We’re so excited to launch our Babetreon - and we’re taking the first episode out from behind the paywall! We're discussing the 2006 Ghibli film Tales from Earthsea in all its messy glory.

Join for $3/mo to get an extra episode every month. We’ll be covering a broader range of materials than we typically do on the main feed - reviews of film and TV adaptations of our favorite books, fantasy picture books, inspirations for our favorite authors' works, voting on our next episodes, and much more!

These exclusive episodes will also be a little freer form and they'll delve into Dragon Babies After Dark territory (some good ol' cussin'). Plus, you'll get your very own Pretend Food enamel pin when you sign up (just look at how beautiful they are).

Subscribe at https://www.patreon.com/dragonbabies

*Please note that this episode is explicit.

MUSIC - Pippin the Hunchback and Thatched Villagers by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) - Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Enchanted poet-donkeys assemble: we’re covering The Arkadians, by Lloyd Alexander! You’ll love this meta retelling of various Greek mythologies and epics as told through the adventures of Lucien, Joy-in-the-Dance, Fronto, and the approximately 500 other goofy characters they encounter along the way. As the self-proclaimed Emo Fantasy crowd, we love Lloyd Alexander very much and it was a delight to reread his Greek Romp Experiment. Plus: if you’re a fan of the 1994 CD-ROM game Wrath of the Gods, then boy do we have a treat for you. Join us!

EPISODE MEDIA

The Arkadians on the Lloyd Alexander Wiki

The best computer game of all time, Wrath of the Gods

MUSIC - Pippin the Hunchback and Thatched Villagers by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) - Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

In which gods become dogs and get stuck in their bods! We’re discussing Dogsbody, by Diana Wynne Jones in all its celestial, dog-brained glory. Sirius the dog star is punished for a mysterious murder by being trapped in an earthly pup form - and his only way back to his galaxy is to find the enigmatic Zoi that he threw down to Earth. Leave it to DWJ to make this conceit at turns heartbreaking, hilarious and ultimately bittersweet. Madeleine maintains that for those similarly traumatized by The Tigger Movie, this is a tough read. Grace is too consumed by big dumb dog thoughts to ponder anything other than dumpster leftovers and the lure of the Wild Hunt. Join us!

This episode was a listener request - thank you, quemmegalaxy! If you’d like to make a request, leave a comment or email us at [email protected].

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Mondragon Books in Lewisburg, PA

The Green Ribbon

As would-be dragon riders and adolescents during the early 00’s, we’re perfectly positioned to discuss Eragon, by Christopher Paolini. This one has haunted us since we started the podcast - we knew it was inevitable and yet we procrastinated until our 101st episode. We break down our conflicted feelings about this teen-penned dragon epic and own up to our own teenage jealousies of both the protagonist and the author himself. Is it a good idea for a child to have a book published by a major house? Is Saphira too subservient to her puny human friend? Is it cool to openly lust after an unconscious woman? Our answers won’t surprise you, but we think you’ll get a kick out of listening anyway!

Note - the audio is a bit crummy on this one due to issues with a non-standard setup, definitely still listenable but not at our usual quality.

Shoutout to listener Bailey’s long-ago request for an Eragon hate podcast!

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Dragon - Focal Point of Movie box office rankings

To celebrate our 100th (!) full-length episode, we’re re-covering the book that began it all: Sabriel, by Garth Nix! In between some very involved gushing about Tim Curry’s audiobook performance, we consider the YA fantasy and book podcasting lessons we’ve learned along the way. This is a goofy one because we’re just so delighted to be here - thanks to you all for your support over these last 6 years!

There are a few minor audio issues in the first half of the episode where Grace’s audio is briefly lower quality, sorry about that!

MUSIC - Pippin the Hunchback and Thatched Villagers by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) - Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

HONK. We read The Goose Girl, by Shannon Hale! This retelling of the Grimm fairy tale takes us through the forest, into the goose pen and behind the throne room (best place to eavesdrop on villainous monologuing). We break down protagonist Ani’s haunting search for self, attempt to chat with geese on our own, and process beloved horse loss. Ready to knock your enemies’ hats off by harnessing the wind? Join us!

This episode was a listener request - thank you, Isabel, Lexie, and Gyuri! If you have a book you’d like to request, leave a comment or email us at [email protected].

EPISODE MEDIA

The Goose Girl by The Brothers Grimm

MUSIC

MUSIC - Pippin the Hunchback and Thatched Villagers by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) - Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

We unearth a veritable pharaoh’s tomb of nostalgia as we discuss The Egypt Game, by Zilpha Keatley Snyder! Join us in considering why this is a fantasy book, ways this may have inspired the creation of Dungeons and Dragons, half-remembered childhood yard games, Stranger Danger, Klutz Press, and creating your own serotonin through magical rituals. This is a looser episode than most because we fully immersed ourselves in our book-related memories, but we think it’s one you’ll enjoy. ZKS crew unite!

MUSIC - Pippin the Hunchback and Thatched Villagers by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) - Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

We met up with our 3 mysterious magical boyfriends and dove into The Changeling Sea, by Patricia A. McKillip! We discuss McKillip’s glorious prose, the connection between the ocean and Peri’s coming of age, and how annoying it would be to prepare a dinner of oysters after a day of hard labor. Whether ye be a cursed sea dragon or a mischievous magic man, there’s something to appreciate - join us!

Thanks so much to Isabel for the recommendation. Let us know your favorite Patricia McKillip book, we came to her work far too late and want to explore deeper!

MUSIC - Pippin the Hunchback and Thatched Villagers by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) - Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Part 2 of an ongoing investigation. Many thanks to Drew and Abigail at Macmillan Audio for their wonderful insights! All covers mentioned are up on our website.

Episode Transcript

MUSIC - Late Night Radio by Kevin MacLeod

https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/7613-late-night-radio

License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

We’re thrilled to return to the Enchanted Forest with Searching for Dragons, by Patricia C. Wrede! We break down Morwen’s appeal, the kinship between cats and dragons, Mendenbar and Cimorene’s blossoming romance, and Grace’s childhood ripoff of Wrede’s body of work. Plus: awkward pandemic greetings, local ginger beer recommendations, and our expert opinion on where to find the best fudge in America. Hop on your broken teddy bear-adorned magic carpet and join us!

MUSIC - Pippin the Hunchback and Thatched Villagers by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) - Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/