If This Goes On (Don't Panic): Science Fiction, Fantasy & Progressive Politics

In this episode, Alan and Diane talk to teacher, author, Solarpunk, and witch, Brightflame. We discuss how Solarpunk relates to witchcraft, second world fantasy, inspiring art with questionable creators, your shadow self, the Reclaiming Tradition, Witch Camp, how to know if you're doing enough politically, writing a community of characters, stereotypes, and much more. Winter Witchcamp:  https://wi...

The second part of Diane's column about Military Scence Fiction is here! In this column, Diane grapples with the physical manifestations of PTSD, and discusses Military Science Fiction that represents PTSD realistically.

In this episode, Alan and guest co-host, Dave Robison, talk to our own Cat Rambo about Cat's newest novel Rumor Has It, the evolution of her work, her upcoming work, the pragmatisim of necromancy, villiains, clones, humor, 2025 WorldCon, 10 book series, building romance in a story, Conan the Barbarian and Robert E Howard, and much more. If you'd like to support us you can give us a one time donati...

In this episode of the Book Navigator column, Navarre Bartz reviews a collection of short fiction, a children's fiction series, as well as a lot of nonfiction including: Solarpunk Creatures by World Weaver Press Penelope Rex by Ryan T. Higgins The Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv The Internet Con by Cory Doctorow How to Build with Grid Beam   by Phil Jergenson Better Sleep For Overacheivers...

In this episode, Alan talks to writer Cynthia Gomez about La Llarona, Poltergeist. The Shining, horror and social justice, story inspiration, racism, working in education, covid and cons, unions, and much more. If you'd like to support us you can give us a one time donation at  Kofi or you can subscribe to our Patreon .  

In this episode Alan reviews (books linked below): Lagrange Point by Alan Stroud published by Flame Tree Press 2023 Terra by Allen Stroud published by Flame Tree Press 2023 Hellweg's Keep by Justin Holley published by Flame Tree Press 2023 The Day and Night Books of Mardou Fox by Nisi Shawl published by Rosarium Publishing October 2024 One Eye Opened in that Other Place by Christi Nogle published...

Hello US Listeners, this is just a reminder to please vote. Today is election day and it is an extremely important election. We stand against Trump and authoritarianism, but unless we all stand together it could be lost. PLEASE do the what you can.

In this episode, Alan and Cat talk to author, comedian, and teacher Alex Jennings about New Orleans, music, the legend of Stagger Lee, the practice of signifying, The Phantom Tollbooth, the X-Men, and much more. If you'd like to support us you can give us a one time donation at  Kofi or you can subscribe to our Patreon .  

In this Episode of Publishing in Africa, Oghenechovwe and Alan discuss The Best African Speculative Fiction Volume 3, trends in African fiction, WorldCon 2024, Scotland, the Nommo Awards, the Hugo Awards, how to make conferences diverse.

Just in time for October, Paul is back with another Hope in Horror column. This time Paul confronts Godzilla itself and discusses how the newest kaiju movie gives him hope. He also discusses the balance between hope and horror and how they change a story.

TW: Sexual Assualt In this episode, Alan and Cat talk to bestselling author Tananarive Due about imprisoning children, almost giving up on The Reformatory, historical research, To Kill a Mocking Bird, child child protagonists , using horror to deal with social issues, Kamala Harris, and much more. If you'd like to support us you can give us a one time donation at  Kofi or you can subscribe to our...

In this LIVE episode, Alan and Diane talk to authors Dan Scamell and Bradley Sides about the weird, the bizarro sub-genre, aliens, monsters, haveing the confidence to publish, story structure, getting published, and much more.  If you'd like to support us you can give us a one time donation at  Kofi or you can subscribe to our Patreon .

In the second Solarpunk column of 2024, scientist, engineer, and author Susan Kaye Quinn, explores community and it's importance to humans and Solarpunk.  Topics include working together, the importance of community, how social media and AI keep us from authentic connection, and why human-ness matters.

In this episode, Alan and Cat talk to bestselling author Peng Shepherd about multi-verses, meta-fiction, cats, travel, reality TV, morality, and much more. Just a heads up, Alan had some minor audio issues in this recording, but it shouldn't be distracting. If you'd like to support us you can give us a one time donation at  Kofi or you can subscribe to our Patreon .

In this episode Alan reviews (books linked below): Let Gravity Seize the Dead by Darrin Doyle published 2024 by Regal House publishing Countess by Suzan Palumbo, published September 2024 by ECW Press Ceres by Allen Stroud, published 2023 by Flame Tree Press The Magic of Chaos By Ricardo Victoria published 2023 by Shadow Dragon Press The Horror by Seb Doubinski published 2024 by IFWG Publishing Int...

In this episode, Alan and Diane talk to author and historian Ada Palmer about changing Family dynamics, the right to exit (a country), government systems in science fiction, information technology revolutions and their effect on the world, the problem wiht the media, and much more. Link to Fix the News: https://fixthenews.com/ If you'd like to support us you can give us a one time donation at  Kof...

Trigger Warning: PTSD The first part of Diane's column about Military Scence Fiction is here! Welcome to our most personal and daring column yet!

In this episode, Alan and Diane talk to author Claire Rudy Foster about The Rain Artist, billionairres, turning short fiction into long fiction, the Sackler family, addiction, generational wealth, music, the meaning of success, and much more. If you'd like to support us you can give us a one time donation at  Kofi or you can subscribe to our Patreon .

I am pleased to announce that this is the first episode of a new column called Hope in Horror with Paul Jessup. In this episode Paul tackles the topic of hope in horror head-on by discussing the show Yellow Jackets.

In this episode, Alan and Cat talk to author Jamie Lackey about Short Fiction, Flash Fiction, being ACE, Sudio Ghibli, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Pride and Prejudice, running Kickstarter campeigns, and much more. If you'd like to support us you can give us a one time donation at  Kofi or you can subscribe to our Patreon .

In the first Solarpunk column of 2024, engineer, Youtuber, and blogger, Navarre Bartz, explores the practicalities of what Solarpunk kids might look like, as well as the current state of childhood. Topics include schooling, parenting, bussing, and more.

In this episode, Alan and Diane talk to Motswana author and architect Tlotlo Tsamaase about her new book Womb City, writing traumatic scenes, feminism, plotting novels, body hopping, and the nature of identity. If you'd like to support us you can give us a one time donation at  Kofi or you can subscribe to our Patreon .

In this episode Alan reviews: A Death at the Dionysus Club by Melissa Scott & Amy Griswold published by Queen of Swords Press 2023 originally published 2014 https://queenofswordspress.com/product/a-death-at-the-dionysus-club/ Green New Worlds: A Quick Guide to Sustainability Through Science Fiction and Fantasy by Ricardo Victoria-Uribe and Martha Elba Gonzalez-Alcaraz published 2024 by Luna Press...

In this episode, Alan talks to authors Tade Thompson and Paul Jessup about nontraditional story structure, innovating, book reviews and the importance of paid critics, self publishing vs trad publishing, "romantasy" and other trends, books, and even more about books, and much more. If you'd like to support us you can give us a one time donation at  Kofi or you can subscribe to our Patreon .  

In this Episode of Publishing in Africa, Oghenechovwe and Alan discuss how virtual conferences could improve, a bit about the Hugos, some African authors to look out for, as well as what Oghenechovwe is up to for 2024.