episode 393: Unlikely Rebels - the Moral Outlaw Trope

Fri, 15 Sep 2023 22:28:41 +0000

There'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 exactly it pops up in some very surprising genres. On the slab this week: Legally Blonde, the Hunger Games, Twilight and many more.

Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

Episode 392: An Awful Lot of Walking - Mastering Pacing in Speculative Fiction

Fri, 08 Sep 2023 00:05:00 +0000

If 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

Fri, 01 Sep 2023 00:05:00 +0000

This 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 from Medieval famine to infanticide. On the slab this week: The Witch of Duva - Leigh Bardugo, Indexing - Seanan McGuire, The Great Hunger - Martin Gilbert and many more.

Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

Episode 390: Let the Games Begin - Why the Competition Trope is so Popular in Speculative Fiction

Fri, 25 Aug 2023 00:05:00 +0000

It'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 Collins, The Fourth Wing - Rebecca Yarros, the Karate Kid and many more.

Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

Episode 389: Beautiful Misery - The Hunger for the Afflicted Woman in Fiction

Fri, 18 Aug 2023 00:05:00 +0000

Fiction 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 episode. On the slab - Fleabag, Penny Dreadful, Woman Eating - Claire Kohda and many more.

Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

Episode 388: A Conflagration of Authors - AI, Audiobooks and Infringement

Fri, 11 Aug 2023 00:05:00 +0000

Advancements 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 creative process and there are ways to use the technology in an ethical manner. So don't panic - the dragons may not have all the answers but they can probably point you in the right direction.

Episode 387: Complicated Runes and Ineffable Power - Hard Versus Soft Magic Systems in Speculative Fiction

Fri, 04 Aug 2023 00:05:00 +0000

This 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 systems which broadly fall within the hard (defined) and soft (nebulous) categories. In fact many fantasy novels employ a combination or even both at once, so does it matter which you use? What does the magic system add to the story and how do you shape it for best effect?

Under the microscope this week: The Lord of the Rings - JRR Tolkien, The Old Kingdom series - Garth Nix, Small Miracles - Olivia Atwater and many more.

Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

Episode 386: The Art of Not Fitting In - A collection of Not Like the Other Girls Trope Observations

Thu, 27 Jul 2023 11:41:00 +0000

The 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 to do with underwear?

On the slab this week: Anne with an E, Little Women, The Hunger Games and many more.

Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

Episode 385: Both is Good - Examining Bisexual Representation in Speculative Fiction

Fri, 21 Jul 2023 00:05:00 +0000

It 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 bisexuality is displayed and how people misinterpret it that really annoy both dragons?

On the slab this week: The Witcher, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid, The Boys and many more.

Episode 384: Appearances Can be Deceiving - The Hidden Power of Modern Fairytales

Fri, 14 Jul 2023 00:05:00 +0000

Despite 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 look at a selection of case studies including Elizabeth von Arnem's The Enchanted April, Elizabeth Goudge's The Little White Horse and George Orwell's Animal Farm.

Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

Episode 383: Gaslit Magic and Immortal Monsters Hunters - Incorporating Strong Historical Elements in UF

Fri, 07 Jul 2023 00:05:00 +0000

Special 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.

Urban fantasy is spawning sub genres at speed and there are target audiences who are just ravenous for these new twists on a well established genre. But how do you make your UF books stand out? Well, one way is to add a strong historical component. How? Tune into to find out.

On the slab this week: Indiana Jones, imPerfect Cathar, The Parasol Protectorate and many more.

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Episode 382: Part of Your World - Tracing the Origins of The Little Mermaid

Fri, 30 Jun 2023 00:05:00 +0000

It'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, it still became one of the most beloved fairy tales of all time. Why is that and what was Anderson really saying? What folktales influenced his work? And are any of the literary interpretations close to the mark? Find out in this week's episode.

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Episode 381: Hard Times in Magic & Logic - Examining the Parameters of Hard Scifi and fantasy

Fri, 23 Jun 2023 00:05:00 +0000

Hard 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 qualify a book for the term? And what are the drawbacks? This week Jules and Madeleine dive into the subject with examples such as The Masquerade series by Seth Dickenson, Dune by Frank Herbert and many more.

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Episode 380: Will He Escape those Dastardedly Clutches - Why Cliffhangers Are a Bad Idea

Fri, 16 Jun 2023 00:05:00 +0000

There 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, using any sort of cliffhanger is a bad choice. On the slab this week: The Eternals, Crescent City - S.J.Maas, The Empire Strikes Back and many more.

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Episode 379: Exuding Menace 101 - How to Create Menacing Villains

Fri, 09 Jun 2023 00:05:00 +0000

Creating 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 the microscope this week: Lord of the Rings, The Terminator, Harker & Blackthorn and many more.

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Ep 378: Separated by a Common Language - Examining the Differences between UK and US Urban Fantasy

Thu, 01 Jun 2023 23:37:29 +0000

Special 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 different micro genres depending on who's doing the categorising. For the purposes of this episode, UF is fantasy set against the backdrop of the mundane modern world as we know it. One of the interesting aspects of the genre is the slightly different flavour UK and Irish UF has in comparison to US UF. Considering the similarities between the UK and her cousins across the pond, what's at the root of this? Is there a real difference? And if so, what differences have we noticed? (Hint: yes there is the tea aspect. But it's not just the tea...) Join Jules, Madeleine and their guest as they tackle this topic and discuss some of their favourite Indie UF writers.

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Episode 377: Bringing in Dessert - Serving Up Delicious Endings Against Desperate Odds

Fri, 26 May 2023 06:45:50 +0000

There 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 and Many more.

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Episode 376: In that Time In that Place - the Monomyth and Other Storytelling Modes

Fri, 19 May 2023 00:05:00 +0000

Most 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 the monomyth to the Heroine's Journey and then onto modes used in other parts of the world.

Title Music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

Episode 375: The Batcherlorette - Bookish Edition

Fri, 12 May 2023 00:05:00 +0000

Every 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 qualities.

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Ep 374: Her Fatal Curiosity - Tracing the Origins of Bluebeard

Fri, 05 May 2023 00:05:00 +0000

Welcome 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's grisly journey through history and folk tradition in this episode.

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Ep 373: Circe Morgana and Rosaline - The Problem with Feminist Retellings

Fri, 28 Apr 2023 00:05:00 +0000

Retelling 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 people at different time periods. However, the dragons feel that the recent slew of feminist retellings come with their own set of problems. This week Jules and Madeleine delve into the good, the bad and the ugly of reimagining myths from a female perspective. On the slab this week: Circe - Madeleine Miller, Morgan is my Name - Sophie Keetch, The Silence of the Girls - Pat Barker and many more.

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Episode 372: Truth Fiction and Outright Absurdity - More Strange Author Mysteries

Fri, 21 Apr 2023 00:05:00 +0000

Sometimes 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.

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Episode 371: Breaking the Stained Glass Window - Language Storytelling Absolutism and Censorship

Fri, 14 Apr 2023 00:05:00 +0000

Every 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 characters? And is there any merit to adopting a 'with me or against me' viewpoint? (As always this is an opinion piece and the dragons welcome other viewpoints and comments.)

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Episode 370: Running with th Wolves - Werewolves in Folklore and Speculative Fiction Part 2

Fri, 07 Apr 2023 00:05:00 +0000

In 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 American Werewolf in London, Blood and Chocolate and many more.

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Episode 369: Running with the Wolves - Werewolves in Folklore and Speculative Fiction Part 1

Fri, 31 Mar 2023 08:49:47 +0000

In 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 history than its contemporary monsters. Join us for an episode which explains why everything you thought you knew about werewolves is wrong.

Episode 368: Help I’ve Written a Book - What to do next when you want to get published

Fri, 10 Mar 2023 00:05:00 +0000

Considering 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 another. The dragons also include tips on negotiating contracts, creative control and realistic representations of royalty rates. You've written a book? Great. Here's what you do next.

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Episode 367: To Like or Not to Like - Writing Likeable Characters in Speculative Fiction

Fri, 03 Mar 2023 00:05:00 +0000

A 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 you can make your character likeable. How can you give your main character broader audience appeal? How do you make readers identify with your MC? And how can you avoid making them unintentionally unlikeable? Find out in this week's episode.

Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic