The Worldbuilder’s Tavern

Welcome, worldbuilders! Here's what our podcast is all about and what you can expect for Season One. Cheers!

Find Us Elsewhere:

It's a sad episode, but we're going in-depth into what it was like starting a small publisher, what we learned, what we failed at, and where we're going from here (plus an interview with fantasy author Shelly Campbell).

Searching for the answer to a mystery? Need a rare, magic spell? Is what you know about history not adding up? Well, then you obviously need to make a trip to the library full of secrets, for it holds the answers to life, the universe, and everything. But be careful, because the library is usually dangerous, potentially an inescapable labyrinth or guarded by magical beings that only let the one who is worthy read its books.

Episode Hosts: Kyle, Emma, Christiana.

Produced by Mythos & Ink.

The development of self-aware computers will have a huge impact on the world. Whether the A.I. goes haywire, decides to wipe out the human race, or becomes the super smart pilot of your crew’s spaceship, society will look different with artificial intelligence in play. Let’s take a look at how some stories have masterfully applied this trope.

Hosts: Kyle, Allison, Christana

Produced by: Mythos & Ink

Eons ago, people faced a terrible evil and were unable to defeat it. But they locked it away so it would never bother the earth again! Er… did we say “never”? We meant, of course, that the bars of its prison will weaken in a thousand years and it will be set free to ravage the world once more. But that’s future humanity’s problem. This trope lends a certain panache to your villain… they are legendary. They are powerful. They are feared (and probably immortal). Who wants to go up against that?

Episode Hosts: Kyle, Allison, Christiana.

Produced by Mythos & Ink.

Today's Trope: The Plants Have Risen Up Against Us. There’s something sinister about your surroundings trying to kill you—especially when those surroundings include giant, human-eating plants, trees that try to smother you with their roots, or other dangerous flora. Guns, swords, and sometimes even fire aren’t effective against shrewd shrubbery.

Episode Hosts: Emma, Kyle, Christiana.

Produced by Mythos & Ink.

Today's Trope: The Government is out to get us. Want your character to face off against impossible odds? Pit them against a corrupt, evil empire who’s hiding something important from the people or taking advantage of them in some way! This trope usually involves oppression of the masses, and a hierarchy of a few people who benefit from the system while many others suffer.

Produced by Mythos & Ink.

Today’s Trope: Clones are Humans, Too. Are clones expendable, since they’re just copies? Do they have souls? Are they evil doppelgangers who need to be destroyed? Not in this trope! In these stories, clones become characters in their own right, with individual personalities and everything. 

Stories Covered: Star Wars: The Bad Batch, Moon, The Prestige.

Episode Hosts: Emma, Allison, Christiana.

Produced by Mythos & Ink.

Hosts Kyle and Christiana take some time to talk to Allison Alexander and Shelly Campbell about their upcoming work (published by Mythos & Ink) called Making Myths and Magic. It's a field guide of sorts for all of us (fantasy and sci-fi writers especially) to help us with the creation of our worlds and get us set in the right direction for our writing journey. 

Produced by Mythos & Ink.

Today’s Trope: Forbidden Power. While the power might not be evil in and of itself, it often twists the user in terrible ways. Whether it takes a toll on the mage’s mind or body, summons spirits that are difficult to control, or requires human sacrifice, the cost is usually high. And that’s why this magic is often feared, forbidden, and/or outlawed.

Stories Covered: Star Wars, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Full Metal Alchemist.

Episode Hosts: Emma, Allison, Christiana.

Produced by Mythos & Ink.

Announcement Music: “Coffee Beats” by Aaron Parsons (used with permission).