Dissecting Dragons

Episode 44: Writing Sex Scenes - it's not as Hard as You Think

 

This week our intrepid dragons tackle a somewhat grey area in fiction writing. Like scenes of violence or fight scenes, sex scenes can help to move a narrative along and expose a lot about a character (no pun intended) but just how do you make a sex scene pull its weight? How can you avoid accidental funnies or dry biological description? Looking at some examples across the board in fiction, including some examples of things you definitely want to avoid, J.A.Ironside and M.E.Vaughan attempt to answer these questions in a light but informative show. On the slab this week Outlander, A Court of Mist and Fury, The Butcher's Hook by Janet Ellis and many more.

 

Title Music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

Episode 43: Standalones to Series - the pros and cons of One-offs and the neverending Series

This week the Dragons weigh up the advantages and disadvantages of standalones, duologies, trilogies, quartets and ongoing series in books, TV and other speculative fiction. On the slab this week Jim Butcher's Dresden Files, Charlaine Harris' Sookie Stackhouse books, Supernatural and many more.

 

Title Music - "Ecstasy" by Smiling Cynic

Episode 42: Let us make Men - From Golems to Androids

 

This week the dragons take a lot at the long tradition of creating in our own image. Rooted in mythology, folklore and biblical tales, SFF authors M.E.Vaughan and J.A.Ironside trace the journey of the artificial human in speculative fiction from Golems to women made of flowers to androids, robots, mechanoids and cylons. This episode delves into the age old question what makes us human - the presence of free will or the ability to recognise and respect it in others. In the petri dish this week: The Golem and the Djinni by Helene Wecker, Battlestar Galactica, Humans and West World.

Join us as we peel back the skin on man vs creation.

 

Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

Episode 41: Balancing the Real and the Fantastical - Writing Relatable Epic Fantasy

 

The release date for the second edition of The Sons of Thestian is fast approaching so this week SFF author, J.A.Ironside, gets a little of her own back and grills fellow dragon, M.E.Vaughan on all things epic fantasy. With a special look at The Harmatia Cycle, the dragons explore what makes epic fantasy work, how you develop it from a basic idea into a full blown and rounded world, and the secret toavoiding a ponderous and bloated narrative. Also on the slab David Eddings' Belgariad, Terry Goodkind's The Sword of Truth and Trudi Canavan's The Magician trilogy. Join us for out of this world fantasy and a sneaky advance look at 'The Blood of the Delphi'.

Title music - 'Ecstasy' by Smiling Cynic

Episode 40: Strange, Horrible and Who - the Egotism of Genius

 

This week the Dragons tackle all the Drs - Strange, Horrible, Who, Frankenstein and Stark - in an effort to get behind modern depictions of the evil genius and the heroic genius. Just what does this preference for cleverness over pure brawn have to say about how society has evolved? What attracts us to it and how do we make ourselves comfortable with the idea? What are the perils and pitfalls of a brain bigger than average? Find out in this episode as SFF authors J.A.Ironside and M.E.Vaughan wheel in a large selection on the metaphorical gurney. 

 

Title music - Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

Episode 39: Saints, Souls and Samhain - the Celtic Day of the Dead

This week SFF authors M.E.Vaughan and J.A.Ironside delve into the folklore and traditions underpinning Hallowe'en. Travelling back through the centuries and stopping at such points as All Soul Day, All Saints Day, The Salem witch trials, the elected year kings of Celtic tradition and the origins of 'Samhain', the Dragons examine how Hallowe'en as we know it was (and possibly is) tied to preparing for winter and ghost stories as well as life, sacrifice and death. A fun episode that takes a leisurely stroll through a macabre holiday back to it's family and harvest orientated roots.

Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

A Dissecting Dragons Hallowe'en Special!

Episode 38: Monsters and Men - Gothic Classics and the Origin of Horror - A Hallowe'en Special

This week the dragons are joined by S.C.Parris - author of Dark Fantasy series 'The Dark World'. In a special extended episode, the trio look at the beginnings of horror and it's origins in Gothic classics. This is a monster episode examining the nature of the beast - but who is the true monster? The creature from the past? The person who creates a monster? Humankind itself? These week's cauldron boils over, with essential ingredients from Bram Stoker, Mary Shelley, Edgar Allan Poe, M.R.James and many others. 

Join us for a wicked dissection.

Title Music - Ecstasy - Smiling Cynic

Episode 37: Breaking Out the F-jars - Our Favourite Swears in Speculative Fiction

In case you have not guessed from the title, this episode contains profuse profanity and swearing. Those of delicate sensibilities are encouraged to skip this one and join us again next week.

This week the Dragons explore the wonderful and bizarre world of profanity and how it is incorporated into Speculative Fiction in a number of creative ways. From the origins of swear words in common parlance to the attitudes towards swearing and why it both works and doesn't, the Dragons manage an astonishingly broad vocabulary in a number of languages. On the slab this week - Watership Down, Tamora Pearce's Beka Cooper series, The Gentleman Bastard trilogy and Firefly, to name but a few. Part immature giggle and part serious discussion on profanity and the way words change over time, this episode is not to be missed. (Unless the above warning applies to you.)

Title music - Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

Episode 36: Horcruxs and Heartbreak - of Books, Souls and Killing your Darlings

'Books are authors' horcruxs -discuss'

This week the Dragons delve into the the world behind writing and publishing. Looking at how authors put something of themselves into each book, SFF authors M.E. Vaughan and J.A. Ironside examine what makes for a satisfying read - and why consequently negative reviews and critique can be so painful. Moving on from that, they talk about the world of publishing and self-published, and the pros and cons of each. One for writers this week, folks, but still highly accessible to interested readers.

Episode 35: Three Goblins Walk into a Bar - Writing Humour in Speculative Fiction and How to Avoid the Accidental Funny.

This week SFF authors M.E.Vaughan and J.A.Ironside look at what makes a joke funny, particularly when dealing with worlds that due to their speculative nature may have little in common with Mundania (where we all live.) Drwing on their own experiences of jokes that fell flat, jokes that were a surprising success and what makes them laugh, the dragons are set to examine the roots of humour and its wide diversity in Speculative Fiction. Being cultured on the agar plate this week - Terry Goodkind, Mark Lawrence, Red Dwarf, Deadpool and many more. 

Join us for a look at what makes a laugh.