Dissecting Dragons

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

Episode 80: Pivot Points - Historical Moments that changed Everything

 

This week the dragons are delighted to welcome back historical fiction and non-fiction author. Matthew Willis. Recently the first book in Matt and Jules (J.A.Ironside)'s co-written duology - Oath and Crown - was released. An Argument of Blood looks at the first half of the political events that would culminate in the battle of Hastings in 1066. Since this was easily one of the pivot points of history that changed the face of England, Europe and probably the world, this weeks podacast focuses on Historical Fiction and on historical pivot points, where if events had fallen out just a little differently, the world as we know it now would be unrecognisable. Join us for an in depth episode of historical speculation.

 

Title Music: Ecstasy  by Smiling Cynic

Episode 79: Ouija Boards, Possessed Boards & Bloody Mary - the Fascination with Supernatural Games

 

In a slight departure from noramal, this week the dragons examine the strange phenomenon of 'supernatural games'. From ouija boards to haunted houses, from one man hide and seek to the midnight game, what is it about games that flirt with the supernatural that appeals or attracts people? Where did this phenomenon originate and what exactly is it about them that inspires speculative fiction? Find out in this weeks episode.

 

(A list of games can be found here.)

 

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Episode 78: Portents, Symbols & Future Knowledge - Precognition & Foreshadowing in Specuative Fiction

 

Done correctly, foreshadowing in a novel should be almost invisible yet nevertheless prepare the reader for what is going to happen in the story. The week the dragons delve into foreshadowing specifically in speculative fiction where literal 'foreshadowing' or precognition can also be used as a device to shape the narrative to great effect. Why is it that we need to know on some level where a story is going without actually knowing how it ends in advance? SFF authos M.E.Vaughan and J.A.Ironside tackle this and other questions in this week's episode. In the petri dish this week - On the Edge of Tomorrow, Dune by Frank Herbert and many more.

 

Title Music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

Episode 77: Man out of Time - Displaced Protagonists in Speculative Fiction

 

One way of really exploring a character's journey is to 'light fires', that is set up a situation in which a character has to confront who they think they are and whether that is true in order to overcome an obstacle or even just to survive. This is especially apparent when authors take a character and remove them from their own time/ society/ culture/ place. It is also apparent in reverse where a character has never felt like they belonged to their time or their culture's social constructs, always being something of an outsider in their own life. As a recurring theme in speculative fiction what does that say about our own dears of not belonging? Or our own sense of being alienated from our own lives? This week the dragons delve into the phenomenon of 'displaced protagonists'. Simmering over the bunsen burner on a low flame we have The Walking Dead, 28 days Later, The Chronicles of St Mary's by Jody Tailor, Rip Van Winkle and many more. Join us for a discussion in finding the story you belong in.

 

Title Music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

Episode 76: From Aslan to Ananda - Religious Allegory in Speculative Fiction

 

The Bible contains a rich seam of inspiration for SFF writers, particularly the Old Testement. But unlike other pantheons and bodies of myth and legend, it is perhaps drawn on least. Why is this? And how can it be used to enrich speculative fiction, which seeks to address the same age old questions that appear in biblical writings? This week the dragons delve into the bible and the religious allegory it inspires sff books and films. On the slab this week Pixar's The Prince of Egypt, The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis, Madeleine L'Angle, and many more.

 

Title Music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

Episode 75: Labyrinth - Looking at the Mystery of Mazes

 

Lots of films and books use mazes - or Labyrinths - as narrative tools both to test a characters fortitude and as a paralel for a character's internal narrative arc. But just where did the idea of mazes come from? The dragons were surprised to find that it dates back far further in history than they thought, turning up some astonishing myths and folktales. On the slab this week Labyrinth (the classic Jim Henson film), Labyrinth by Kate Mosse, Marvel series Legion, Pan's Labyrinth and the Maze Runner. Join us in this 'Fortress of Turns' as we attempt to get to the bottom of this unusual archetype.

 

Title Music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

Episode 74: The Sorting Hat and Other Trials - Finding your Tribe in Speculative Fiction

 

Recently, the book world celebrated the 20th anniversary of the release of J.K.Rowling's Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. Aside from making at least one of the dragons feel really old (1997 was 20 yrs ago for frick's sake!) it got them thinking about the strange turn bramches of speculative fiction took in the wake of the successful franchise. Namely that of a tribal mentality amongst fans which extended beyond the fndom and into everyday life. SFF authors J.A.Ironside and M.E.Vaughan examine this phenomena looking at examples of 'tribes', factions and found family from books such as Harry Potter, Leigh Bardugo's Six of Crows and Tamora Pierce's Circle series. Join us for a fascinating look at how speculative fiction plugs into the deep seated human need for a place to belong.

 

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Episode 73: Sand and Sky - Desert Archetypes in Speculative Fiction

 

The typical golden sanded, meltingly hot and arid desert landscape is used in many forms of Speculative Fiction. Partly as short hand for a hard unforgiving environment, partly as way of displaying internal character journey. This week the Dragons take a look at how 'desert' is used and misused when scene setting in SFF. On the slab - Star Wars, Dune by Frank Herbert, Oasis - an adaptation of Michel Fabers 'The Book of Strange New Things' and many more. Join us in this little oasis of discussion.

 

Title Music 'Ecstasy' - Smiling Cynic

Episode 72: Maenads, Black Magic & Demon Drink - Addictions in Speculative Fiction

 

Speculative Fiction has long been a device for exploring uncomfortable or contentious issues. This week the dragons take a look at how physical and psychological addictions are portrayed in speculative fiction. What causes addiction in the first place? How is this addressed in SFF terms? Why is there a persistant myth that better access to creativity for writers can be acheived through recreational drugs?Join us for an illuminating discussion. On the Slab this week Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo, Valiant by Holly Black, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, On Writing by Stephen King and many more.

 

Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic