Fiction Fans

Your hosts read Saint Death's Herald, the second book in the Saint Death series. They discuss how much they remembered from book 1, and how that affected their experience with book 2. They also talk about the various relationships (from heartwarming to delightfully toxic) and their favorite animal companions (all of them. Every single animal, dead or alive or just less dead). Find us on Disco...

Your hosts are joined by Lilly's cats to discuss Chai and Cat-tales by Lynn Strong. They cover how much they love cats, the unexpected delight of finding recipes in a novel, how much they love cats, inclusive fantasy in a cozy setting, how much they love cats, what makes a romance and finally, how much they love cats. Lilly did cut some of the cat talk, they promise. Find us on Discord / Supp...

Your hosts welcome C.M. Caplan on to the podcast to chat about The Fall Is All There Is, book one in his scifi/fantasy trilogy Four of Mercies. They talk about his world building process, complicated family dynamics, and unsatisfying violence. Find more from Connor: https://bsky.app/profile/cmcaplanwrites.bsky.social Find us on Discord / Support us on Patreon Thanks to the following musicians for...

Your hosts discuss San Francisco, intertwining narratives, and the optimism of seeing a community come together against discrimination in Down In the Sea of Angels by Khan Wong. Content warnings for this episode include discussion of sexual assault and sex trafficking. Find us on Discord / Support us on Patreon Thanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs: - Amarià for the use of “...

Your hosts are joined by Stephen Aryan to discuss The Judas Blossom, the first book in his soon to be completed trilogy. They talk about the balance of historical accuracy in a historical-fantasy novel, his inspiration from 13th century Persia, and improbable tomatoes. Find more from Stephen: https://stephen-aryan.com/ https://bsky.app/profile/stephenaryan.bsky.social https://www.instagram.com/ste...

Your hosts read Artificial Condition, book two in the Murderbot series by Martha Wells. Lilly struggles with pronouns, but they still manage to talk about casting for the upcoming tv show. Find us on Discord / Support us on Patreon Thanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs: - Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris” - Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”...

Your hosts welcome Andrew Cartmel back on to the podcast to chat about Underscore, the latest novel in his cozy crime series The Vinyl Detective. They discuss cinematic inspirations, new characters in established series, and just how hard it is to do bad things to your fictional darlings. Find more from Andrew: https://medwayprideradio.co.uk/show/the-vinyl-detective-show/ https://www.instagram.com...

Your hosts finally get to read House of Odysseus by Claire North, book two in her Songs of Penelope series. It has been a minute since they read book 1 for their interview with North, so there is some reorienting that needed to be done. They also talk about their nostalgia for Greek Mythology, the new narrator for this book, and the different kinds of power that can be exerted from behind the scen...

Your hosts discuss Murder on the Orient Express, a reread chosen for them by their Patreon supporters as part of the quarterly “Patron’s Choice” selection. They debate whether or not it’s mean to describe a fictional character as “ugly”, talk about racism in the 1930s and in Christie’s work, and chat about the experience of knowing the ending because you’re rereading vs having the ending spoiled f...

Your hosts discuss how fun it is to see mundane space station jobs in Space Brooms! by A.G. Rodriguez. They talk about the main character’s toxic work environment, and his eventual entanglement in a thrilling space adventure. They also consider the book's mix of humor with unexpectedly graphic violence while enjoying Johnny's relationships (platonic and less platonic), and the intriguing...

Your hosts are joined by Hannah and Laura from OWWR Pod to discuss Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine, part of their Nostalgia Book Club series. They talk about how much less weird it would be if the characters were a little older, the dark implications of Ella’s obedience curse, and of course, Anne Hathaway. Find more from On Wednesdays We Read: https://owwrpod.com/ https://bsky.app/profile/oww...

Your hosts discuss "Shards of Shattered Darkness," a collection of stories by Mark N. Drake. They debate where exactly they think the collection falls on the horror genre spectrum, talk about how the collection works (or doesn't) as a thematic whole, and highlight some of their favorite pieces like "The Grey Berserker" and "Vane Harbor." Find us on Discord / Supp...

Your hosts discuss Premee Mohamed's latest collection of stories, "One Message Remains," and praise its evocative writing and strong character development. They explore the book's themes of colonization, exploitation, and war, and discuss how the fantasy setting reflects real-world issues. They also appreciate the collection's progression from plot-driven to introspective...

Now with an update! The last ten minutes of this episode are a NEW conversation with Chris about the final novella, Overview Effect. New content starts at 36:33. Your hosts welcome Chris Farnell back on to the podcast to talk about Fermi’s Wake, his new collection of novellas featuring the ragtag crew of the Fermi. They discuss crab-centric evolution, ego driven characters, and confronting readers...

Your hosts discuss Of Shadows, Stars, and Sabers, a new anthology edited by Jendia Gammon and Gareth L. Powell. They talk about enjoying the mix of “new to them” and familiar authors, what makes a story a bummer (complimentary), and the experience of reading a short story that forms part of a larger body of work. Find us on Discord / Support us on Patreon Thanks to the following musicians for the...

Your hosts discuss Dracula by Bram Stoker, and almost start talking about various Dracula adaptations as well before they manage to rein themselves in. They cover the mysteriously incorrect publication date in Lilly’s copy of the novel, how much they love Mina, and how much Stoker hated Lucy. This episode contains spoilers. Content Warning: brief mention of fictional suicide. Find us on Discord /...

Your hosts speak with Jessica A. McMinn about The Ruptured Sky, the first novel in her debut fantasy quartet. They talk about worldbuilding, asshole mentors, duty, and consequences. Find more from Jessica: https://jessicaamcminn.com/  https://bsky.app/profile/jessicaamcminn.bsky.social Find us on Discord / Support us on Patreon Thanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs: - Amarià...

Your hosts are joined by Dan Hanks to discuss his scifi, thriller, adventure, every-genre-really novel, The Way Up is Death. They talk about large casts in focused scenes, unlikeable vs irredeemable characters, and the meaning of life. Find more from Dan: https://www.danhanks.com/ https://bsky.app/profile/danhanks.bsky.social https://www.instagram.com/dan_hanks/ Find us on Discord / Support us on...

This week, your hosts are covering The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison, which turns out to be a delightful intersection of both of their interests. They discuss emotional journeys in adjacent fantasy, political coups, and unique grammar conventions. They also evaluate what, exactly, makes a goblin. Find us on Discord / Support us on Patreon Thanks to the following musicians for the use of thei...

Excited for Mickey 17, the upcoming movie featuring Robert Pattinson, your hosts read Mickey7 by Edward Ashton. Despite their complaints about the narrative voice and Mickey’s POV, they really did enjoy the book, they promise. They also discuss the effect of cloning on the sense of self, the implications of space colonization, and neat aliens. Find us on Discord / Support us on Patreon Thanks to t...

Your hosts reflect upon 2024 and their podcasting experience, including some stats about the books they read in the last year. They also award some superlatives, such as "Best Supporting Character," "Best Re-read," and "World Most Likely to Kill Us Instantly." Find us on Discord / Support us on Patreon Thanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs: - Am...

Your hosts finally reach the end of their Discworld reread with The Shepherd's Crown by Terry Pratchett, and they're feeling all sorts of ways about it. They talk about Tiffany Aching's arc over her mini-series as a whole, tying up (and leaving) loose threads, and everyone's favorite Kelda, Jeannie. Find us on Discord / Support us on Patreon Thanks to the following musicians fo...

Your hosts discuss The Escher Man by T. R. Napper. They consider what makes a story better fit for a movie format. They also talk about characters they're emotionally invested in, family dynamics, and cybernetic enhancements. Find us on Discord / Support us on Patreon Thanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs: - Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris” - Josh...

In this episode your hosts discuss the TV show Firefly, and Lilly fundamentally misunderstands "tie-in" novels. They also talk about colonialism vs. capitalism and what Wash's shirt actually looks like. Find us on Discord / Support us on Patreon Thanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs: - Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris” - Josh Woodward for...

Your hosts are baffled by Raising Steam, the penultimate Discworld novel by Terry Pratchett. They debate which miniseries it ought to belong in, talk about how long it takes for the plot to take off, and actually enjoy all of the wife characters we see in the book. They rejoice in pro-goblin propaganda and have a brief Words are Weird discussion about smut. Find us on Discord / Support us on Patre...