With a snap of our fingers and an abracadabra, we summon this podcast to appear, as if by a system of magic. That’s right, it’s time to talk about magic systems, something your story has the moment you decide to include supernatural elements. Not all […]

      

Sometimes, characters die. In some stories, characters die a lot. But is this good for the story? Does it add gravitas and realism, or is it just a cheap way to ruin everyone’s day? We discussed this topic way back in the day, but we’ve changed and learned since then, so it’s time to revisit […]

Sometimes, characters die. In some stories, characters die a lot. But is this good for the story? Does it add gravitas and realism, or is it just a cheap way to ruin everyone’s day? We discussed this topic way back in the day, but we’ve […]

      

Long-running story tropes become long-running for a reason, but what if more was possible? What if we could reach outside the familiar and tell different kinds of stories? Not only would we get to experience something cool and different, but we might even make stories more welcoming to folks who normally get left out. That’s […]

Long-running story tropes become long-running for a reason, but what if more was possible? What if we could reach outside the familiar and tell different kinds of stories? Not only would we get to experience something cool and different, but we might even make stories […]

      

This week we’re sipping delicious tea and listening to beautiful poetry, all while trying to prevent our homeworlds from being devoured by an ever-expanding empire. That’s right, in our final Hugo episode (for now), we’re talking about A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine. It’s […]

      

This week we’re sipping delicious tea and listening to beautiful poetry, all while trying to prevent our homeworlds from being devoured by an ever-expanding empire. That’s right, in our final Hugo episode (for now), we’re talking about A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine. It’s got everything: spaceships, politics, romance, action, transhumanism, and of course, […]

Today’s Hugo nominee is a spooky tale of haunted castles and grotesque monsters. Or, wait, is it a comedic romp full of genre savvy jokes and spicy double entendres? Turns out it’s both, because this episode is all about Gideon the Ninth. That means sword fights, skeletons, dirty magazines, and more quips per minute than […]

Today’s Hugo nominee is a spooky tale of haunted castles and grotesque monsters. Or, wait, is it a comedic romp full of genre savvy jokes and spicy double entendres? Turns out it’s both, because this episode is all about Gideon the Ninth. That means sword […]

      

Join us through the improbable download link to the impossible podcast, because on this episode of our Hugo series, we’re talking about Seanan McGuire’s Middlegame. It’s a novel of alchemy, family ties, and gruesome murder. Sounds like fun, right? You’ll have to listen and find out. Plus, as a bonus, we promise that you’ll end […]