Fictitious

Caitlin Starling returns to Fictitious to talk about her new horror-tinged, sci-fi thriller, LAST TO LEAVE THE ROOM .  We talk writing surreal scenes, and using a "load-bearing cat".  About Last to Leave the Room The city of San Siroco is sinking. The basement of Dr. Tamsin Rivers, the arrogant, selfish head of the research team assigned to find the source of the subsidence, is sinking faster. As...

Cassandra Khaw and Richard Kadrey are both powerhouse bestselling authors in their own rights. Now, they've merged their considerable talents in cosmic horror and urban fantasy to create the new novel, THE DEAD TAKE THE A TRAIN . In a New York City absolutely filthy with magic—monsters and the mundane intermingle. When that cohabitation breeds horrific problems—and it always does—you need people l...

In this episode we're going to deviate a bit from the usual focus on fiction to talk about writing for tabletop roleplaying games and related media. RPGs have always been deeply interconnected with fantasy, sci-fi, and horror, and right now they are more popular and prevalent than ever before. James L. Sutter co-created the lore and story-rich fantasy RPG PATHFINDER for Paizo Publishing, which has...

Greta Kelly returns to Fictitious to talk about her new fantasy novel, THE QUEEN OF DAYS . We discuss its origin as a NaNoWriMo project, developing a tightly-contained fantasy setting, and maintaining emotional drama in a fast-paced heist story. THE QUEEN OF DAYS  is breakneck-paced fantasy adventure coming October 24th from Harper Voyager. Order it now at: Amazon  » Bookshop  » Publisher Site » S...

Matt Wallace talks about his epic fantasy trilogy, THE SAVAGE REBELLION — which includes SAVAGE NATION, SAVAGE BOUNTY, and SAVAGE CROWNS, all available now from Saga Press. We discuss the series's examination of empire, historical influences, impact of sensitivity readers, and challenging editorial process. Savage Legion Amazon  » Savage Bounty Amazon  » Bookshop  » Savage Crowns Amazon  » Booksho...

After a two-year hiatus, Fictitious returns to your podcast feeds. Host Adron Buske explains the reason for the break, and the return, and how the show will evolve going forward. For all my interviews, show info, and more, visit: https://fictitiouspodcast.com Right now, the best social media platform for Fictitious is Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fictitiouspod/    

In this episode, I talk with  Zen Cho , author of  BLACK WATER SISTER . In this Malaysia-set urban fantasy, out-of-work college grad Jessamyn joins her struggling immigrant parents as they return to their home country. But for Jess, who's been an American most of her life and hides her long-distance girlfriend from her parents, reintegrating with overbearing family and unfamiliar customs is highly...

In this episode I'm joined by  Josh Malerman , author of  GOBLIN . This uniquely design supernatural horror novel weaves 6 separate novellas together, each tale examining curious characters and disturbing circumstances in the isolated town of Goblin. In a city built on cursed land, the dead are buried standing up, Great Owls occupy the dangerous north woods, and the police shuffle unnervingly thro...

I'm joined in this episode by  Marissa Levien , author of  THE WORLD GIVES WAY . In this debut science fiction novel, humanity is 150 years away from earth aboard an enormous generation ship, headed towards a distant planet. Inside, though, life continues on much as it always has: the mega-rich live in luxury. The middle class does the best it can. And indentured workers serve out contracts, their...

My guest this episode is Marina J. Lostetter , author of THE HELM OF MIDNIGHT . With a genre-defying blend of fantasy, thriller, and mystery, this novel follows a Regulator named Krona as she investigates the high profile heist of powerful magical artifacts. The death mask of a notorious serial killer has been stolen, effectively returning him from beyond the grave to kill again. But these are not...

My guest this episode is  C. Robert Cargill , author of  DAY ZERO  — a prequel to the acclaimed  SEA OF RUST . Cargill is also notable as the co-screenwriter of Marvel's DR. STRANGE and the SINISTER movie franchise. It's just a normal day in the future—people doing their normal, mundane human things, while their sentient robot helpers run their errands, manufacture their goods, and take care of th...

I'm joined in this episode by  Suyi Davies Okungbowa , author of  SON OF THE STORM . In the thriving but socially stratified city of Bassa, a young scholar named Danso struggles with family expectations and cultural pressures. Worse, he's discovered lost historical lore at odds with the approved political narrative—knowledge he's sworn to forget, but cannot let go of. The course of his life alters...

My guests this episode are  Caitlin Starling  and  Genevieve Gornichec , two of the authors of  WALK AMONG US . This collection of novellas is set in the world of  VAMPIRE: THE MASQUERADE , the popular modern horror roleplaying game franchise. (Content note: the third contributing author to this collection, Cassandra Khaw, was scheduled to appear in this interview but had to cancel because of a co...

I'm joined in this episode by  Jackson Ford , author of  THE FROST FILES  modern day sci-fi series, which follows the misadventures of telekinetic and involuntary government operative Teagan Frost. The series includes  THE GIRL WHO COULD MOVE SH*T WITH HER MIND  and  RANDOM SH*T FLYING THROUGH THE AIR , both of which are available now. The third book,  EYE OF THE SH*T STORM , arrives April 27th fr...

I'm joined in this episode by  J.S. Dewes , author of  THE LAST WATCH . This science fiction adventure starts on the very edge of the universe, where a lonely military ship sits watch over the Divide. It's a quiet, isolated life for a bunch of misfit soldiers dropped where they can't cause any more problems. Quiet, until the Divide itself starts to collapse, and they find themselves unable to send...

I'm joined in this episode by  Eli Brown , author of  ODDITY . This historical fantasy for young readers shows us an alternate 1800s North America where the Louisiana Purchase failed. With the land divided, the return of war between the States and France looms large, and the woods are patrolled by soldiers and terrifying animal constructs. The young Clover Elkin flees across these borderlands, awa...

I'm joined in this episode by  Neal Shusterman , author of  GAME CHANGER . This young adult sci-fi novel follows Ash, a pretty average middle class kid with few ambitions beyond winning football games and hanging out with his friends. That all changes when a hard hit on the football field alters Ash's world, but in a way only he seems to notice. Suddenly all the stop signs are blue and, to his ris...

In this episode, I'm joined by  Sarah Beth Durst , author of  THE BONE MAKER . In this standalone Fantasy novel, a team of renowned heroes are reunited after 25 years to avenge a painful loss and once again face a dangerous force of dark magic. But the decades between a great victory and their reunion have not been kind—to their minds, bodies, and friendships. And some of them are willing to break...

I'm joined in this episode by  C.L. Clark , author of THE  UNBROKEN ,  a brutal and complex military fantasy novel that follows a colonial soldier returned to the homeland she was stolen from, and a princess in search of a turncoat to help throw her uncle off the throne. The first book in the  MAGIC OF THE LOST  series, THE UNBROKEN arrives March 23rd from Orbit Books: Amazon  » Bookshop  » Barnes...

In this episode, I'm joined by  T. Frohock , author of the  LOS NEFILIM  series. This historical dark fantasy series—set first in 1930s Europe—started with the novellas  IN MIDNIGHT'S SILENCE ,  WITHOUT LIGHT OR GUIDE , and  THE SECOND DEATH . All of which have been collected into the LOS NEFILIM OMNIBUS. The series continues with the full length novels  WHERE OBLIVION LIVES  and  CARVED FROM STON...

I'm joined in this episode by  Claire Holroyde , author of  THE EFFORT . In this spec-fic / sci-fi novel, the Earth is threatened by an extinction level event when an 8 kilometer "dark" comet emerges from behind the sun on a rapid collision course with our planet. Immediately after discovery of the comet, an international coalition of scientists is assembled and nicknamed The Effort. Under the lea...

I'm joined in this episode by  Eugen Bacon , author of  THE ROAD TO WOOP WOOP: AND OTHER STORIES . This collection of speculative short fiction features over 20 tales that blur the line between reality and mythology, full of humans possessed of unusual gifts, immortals shackled with ageless curses, children born of dangerous secrets, and lovers whose tangled passions spiral to dream and dread. In...

In this episode, I'm joined by  Nicky Drayden , author of  ESCAPING EXODUS , and its new sequel,  SYMBIOSIS . This sci-fi duology explores a human civilization built entirely inside colossal, space-faring beasts. The impetuous young Seska Kayleigh is a child of privilege and heir to the matriarchal throne of her people. As their recently relocated colony carves out a new city from the guts of thei...

In this episode I'm joined by  Marshall Ryan Maresca , author of  THE VELOCITY OF REVOLUTION . This dieselpunk fantasy novel follows Wenthi, a loyal patrol officer and talented cycle rider, who is sent undercover to infiltrate revolutionary biker gangs. The vibrant city of Ziaparr stands at a crossroads — recovering from long years of warfare and reclaiming a place in the world and its nations. Bu...

I'm joined in this episode by  THE MASK OF MIRRORS  author  M.A. Carrick , which is a pseudonym for the co-writing team of  Marie Brennan  and  Alyc Helms . The first book in the  ROSE & ROOK  fantasy trilogy, THE MASK OF MIRRORS follows Ren, a girl who forcibly escapes the slums of Nadezra to save herself and her sister from life in an abusive gang. She later returns to Nadezra, though, under a n...