Podcasts about Speculative fiction

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of The Avram Davidson Universe, we listen to Part 1 of Avram Davidson's wonderfully strange and atmospheric novella, “There Beneath the Silky-Tree and Whelmed in Deeper Gulphs Than Me.”Welcome back to the world of Jack Limekiller, where tropical beauty, eccentric characters, rum, folklore, and things best left unexplained have a habit of colliding.Originally published in Other Worlds 2, edited by Roy Torgeson (Zebra, 1980), “There Beneath the Silky-Tree and Whelmed in Deeper Gulphs Than Me” is a 28,600-word novella and was nominated for the Nebula Award.The story is part of Davidson's celebrated Limekiller cycle, later collected in Limekiller!KEYWORDS:Avram Davidson, There Beneath the Silky-Tree and Whelmed in Deeper Gulphs Than Me, Limekiller, Jack Limekiller, Limekiller stories, Avram Davidson Universe, Nebula Award, Nebula Award nominee, fantasy fiction, speculative fiction, supernatural fiction, weird fiction, Caribbean fantasy, literary fantasy, classic science fiction, classic fantasy, Other Worlds 2, Roy Torgeson, audiobook, short story, novella, fantasy audiobook

Len M. Ruth shares his works, Beneath the Dark Water, Spectral Seduction, Star Haven Rising, and Unnatural Desires. He embraces many fiction genres: Dark Noir, Young Adult, Speculative Fiction, and even Supernatural Erotica, all while writing queerness in a way that matters... and we discuss them all! https://lenmruth.com/  https://ruthlesspress.com/  http://www.wrotepodcast.com/len-m-ruth/ 

The Blasters & Blades PodcastBig Heart, Big Adventure: The Power of Middle Grade FictionThe books we read between the ages of 8 and 12 stay with us forever. Middle grade fiction is where readers first discover epic worlds, navigate real-world friendships, and realize they can be the heroes of their own stories. Join our panel of acclaimed nerdy authors and creators as we dive into what makes this age group so magical. We'll discuss the art of capturing authentic young voices, tackling tough topics with hope and humor, and how modern MG literature is inspiring the next generation of lifelong readers. This was a fun interview, so check out this episode.Co-Hosts:JR HandleyJana S BrownWe work for free, so if you wanna throw a few pennies our way there is a linked Buy Me A Coffee site where you can do so. Just mention the podcast in the comments when you donate, and I'll keep the sacred bean water boiling!Support the Show: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/AuthorJRHandleyOur LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/blastersandbladespodcastToday's SponsorThe Steel Trap by R Max Tillsley: https://www.amazon.com/Steele-Trap-Susie-Adventures-Book-ebook/dp/B07STKQYYQ/Follow Graham Bradley on social mediaGraham's Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B00M5HM3FGGraham's Website: https://www.truckermanreads.com/Graham's Twitter: https://x.com/TempusMalleoGraham's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/grahambradleyGraham's Substack: https://truckermanreads.substack.com/Follow Jesse A. Barrett on social mediaJesse's Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0BWSHM6PJJesse's Twitter: https://x.com/Jesse_A_BarrettJesse's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jesse.A.Barrett Jesse's Substack: https://jesseabarrett.substack.com/Follow Melissa McShane on social mediaMelissa's Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Melissa-McShane/author/B00TON8E1Q Melissa's Website: www.melissamcshanewrites.com Melissa's Facebook: www.facebook.com/melissamcshanewrites Follow Robert Tillsley on social mediaRobert's Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Robert-Tillsley/author/B0BTX67KRW Robert's Website: https://tillsley.com Robert's Facebook: https://facebook.com/rmaxtillsley Robert's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rmaxtillsley #scifishenanigans #scifishenaniganspodcast #bbp #blastersandblades #blastersandbladespodcast #podcast #scifipodcast #fantasypodcast #scifi #fantasy #books #rpg #comics #fandom #literature #comedy #veteran #army #armyranger #ranger #scififan #redshirts #scifiworld #sciencefiction #scifidaily #scificoncept #podcastersofinstagram #scificons #podcastlife #podcastsofinstagram #scifibooks #awardwinningscifi #newepisode #podcastersofinstagram #podcastaddict #podcast #scifigeek #scifibook #sfv #scifivisionaries #firesidechat #chat #panel #fireside #religionquestion #coffee #tea #coffeeortea #CoffeeBrandCoffee #JRHandley #NickGarber #MadamStabby #JanaSBrown #JenaRey #OpalKingdomPress #GrahamBradley #JesseABarrett #MelissaMcShane #RobertTillsley #RMaxTillsley #MiddleGradeFiction #Hatchet #GaryPaulsen #HeinleinsJuveniles #CitizenOfTheGalaxy #GreenglassHouse #KateMilford #AreYouMyMother #PDEastman #RiflesForWatie #HaroldKeith #RickRiordan #PercyJackson #DrPepper #DrPepperCreamSoda #Fallout #NukaCola #CocaCola #DietCoke #Coke #EnglishBreakfastTea #CharlottesWeb #EBWhite #HarryPotter #PercyJackson&TheOlympiansSeries #Wonder #RJPalacio #NewberyMedalWinners #CaptainUnderpants #SpaceDemons #GillianRubinstein #DiaryOfAWimpyKidSeries #JeffKinney #CSLewis #MythoMania #Myth-o-Mania #KateMcMullan #RacPress #RaconteurPress #ChooseYourOwnAdventure #GameBooks #AdventureBooks #CYOA #PickAPathBooks #WhyChoose #TwistAPlot #TangledFates #KidsDetectiveBooks #MiddleGrade #MiddleGradeBooks #MGBooks #MGFiction #MiddleGradeAuthor #KidLit #FutureReaders #YoungReaders #SchoolLibrary #TeachersWhoRead #RaiseAReader #AuthorPanel #WritingCommunity #WritingKidLit #ChildrensBooks #BookTok #Bookstagram #MGBookTok #BookRecs #MustReadBooks

This week, Gare, Steph and I share books we wish we could wipe from our brains and reread!Kate's BooksNever Saw Me Coming by Vera KurianThe Ursulina by Brian FreemanBut Won't I Miss Me by Tiffany Tsao Gare's BooksFruit Fly by Josh SilverThe Last Winter of Dani Lansing by P.D. VinerA Density of Souls by Christopher Rice Steph's BooksThe Push by Ashley AudrainMadwoman by Chelsea BiekerNotes on Your Sudden Disappearance by Allison Espach All the Bookwild Links:Check Out the Bookwild SubstackSubscribe to Bookwild on YouTubeGet Bookwild MerchFollow @imbookwild on InstagramCheck Out Author Social Media Packages Follow Co-hosts On Instagram:Gare Billings @gareindeedreadsSteph Lauer @books.in.badgerlandHalley Sutton @halleysutton25Brian Watson @readingwithbrianMacKenzie Green @missusa2mbaErin Ashley @bellametaphor

#1 New York Times bestselling author AVA REID joins BOOKSTORM Podcast to discuss WINTERVEIL, her alternate Cold War future dystopian novel! We dove right in and talked about a world dominated by two primary powers -- but still shaped by a myriad of complicated human desires and goals. There are internal and external forces at play, just as in real life. Have you thought about your superpower? Is it also a weakness? What happens when your talents become a pawn in a much larger game? We discussed strategy and warcraft and human foibles ... join us!You can find more of your favorite bestselling authors at BOOKSTORM Podcast! We're also on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube!

9/14/26, Co-Host Megan Zinn Tom Reney, 42-year host of Jazz a la Mode: his presentation Thursday at GCC Symposium on the Swing Era, race, gender & jazz, and some history we didn't know. Meghana Mysore, author of “Let All Our Ghosts Depart” on our own ghosts and speculative fiction. Her book launch is tomorrow at the Odyssey. Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia: the lock-down at the high school last week, a swatting incident, and the community debate that has ensued—what about phones in schools? How about metal detectors? Avital Norman Nathman, author of “The Perfect Birth Myth: Pushing Back Against a Broken Industry.” The title says it all. Panel discussion with the author and birth workers on Sunday, Sept 27.

CELESTIAL CHILDREN While Alina recovers from the upheaval in Alpheios, her every thought is consumed with worry for all those she holds dear. Particularly for her brother Gordo, who is now missing. To complicate matters further, the powers of her young son, Mandin, are manifesting in unexpected ways. Fearing the worst, Alina searches for her brother only to discover that an advanced species, known as the kronosapiens, emerge with carnage as their agenda. Everyone Alina loves is in danger. The local factions can't agree on a plan of action. And the threat is rising. As the kronosapiens pursue dominance over humans, can Alina find a way to protect those closest to her? Or will the rise of this new species eradicate the entire human colony … including her own family? TOPICS OF CONVERSATION: What Celestial Children is about — the capstone of the Children of Alpheios trilogy. A young mother fights to protect her family in a society where genetic engineering is the norm and a corporation owns reproduction. Dystopian, biopunk, and Diana describes it as Gattaca-like. What we owe our families — the question underneath all three books. Biological family versus found family, and Diana says the answers aren't easy. A planet built to kill you — gamma storms, temperature extremes, a few livable pockets. Diana drew the map by hand, worked out the biomes, then designed a human who could survive there. Two societies, one minority — most people in the city are engineered with traits selected before birth. The Origins refuse all of it and live underground. Diana uses them to look at how a society treats the people it decides don't count. A new species, and a deliberate flip — the kronosapiens can harden their skin, fling rocks with their minds, and put a shock through you. The females hunt. The males feed the young. Two mothers, same instinct — Alina and Kora both have children in danger and go about it very differently. Diana compares them to Ripley and the aliens. The corporation that runs everything — Genodyne brought humans to the planet, its founder was chancellor for most of his life, and it holds a monopoly on medicine, pharmaceuticals, and reproduction. It also poisoned its own customers, and now it's handing out the cure for free. ABOUT THE AUTHOR DIANA FEDORAK is a speculative fiction writer from Las Vegas, Nevada. In a prior life, she retired as a Colonel from the United States Air Force. She enjoys writing complex characters in high-stakes science fiction and fantasy worlds. Diana's debut novel, Children of Alpheios, was released in early 2023 and swept the Firebird Book Awards for Dystopian, Science Fiction, and Speculative Fiction. Her sequel, Origins Progeny, was selected as an Editor's Pick by Booklife's Publisher Weekly. When she's not writing, she spends time in her own universe with her husband, children, and their German Shepard. CONNECT WITH DIANA FEDORAK! Website: www.dianafedorak.com   Facebook: dianafedorakauthor Instagram @diana_fedorak_author

Gobbo, Emmy, Chac, and Drew continue their dive into the many layers, parts, and details that go into Worldbuilding and a Worldbuiling Bible. Follow along as they talk over the genres of Speculative Fiction, some of the questions asked when you start worldbuilding, and finally, as they use Under the Hive of Madness's work document on Crafting Worlds to start down the path of forging the Carcosan Sector's newest Knight World. Under the Hive of Madness is a Warhammer Lore Podcast diving into the Horror and Grimdark elements of the settings, so expect some adult themes, adult language, and more than a handful of Khorney Jokes!"Night World? Like it's always Dark? Did someone forget to order new lightbulbs?"Email the show! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠UndertheHiveofMadness@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join us today on Discord! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Under the Hive of Madness⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MERCH!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Become a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patron⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Find our cast through ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkTree⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Underthehiveofmadness.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Host Meg Wolitzer presents three works of speculative fiction curated by best-selling author N.K. Jemisin. In John Scalzi's “When the Yogurt Took Over” a popular breakfast staple decides it's good for everyone. The reader in Jin Ha. Chatbots and A.I. can be helpful—but sometimes too helpful--as we hear in Alexandra Chang's “Me and My Algo,” read by Catherine Cohen. And Jemisin herself reworks a classic by Ursula K. Le Guin in “The Ones Who Stay and Fight,” read by Teagle F. Bougere. Some of Jemisin's on stage comments are included in this show Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week, I talk with Keith Giles, David Agranoff, Brian Evenson, Gordon Bonnet, and Andrew Turck about Pink Beam Press, a new speculative-fiction imprint inspired by Philip K. Dick and the strange, reality-bending possibilities of science fiction. Listen to hear about: The origins of Pink Beam Press and how Philip K. Dick's legendary “pink beam” experience helped inspire its identity and mission. Why speculative fiction is such a powerful way to explore reality, consciousness, identity, technology, privacy, and other big philosophical questions. How the authors behind Pink Beam's novellas transform wildly different concepts—from digital replicas and mind reading to cyberpunk technology and artificial realities—into deeply human stories. Why writing shorter doesn't necessarily mean easier, and how the novella forces writers to crystallize their ideas while still leaving room for complex characters and themes. How research, personal experiences, literary influences, and unexpected discoveries during the writing process shape stories—and why sometimes the best fiction teaches the writer something, too. All the Bookwild Links:Check Out the Bookwild SubstackSubscribe to Bookwild on YouTubeGet Bookwild MerchFollow @imbookwild on InstagramCheck Out Author Social Media Packages Follow Co-hosts On Instagram:Gare Billings @gareindeedreadsSteph Lauer @books.in.badgerlandHalley Sutton @halleysutton25Brian Watson @readingwithbrianMacKenzie Green @missusa2mbaErin Ashley @bellametaphor

Anyone beside Tolkien invited?

It's time for the flood! The most baffling YA "Fantasy" "Speculative Fiction" trilogy is finally over.Help us buy more bitumen: https://www.youtube.com/@sbu_englishclub/membershipDeclare your hatred of petroleum-based lacquers: https://ko-fi.com/stbalasar

Margaret continues her interview with author and activist Cory Doctorow about the role of fiction in making a better worldSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson & Greta Kelly as they delve into a writing masterclass on Parenting in Speculative Fiction with author Laura E. Weymouth. During the episode, Laura lays down the law of the (fictional) house, discussing being a parent AND a professional writer, the stereotypes of SFF parents, good and bad parental role models, writing believable parent characters, how parenthood can be intertwined with plot, teaching children empathy/morality through SFF stories, portraying community and partnership on the page, toxic vs. healthy relationships, the challenges of portraying motherhood in fiction, using spec fic to envision new ways of parenting, parental nostalgia and more.NOTE: This is part two of a two-part chat with Laura. Click ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to check out part one.OUR SPONSOR:TRANSFERENCE by Ian Patterson is a sci-fi dystopia that dissects what it means to be human in a city where diseases can be transferred.Purchase it ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ in eBook + paperback.SHOUTOUT TO THE 'SFF ADDICT' PATRONS:Thank you Ian Patterson, David Hopkins, Luke F. Shepherd, Christopher R. DuBois and Luke A. Winch for supporting us on Patreon at $10+.SUPPORT THE SHOW:- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠- Rate and review SFF Addicts- Share us with your friendsEMAIL US WITH YOUR QUESTIONS & COMMENTS:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠sffaddictspod@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ABOUT OUR GUEST:Laura E. Weymouth is the author of The Light Between Worlds, A Treason of Thorns, A Rush of Wings and more. Her latest novel is The Castle & the Cloister, which you can purchase ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠.Find Laura on ⁠Instagram⁠, ⁠Amazon⁠ and ⁠her website⁠.ABOUT OUR HOSTS:Adrian M. Gibson is the author of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mushroom Blues⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠A Murder Most Fungal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. M.J. Kuhn is the author of⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Among Thieves⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, Thick as Thieves and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Killswitch Protocol⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Greta Kelly is the author of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Queen of Days⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, The Frozen Crown, The Seventh Queen and the upcoming ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Throwaways⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.FOLLOW SFF ADDICTS:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Linktree⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MUSIC:Intro: "⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Into The Grid⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠" by MellauSFXOutro: “⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Galactic Synthwave⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠” by DivionAD ATTRIBUTION:Music: "⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Corporate Advertising Music⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠" by SigmaMusicArt / "⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Synthetic Deception⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠" by GioeleFazzeri

Margaret interviews the author and activist Cory Doctorow about the role of fiction in making a better worldSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

MICHAEL POLIWODA: Navigating Pressures of Modern Life,Author, ‘The Performed Man,' ‘Savior Machine,' AI Stuff; LIVE from Canada#realconversations #financialresponsibility #AI #masculinity#selfworth #resilience CONVERSATIONS WITH CALVIN — WE THESPECIESHosted by Calvin SchwartzMeet MIKEPOLIWODA. “I've been doing this podcast gig for 6 years. This basically neverhappens. Mike and I logged onto Zoom, and we kept talking. And talking. Nointerview yet. Commonality, synchronicity, journey, author, Casablanca, AI. Wedidn't want to stop. He's an award-winning author. Multi-genres. Literaryfiction. Speculative Fiction. Poetry. Haiku. Non-Fiction (The Performed Man,his latest). He's comfortable with every genre. Mike is passionate, eloquent,simply brilliant, dedicated, and magnetic. The Performed Man. Financialpressure isn't about a bank account. It affects how you see yourself. I neverasked for directions (before GPS). Emotional weight of responsibility. Quietpressures. Never fit in. Me too. (part of our commonality). Mike is deeplyhuman. Modern masculinity. Personal Growth. Time erodes. Take a step back.People whom you love will support you. Vulnerability. Then there's Mike's book‘Savior Machine.' One of the most unique timely subjects. An AI president? Mikejumped into this. I kept visualizing a movie script. Simply brilliant. Andthere's HAL. More brilliance. This is my writing style. Throwing ideas andwords. You need to see Mike. And Mike needs to come back as well.” Calvin

Matt Hill is a Philip K. Dick nominated author, having published 6 books over the last 13 years. 'Lamb', 'The Breach', 'Zero Bomb', 'Graft' and 'Folded Man', have all be acclaimed for their prose, innovation and invention... he descibes them as 'getting a little weird'. He's also published novels as MT Hill. Matt's new novel is 'Wrecks'. It tells the story of mechanic Jim Sorrel, who is dismissed by his rally team for his part in a life-changing crash. When he is offered a second chance, he discovers his punishment has only just begun.It's inspired by Matt's childhood spent in a motor-racing loving family, and we discuss how he's used that for a speculative, noirish thriller. You can hear how he keeps the pace of a car-focused book going across the novel, why he's very open to learning things, and what he's done with a new dedicated writing space.We chat about the challenge of sticking the landing, his big editing change, and why his method and routine has changed over the last few years.Get a copy of the book - uk.bookshop.org/shop/writersroutineSign up to the newsletter - writersroutine.substack.comSupport the show - patreon.com/writersroutineko-fi.com/writersroutine@writerspodwritersroutine.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson & Greta Kelly as they chat with author Laura E. Weymouth about her new novel The Castle & the Cloister, cultural identity and rootedness, the intersection of politics/religion/war, incorporating themes of religion and competing faiths into fantasy, kinghood and tyranny, shifting trends and surviving in publishing, writing YA vs. adult fantasy, lyrical prose that isn't overindulgent, unreliable narrators and more.NOTE: This is part one of a two-part chat with Laura. Stayed tuned next week for her writing masterclass on Parenting in Speculative Fiction.OUR SPONSOR:Go Back by Emily Wagner is a dystopian novel that explores the role of technology in our lives, and the ways in which governments can control it.Purchase it ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ in hardcover, paperback and eBook.SHOUTOUT TO THE 'SFF ADDICT' PATRONS:Thank you Ian Patterson, Emily Marie Wagner, David Hopkins, Luke F. Shepherd, Christopher R. DuBois and Luke A. Winch for supporting us on Patreon at $10+.SUPPORT THE SHOW:- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠- Rate and review SFF Addicts- Share us with your friendsEMAIL US WITH YOUR QUESTIONS & COMMENTS:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠sffaddictspod@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ABOUT OUR GUEST:Laura E. Weymouth is the author of The Light Between Worlds, A Treason of Thorns, A Rush of Wings and more. Her latest novel is The Castle & the Cloister, which you can purchase ⁠⁠here⁠⁠.Find Laura on Instagram, Amazon and her website.ABOUT OUR HOSTS:Adrian M. Gibson is the author of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mushroom Blues⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠A Murder Most Fungal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. M.J. Kuhn is the author of⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Among Thieves⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, Thick as Thieves and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Killswitch Protocol⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Greta Kelly is the author of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Queen of Days⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, The Frozen Crown, The Seventh Queen and the upcoming ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Throwaways⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.FOLLOW SFF ADDICTS:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Linktree⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MUSIC:Intro: "⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Into The Grid⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠" by MellauSFXOutro: “⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Galactic Synthwave⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠” by DivionAD ATTRIBUTION:- Music: "⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Catching the Killer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠" by JoelFazhari- Video made using licensed materials from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://envato.com/

What if the impossible is the best way to tell the truth?Speculative fiction isn't really about dragons, spaceships, magic or dystopias.At its heart, it's about asking one deceptively simple question:What if…?In this episode of Master Fiction Writing, Stuart Wakefield explores why writers have always imagined impossible worlds—and why the best speculative fiction reveals emotional truths that realism sometimes cannot.Rather than taking a tour through the different subgenres, this episode looks at speculative fiction through the lens of story craft. You'll discover why memorable speculative novels begin with human questions rather than clever ideas, how worldbuilding should grow naturally from theme, and why character, consequence and moral pressure matter far more than lore.Using examples from classics and contemporary works including Frankenstein, The Left Hand of Darkness, Never Let Me Go, The Lord of the Rings, Arrival, The Road and many others, Stuart explores what separates speculative fiction that merely entertains from speculative fiction that stays with readers long after the final page.Whether you're writing fantasy, science fiction, horror, alternate history, magical realism or something that refuses to fit neatly into a genre, this episode will help you create stories that are emotionally truthful, structurally compelling and impossible to forget.Why the real power of speculative fiction lies in the Worldshift—the one impossible change that reshapes everything else.How to develop stronger “What if?” premises.Why worldbuilding should be a consequence of theme, not the starting point.How to build speculative worlds that naturally generate conflict.Why readers remember characters and consequences, not encyclopaedic lore.Common mistakes speculative writers make—and how to avoid them.Practical exercises you can apply to your own novel immediately.Download the free Writer's Notebook that accompanies this episode:https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zrvW4E3kAb3xVmJEitvEgiGLetwhV2fC/view?usp=sharingFor more writing resources, articles and coaching, visit:https://www.thebookcoach.coIf you enjoyed this episode, please consider following Master Fiction Writing and leaving a rating or review. It helps more writers discover the show and become part of our growing community of serious storytellers.Less stress. More story.

In this week's episode, we sort of turn the tables on Jonathan to discuss the art of assembling anthologies, and in particular no fewer than four books he has coming out over the next few months: Revolution in the Heart: Stories Inspired by Ursula K. Le Guin, The Book of the Dead, Vaster Than Empires:, Speculative Fiction of the Eternal and the Ephemeral , and The Locus Best Science Fiction & Fantasy of the Year: Volume 1. Not surprisingly, there is a story behind each of these. One honors one of our greatest writers, another continues a popular series that began with The Book of Dragons and The Book of Witches, a third comes from MIT Press, and the fourth includes stories voted on by jurors at Locus magazine. Along the way we both get to mention some of our favorite writers, along with new discoveries and other surprises—in other words, why anthologies are almost always fun to read. Order links: Revolution in the Heart, Titan Books, September The Book of  the Dead, Harper Voyager, October 2026 Vaster than Empires, MIT Press, November 2026 The Locus Best Science Fiction & Fantasy of the Year: Volume 1, Locus Press, November 2026

The Blasters & Blades PodcastFrom the mild-mannered reporter hiding superpowers to the runaway royalty passing as a commoner, speculative fiction is obsessed with secret selves. But why are we so captivated by characters who wear a mask? In this panel discussion, our guests unmask the “Hidden Identity” trope across sci-fi, fantasy, and superhero fiction. We'll explore the deep psychological toll of leading a double life, the delicious tension of near-miss discoveries, and the ultimate, high-stakes fallout when the truth finally comes to light. Join us as we look at how hiding who you are can protect the world—or burn it entirely to the ground. This was a fun interview, so check out this episode. Co-Hosts: JR Handley (Author) (Grunt)Jana S Brown (Author) (Chief Shenanigator)We work for free, so if you wanna throw a few pennies our way there is a linked Buy Me A Coffee site where you can do so. Just mention the podcast in the comments when you donate, and I'll keep the sacred bean water boiling!Support the Show: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/AuthorJRHandleyOur LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/blastersandbladespodcastToday's SponsorTell Me A Secret by Chloe Garner: https://a.co/d/0crjpofkFollow Bill McUisdean (Wylder396) on social mediaBill's Website: https://zorne.substack.com/ Bill's Substack: https://substack.com/@wylder396 Bill's Twitter: https://x.com/Wylder396 Follow Chloe Garner on social mediaChloe's Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Chloe-Garner/e/B00MD4GGLS/ Chloe's Website: https://blenderfiction.wordpress.com/ Chloe's Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/435117423514398 Chloe's Bookstore: https://blenderfiction.wordpress.com/verida-signed-copies/ Chloe's LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/ChloeGarner Follow Jana S Brown on social mediaJana's Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Jana-S.-Brown/author/B015VJV7JW Jana's Website: www.opalkingdompress.com Jana's Facebook: www.facebook.com/janasbrownwrites Jana's LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/opalkingdompress Follow Jena Rey on social mediaJena's Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Jena-Rey/author/B08XSCHXYXFollow Jarret Keene on social mediaJarret's Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Jarret-Keene/author/B001JOTUPW Jarret's Website: https://www.jarretkeene.net/ Jarret's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJarretKeene/ Jarret's Publisher: https://darkwolfbooks.com/ Follow Keith Hedger on social mediaKeith's Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Keith-Hedger/e/B01N2V9383/ Keith's Website: https://www.keithhedger.com/ Keith's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KeithHedgerAuthor/ Keith's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@keithhedger6504/featured Follow JR Handley on social mediaJR's Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/J.-R.-Handley/author/B01N0SEX3A JR's Website: https://jrhandley.com/ JR's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sgt.jr.handley JR's Substack: https://jrhandley.substack.com/ The Ghost Cadet by Elaine Marie Alphin: https://a.co/d/06dhfgQk #scifishenanigans #scifishenaniganspodcast #bbp #blastersandblades #blastersandbladespodcast #podcast #scifipodcast #fantasypodcast #scifi #fantasy #books #rpg #comics #fandom #literature #comedy #veteran #army #armyranger #ranger #scififan #redshirts #scifiworld #sciencefiction #scifidaily #scificoncept #podcastersofinstagram #scificons #podcastlife #podcastsofinstagram #scifibooks #awardwinningscifi #newepisode #podcastersofinstagram #podcastaddict #podcast #scifigeek #scifibook #sfv #scifivisionaries #firesidechat #chat #panel #fireside #religionquestion #coffee #tea #coffeeortea #CoffeeBrandCoffee #JRHandley #NickGarber #MadamStabby #JanaSBrown #JenaRey #OpalKingdomPress #BillMcUisdean #ChloeGarner #MadamChloe #JarretKeene #DrJarretKeene #KeithHedger #HiddenIdenityInSpeculativeFiction #GhostCadet #Dollhouse #Ultraman #Kaiju #Shadow #TheShadow #QuantumLeap #BodySnatcher #SamuelBeckett #RIPD #Kit #KnightRider #Dune #FrankHerbert #PaulAtreides #Fremen #Muad'Dib

What happens when Earth itself becomes the greatest mystery of all?This week on Murder, Mystery, and Mayhem Laced with Morality, Dr. Katherine Hutchinson-Hayes sits down with Colin Brush, author of the gripping science fiction thriller EXO. Combining the intricate intrigue of a spy novel with breathtaking speculative fiction, EXO introduces readers to a future where humanity has abandoned Earth—and where the planet's oceans have transformed into a mysterious, sentient force known as the Caul.Together, Katherine and Colin explore:The inspiration behind EXO and its unforgettable world-building.How mystery, science fiction, and suspense intersect to tell deeply human stories.The challenges of creating morally complex characters and impossible choices.Colin's remarkable publishing journey—from writing jacket copy for more than 5,000 books to publishing his own debut novel.Why curiosity, imagination, and hope remain at the heart of great storytelling.Whether you're a fan of science fiction, thrillers, mysteries, or stories that ask profound questions about humanity's future, this is an episode you won't want to miss.

The Blasters & Blades PodcastBefore there was science fiction, there was mythology: tales of cosmic battles, fickle deities, and the divine laws governing humanity. But how do modern writers breathe new life into ancient faiths without reducing them to mere aesthetic backdrops? Join our panel of authors and worldbuilders as we explore the intersection of ancient theology and speculative fiction. From resurrecting forgotten pantheons in urban fantasy to projecting ancient rituals onto distant, spacefaring civilizations, we'll discuss how to handle sacred texts with respect, the line between cultural appreciation and appropriation, and why humanity remains eternally fascinated by the divine. This was a fun interview, so check it out! We work for free, so if you wanna throw a few pennies our way there is a linked Buy Me A Coffee site where you can do so. Just mention the podcast in the comments when you donate!Support the Show: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/AuthorJRHandleyOur LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/blastersandbladespodcastToday's SponsorThe Blasters & Blades Podcast: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/AuthorJRHandleyFollow Claire Merrick on social mediaClaire's Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0GWSJGS49Claire's Website: https://clairemerrickwrites.com/Claire's Substack: https://urbantreehouse.substack.com/Follow Bill McUisdean (Wylder396) on social mediaBill's Website: https://zorne.substack.com/Bill's Substack: https://substack.com/@wylder396Bill's Twitter: https://x.com/Wylder396Follow Ronald Lloyd on social mediaRonald's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lloyd.r.mcmillanRonald's Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100076911424966Ronald's TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@Ronmcmillan44#scifishenanigans #scifishenaniganspodcast #bbp #blastersandblades #blastersandbladespodcast #podcast #scifipodcast #fantasypodcast #scifi #fantasy #books #rpg #comics #fandom #literature #comedy #veteran #army #armyranger #ranger #scififan #redshirts #scifiworld #sciencefiction #scifidaily #scificoncept #podcastersofinstagram #scificons #podcastlife #podcastsofinstagram #scifibooks #awardwinningscifi #newepisode #podcastersofinstagram #podcastaddict #podcast #scifigeek #scifibook #sfv #scifivisionaries #firesidechat #chat #panel #fireside #religionquestion #coffee #tea #coffeeortea #CoffeeBrandCoffee #JRHandley #NickGarber #MadamStabby #JanaSBrown #JenaRey #OpalKingdomPress #AncientReligions #SpeculativeFicion #BillMcUisdean #RonaldLloyd #MythPunk #MythologyRetelling #AncientHistory #ComparativeReligion #FolkloreAndMyth #SpeculativeFiction #SpecFic #FantasyWorldbuilding #SciFiFantasy #UrbanFantasy #EpicFantasy #Worldbuilding #WritingCommunity #AuthorPanel #WritingTips #FictionalWorlds #BookTok #Bookstagram #FantasyReads #MythologyBooks #Bookish #Mythology #RickRiordan #WaterBoy #TheWaterBoy #Cider #Christian #Zeus #Jupiter #Hera #Juno #Poseidon #Neptune #Hades #Pluto #Athena #Minerva #Ares #Mars #Hecate #Trivia #Apollo #Phoebus #Artemis #Diana #Hermes #Mercury #Dionysus #Bacchus #Hephaestus #Vulcan #Aphrodite #Venus #Demeter #Ceres #HadesAndPersephone #Hecate #NorseGods #Norse #Odin #Allfather #Thor #Loki #Freya #Freyja #Hel #NorseMythology #AztecGods #Quetzalcoatl #Tezcatlipoca #jaguar #godofsorcery #Huitzilopochtli #Mictlantecuhtli #AztecMythology #SumerianGods #MesopotamianGods #Gilgamesh #Ishtar #Inanna #Enki #Enlil #SumerianMythology #MesopotamianMythology #EgyptianGods #Anubis #Egyptian #Osiris #Isis #Set #Seth #Thoth #Sekhmet #EgyptianMythology #ComparativeMythology #AncientPantheons #MesopotamianPantheon #Sumerian #Akkadian #Assyrian #Ishtar #Akkadian #Babylonian #Sumerian #Ishtar #Inanna #Pantheon #Mesopotamian #Babylonian #Ishtar #Inanna #Gilgamesh #EpicOfGilgamesh #Ereshkigal #Enki #Marduk #Babylon #Pazuzu #MesopotamianMythology #BabylonianMythology #SumerianMythology #AncientNearEast #CradleOfCivilization #Inanna

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, Virgil and Bob discuss Help! I Am Dr. Morris Goldpepper with their friend: Tim from Secret Fire Books: https://www.youtube.com/@UCtLngnnEdSAufXIgUbcd5FQ Originally published in Galaxy Science Fiction (July 1957). If you'd like a refresher before listening, check out our story reading and discussion with Alan Dean Foster: https://youtu.be/iKnMUFo-Ch0 One of Avram Davidson's funniest science fiction stories begins with a seemingly impossible message hidden inside a denture. What follows is a wild tale of alien infiltration, interplanetary kidnapping, dental ethics, and an unlikely hero: Dr. Morris Goldpepper, D.D.S. Join us as we discuss Davidson's pitch-perfect satire, his affectionate portrayal of professional organizations, the unforgettable voice of Dr. Goldpepper, and the story's hilarious blend of bureaucracy, science fiction, and dental prosthetics. Along the way, we explore why this oddball classic remains one of the most entertaining and charming stories in Davidson's remarkable body of work. Featuring discussions of alien immigration schemes, blue-mouthed extraterrestrials, teleportation, dentures as secret messages, and perhaps the most important contribution dentistry has ever made to the defense of Earth. Keywords: Avram Davidson, Help I Am Dr Morris Goldpepper, Morris Goldpepper, Galaxy Science Fiction, Science Fiction, Classic Sci-Fi, Humorous Science Fiction, Comic Science Fiction, Satire, Speculative Fiction, Vintage Sci-Fi, Book Discussion, Literary Podcast, Science Fiction Podcast, BookTube, Dentistry in Science Fiction, Alien Invasion, Teleportation, Galaxy Magazine, Golden Age Science Fiction, Retro Sci-Fi, Weird Fiction, Science Fiction Humor, Alan Dean Foster, Secret Fire Books, Avram Davidson Universe  

Send us Fan MailAuthor, pirate, and return guest Liz Shipton stops by to talk about engaging in real-world issues through speculative fiction with a focus on humor and female rage, and how those aspects impacted the overall message of her story.▬Check out Liz's fantastical adventures on her website:https://lizshipton.com/Grab a copy of her books here:https://shop.lizshipton.com/Follow Liz's stories further on her socials:https://www.facebook.com/lizshiptonauthorhttps://www.instagram.com/lizshiptonauthor

In this episode, I chat with Zac Cannon about his new speculative thriller Stillwater Trace! Listen to hear about: How a "dad action movie" premise transformed into a layered thriller exploring faith, power, surveillance, and belonging—and why Zac let the story evolve far beyond his original concept. The real-world inspirations behind Stillwater Trace, from corporate master-planned communities and culture wars to religious deconstruction, and how current events shaped the novel without making it feel tied to one moment in time. The craft of writing cinematic suspense, including how Zac's screenwriting background influences his novels, why he physically acts out action scenes, and how character—not spectacle—ultimately drives the story. Check Out Author Social Media PackagesCheck out the Bookwild Community on PatreonCheck Out My Stories Are My Religion SubstackGet Bookwild MerchFollow @imbookwild on InstagramOther Co-hosts On Instagram:Gare Billings @gareindeedreadsSteph Lauer @books.in.badgerlandHalley Sutton @halleysutton25Brian Watson @readingwithbrianMacKenzie Green @missusa2mba

Science · Jacob and Lucas | Space Exploration & Speculative Fiction

The Blasters & Blades PodcastFrom the soaring epics of modern fantasy to the distant, alien ruins of far-future sci-fi, creators have always looked backward to build worlds moving forward. But how do you successfully translate the majesty, mythos, and complexity of ancient human civilizations into speculative worlds? In this panel discussion, our guests explore how real-world history—from Mesopotamian city-states to Mesoamerican astronomy—inspires the politics, magic systems, and technologies of our favorite fictional universes. Join us as we discuss the fine line between creative inspiration and lazy stereotypes, and how the deep past continues to shape the future of storytelling. This was a fun interview, so go check it out. Lend us your eyes and ears, you won't be sorry!! Co-Hosts:JR Handley (Author) (Grunt)Jana S Brown (Author) (Chief Shenanigator)We work for free, so if you wanna throw a few pennies our way there is a linked Buy Me A Coffee site where you can do so. Just mention the podcast in the comments when you donate, and I'll keep the sacred bean water boiling!Support the Show: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/AuthorJRHandleyOur LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/blastersandbladespodcast Today's SponsorFreedom's Vow: Shepherd Trilogy by B.K. Gibson: https://a.co/d/08HYjYaq Follow B.K. Gibson on social mediaGibson's Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/bkgibsonwriter Gibson's Website: https://www.bkgibson.com/ Gibson's Twitter: https://x.com/bkgibsonwrites Gibson's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61589323534470 Gibson's Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@DirtbaggeryBookReviews/streams Coldlight Press: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/publisher/11446/Coldlight-PressFollow Jacob Sharp on social mediaJacob's Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Jacob-Sharp/author/B0F3WHJXBW Jacob's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jacob.sharp.writes/ Follow Jana S Brown on social mediaJana's Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Jana-S.-Brown/author/B015VJV7JW Jana's Website: www.opalkingdompress.com Jana's Facebook: www.facebook.com/janasbrownwrites Jana's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/janasbrownwrites/ Jana's LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/opalkingdompress Follow Jena Rey on social mediaJena's Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Jena-Rey/author/B08XSCHXYXFollow Jesse James Fain on social mediaJesse's Amazon: http://amazon.com/author/jessejamesfain Jesse's Website: https://outlawauthor.com/ Jesse's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/JesseJamesFain Jesse's Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/user/OutlawAuthor/ Jesse's Substack: https://jessejamesfain.substack.com/ Follow Melissa McShane on social mediaMelissa's Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Melissa-McShane/author/B00TON8E1Q Melissa's Website: www.melissamcshanewrites.com Melissa's Twitter: www.twitter.com/melissamcshanewrites Melissa's Facebook: www.facebook.com/melissamcshanewrites Melissa's Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/mcshaneminions Melissa's Discord: https://discord.gg/wKXUe89Kh7 Melissa's Store: http://www.nightharborpress.com/ Dan Davis History Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@DanDavisHistory/videos #scifishenanigans #scifishenaniganspodcast #bbp #blastersandblades #blastersandbladespodcast #podcast #scifipodcast #fantasypodcast #scifi #fantasy #books #rpg #comics #fandom #literature #comedy #veteran #army #armyranger #ranger #scififan #redshirts #scifiworld #sciencefiction #scifidaily #scificoncept #podcastersofinstagram #scificons #podcastlife #podcastsofinstagram #scifibooks #awardwinningscifi #newepisode #podcastersofinstagram #podcastaddict #podcast #scifigeek #scifibook #sfv #scifivisionaries #firesidechat #chat #panel #fireside #religionquestion #coffee #tea #coffeeortea #CoffeeBrandCoffee #JRHandley #NickGarber #MadamStabby #JanaSBrown #JenaRey #OpalKingdomPress #AncientCultures #BKGibson #JacobSharp #JesseJamesFain #OutlawAuthor #MelissaMcShane

Chapter 734 - "It's Not Who I Was" ...as read by Nick Vicario of Smirk Today we welcome Smirk frontman Nick Vicario to the podcast. The new Smirk record, Speculative Fiction, is out today on Smoking Room Records. Nick talks about getting national coverage at the age of 12, his lifelong pursuit of creating music, moving across the country, wanting to create a more mature Smirks record, and more.https://smirk1.bandcamp.comDiscordPatreonSubstack Email: asthestorygrows@gmail.com Chapter 734 Music: Smirk - "Victimry" Smirk - "Cheap Greed" Smirk - "I Shall Be Released" Smirk - "Crime Pays"

What's the key to choosing comp (comparative) titles that pique an agent's curiosity? Should you use films or tv shows? What about huge bestsellers — would those make good comps, and if so, in which circumstances? In today's episode, Kathleen and I discuss an upmarket speculative thriller and discuss comp title choices, killer opening lines and, you guessed it ... exposition! And if you want to read the query letters and first 10 pages writing samples we discuss in these Hook Your Reader episodes, be sure to subscribe to my mailing list. -V. Submit your query letter and first 10 pages writing sample at storynerd.ca.For access to writing templates and worksheets, and more than 70 hours of training (all for free), subscribe to Valerie's Inner Circle.To learn to read like a writer, visit Melanie's website.To subscribe to Kat's Keynotes (Substack), click here.Watch us on YouTube!

The Blasters & Blades PodcastFrom the hunger-driven districts of Panem to the red-dusted mines of Mars, speculative fiction has always been a fertile breeding ground for rebellion. But what does it actually take to topple an empire on the page? Join our panel of authors and worldbuilders as we dissect the anatomy of fictional revolutions. We'll explore how to build believable oppressive regimes, the logistics of underground resistance movements, and the moral gray areas of fighting for freedom. From sci-fi cyberpunk uprisings to epic fantasy peasant revolts, this discussion will examine how speculative fiction mirrors our real-world struggles for justice—and what happens after the rebels win the throne. This was a fun interview, go check it out. Co-Hosts: JR & NickWe work for free, so if you wanna throw a few pennies our way there is a linked Buy Me A Coffee site where you can do so. Just mention the podcast in the comments when you donate, and I'll keep the sacred bean water boiling!Support Us: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/AuthorJRHandleyLinkTree: https://linktr.ee/blastersandbladespodcastToday's SponsorThe Wounded Warrior Project: https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/Follow James Young on social mediaJames' Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/kindle-dbs/entity/author/B00AVKCQZQJames' Website: https://jamesyoungauthor.comJames' Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ColfaxDenFollow Keith Hedger on social mediaKeith's Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Keith-Hedger/e/B01N2V9383Keith's Website: https://www.keithhedger.com/Keith's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KeithHedgerAuthorFollow Steve Caldwell on social mediaSteve's Website: https://thebookwyrmspeaks.blogspot.com/Follow Matthew Olaranont on social mediaMatt's Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/kilroyhigginsFollow Yet Another Writing Podcast on social mediaYAW Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IlliterateBastards/YAW Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/32U2ClIwLXHI8GgPMZLogW?si=2231197b8f26430d&nd=1YAW Podcast: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/5b7dbed0-1220-424f-b82e-34c57b249e41/yet-another-writing-podcastYAW Podcast: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy9lMWY4N2ZhMC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw#scifishenanigans #scifishenaniganspodcast #bbp #blastersandblades #blastersandbladespodcast #podcast #scifipodcast #fantasypodcast #scifi #fantasy #books #rpg #comics #fandom #literature #comedy #veteran #army #armyranger #ranger #scififan #redshirts #scifiworld #sciencefiction #scifidaily #scificoncept #podcastersofinstagram #scificons #podcastlife #podcastsofinstagram #scifibooks #awardwinningscifi #newepisode #podcastersofinstagram #podcastaddict #podcast #scifigeek #scifibook #sfv #scifivisionaries #firesidechat #chat #panel #fireside #religionquestion #coffee #tea #coffeeortea #CoffeeBrandCoffee #JRHandley #NickGarber #MadamStabby #JanaSBrown #JenaRey #OpalKingdomPress #JamesYoung #WordSlinger #KeithHedger #SteveCaldwell #MatthewOlaranot #RevolutionarySpeculativeFiction #Rebellion #Revolution #Revolutionary #RedRising #PierceBrown #Mistborn #BrandonSanderson #ThePowderMageTrilogy #BrianMcClellan #AncillaryJustice #AnnLeckie #TheFoundationSeries #IsaacAsimov #TheDispossessed #UrsulaKLeGuin #TheExpanseSeries #JamesSACorey #PathToVillainy #SLRowland #SunEater #ChristopherRuocchio #OldMansWar #JohnScalzi #FourWaysToForgiveness #TheRageOfDragons #EvanWinter #AnEmberInTheAshes #SabaaTahir #TheWilloftheMany #JamesIslington #JadeCity #FondaLee #HungerGames #SuzanneCollins #TheBrokenEarthTrilogy #NKJemisin #TheDivergentSeries #VeronicaRoth #Destroyer #MichaelScottEarle #EmpireOfTheVampire #JayKristoff #ACrownForColdSilver #AlexMarshall #WraithKnight #CTPhipps #RevolutionaryFiction #Rebellion #Resistance #ToppleTheEmpire #DystopianFiction #PoliticalSciFi #SpeculativeFiction #SpecFic #SciFiFantasy #Grimdark #Cyberpunk #EpicFantasy #Worldbuilding #WritingCommunity #AuthorPanel #WritingTips #CharacterArc #DystopianBooks #SciFiReads #FantasyBooks

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, Virgil and Bob discuss The House the Blakeneys Built with their friends: Jake from Pulp Mortem: https://www.youtube.com/ @PulpMortemTim from Secret Fire Books: https://www.youtube.com/  ⁨@secretfirebooks7894⁩ Originally published in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction (January 1965).  If you'd like a refresher before listening, check out our story reading and discussion with Emma Speer. https://youtu.be/JuPb6NzR9TM What begins as a tale of lost travelers arriving at a strange settlement soon becomes one of Avram Davidson's most unsettling explorations of tradition, conformity, isolation, and the fear of change. The conversation examines the remarkable language of the Blakeneys, the decaying grandeur of The House, the clash between progress and custom, and the story's haunting conclusion. Is the story a warning about inbreeding and isolation? A critique of resistance to change? Or a meditation on how communities preserve themselves at all costs? Join us as we explore one of Davidson's most memorable and thought-provoking science fiction tales. Keywords: Avram Davidson, The House The Blakeneys Built, Science Fiction, Classic Sci-Fi, Fantasy and Science Fiction, F&SF, Speculative Fiction, Vintage Sci-Fi, Weird Fiction, Literary Science Fiction, Golden Age Science Fiction, Science Fiction Podcast, Book Discussion, BookTube, Short Story Discussion, Gene Wolfe, Jack Vance, Roger Zelazny, Theodore Sturgeon, Cordwainer Smith, Philip K. Dick, Ray Bradbury, Secret Fire Books, Pulp Mortem 

The Blasters & Blades PodcastWhat happens to humanity when we leave civilization behind? This week, our panel ventures out past the safety of the perimeter to explore the concept of the frontier in sci-fi, fantasy, and horror. From the lawless outer rims of distant galaxies to the monster-infested borders of uncharted magical wilderness, we are dissecting why the “edge of the map” remains the ultimate testing ground for the human spirit. Join us as we discuss the grit, the isolation, and the terrifying freedom that can only be found when you cross the line into the untamed unknown. This was a fun interview, so check out this episode. Lend us your eyes and ears, you won't be sorry!! Co-Hosts: JR Handley (Author) (Grunt)Nick Garber (Comic Book Artist) (Super Grunt)Jana S Brown (Author) (Chief Shenanigator)We work for free, so if you wanna throw a few pennies our way there is a linked Buy Me A Coffee site where you can do so. Just mention the podcast in the comments when you donate, and I'll keep the sacred bean water boiling!Support the Show: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/AuthorJRHandley Our LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/blastersandbladespodcast Today's SponsorThe Shamans Bones by Hunter Kay Wallace: https://a.co/d/0bhW88F8 Follow Bill McUisdean (Wylder396) on social mediaBill's Website: https://zorne.substack.com/ Bill's Substack: https://substack.com/@wylder396 Bill's Twitter: https://x.com/Wylder396 Follow Jana S Brown on social mediaJana's Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Jana-S.-Brown/author/B015VJV7JW Jana's Website: www.opalkingdompress.com Jana's Facebook: www.facebook.com/janasbrownwrites Jana's LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/opalkingdompress Follow Jena Rey on social mediaJena's Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Jena-Rey/author/B08XSCHXYX Follow Jesse James Fain on social mediaJesse's Amazon: http://amazon.com/author/jessejamesfain Jesse's Website: https://outlawauthor.com/ Jesse's Twitter: https://x.com/JesseJamesBooks Jesse's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/JesseJamesFain Jesse's Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/user/OutlawAuthor/ Jesse's Substack: https://jessejamesfain.substack.com/Follow JR Handley on social mediaJR's Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/J.-R.-Handley/author/B01N0SEX3A JR's Website: https://jrhandley.com/ JR's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sgt.jr.handley JR's Substack: https://jrhandley.substack.com/ Follow Keith Hedger on social mediaKeith's Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Keith-Hedger/e/B01N2V9383/ Keith's Website: https://www.keithhedger.com/ Keith's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KeithHedgerAuthor/ Keith's Twitter: https://x.com/KHedger30260 Follow Melissa McShane on social mediaMelissa's Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Melissa-McShane/author/B00TON8E1Q Melissa's Website: www.melissamcshanewrites.com Melissa's Facebook: www.facebook.com/melissamcshanewrites Melissa's Discord: https://discord.gg/wKXUe89Kh7 Melissa's Store: http://www.nightharborpress.com/ #scifishenanigans #scifishenaniganspodcast #bbp #blastersandblades #blastersandbladespodcast #podcast #scifipodcast #fantasypodcast #scifi #fantasy #books #rpg #comics #fandom #literature #comedy #veteran #army #armyranger #ranger #scififan #redshirts #scifiworld #sciencefiction #scifidaily #scificoncept #podcastersofinstagram #scificons #podcastlife #podcastsofinstagram #scifibooks #awardwinningscifi #newepisode #podcastersofinstagram #podcastaddict #podcast #scifigeek #scifibook #sfv #scifivisionaries #firesidechat #chat #panel #fireside #religionquestion #coffee #tea #coffeeortea #CoffeeBrandCoffee #JRHandley #NickGarber #MadamStabby #JanaSBrown #JenaRey #OpalKingdomPress #frontier #Frontiers #speculativefictionfrontier #BillMcUisdean #Wylder396 #JesseJamesFain #OutlawAuthor #OutlawAuthorJesseJames #OutlawAuthorJesseJamesFain #KeithHedger #MelissaMcShane #Warmaster #WarMistress #Warhamster #HunterKayWallace #ShamansBones

On July 3rd, Nick Vicario will unveil Speculative Fiction, the third album from his (mostly) solo power-pop project SMIRK. The record features a slight shift in sound toward a more measured, mature approach, but is chock-full of catchiness and memorable moments.Music by:QuicksandSmirkTruck ViolenceIntro music by:Hot ZonePatreon: https://www.patreon.com/GettingitoutpodcastEmail: dan@gettingitout.netWebsite: http://gettingitout.net/Instagram: @getting_it_out_podcastFacebook: www.facebook.com/gettingitoutpodcastX: @GettingItOutPodSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/getting-it-out. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stories featured in this episode:The Waitlist, or Today is a Good Day to Die by Ai Jiang - https://aijiangauthor.wordpress.com/ -music by Oneirothopter -read by Jean-Paul Garnier -The Twain Shall Meet by Brent A. Harris - https://brentaharris.com/ -music by Phog Masheeen - https://phogmasheeen.com/   -read by Jenna Hanchey -theme music by Dain Luscombe -Simultaneous Times science fiction podcast began in March of 2018 and has since produced 100 episodes featuring 196 stories and 10 poems by 108 authors from over 20 countries. In this time, we have produced collaboration episodes with Apex Magazine, Radon Journal, Hexagon, Sci-Fi Lampoon, Shacklebound Books, Worlds of IF, and Utopia SF Magazine. We also produced three paperback anthologies, and one ebook anthology, of stories and authors from the podcast. -During the nine year run of Simultaneous Times we have won the Laureate Award, been a finalist for the Fiyah, BSFA, and British Fantasy Awards, and been long-listed for the Hugo Award three times. As of episode 100 we will no longer be producing episodes on a monthly basis but will rather move to a “when we feel like it” schedule, most likely creating two to four episodes a year. We will be redirecting our efforts (and finances) to publishing more books and our new magazine Electronic Brain. -A huge thank you to all of our authors, composers, narrators, and to our listeners! -Find all of our evergreen episodes at https://spacecowboybooks.bandcamp.com/ -Simultaneous Times is a monthly science fiction podcast produced by Space Cowboy Books in Joshua Tree, CA. https://www.spacecowboybooks.com https://ko-fi.com/spacecowboybooks7054

Sometimes, the truth is weirder and stranger than anything we could make up -- and that's something a worldbuilder can use to their benefit! Guest Gabriella Buba joins us to talk about building real science into our magical worlds -- and the implications that can, in turn, have about a society's relationship with information, education, and the power structures that both derive from and control them. When blending science and magic together, writers can play with a lot of different factors and considerations. Is magic in a given world really about the movement of electrons or the interaction of chemicals, or is it a truly unexplainable force? What do your characters think about the scientific realities of their world? How do they test theories, and do they have a magical R&D department? And what might be the difference between how much the writer needs to know, how much the characters need to know, and how much the reader needs to know? Finding the balance can be tricky, and won't be the same for every project, but getting it right can add invaluable texture to your world. [Transcript for Episode 182] Our Guest: Gabriella Buba is a mixed Filipina-Czech author-illustrator and chemical engineer based in Texas who likes to keep explosive pyrophoric materials safely contained in pressure vessels or between the covers of her books. She writes epic fantasy for bold, bi, brown women who deserve to see their stories centered. Her debut SAINTS OF STORM AND SORROW, a Filipino-inspired epic fantasy, was shortlisted for the 2025 Aldiss Award for World Building in Speculative Fiction. The sequel DAUGHTERS OF FLOOD AND FURY was a top trending Spotify LGBTQ+ Audiobook title. Her work as part of the anthology Witchcraft: Folk Tales & Horror Short Stories edited by Marie O'Regan & Paul Kane was a #1 New Release on Amazon. She has a Gothic Novella set during the Japanese Occupation of Manila coming with Absinthe Books Spring 2027. Alchemist of Bohemia her next novel will be out May 2027 with Titan Books. She has a Filipino Fantasy short stories in the anthologies Strange Religion: Speculative Fiction of Spirituality, Belief, & Practice & Of Stardust: A Queer Fantastical Anthology volume 1 & 2, Short stories placed with the Sci Phi Journal and PodCastle Fiction and essays on Filipino Identity in Prairie Fire Press and With Love: What We Wish We Knew About Being Queer and Filipino in America.

In this episode, I talk with Isabel J. Kim about her debut speculative fiction, Sublimation!   Listen to hear about: How Isabel J. Kim's inspiration for Sublimation came from her own experience growing up between Korea and the United States and wondering how different her life might have been if she had stayed in Korea permanently. Why "instancing" (where you split into two people when you cross a border) worked so well as a speculative framework to explore identity, immigration, belonging, and the ways environment shapes who we become over time. The process of expanding her short story into a novel, which required adding new perspectives and characters to show that different people would experience the phenomenon of instancing in radically different ways. How she chose to approach borders as both physical and social constructs, examining how governments, corporations, immigration systems, and personal choices all influence identity and belonging. Why speculative fiction often isn't really about the future—it uses imagined worlds to examine present-day social, political, and cultural tensions through a different lens. Check Out Author Social Media PackagesCheck out the Bookwild Community on PatreonCheck Out My Stories Are My Religion SubstackGet Bookwild MerchFollow @imbookwild on InstagramOther Co-hosts On Instagram:Gare Billings @gareindeedreadsSteph Lauer @books.in.badgerlandHalley Sutton @halleysutton25Brian Watson @readingwithbrianMacKenzie Green @missusa2mba

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, Virgil and Bob discuss Sacheverell, originally published in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, March 1964.If you want a refresher, you can listen to the story and our conversation with Ryan Sprinkle.https://youtu.be/NzyRt4Z3Zbo?si=5s39FQGpHyx2h5gv Episode Summary: Virgil and Bob dive into one of Avram Davidson's wonderfully strange and darkly funny tales, where appearances, assumptions, and human nature all get turned upside down. Sacheverell mixes absurdity, social commentary, and Davidson's trademark oddness into a story that starts with a mysterious figure in a room and unfolds into something far stranger than expected. Along the way, expect discussion about fear, prejudice, manipulation, who the real "beast" might be, and how Davidson somehow manages to make readers laugh while making them slightly uncomfortable at the same time. Also likely: detours into Davidson himself and appreciation for stories that become weirder the longer you think about them. Hashtags: #Sacheverell #AvramDavidson #FantasyAndScienceFiction #FandSF #WeirdFiction #ClassicFantasy #SpeculativeFiction #BookPodcast #FantasyPodcast #ScienceFiction #LiteraryPodcast #ShortStories #CultFiction #FantasyReaders #BobAndVirgil #RyanSprinkle #VintageFantasy #BookDiscussion #SurrealFiction #LiteraryFantasy

Send us Fan MailSend us Fan MailIn this thought-provoking episode of Living the Dream with Curveball, we are joined by Diana Colleen, an award-winning speculative fiction author whose debut novel, *They Could Be Saviors*, challenges our perspectives on billionaires, psychedelics, and the future of our planet. Diana shares her personal journey, from a dark place of despair to discovering the life-altering potential of psychedelic-assisted therapy. She recounts how this transformative experience inspired her to write a book that not only entertains but also ignites hope for change.Diana delves into the pressing issues of climate change and wealth inequality, arguing that the responsibility for change lies with the world's billionaires, whose actions have a far greater impact than the collective efforts of the masses. She discusses the balance of hope and despair in her writing, aiming to create a narrative that empowers readers to believe in the possibility of a better future.Listeners will gain insights into the unique premise of Diana's novel, which explores the use of psychedelic therapy to awaken billionaires to their role in societal issues. She also addresses common misconceptions about psychedelics, highlighting their potential for both personal healing and cultural transformation.Join us for an enlightening conversation that encourages reflection on privilege, responsibility, and the power of kindness in creating a better world. Diana's journey of writing and self-discovery serves as a reminder that hope can emerge from action, and every individual has the power to contribute to positive change.What You'll Learn in This Episode:- The inspiration behind Diana's debut novel, *They Could Be Saviors*- The role of billionaires in addressing climate change and wealth inequality- How psychedelic therapy can foster connection and empathy- The importance of hope in the face of societal crises- Tips for readers on using fiction as a tool for self-reflection and growthFor more information on Diana Colleen and her work, visit  https://www.dianacolleenauthor.com and check out her Substack for thought-provoking essays and updates on her upcoming projects.Support the show

Sci-fi author, filmmaker, comic creator, and Hip Hop Horror pioneer Jeff Carroll joins The USDN Podcast for a deep conversation about Black speculative fiction, indie comics, Afrofuturism, Hip Hop culture, horror, AI, filmmaking, and the future of storytelling.Inspired by his documentary Why I Love Sci-Fi, Jeff discusses why imagination matters, how science fiction shapes culture, and why indie comics provide creative freedom that Hollywood often cannot.Topics include:Black sci-fi and AfrofuturismIndie comics & creator-owned storytellingHip Hop horrorAI and speculative fictionComic culture & filmmakingDef Comedy Jam and entertainment historyWhy science fiction mattersThis episode explores creator-owned comics, Black sci-fi, speculative storytelling, comic culture, and the future of independent creativity.If you love indie comics, science fiction, horror, Afrofuturism, worldbuilding, creator interviews, or speculative fiction — this episode is for you.

Send us Fan MailIn today's episode, I'm joined by Michelle Maryk to discuss her debut novel, The Found Object Society—an atmospheric speculative suspense story that blends grief, curiosity, addiction, and the supernatural into a wholly original reading experience.Michelle shares her journey back to fiction after careers in acting, comedy, and voice work, and how those experiences helped shape her confidence and voice as a writer. We talk about her lifelong love of horror and speculative fiction, the emotional themes underneath the story, and the kind of reading experience she hopes to create for readers. This conversation explores storytelling, creativity, grief, and learning to trust yourself on the page—all while diving into a novel built around a mysterious society where members can relive the final moments of someone else's life.Episode Highlights:How Michelle's background in improv, acting, and comedy shaped her writing voiceWhy speculative fiction and horror have always felt like home to her as a storytellerWhat she hopes readers take away from The Found Object SocietyConnect with Michelle:InstagramFacebookWebsiteSome links are affiliate links, which are no extra cost to you but do help to support the show.Books and authors mentioned in the episode:Margaret Atwood booksMidnight in the Bright Ideas Bookstore by Matthew SullivanMidnight at Soap Lake by Matthew SullivanLou Berney booksMegan Abbott booksOn Writing by Stephen KingTime and Again by Jack FinneyKing of Ashes by S.A. CrosbyThe Doorman by Chris PavoneBook FlightThe Paradox Hotel by Rob HartThe Dream Hotel by Laila LalamiGood Neighbors by Sarah Langan✨ Find Your Next Great Read! We just hit 175 episodes of Bookish Flights, and to celebrate, I created the Bookish Flights Roadmap — a guide to all 175 podcast episodes, sorted by genre to help you find your next great read faster.Explore it here → www.bookishflights.com/read/roadmapSupport the showBe sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening!InstagramFacebookWebsite

Stories featured in this episode:The Fun They Hadn't by James Machell - https://jamesmachell.com/ -music by TSG - https://tsgmusic.bandcamp.com/ -    read by Jean-Paul Garnier -Ephemera by Tonya R. Moore - https://tonyarmoore.com/ -music by Phog Masheeen - https://phogmasheeen.com/ -   read by Jenna Hanchey -theme music by Dain Luscombe -Simultaneous Times is a monthly science fiction podcast produced by Space Cowboy Books in Joshua Tree, CA. -https://www.spacecowboybooks.com -https://ko-fi.com/spacecowboybooks7054

In this episode Mark interviews Canadian writer Colleen Anderson about writing horror and speculative fiction and poetry as well as non-fiction articles. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episode, a personal update, and a word from this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by Author Nation, being held in Las Vegas Nov 13 through 14, 2026 Learn more about Author Nation and register at AuthorNation.live. In the interview, Mark and Colleen talk about: How they've known each other mostly online Colleen's editing of the Tesseracts Seventeen anthology which Mark had a story in The Canadian horror anthology that Mark and Colleen Anderson are going to be which is coming in December 2026 Colleen's forthcoming poetry collection (TO THE LAST ION) and the poetry collection she published last year How Colleen uses such things as an instance of alien abduction and body horror in one of her poems to illustrate societal observations about things like the way we do body modifications or live within a world of stereotypes The prevalence of body horror lately and how it's often about a loss of control A look at universal monsters in a recent article Colleen wrote A definition of what body horror is, and a discussion of the Bram Stoker Award winning novel Queen of Teeth The days of paper manuscript submissions and the logistics involved in that The open mic workshop that takes place at places like StokerCon for speculative and horror poetry How Colleen decides what format an idea is going to take Putting in her "poet brain" instead of her "fiction writer brain" in some instances The methods Colleen uses to find markets to submit her writing to and how some of them work Finding and applying for various grants for writers/artists/creatives Advice Colleen would offer to writers wanting to submit their writing to various markets Colleen's first experience doing a live reading Some of the conferences Colleen is going to be attending in the next little while Where people can find Colleen online After the interview Mark reflects on the value of writing and submitting short pieces and the potential earning. He also talks about CanCon and the way different music/sounds can stir up emotions and deep memories and even things like Canadian pride. Links of Interest: Colleen Anderson's Website/Blog Nov 2, 2025 Episode of The Creative Penn Podcast (Creating While Caring with Donn King) Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link - use MARK10 to save 10%) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel ElevenLabs (AI Voice Generation - Affiliate link) Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building Once Bitten (Novella) The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation I Think It's A Sign That The Pun Also Rises   Colleen Anderson has been widely published across eight countries, with works appearing in publications such as Weird Tales, Cemetery Dance, Amazing, and Shadow Atlas. Rhysling Award winner for "Machine (r)Evolution" and a two-time winner of the SFPA's dwarf poetry contest, she has been nominated for Pushcart, Elgin, Rhysling, and Dwarf Stars Awards. She is a Canada Council, BC Arts Council and Ladies of Horror Fiction grant recipient. Her poetry collections include The Lore of Inscrutable Dreams, I Dreamed a World, Weird Worlds, and Vellum Leaves and Lettered Skins as well as two fiction collections A Body of Work and Embers Amongst the Fallen. Colleen freelances as an editor, and has served on the SFPA executive, as well as British Fantasy Award and Stoker juries. She lives in Vancouver, BC where she searches for mermaids.   The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

“Fiction is a wonderful arena for dealing with some really complex topics and some difficult issues in a safe space.” - Alex KingsleyIn the latest How To Write the Future podcast episode titled, “Alex Kingsley: Writing Speculative Futures,” host Beth Barany chats with Alex Kingsley, a science fiction writer, playwright, game designer, and more exciting roles that inform their fiction writing.Together they talk about AI cognition, the importance of human intelligence in creating for the future, how speculative fiction can help readers cope with complex issues, and why compassion matters in sci-fi.ABOUT ALEX KINGSLEYAlex Kingsley (they/them) is a writer, comedian, game designer, and playwright. They are a co-founder of the new media company Strong Branch Productions. They are the author of Empress of Dust, Relic of Haven and The Strange Garden and Other Weird Tales, as well as short fiction appearing in Translunar Travelers Lounge, Radon Journal, Sci-Fi Lampoon, and more. Alex's sci-fi plays have been produced in LA, Philadelphia, and Chicago. Alex's SFF-related non-fiction has appeared in Interstellar Flight Magazine and Ancillary Review of Books. Their games can be downloaded pay-what-you-will at alexyquest.itch.io. Alex is currently a graduate student studying speculative fiction at the University of Illinois, Chicago.Website: http://alexkingsley.orgInstagram https://www.instagram.com/hitchhikersguidetothealexyLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-kingsley-56342a139/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@alexyquestBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/alexyquest.bsky.socialNewsletter: Newsletter: https://alexkingsley.substack.comSHOW PRODUCTION BY Beth BaranySHOW CO-PRODUCTION + NOTES by Kerry-Ann McDadeEDITORIAL SUPPORT by Iman Llompartc. 2026 BETH BARANYQuestions? Comments? Send us a text!Support the show---♦︎ JOIN THE MEMBERSHIP: For fiction writers! You've finished your first draft! Congrats! Now what?Join the Edit the Future: Sci‑Fi/Fantasy Revision Lab. Get premium weekly lessons and a monthly Q&A on Zoom. Subscribe: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2012061/subscribe♥︎ FREE: Sign up here for the Edit Your Novel ChecklistHelps writers revise faster with less overwhelm by focusing first on diagnosis, not fixing. Get yours at http://edityournovelchecklist.com.♡ SHOP: Sci‑Fi & Fantasy 24 Writing Prompts: https://ko-fi.com/s/4ac9160a74❤️ Want to be interviewed on the podcast? => Email us!CONNECT WITH BETHvia emailvia LinkedInCREDITSEDITED WITH DESCRIPT (Affiliate link)MUSIC: Uppbeat.ioDISTRIBUTED BY BUZZSPROUT: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1994465

Dani Vee and Karen Comer chat about her new YA verse novel Once Upon Tomorrow. They chat about the complexity of writing three separate storylines across one hundred years, speculative fiction and the impact of AI on the human experience. Dani and Karen also explore feminism, the experience of women across the ages and how AI has been used to weaponise women. They also chat about the importance of verse novels and the writing process.

Shark Heart by Emily Habeck is a surreal love story about newlyweds Wren and Lewis, whose marriage is upended when Lewis is diagnosed with a rare condition that will slowly transform him into a great white shark. As they confront grief, change, and the limits of love, the novel uses magical realism to explore what it means to stay connected when life becomes unrecognizable.A nonprofit leader by day, Ashley spends her free time volunteering; chasing down Richmond's best hikes and restaurants with her friends, family, and pup; and adventuring across the globe. A recovering English major, she'll take any excuse to turn a good read into a great conversation.Ashley is the Executive Director of Communities in Schools Chesterfield, and on May 12th they are having their first ever Adult Spelling Bee Fundraiser! You should definitely come to raise some money for a great cause, also - I will be one of their “Celebrity Spellers” so come witness me failing horribly at spelling! Spelling bee tickets: https://cisofchesterfield.networkforgood.com/events/96878-cis-c-adult-spelling-bee-extravaganzaSearn more about CIS: www.cisofchesterfield.org Our drink this week is the Metamorphosis Cocktail, which I absolutely loved - it literally changes colors! Metamorphosis Cocktail Ingredients 2 oz gin1 oz butterfly pea tea (cooled)¾ oz fresh lemon juice½ oz Simple SyrupIceOptional flair:Edible glitter Black sugar or salt rimLemon twist or edible flowerDirections:Brew butterfly pea tea by steeping 1–2 tsp dried flowers in ½ cup hot water for 5–7 minutes; strain and cool.Fill a glass with ice and add 2 oz gin + 1 oz cooled butterfly pea tea.Slowly pour in ¾ oz fresh lemon juice and watch the color change from blue to purple.Stir in ½ oz simple syrup to taste, then garnish if desired.In This EpisodeShadowlands Film Quote (I could not remember who to attribute this to while we were recording)Speculative Fiction

This week on the KPL podcast we have author Joan F. Smith and we discuss, Your Soulmail is Attached. A speculative fiction novel about how the world would change after every adult is told the name of their soulmate.  Marriages break apart in some cases and in other situations relationships are stronger. Dating, social media, and even religion are changed. Listen to learn more.Author readsThis Story Might Save Your Life by Tiffany Crum

Stories featured in this episode:Wired Hearts by Eric Fomley - https://ericfomleyblog.wordpress.com/ -music by Phog Masheeen - https://phogmasheeen.com/ -    read by Jenna Hanchey -The Drive by Marie Vibbert - https://www.marievibbert.com/ -music by TSG - https://tsgmusic.bandcamp.com/  -read by Jean-Paul Garnier -theme music by Dain Luscombe -Simultaneous Times is a monthly science fiction podcast produced by Space Cowboy Books in Joshua Tree, CA. -https://www.spacecowboybooks.com -https://ko-fi.com/spacecowboybooks7054

In this episode, I talk with Justin C. Key about his speculative novel The Hospital at the End of the World.  Justin shares how his medical training and fascination with AI, consciousness, and ethics informed the novel's evolution from a short story into a full-length work. We dive into the tension between technological advancement and human connection, particularly in medicine, emphasizing the irreplaceable value of empathy and lived experience. Justin also discusses worldbuilding choices, balancing speculative ideas with grounded realism, and both the promise and risks of AI in healthcare and learning. Listen to hear about: How Justin's writing journey evolved naturally from a deep love of reading into a disciplined, intuitive creative practice   How his “pantser” approach prioritizes discovery, with structure and outlines often emerging during the editing phase   How The Hospital at the End of the World began as a short story and expanded over years alongside his medical education   The way the novel explores AI in healthcare, balancing its powerful analytical potential with the risks of over-reliance and loss of human judgment   How the novel explores the irreplaceable role of human connection, arguing that empathy and presence are just as critical as data in medicine Follow Justin C. Key here and grab a copy of The Hospital at the End of the World here Check Out Author Social Media PackagesCheck out the Bookwild Community on PatreonCheck Out My Stories Are My Religion SubstackGet Bookwild MerchFollow @imbookwild on InstagramOther Co-hosts On Instagram:Gare Billings @gareindeedreadsSteph Lauer @books.in.badgerlandHalley Sutton @halleysutton25Brian Watson @readingwithbrianMacKenzie Green @missusa2mba

Lorraine Wilson writes speculative fiction, which she says is "writing in between folklore and the wilderness." Show notes: Lorraine Wilson We Are All Ghosts In The Forest The Salt Oracle Christopher Caldwell: Call and Response Learn more about Scrivener, and check out the ebook Take Control of Scrivener. If you like the podcast, please follow it on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app. Leave a rating or review, and tell your friends. And check out past episodes of Write Now with Scrivener.