Is This Just Fantasy?

The most ineffable episode yet. The team take their first look at one of their favourite fantasy novelists: Sir Terry Pratchett, and give their impression on his collaboration with Neil Gaimen. They have a laugh at the fantastic humour, and unpack Terry's breakdown of good and evil cosmology. And chalk it on the score board, it's the first mention of death of the author on the podcast, as Geordie talks about queer readings of fantasy novels, and when readers interpret in defiance of the text.

Please reach out to us with your questions, suggestions and hate mail at [email protected]

After... uh-hum... absolutely nothing happened with the last recording... Duncan takes us into our first moray into the Moorcockiverse. Does Elric of Melniboné live up to Geordie's expectations? Will he be able to talk about anything but Dungeons and Dragons? Will Duncan be able to explain the reading order? But more importantly, can he figure out how to pronounce the name of the book?

It seems Duncan couldn't resist. Unable to cope with the wait, he chose to select the sequel to the last book: Laini Taylor's 'The Muse of Nightmares.' In the conclusion to the duology, Geordie and Duncan discuss how it compares to the first, the romance, and Geordie won't shut up about set-up and pay-off.

With his first chosen book of the podcast, Geordie brings us on a journey into mystery and romance with Laini Taylor's 'Strange the Dreamer.' Find out if, like Geordie, this is your favourite fantasy novel of all time, and see whether Duncan agrees with him.

Content warning: Strange the Dreamer is a novel about trauma, and whilst the novel handles the topic with great delicacy, listeners and readers alike should be aware that the novel centers around:

• Rape and sexual abuse

• Memory loss

• Forced captivity

• Children born through sexual violence

The premier episode! Meet Geordie and Duncan on the cusp of their first episode as their journey to 1932 and beyond to an Age Undreamed Of.

If you've never read a Conan story, or whether you're a fellow dog-brother or sword-sister, listen as we discuss Robert E. Howard's classic Conan novella: The Tower of the Elephant.