Speculate

Welcome to Episode 130 of Speculate! The Podcast for Writers, Readers and Fans.  In this episode we tackle China Mieville‘s The City and the City with Tor.com‘s commissioning editor and Rocket Talk‘s co-host Justin Landon, looking at what makes the 2010 Hugo winner such a compelling read.  We consider the role of space, spaces, and the ways we intentionally and unintentionally breach them, the nature of political agency and intention, and what makes a speculative fiction work truly speculative…and what The City and the City does in all of these areas.  If you like what you hear, make sure to support our Patreon so you can get access to our writing technique show next week, when we’ll discuss some of the specific ways Mieville produces the effects he does in his novel.  Thanks for supporting us here and via our Patreon page, and thanks as always for listening to and spreading the word about the show!

Welcome to Episode 129 of Speculate! The Podcast for Writers, Readers and Fans.  This episode, starring Tor.com‘s commissioning editor and Rocket Talk‘s co-host Justin Landon, was originally intended to be a discussion of China Mieville‘s The City and the City, but we felt we had to weigh in on the recent Hugo controversy first; that discussion ended up lasting about a half hour, so we decided to split it out and tackle it separately here.  During our conversation we touch on the problems with the Hugos (and why they’re not just confined to Sad or Rabid Puppies), offer some possible suggestions, and explain why this is (or should be) such a big deal to the everyday fan of science fiction and fantasy.  If you like what you hear, don’t forget to check out our duology on The City and the City, which (we promise!) will begin next week.  Thanks for supporting us here and via our Patreon page, and thanks as always for listening to and spreading the word about the show!

Welcome to Episode 129 of Speculate! The Podcast for Writers, Readers and Fans.  This episode, starring Tor.com‘s commissioning editor and Rocket Talk‘s co-host Justin Landon, was originally intended to be a discussion of China Mieville‘s The City and the City, but we felt we had to weigh in on the recent Hugo controversy first; that discussion ended up lasting about a half hour, so we decided to split it out and tackle it separately here.  During our conversation we touch on the problems with the Hugos (and why they’re not just confined to Sad or Rabid Puppies), offer some possible suggestions, and explain why this is (or should be) such a big deal to the everyday fan of science fiction and fantasy.  If you like what you hear, don’t forget to check out our duology on The City and the City, which (we promise!) will begin next week.  Thanks for supporting us here and via our Patreon page, and thanks as always for listening to and spreading the word about the show!

Welcome to Episode 128 of Speculate! The Podcast for Writers, Readers and Fans.  In this episode, we talk about speculative fiction poetry with authors Nancy Hightower and Bryan Thao Worra as we consider the unique appeal of poetry, how so much of speculative fiction poetry touches on the dark, grotesque and macabre, and what’s changed (and is still changing) in the field.  This was a really fascinating discussion on a topic we’ve been wanting to talk about for a while, and we hope you enjoy it as much as we did.  If you like what you hear, don’t forget to check out our next episode, the first in a duology on China Mieville‘s The City and the City, guest-starring Tor.com‘s Justin Landon.  Thanks for supporting us here and via our Patreon page, and thanks as always for listening to and spreading the word about the show!

Welcome to Episode 128 of Speculate! The Podcast for Writers, Readers and Fans.  In this episode, we talk about speculative fiction poetry with authors Nancy Hightower and Bryan Thao Worra as we consider the unique appeal of poetry, how so much of speculative fiction poetry touches on the dark, grotesque and macabre, and what’s changed (and is still changing) in the field.  This was a really fascinating discussion on a topic we’ve been wanting to talk about for a while, and we hope you enjoy it as much as we did.  If you like what you hear, don’t forget to check out our next episode, the first in a duology on China Mieville‘s The City and the City, guest-starring Tor.com‘s Justin Landon.  Thanks for supporting us here and via our Patreon page, and thanks as always for listening to and spreading the word about the show!

Welcome to Episode 127 of Speculate! The Podcast for Writers, Readers and Fans. In this episode, we talk fantasy, military, and writing business with authors (and former Speculate guests) Brian McClellan and Myke Cole as we look at writing trilogies, what a civilian author does or doesn’t “owe” to a military person when writing fantasy with a military slant, and what engages and excites Brian and Myke (and what doesn’t) about the business–and why they’re so excited about their new books, The Autumn Republic and Gemini Cell, respectively. If you like what you hear, don’t forget to check out our next episode, when we’ll take a look at speculative fiction poetry–and of course there are plenty of other shows to come.   As a reminder, our Good, Bad and Ugly segments (including the one from Brian and Myke here!) are only available to our Patreon supporters, so please head over there to hear more about our guests and their work.  Thanks to everyone who’s helped out so far, and thanks as always for listening to and spreading the word about the show!

Additional Note:  Nominations for the 2015 Hugo Awards are now open (for one final day!), and Speculate is eligible to be nominated in the Best Fancast category.  If you’re a voting member of either last year’s, this year’s or next year’s Worldcon, you’re eligible to make Hugo nominations, and we’d be honored (and grateful) if you would nominate us for Best Fancast.  Please go here for more details, spread the word, and thanks so much as always for your support!

Welcome to Episode 127 of Speculate! The Podcast for Writers, Readers and Fans. In this episode, we talk fantasy, military, and writing business with authors (and former Speculate guests) Brian McClellan and Myke Cole as we look at writing trilogies, what a civilian author does or doesn’t “owe” to a military person when writing fantasy with a military slant, and what engages and excites Brian and Myke (and what doesn’t) about the business–and why they’re so excited about their new books, The Autumn Republic and Gemini Cell, respectively. If you like what you hear, don’t forget to check out our next episode, when we’ll take a look at speculative fiction poetry–and of course there are plenty of other shows to come.   As a reminder, our Good, Bad and Ugly segments (including the one from Brian and Myke here!) are only available to our Patreon supporters, so please head over there to hear more about our guests and their work.  Thanks to everyone who’s helped out so far, and thanks as always for listening to and spreading the word about the show!

Additional Note:  Nominations for the 2015 Hugo Awards are now open (for one final day!), and Speculate is eligible to be nominated in the Best Fancast category.  If you’re a voting member of either last year’s, this year’s or next year’s Worldcon, you’re eligible to make Hugo nominations, and we’d be honored (and grateful) if you would nominate us for Best Fancast.  Please go here for more details, spread the word, and thanks so much as always for your support!

Welcome to Episode 125 of Speculate! The Podcast for Writers, Readers and Fans.  In this episode we continue our triptych of shows on the work of Kameron Hurley, focusing on her novel The Mirror Empire.  During the course of our conversation Kameron talks about her process of worldbuilding, why persistence in writing is so important, and how she’s been able to balance her time so she can write consistently, maintain a social media presence and even have a life outside of her work…and remain sane while doing all of it!  This was a fun and extensive interview, and we hope you enjoy it as much as we did.  If you like what you hear, don’t forget to check back next week for our final show of the triptych as we look at some of the writing techniques used in the novel.  And as a reminder, both our writing technique shows and the Good, Bad and Ugly segments are only available to our Patreon supporters, so please head over there to hear more about Kameron and her work.  Thanks to everyone who’s helped out so far, and thanks as always for listening to and spreading the word about the show!

Additional Note:  Nominations for the 2015 Hugo Awards are now open, and Speculate is eligible to be nominated in the Best Fancast category.  If you’re a voting member of either last year’s, this year’s or next year’s Worldcon, you’re eligible to make Hugo nominations, and we’d be honored (and grateful) if you would nominate us for Best Fancast.  Please go here for more details, spread the word, and thanks so much as always for your support!

Welcome to Episode 125 of Speculate! The Podcast for Writers, Readers and Fans.  In this episode we continue our triptych of shows on the work of Kameron Hurley, focusing on her novel The Mirror Empire.  During the course of our conversation Kameron talks about her process of worldbuilding, why persistence in writing is so important, and how she’s been able to balance her time so she can write consistently, maintain a social media presence and even have a life outside of her work…and remain sane while doing all of it!  This was a fun and extensive interview, and we hope you enjoy it as much as we did.  If you like what you hear, don’t forget to check back next week for our final show of the triptych as we look at some of the writing techniques used in the novel.  And as a reminder, both our writing technique shows and the Good, Bad and Ugly segments are only available to our Patreon supporters, so please head over there to hear more about Kameron and her work.  Thanks to everyone who’s helped out so far, and thanks as always for listening to and spreading the word about the show!

Additional Note:  Nominations for the 2015 Hugo Awards are now open, and Speculate is eligible to be nominated in the Best Fancast category.  If you’re a voting member of either last year’s, this year’s or next year’s Worldcon, you’re eligible to make Hugo nominations, and we’d be honored (and grateful) if you would nominate us for Best Fancast.  Please go here for more details, spread the word, and thanks so much as always for your support!

Welcome to Episode 124 of Speculate! The Podcast for Writers, Readers and Fans.  In this episode we begin a new triptych of shows on the work of Kameron Hurley, focusing on the first novel from the Worldbreaker Saga, The Mirror Empire.  We had a chance to see this book in an earlier form when we were all at Wellspring Workshop a couple of years ago, and we were pretty impressed by it then–and as we discuss during this show, Kameron’s trademark worldbuilding excellence is in full display here, along with her willingness to challenge established tropes in a way that is both brave and in service to the story rather than forced and shoehorned into the narrative.  (We’re also big fans of political intrigue, interesting characters and insect/plant magic–all of which The Mirror Empire has in spades.)  If you enjoy the discussion, don’t forget to check back next week when we’ll talk to the author herself about the book and her process of seeing it safely through to publication with Angry Robot Books.  And if you haven’t already, please check out our Patreon (now over $110 a month) and consider becoming a patron–doing so will both get you extra content every month with the Good, Bad and Ugly segments and the writing technique shows, and will also help get us to levels where we can provide even more awesome content.  Thanks again to everyone who’s helped out so far, and thanks as always for listening to and spreading the word about the show!

During the show, we mentioned the Indie Fantasy Bundle that Brad’s critically acclaimed epic fantasy novel, The Winds of Khalakovo, is a part of. Please head over to Story Bundle for more information on the books and how to buy!

Additional Note: Nominations for the 2015 Hugo Awards are now open, and Speculate is eligible to be nominated in the Best Fancast category.  If you’re a voting member of either last year’s, this year’s or next year’s Worldcon, you’re eligible to make Hugo nominations, and we’d be honored (and grateful) if you would nominate us for Best Fancast.  Please go here for more details, spread the word, and thanks so much as always for your support!