Dissecting Dragons

Episode 90: Yay or Neigh - Horses, Pegasus and Kelpies in Speculative Fiction

 

Horses and horse-like creatures play an important part in folk lore across many cultures. From the terrifying Each Uisge to the fierce Unicorn, from the Red Hare to Embarr, horses have fascinated us, bcoming archetypes that stood for power, wealth, the forces of nature - especially wind and tide, and of passage between world. This week, the dragons take a swift tour through horsey myths and legends and their cunerparts in modern speculative fiction. In the luidi circensus this week - The Little White Horse, the tale of Sleipnir, the Water Horse and many more.

 

Title Music: Ecstacy by Smiling Cynic

Episode 89: A Night at the Overlook Hotel - Haunted Houses in Speculative Fiction (and their real life counterparts.)

 

Hallowe'en Special

 

Haunted houses are a staple of the gothic, mystery and horror stripes of speculative fiction, as well as having origins in folk tales. What is it about the haunting of dwelling places in particular that both fascinates and repels? Why the fear that the place where traditionally we should be most safe, is in fact subject to malign influences? This week the dragons delve into the mindset behinf haunted houses. On the slab this week; Rose Red, The Shining and Dr Sleep by Stephen King, A Head full of Ghosts by perter Trembley, The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters and the Exorcism of Emily Rose.  Happy Hallowe'en!

 

Title Music: Ecstacy by Smiling Cynic

Episode 88: Heavenly Hosts and Fallen Fiends - the Angelic Being in

Speculative Fiction

 

This week the dragons delve in to the myths and legends surrounding angels and angelic beings. From the quabalah and bliblical myth to the depiction of divine beings in modern TV, SFF authors J.A.Ironside and M.E.Vaughan explore how goodness can also be terrible. On the slab this week: Lucifer, Hellblazer, Supernatural, Fallen by Kim Wilkins and that old classic by Milton, Paradise Lost.

 

Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

Episode 87: Losing the Plot - Revamping, Recycling and Reusing your Writing

 

This week the dragons return to the subject of writing itself. It is often said that as writers, no writing you do will ever be wasted, but what exactly does this mean? SFF authors J.A.Ironside and M.E.Vaughan discuss from their own personal experience when they have recycled, revamped or reused their own writing. They also dip into planning versus pantsing versus the snowflake method. Also under examination; accidentally writing extra books - when characters take over. How does this happen and why? And what do you do about it? How do you deal with too much plot or too much subplot? Join for a funny and utterly honest discussion.

 

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Episode 86: Leches, Perverts and Peepin Toms - Attitudes to Sexual Depravity in Speculative Fiction

 

Tropes - narrative devices that characterise particular genres of fiction - are usually good things, afterall what's wrong with giving your readers more of what they want? However the dragons would argue that certain tropes are outdated and potentilly harmful for normlising ot playing for laughs attitudes that really need to be addressed. One such trope is that of the lecherous but otherwise inoffensive (in actions at least) mentor character and all of his ilk. This character is the sly voyuer, the author of unwanted but 'harmless' groping. A particularly prevalent character in anime and comic books. This week sff authors M.E.Vaughan and J.A.Ironside take a look at various examples in speculative fiction, examining what this says about out attitudes to sex and sexual harrassment. On the slab this week; Full Metal Alchemist, Dragon Ball Z, Kushiel's Avatar - Jacqueline Carey and The Thief with no Shadow - Emily Gee, as well as Marvel, DC and other comic book universes as a whole. 

 

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Episode 85: Witches, Bitches and Shrews - The Wise Woman Archetype in Speculative Fiction

 

The wise woman or witch archetype is one of the oldest in collective human memory, dating back far further than we can track it. Once it hovered on the edge of being a respectable, if occasionally feared, profession. Just how did the word 'witch' come to be loaded with so many varied and often negative connotations? Why is it such an enduring archetype? From the Witch of Endor to the Alewives of York, from the 'keening women' of Ireland to modern day practitioners of wicca, the dragons examine exactly what makes a witch and how the archetype is used in speculative fiction. In the petri dish this week - The Whitby Witches by Robin Jarvis, The Casquette Girls by Alys Arden and many more.

 

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Episode 84: More Tainted Love - the Romantic Subplot in Speculative Fiction

 

This week the Dragons return to the question of romantic subplots and romantic tropes in speculative fiction. When is a love triangle not a love triangle? What exactly are the implications of 'not like the other girls' and 'girl on girl hate'? What is the attraction with 'alpha male behaviour' and why does it form an unholy trinity with Love triangles and the 'jealousy' trope. Looking at observations made in previous podcasts the dragons expand on and re-examine those tropes. On the slab this week: The Twilight Sage - Stephanie Meyer, The Vampire Diaries - L.J. Smith, The Remnant Chronicles - Mary E, Pearson and many more.

 

Title Music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

Episode 83: Spellbinding Songs, Enchanting Tunes & the Magic of Music in Fiction.

 

From theme tunes to film scores, folksongs to the tune that isn't ever heard merely described in words on the page, music has a particular power to create and support narrative. This week SFF authors M.E.Vaughan and J.A.Ironside explore how music is used in speculative fiction and just why music creates chains of association far more readily than tropes utilizing our other senses. On the slab this week; the multi film Marvel universe, Phil Rickman's Merrily Watkin's series, Robin Hoood (various incarnations) and many more.

 

Title Music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

Episode 82: Incubi, Vampires and Fallen Angels - the Demon Lover in Speculative Fiction

 

A popular SFF trope, especially in paranormal and urban fantasy, is that of the baddest of bad boys - the demon lover. But where exactly does this archetype originate? And what is the basis of the appeal? SFF authors M.E.Vaughan and J.A.Ironside delve into the origins of the demon lover. From early myth to fairy tales to modern portrayals, the dragons examine the link between mindset and sexuality in this speculative phenomenon. On the slab this week - Twilight - Stephanie Meyer, Incubus - Carol Goodman, Grimoire - Kim Wilkins and The Witching Hour - Anne Rice together with many more.

 

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Episode 81: War! What is it good for...in Storytelling?

 

War is often used as a backdrop for narrative. In everything from modern and historical romance to science fiction, war successfully depicts times of change and upheaval, adding an extra dimension to a developing character arc. This week the dragons delve into how this is used in speculative fiction. What exactly is the attraction using of huge scope idea like war? And how do you show that scope whilst still making it about the characters, keeping the reader firmly in the moment? On the slab this week recent DC hit film Wonder Woman, A Court of Wings and Ruin by S.J.Maas and many more.

 

Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic