Is This Just Fantasy?

It's a real monster of an episode! Whilst the fellas make their way through Song of Achilles, they take a break to discuss the dark and perilous side of fantasy: the monsters that must be slain. The topics discussion stray into Geordie being confidently wrong about Chinese mythology, Hogwarts plumbing, and fist fighting H.P. Lovecraft. How is it to say Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn, anyway?

The title of this book doesn't even make sense! It's a good day for John Gwynn, but a bad one for Duncan and Geordie. The boys have found their new low-point in their quest to explore the fantasy genre. Even Duncan, try as he might, can't fully defend this book. They discuss: baffling writing choices, painfully cringey sex scenes, and all the books you should read instead of this one.

The boys blend ancient divine rites with alchemy in Gareth Hanrahan's debut: The Gutter Prayer. Duncan lauds the book's world building, whilst Geordie thinks it's not enough to support a weak story and characters. They discuss the use of tense, Duncan's new mistrust of professors since leaving academics, and Geordie keeps trying to talk about The Expanse and the Count of Monte Cristo instead

The fellas roadtrip across America, meeting a cavalcade of gods in the process. No, it's not Percy Jackson. In this episode Geordie and Duncan debate the pros and cons of Neil Gaiman's fantasy-novel-with-a-lot-of-hyphens. The episode highlights include: Geordie's horror when he realised Duncan didn't like it, Duncan not realising that Jesus appears in the novel, and a gust appearance by Geordie's beautiful dachshund, Tilly.

Whoa! A bonus episode? That's right, Duncan and Geordie can't get enough of podcasting and have released their first bonus episode. In this episode the fellas discuss their early reading years and how they got into the fantasy genre. The discussion goes everywhere, from being read bedtime stories, the time Duncan read all of A Song of Ice and Fire in 19 days, Dragon Ball, and perhaps the most obscure book series that Duncan and Geordie somehow both know.

Neither of the fellas knew this book existed until Duncan unwrapped it at Christmas, so they're surprised to find out how much they love it! In this episode the boys cover Kristen Britain's 1998 ya fantasy adventure debut, Green Rider. They discuss sword fights, the best horses in fantasy, and a shocking revelation makes Geordie laugh harder than he has in years.

To begin their journey into YA literature, the fellas settle in to read Twilight by Stephanie Meyer. They discuss the book's popularity, the blow-back against it, and misogyny in the fantasy landscape. They've a lot to cover in this episode, from discussing the highs and lows of Edward's qualities as a boyfriend, the surprising lack of Jacob, and Geordie's hatred of the word "chuckled."

For the first time in history, the fellas have no idea what the other thought of the book. Its a journey of discovery for all of us. Duncan and Geordie discuss 'Malice' John Gwynne's debut novel - best known as the author of those books with the real big monsters on the front.

In this ep Geordie schools Duncan on Irish mythology and has a good rant about shieldwall logistics, whilst Duncan cannot stop drawing comparisons between the book and just about every part of the fantasy canon.

Duncan and Geordie voyage across the deep seas in their first forray into Ursula K. Le Guin's fantasy continuum: A Wizard of Earthsea. The fellas discuss the power of names in fantasy, from Ra to Rumpelstiltskin to Rothfuss, feminism, Le Guin's revolutionary place in the canon of fantasy, as well as the novel's unique Taoist philosophy. In case that sounds too heavy, Duncan also takes Geordie as his sith apprentice and refuses to let Geordie brag about reading Chinese sci-fi.

It's the boys' most divisive episode yet. Duncan brings Matthew Stover's Star Wars novelisation to the table, triggering Geordie's existential breakdown.

Duncan shares his passion for all things Star Wars, whilst Geordie tries to grapple with the shame of being a Star Wars nerd. Can Duncan get Geordie to admit he loves this book? Will Geordie learn to make peace with the Star Wars prequels? And just how many Star Wars books has Duncan read? The answer can only be found in a galaxy far far away.