Be The Serpent

And here you thought that the Twitter announcement on April Fool's Day about our upcoming shark episode WAS the joke! No! The joke is on us because we had to watch Sharknado for this prank! Also Jaws and Deep Blue Sea.   What We’re Into Lately If They Haven’t Learned Your Name by silentwalrus Succession The Big Bad Wolf series by Charlie Adhara The Absolute Book by Elizabeth Knox The City We Became by N.K. Jemisin Sorrowland by Rivers Solomon “A Cornstalk Fiddle” by notbecauseofvictories “To Call the Darkness Home” by scioscribe The Heir to the House of Prince by Ada_Lovelaced & elph13 “Aurelius (to be called) Magnus” by Victoria Goddard “Portrait of a Wide Seas Islander” by Victoria Goddard Black Sails Other Stuff We Mentioned Captain America: The Winter Soldier The Thick of It Diana Wynne Jones (author) Dan Brown (author) The Devil Went Down to Georgia (And Then Went Down on Johnny) series by notbecauseofvictories Justified The Hands of the Emperor by Victoria Goddard The Chant series by Alexandra Rowland Alien Overinvested podcast Overinvested’s Jaws episode Titanic Jurassic World Jurassic Park Star Wars Watergate scandal Frankenstein by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley The Day After Tomorrow 2012 Sharks In Venice The Meg The “Cows With Guns” YouTube video Freya’s Twitter: @freyamarkse A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske A Restless Truth by Freya Marske (sequel to A Marvellous Light, coming out Nov 1st, 2022) Pre-order for A Restless Truth Macey’s Twitter: @englishmace “heat death” poem by Jennifer Mace “Silk & Steel” short story anthology (featuring Jennifer Mace & Freya Marske) Alex’s Twitter: @_alexrowland A Taste of Gold and Iron by Alexandra Rowland (coming out Aug 30th, 2022) Alex’s website store: alexandrarowland.net/store. The infamous “sharks are smooth as hell” shitpost   Content Warnings Gore (in every tentpole & throughout episode discussion) Body horror (in episode discussion) Sexual harassment (in Sharknado) Misogyny (discussed)   Transcription The transcript of this episode is available here. Thanks to our fabulous scribes for their work!

On this week's episode, we have a two-hour special to answer questions sent in by our darling listeners! Thank you to everyone who has been with us through the last four years! The Great Hiatus begins now, but we will return for at least one more episode next year! Get hype!   What We’re Into Lately My Name  Beyond Evil Honey Girl by Morgan Rogers All the Feels by Olivia Dade Frankenstein by Mary Shelley And This, Your Living Kiss by opal_bullets The Courtier’s Love Affair (and Other Stories) by tridenture Harlots Bridgerton  The Living and the Dead  Macey’s NaNoWriMo Project: The Resurrection Chalice In the Realms of Gold by Victoria Goddard Sword Dance trilogy by AJ Demas Plum Duff by Victoria Goddard Alex’s NaNoWriMo Project: Some by Virtue Fall   Other Stuff We’ve Mentioned Spoiler Alert by Olivia Dade Supernatural Sleuth of the Ming Dynasty Merlin A Taste of Gold and Iron by Alexandra Rowland The Vorkosigan Saga by Lois McMaster Bujold Unmasked by the Marquess by Cat Sebastian Silk and Steel Our Opinions Are Correct Tales from the Trunk Fated Mates Heaving Bosoms Smart Bitches, Trashy Books Fansplaining The Fantasy Inn Breaking the Glass Slipper Overinvested Campaign Skyjacks Tor.com The Rec Center Pinboard Dragon Age: Inquisition Fantasia in D Minor by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Allegro by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart BtS episode 6 “Cross Your Stars and Hope to Bi” BtS Special Episode Strange Horizons Miss Congeniality BtS episode 80 “Extravaganza” My Hero Academia Yesterday Upon the Stair by PitViperOfDoom BtS episode 98 “[SPOOKY NOISES]” “Bakugou and Todoroki’s Foolproof 5-Step Plan to Fuck with Mineta Minoru” by Anubis_2701 Naruto The Witcher (video game) The Witcher (TV) Person of Interest (2011) The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas by Ursula K. Le Guin The Ones Who Stay And Fight by N.K. Jemisin Singing my Sister Down by Margo Lanagan The Lottery by Shirley Jackson Yuri!!! in Space series by Fahye Choir of Lies by Alexandra Rowland A Sword On Two Fingers by Freya Marske (unpublished) Viable Paradise (writers’ workshop) Sam Hawke (Australian author) Jenn Lyons (Author) E. Jade Lomax (Author) The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins Welcome to Night Vale podcast The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison The Hands of the Emperor by Victoria Goddard astolat Macey’s Frozen Meat Salesman Segment Macey’s misspent youth Sutton cottage (from A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske) Stars in the marsh (from A Choir of Lies by Alexandra Rowland)   Transcription The transcript of this episode is available here. We'd like to take this moment to give an extra-special thank you to our team of scribes, who are amazing and meticulous and dedicated and extremely hard-working. Scribes, thank you, thank you, thank you. You're all amazing.

On this week's episode, we're celebrating the release of Freya's debut book by talking about detectives in love! The tentpoles are Of Dragons, Feasts, and Murders by Aliette de Bodard, A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske, and the fanfic If Life Was A Movie We’d Have A Better Soundtrack Than This by galaxysoup.   What We’re Into Lately  Dark Rise by C. S. Pacat The Saint of Steel series by T. Kingfisher that ruthless love by alherath The Warrior of the Third Veil by Victoria Goddard The Sisters Avramapul series by Victoria Goddard Other Stuff We Mentioned Captive Prince by C. S. Pacat Chant Universe by Alexandra Rowland "You Should Really Be Reading Victoria Goddard’s Nine Worlds Series" by Alexandra Rowland Guardian Bones Castle Lord Peter Wimsey series by Dorothy L. Sayers A Taste of Gold and Iron by Alexandra Rowland House The Angel of Crows by Katherine Addison Doctor Who The Memory of Souls by Jenn Lyons Captive Prince series by C. S. Pacat Winter's Orbit by Everina Maxwell A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine Vorkosigan Saga by Lois McMaster Bujold Komarr by Lois McMaster Bujold Leverage The X-Files Hannibal Rosemary & Thyme Poirot Hinterland Hot Fuzz Lady Sherlock series by Sherry Thomas Twilight by Stephenie Meyer The Will Darling Adventures by K.J. Charles John le Carré James Bond novels by Ian Fleming Think of England by K.J. Charles An iconic Doctor & Donna scene from Doctor Who Greenwing & Dart series by Victoria Goddard Be the Serpent Episode 33: Turn In Your Badge and Gun! A Private Reason for This by femmequixotic (aka mentioned Harry/Draco case fic) A Dead Djinn In Cairo by P. Djèlí Clark Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch by Terry Pratchett & Neil Gaiman For Next Time None, it's the Extravaganza! Content Warnings Minor fantasy violence in Of Dragons, Feasts, and Murders and A Marvellous Light.   Transcription The transcript of this episode is available here. Thank you so much to our wonderful team of scribes for their hard work!

Happy (slightly belated) spooky season, darling listeners! On this week's episode we're talking about afterlife career plans and... well, ghosts! Tentpoles this week are Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas, the film Ghost, and the Inception fic, “The Boy Who Spoke With Ghosts” by AvocadoLove.   What We’re Into Lately Squid Game The Discord of Gods by Jenn Lyons A Chorus of Dragons series by Jenn Lyons The Library of the Dead by T.L. Huchu My Words Will Be Your Light by Page161of180 The Memory of Souls by Jenn Lyons Midnight Mass Naruto self-insert fic the name of the game by a_sassin the sun don't shine underground by ultranos Bar Cart Bookshelf How A Realist Hero Rebuilt The Kingdom The Bride of the Blue Wind by Victoria Goddard “You Should Really Be Reading Victoria Goddard’s Nine Worlds Series” by Alexandra Rowland Other Stuff We Mentioned Snowpiercer The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins The Magicians The Queen's Gambit Avatar: The Last Airbender The Hands of the Emperor by Victoria Goddard Bluebeard Inception The Sixth Sense Dead Like Me (2003) The Ghost of You by luchia The Untamed  All that’s left of two hearts on fire by Lirelyn  A Christmas Carol  by Charles Dickens Crimson Peak Be the Serpent Episode 74: Darling, It’s Better Down Where It’s Wetter Into the Drowning Deep by Mira Grant Ghostbusters Supernatural Ask a Mortician YouTube channel a tempest, a cyclone, a goddamned hurricane by Dialux Boku no Hiro Akademia Yesterday Upon The Stair by PitViperOfDoom Black Sails the aftershocks remain by pdameron A Taste of Gold and Iron by Alexandra Rowland   For Next Time A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske   Content Warnings Some gore in Ghost. Depictions/discussions of death through all tentpoles and the podcast discussion Transcription The transcript of this episode can be found here. Thank you to our wonderful team of scribes for their work!

On this week's episode, we're discussing music! Musicians! Being gripped by the madness of creation! Selling one's soul for art! The tentpoles this week are the film Amadeus, the fanfic "String Theory" by toft,  and Ryka Aoki’s Light from Uncommon Stars.   What We’re Into Lately  The Hellion’s Waltz by Olivia Waite Peter Cabot Gets Lost by Cat Sebastian The Angel of the Crows by Katherine Addison Symphony for the City of the Dead by M. T. Adderson The Dawnhounds by Sascha Stronach Compass of thy Soul by Umei_no_Mai Campaign Skyjacks Skyjacks: Couriers Call Hannah Gadsby: Douglas The Wilds ‘In the Company of Gentlemen’ by Victoria Goddard Other Stuff We Mentioned Leverage The other two Feminine Pursuits books by Olivia Waite Sherlock Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett Hollow and Honeycomb by antistar_e The Old Guard Lost The Lymond Chronicles by Dorothy Dunnett Stargate: Atlantis Shakespeare in Love Doctor Faustus by Christopher Marlowe (“topless towers of Ilium” quote) Maskerade by Terry Pratchett The Phantom of the Opera “Requiem” by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart “Requiem” by Gabriel Fauré "Devil Went Down to Georgia" by The Charlie Daniels Band The Devil Went Down to Georgia (And Then Went Down on Johnny) series by notbecauseofvictories Black Swan (2010) Aria of the Sea by Dia Calhoun Catalyst by Jennifer Mace (unreleased) Scheherazade (character) A Conspiracy of Truths by Alexandra Rowland Hamilton (musical) Fall Out Boy (band) Crystal Singer series by Anne McCaffrey Space Opera by Catherynne M. Valente Soul Music by Terry Pratchett Beatlemania Def Leppard (band) The Velvet Underground (band) Isavalta series by Sarah Zettel The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Andersen The Goose Girl from Grimms’ Fairy Tales Jack and the Beanstalk “Bonny Swans” traditional ballad Sistersong by Lucy Holland “The Bonny Swans” by Loreena McKennitt Hild by Nicola Griffith Johann Sebastian Bach Harry Potter film score Ramin Djawadi’s musical scores for Game of Thrones & Westworld The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers   For Next Time Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas   Content Warnings Attempted suicide (in Amadeus and brief mention of it in the discussion) On-the-page sexual assault, on-the-page hate transphobia, child abuse both explicit and referenced (in Light From Uncommon Stars)   Transcription The transcript of this episode can be found here. Thank you to our wondrous choir of scribes!

On this week's episode, we're discussing body swap fic! Swapping bodies! Trading meatsuits! It's all fun and comedy, right? ...Or is it? Anyway, the tentpoles for this episode are the anime film, Your Name, the fanfic Vinculum by Skadiseven, and the Farscape episode, "Out of Their Minds."   What We’re Into Lately  Bombshell by Sarah MacLean The Devil and the Dark Water by Stuart Turton Schmigadoon! (on Apple TV) Hunger Makes the Wolf by Alex Wells Pressure Machine by the Killers Campaign Skyjacks (podcast) The Bachelor’s Valet by Arden Powell Petty Treasons by Victoria Goddard   Other Stuff We Mentioned The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton The Hands of the Emperor by Victoria Goddard The Untamed Star Trek: The Next Generation Farscape The Dark Crystal Jupiter Ascending Freaky Friday by Mary Rodgers Star Trek: The Original Series Laughing Gas by PG Wodehouse Stranger Than Fiction Babylon 5 Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle Sword Art Online Stargate The Scum Villain's Self-Saving System Captain America: The Winter Soldier to memory now I can’t recall by Etharei Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones Castle in the Air by Diana Wynne Jones Night Watch by Terry Pratchett Guardian Feet of Clay by Terry Pratchett Good Omens by Neil Gaiman & Terry Pratchett Good Omens miniseries   For Next Time Light From Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki   Content Warnings Mention of molestation in the context of the bodyswap trope (in episode discussion) Mention of dysphoria & trans erasure in the context of the bodyswap trope (in episode discussion)   Transcription The transcript for this episode is available here. Thank you to our stylish and fashionable team of scribes!

On today's episode we're doing another deep dive on the marvelously sapphic fantasy novel The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri!   What We’re Into Lately  The Secrets of Charlotte Street series by Scarlett Peckham     - book 2: The Earl I Ruined     - book 3: The Lord I Left Seducing the Sorcerer by Lee Welch The Bachelor’s Valet by Arden Powell Game of Thrones fanfic Hunger Makes the Wolf by Alex Wells cast your bitterness into the sea by Kilerkki  Campaign Skyjacks Till Human Voices Wake Us by Victoria Goddard    Other Stuff We Mentioned Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones Swordheart and The Paladin’s Grace by T. Kingfisher Jeeves/Wooster fanfiction Firefly Hands of the Emperor by Victoria Goddard The Witcher “Hellfire” from The Hunchback of Notre Dame Game of Thrones Empresses in the Palace The Realm of Ash The Magpie Lord series A Cradle of Vines by Jennifer Mace Sleeping Beauty ‘Seasons of Glass and Iron’ by Amal El-Mohtar Realm of Ash by Tasha Suri The Twilight Zone theme The Unbroken by C.L. Clark She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske For Next Time Your Name. Content Warnings Violence against women, imperialist violence, semi-graphic death descriptions, references to torture and drugging in The Jasmine Throne   Transcription The transcript of this episode is available here. Thanks once again to our most excellent team of scribes for their hard work!

On this week's episode, Macey is forcing us to put on our hiking shoes and dragging us out into the forest to look at some "really nice moss." The tentpoles we’re discussing are Princess Mononoke, Silver in the Wood by Emily Tesh, and Ursula K. Le Guin’s story ‘Vaster Than Empires and More Slow.’ What We’re Into Lately  ‘a kind of dwell and welcome’ by leupagus Reputation by Lex Croucher Seven Days in June by Tia Williams orange_crushed ‘s Untamed fics (esp Pentimento.) And What Can We Offer You Tonight by Premee Mohamed The Necessity of Stars by E. Catherine Tobler Victoria Goddard’s books: Greenwing & Dart series (esp Love-in-a-Mist) Ask A Mortician Youtube Channel  Other Stuff We Mentioned Ted Lasso Gundam Wing Ponyo Robin Hood legends Hannibal The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones The Jungle Book by Ruyard Kipling The Secret Life of the Forest by Richard M. Ketchum The Hidden Life of Trees by by Peter Wohlleben Pando QI Semiosis by Sue Burke Brain coral Green Man motif For the Wolf by Hannah Whitten Hild by Nicola Griffith The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik Into the Woods Sorrowland by Rivers Solomon Black Sails Vikings Magician by Raymond E. Feist The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins Westworld Stargate: Atlantis Star Wars: Return of the Jedi Black Spot TV show Avatar Avatar: The Last Airbender Pocahontas Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer BTS Episode 16: A Bump In the Night, and Not the Sexy Kind Entangled Life: How Fungi Make Our Worlds, Change Our Minds & Shape Our Futures by Merlin Sheldrake Merlin Sheldrake’s YouTube video showing him eating book fungus Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer 1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus by Charles C. Mann Eager: The Surprising, Secret Life of Beavers and Why They Matter by Ben Goldfarb The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate – Discoveries from a Secret World by Peter Wohlleben Around the World In 80 Trees by Jonathan Drori ‘Colors of the Wind’ from Pochahontas The Biggest Estate On Earth: How Aborigines Made Australia by Bill Gammage Tomorrow, When the War Began by John Marsden For Next Time The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri Content Warnings Racism (in ‘Vaster Than Empires and More Slow’) Problematic portrayal of an autistic character (in ‘Vaster Than Empires and More Slow’)   Transcription The transcript for this episode is available here! Thanks to our team of scribes for their great work!

On this week's episode we're discussing the glamorous authorial life -- authors (and other publishing professionals) through the lens of how they're depicted in media. Tentpoles this week are the film Stranger Than Fiction, the K-Drama Romance Is a Bonus Book, the story “The Bookmaking Habits of Select Species” by Ken Liu and The Unstrung Harp by Edward Gorey.   What We’re Into Lately Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories by Ken Liu Sorrowland by Rivers Solomon Guardian fic Macey’s all-fandom OT3 feast Victoria Goddard books specifically the Greenwing & Dart series Ask A Mortician Youtube Channel  Other Stuff We Mentioned The Great British Bake-Off To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis Smoke Gets In Your Eyes and From Here to Eternity by Caitlin Doughty ‘letters from the ides’ by Jennifer Mace (poet) The Witcher (TV show) Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson Space Opera by Catherynne M. Valente Little Women by Louisa May Alcott Sam Hawke Younger The Sea, The Sea by Iris Murdoch Moulin Rouge Untitled Seminal Male-Focused Work by Jennifer Mace (Literary author) Seven Days In June by Tia Williams Emily Henry   For Next Time Silver In the Wood by Emily Tesh   Transcription The transcript for this episode is available here. Huge thanks to our team of scribes for their hard work!

On today's episode, we're bursting into song at socially inappropriate times to talk about... musicals! Our tentpoles are the Bollywood musical Aaja Nachle, the first two episodes of Galavant, and the musical Wicked.   What We’re Into Lately Battle Royal by Lucy Parker Summer Sons by Lee Mandelo Penric’s Demon by Lois McMaster Bujold Harrow the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir Red Azalea by CeNedraRiva The Changeling by Annerb The Armistice series by Annerb World Ain’t Ready by idiopathicsmile survival is a talent by ShanaStoryteller Rotten Work by ShanaStoryteller Campaign Skyjacks Whiskeyjack by Victoria Goddard Other Stuff We Mentioned Hadestown the musical Into The Woods the musical Les Misérables the musical “The Confrontation” from Les Misérables Come From Away the musical The Fast and the Furious Vorkosigan Saga by Lois McMaster Bujold The Decemberists Weekend at Bernie’s The Hands of the Emperor by Victoria Goddard To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis The Return of Fitzroy Angursell by Victoria Goddard Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire The Wizard of Oz The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum Maleficent “No One Mourns The Wicked” from Wicked Hamilton the musical Single Use Weapon by Fahye Glee Les Misérables in Concert: The 25th Anniversary “Defying Gravity” from Wicked “Dancing Through Life” from Wicked The Princess Bride “Galavant” from Galavant “Belle” from Beauty and the Beast “Stand Up” from Galavant Crazy Ex-Girlfriend A Knight’s Tale Shrek Camelot the musical Spamalot the musical In the Heights High School Musical 2 “I Don’t Dance” from High School Musical 2 Hairspray (2007) Footloose (2011) Bride & Prejudice (2004) A Chorus Line (1985) Cabaret (1972) Moulin Rouge! (2001) John Wick (2014) Peter Pan (AKA Peter Pan; or, the Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up; or Peter and Wendy) Pantomime Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga Buffy the Vampire Slayer The Magicians Scrubs Farscape Six Oliver! musical (based on Oliver Twist) Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat The Prince of Egypt Jesus Christ Superstar Jaskier’s theme from The Witcher ‘I Dreamed A Dream’ from Les Misérables ‘One Day More’ from Les Misérables ‘You’ll Be Back’ from Hamilton The Beatles Groundhog Day the musical Groundhog Day film Swan Lake Peer Gynt suites Carnival of the Animals Peter and the Wolf ‘Peter and the Wolf March’ from Peter and the Wolf 'The Swan' from Carnival of the Animals For Next Time The Unstrung Harp by Edward Gorey   Transcription The transcript of this episode is available here. Extra extra thank-yous to our team of scribes this week because YOWZA that was a lot of Other Things We Talked About to wrangle links for!

On this week's episode we’re discussing classics rewritten by women! The tentpoles are Unconquerable Sun by Kate Elliott, The Chosen and the Beautiful by Nghi Vo, and Beowulf, translated by Maria Dahvana Headley.   What We’re Into Lately Subtle Blood by KJ Charles For the Wolf by Hannah F. Whitten Luca “Choosing” by Susan Taitel The Imaginary Corpse by Tyler Hayes Victoria Goddard’s books: Tales of the Nine Worlds series Greenwing & Dart series   Other Stuff We Mentioned Will Darling Adventures by KJ Charles Timon of Athens by William Shakespeare The Good Place (see Janet with a cactus behind her back) Moana Carmina Burana (text) Carmina Burana (cantata by Orff) Hamilton “Saltwashed” by Jennifer Mace The Mere Wife by Maria Dahvana Headley The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald The Lord of the Flies by William Golding Empresses in the Palace  The Heroine's Journey by Gail Carriger Rule 63 of the internet Persona 5 videogame Peter Darling by Austin Chant Peter Pan by JM Barrie Lost in the Never Woods by Aiden Thomas The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis E. Jade Lomax’s fanfic reinterpretations of The Susan Problem The Horse and His Boy by C.S. Lewis Genderswap in fanfiction Mad Max: Fury Road Atomic Blonde For Next Time Wicked the musical Content Warnings Domestic abuse in The Chosen and the Beautiful Warfare and gore in Beowulf and Unconquerable Sun Discussion of trans and nonbinary erasure   Transcription The transcript for this episode can be found here.  Huge thanks to our amazing team of scribes!!

On this week's episode, we are once again answering YOUR burning questions, dear listeners! What We’re Into Lately The Hands of the Emperor by Victoria Goddard When No One is Watching by Alyssa Cole Bareknuckle Bastards series by Sarah MacLean Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki Women, Race & Class by Angela Davis The Untamed fanfic “vinculum” by Skadiseven Heaven Has A Road But No One Walks It by Silvestris The Return of Fitzroy Angursell by Victoria Goddard History Channel “documentaries” Tim’s Vermeer The Witcher   Other Stuff We Mentioned Get Out Good Omens by Terry Pratchett & Neil Gaiman Good Omens (TV show) Nirvana in Fire Famous Fanfic Author Fahye Down to Agincourt series by seperis Word of Honor Isavalta series by Sarah Zettel Naruto Persona 5 Fic author Maldoror_Chant Feminine Pursuits series (The Lady’s Guide to Celestial Mechanics) by Olivia Waite The Covert Captain by Jeannelle M. Ferreira Proper English by KJ Charles  Mrs. Martin’s Incomparable Adventure by Courtney Milan  How to Find a Princess by Alyssa Cole  Once Ghosted Twice Shy by Alyssa Cole  Codex Writers Forum The Lymond Chronicles by Dorothy Dunnett Tremontaine series by Ellen Kushner et al.  ”Glitter & Gold” by Barns Courtney The Queen’s Gambit X-Men Teen Wolf Dragon Age: Inquisition Ranma ½ Criminal Minds you wait and you wonder who’ll take on your odds by paperclipbitch A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske For Next Time The Chosen and the Beautiful by Nghi Vo Content Warnings N/A Transcription The transcript of this episode is available here. Highest of fives to our wonderful team of scribes!  

 On today’s episode, we're finally getting around to doing our Diana Wynne Jones Episode! Well, sort of -- it's not exactly a deep-dive. Our tentpoles this week are Howl’s Moving Castle, Howl’s Moving Castle, and two Howl’s Moving Castle fanfics — “Hearts and Their Consumption” by setepenre_set and “Second Time Lucky” by labellementeuse.   What We’re Into Lately Rosaline Palmer Takes the Cake by Alexis Hall Sistersong by Lucy Holland Half a Soul by Olivia Atwater A Taste of Gold and Iron by Alexandra Rowland Unconquerable Sun by Kate Elliott Persona 5 fanfic Word of Honor The Hands of the Emperor by Victoria Goddard   Other Stuff We Mentioned The Great British Bake Off Imagine Me & You “The Bonny Swans” The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison The West Wing Moana To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis  Ponyo The Little Mermaid Spirited Away Snow White Coraline by Neil Gaiman Children’s author Frances Hardinge Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte Jane Eyre miniseries Good Omens TV series Dark Lord of Derkholm by Diana Wynne Jones Fire and Hemlock by Diana Wynne Jones Tam Lin Scottish ballad Castle In the Air by Diana Wynne Jones Aladdin folktale Tales of the Arabian Nights Lord of the Rings trilogy by JRR Tolkien Labyrinth Deep Secret by Diana Wynne Jones House of Many Ways by Diana Wynne Jones Be the Serpent Episode 36: There’s No Place Like Home Chrestomanci series by Diana Wynne Jones The Lives of Christopher Chant by Diana Wynne Jones Archer’s Goon by Diana Wynne Jones Eight days of Luke by Diana Wynne Jones   For Next Time Episode 90: Extravaganza!   Content Warnings Gore / Violence - Hearts and Their Consumption by setepenre_set.   Transcription The transcript of this episode is available here. Thank you to our fabulous team of scribes for their hard work, as always :)

On today's episode we are talking about dystopian stratified societies and "layered cities". Our tentpoles this week are An Unkindness of Ghosts by Rivers Solomon, the Snowpiercer movie (the original one), and “To the Victor, The Spoil” by Annakovsky.   What We’re Into Lately Black Water Sister by Zen Cho The Witness for the Dead by Katherine Addison Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo The Devil Comes Courting by Courtney Milan Empress of Forever by Max Gladstone marigolds by colbub Avatar: The Last Airbender fic Rogue One fic Hikaru no Go Winter’s Orbit by Everina Maxwell City of Blades by Robert Jackson Bennett The Imperial Coroner The Hands of the Emperor by Victoria Goddard Other Stuff We Mentioned The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins “Dixit Dominus” by George Frideric Handel Spirits Abroad by Zen Cho The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison The Testaments by Margaret Atwood The Duke Who Didn’t by Courtney Milan Dragon Ball Persona 5 Embers by Vathara The Untamed City of Stairs by Robert Jackson Bennett City of Miracles by Robert Jackson Bennett Tam Lin by Pamela Dean Parasite Space Sweepers  This post by missellewoods The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins Lara Elena Donnelly’s Amberlough series  The Traitor Baru Cormorant by Seth Dickinson Avatar The Unbroken  by C. L. Clark “And Now His Lordship Is Laughing” by Shiv Ramdas Hench by Natalie Zina Walschots “The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas” by Ursula K. Le Guin "Victory Condition" by astolat Les Mis (musical) Les Miserables (disambiguation) For Next Time Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones   Content Warnings Sexual assault, racism, and slavery in An Unkindness of Ghosts Violence, child harm in Snowpiercer Sex trafficking, attempted suicide, and adult/minor relationship in “To the Victor, The Spoil” General warnings for discussion in the episode: the spectre of pedophilia, cannibalism, classism and prejudice (as well as all above listed warnings from the tentpoles)   Transcription The transcript of this episode can be found here. Thank you to our team of scribes for their great work!

On this week's episode, we're discussing those models of decorum and tranquility: Games, and game-adjacent narratives! The tentpoles this week are the C-drama version of Hikaru no Go, the film Jumanji: Into the Jungle, and the fanfic you wait and you wonder who’ll take on your odds by paperclipbitch.   What We’re Into Lately   The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrum The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward The Wolf and the Woodsman by Ava Reid All the Murmuring Bones by A.G. Slatter Yellow Jessamine by Caitlin Starling marigolds by colbub The Shepherd’s Crown by Terry Pratchett    Other Stuff We Mentioned The Bachelor franchise Uprooted by Naomi Novik Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik The Queen’s Gambit Chess (musical) The Lymond Chronicles by Dorothy Dunnett Jumanji Aladdin E.T. The Gauntlet by Karuna Riazi Labyrinth Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll DIE by Kieron Gillen & Stephanie Hans Casino Royale Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s/Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling Alex’s Fun Facts History of Games Corner Kriegsspiel game Discworld series by Terry Pratchett Playing at the World: A History of Simulating Wars, People, and Fantastic Adventure from Chess to Role-Playing Games by Jon Peterson Checkmate by Naadi Yu-Gi-Oh Battle Royale The Hunger Games League of Legends Hercules The Grandfather Clock by Anthony Hill   For Next Time An Unkindness of Ghosts by Rivers Solomon   Content Warnings None   Transcription The transcript for this episode can be found here. Thanks to our most excellent scribes for their hard work!

On this week's episode, we're discussing jobs, occupations, and vocations, both fantastical and mundane despite the fantastical settings.  The tentpoles for this episode are Rupert Wong, Cannibal Chef by Cassandra Khaw, Hench by Natalie Zina Walschots, and “Always Near” by afrai.   What We’re Into Lately A Master of Djinn by P. Djèlí Clark  How to Find a Princess by Alyssa Cole Hollow Empire by Sam Hawke The Gauntlet by Karuna Riazi  Piranesi by Susanna Clarke Hiding in the Leaves by aventria & iluxia (Naruto fanfic) Legend of Yun Qian Scarlet Heart   Other Stuff We Mentioned Jumanji Labyrinth Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke  "The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas" by Ursula K. Le Guin Naruto After Working At Google, I’ll Never Let Myself Love A Job Again (Op-Ed, NYT) My Life as a Background Slytherin (webcomic) Avengers movies Superhero Damage Insurance (TikTok) Rogue One Star Wars franchise The Mandalorian Be the Serpent Space Sweepers episode The Sorcerer of the Wildeeps by Kai Ashante Wilson Jessica Jones October Daye series by Seanan McGuire Lost Girl Three Parts Dead by Max Gladstone Discworld series by Terry Pratchett Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia Rivers of London series by Ben Aaronovitch To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis Vorkosigan series by Lois McMaster Bujold John Scalzi (author) Honor Harrington series by David Weber We Ride the Storm by Devin Madson Catalyst by Jennifer Mace Foundryside by Robert Jackson Bennett My Next Life as a Villainess  “Period Piece” by thimblefullofdespair for a hundred vision and revisions by aventria, iluxia Merlin TV show Macey’s Fun Facts Tech Job Corner An Example of Bad Radio The Story Engine storytelling game   For Next Time Hikaru no Go (2020 live action Chinese drama)   Content Warnings Slavery (in “Always Near” + episode discussion) Medical trauma & body horror (in Hench) Cannibalism and gore (in Rupert Wong, Cannibal Chef + episode discussion)   Transcription The transcript for this episode is available here. Thanks as always to our fabulous team of scribes!

On today's episode, we're getting unseasonably spooky as we talk about Gothic novels! The tentpoles for this episode are Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, the film Crimson Peak, and the Untamed fanfic Imago by astrophyllite.   What We’re Into Lately Word of Honor The View Was Exhausting by Mikaella Clements and Onjuli Datta Die, Volume 1 by Kieron Gillen and Stephanie Hans Dread Nation by Justina Ireland Don’t Look Back series by acuteneurosis ShuoshuoChinese Trading for a Living: Psychology, Trading Tactics, Money Management by Alexander Elder Untamed fanfic, as always   Other Stuff We Mentioned The Wicked + the Divine by Kieron Gillen Young Avengers by Kieron Gillen American Psycho Tim Burton’s Alice movies Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë The Untamed Under The Pendulum Sun by Jeannette Ng A Song of Ice and Fire series by George R.R. Martin A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske Bluebeard folktale Beauty and the Beast folktale East of Sun and West of the Moon folktale Eros and Psyche folktale The Bloody Chamber by Angela Carter Jane Eyre miniseries (with Ruth Wilson) ‘Restraint and Revelation: or, The Necromancer of Yiling’ (Erotic Gothic Novelist!Lan Wangji) Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen Northanger Abbey TV movie The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett Chrestomanci series by Diana Wynne Jones Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones House of Many Ways by Diana Wynne Jones Be the Serpent Episode 36: There's No Place Like Home Addams Family Values   For Next Time Hench by Natalie Zina Walschots   Content Warnings Violence, gore, and incest in all three tentpoles and the episode discussion.   Transcription The transcript for this episode is available here. Thank you to our beloved team of scribes for their hard work!

On this week's episode, we're talking about postapocalyptic fiction, specifically stories set in the wake of a climate apocalypse. The tentpoles are Trail of Lightning by Rebecca Roanhorse, the fanfic "Moebius" by AuroraNova and Mad Max: Fury Road.   What We’re Into Lately The House of Niccolò series by Dorothy Dunnett Act Your Age, Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert Parks and Recreation The World Figure Skating Championship A Face Like Glass by Frances Hardinge love, in fire and blood by cicer Practical Creativity by Raph Koster    Other Stuff We Mentioned Be the Serpent, Episode 3: Apocalypse Sometime, Maybe Next Tuesday Cuckoo Song by Frances Hardinge  The Lie Tree by Frances Hardinge  Be the Serpent, Episode 38: A Hugo Award Special — The Novels of 2018 “Small Changes Over Long Periods of Time” by K.M. Szpara The Old Guard Atomic Blonde Studio Ghibli movies James Bond movies “Peer Gynt” by Grieg The first Mad Max movie Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman  Mass Effect games The ending of Mass Effect 3 Deal with the Devil by Kit Rocha Book of the Unnamed Midwife by Meg Elison The Day After Tomorrow Who Should Live In Flooded Old New York? by Brooke Bolander Embers by Vathara The Calculating Stars by Mary Robinette Kowal The Fifth Season by NK Jemisin Lotus Blue by Cat Sparks Mortal Engines by Philip Reeve The Sea and Summer (aka Drowning Towers) by George Turner  ‘The Fall of Civilizations’ podcast How We Get to Carbon Zero by Bianca Nogrady The Expanse  Space Sweepers Mars Trilogy by Kim Stanley Robinson Macey’s Fun Facts Bronze Age Mediterranean Corner 1177 BC: The Year Civilization Collapsed by Eric H. Cline The most famous and meme-able trader to ever live, Ea-nasir   For Next Time Crimson Peak film   Content Warnings Gore and implied sexual assault in Mad Max: Fury Road Gore and (urban fantasy standard) violence in Trail of Lightning Transcription The transcript for this episode is available here. Thank you as always to our brilliant team of scribes!!

On today's episode we're buckling on our space shoes, picking up our space harpoons, and charging up our space laser guns, because we're doing a deep dive on the new South Korean scifi film, Space Sweepers.   What We’re Into Lately An Unkindness of Ghosts by Rivers Solomon The House of Always by Jenn Lyon Disarmed by Sarah Rees Brennan Word of Honor The Midnight Bargain by C.L. Polk Mexican Gothic by Sylvia Moreno Garcia Boku no Hero Academia fanfic of the Star Wars crossover variety Mòxiāng Tóngxiù fanfic  Architects of Memory by Karen Osborne   Other Stuff We Mentioned Jupiter Ascending Untamed Hikaru No Go Hannibal  Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Rogue One: A Star Wars Story Firefly The Expanse Star Trek Star Wars Babylon 5 Killjoys The Mandalorian Les Misérables by Victor Hugo Be the Serpent episode 1 Acorna series by Anne McCaffrey Born Sexy Yesterday  Logan Interstellar The Expanse Futurama Bond movies   For Next Time Trail of Lightning by Rebecca Roanhorse   Content Warnings Death of a child (dealt with in-text) in Space Sweepers   Transcription The transcript for this episode can be found here. Huge thanks to our team of scribes!!

On this week's episode, we're getting the gang back together to talk about girl gangs, teen squads, and spooky witchy girls! The tentpoles this week are The Scapegracers by Hannah Abigail Clarke, Ring Shout by P. Djèlí Clark, and the fanfic “21st Century Girls” by springgreen.   What We’re Into Lately Foul is Fair by Hannah Capin The Prophets by Robert Jones Jr. Amari and the Night Brothers by B. B. Alston The Gentle Art of Fortune Hunting by K.J. Charles Riot Baby by Tochi Onyebuchi Dawn by Octavia Butler A Bouquet of Czech Folktales by Karel Jaromír Erben, trans. Marcela Sulak Boku No Hero Academia fanfic as day follows night by The_Eclectic_Bookworm The Untamed fanfic Word of Honor   Other Stuff We Mentioned Men in Black  Society of Gentlemen series by K.J. Charles The Chrysalids by John Wyndham Buffy the Vampire Slayer Guardian Nirvana in Fire 20th Century Boys manga series Sailor Moon manga series My Little Pony  St. Trinians  Ralph Breaks the Internet Stranger Things Jennifer’s Body Wild Beauty by Anna-Marie McLemore Mean Girls Sex and the City Golden Girls Ocean’s 8 Charlie’s Angels Totally Spies D.E.B.S Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo Dark Angel The Old Guard Wonder Woman Mad Max: Fury Road Dollhouse River Tam from Firefly Steven Universe   For Next Time Space Sweepers   Content Warnings Very brief mention of sexual assault (and description of its fallout) in Foul Is Fair, one of the "What We're Into Lately" books. Explicit depictions of racism (including the KKK) in Ring Shout. Kidnapping, attempted assault in The Scapegracers. Transcription The transcript for this episode can be found here. Huge thanks to our scribe team for their excellent work, as usual!