The Worldbuilder's Tavern

It's a sad episode, but we're going in-depth into what it was like starting a small publisher, what we learned, what we failed at, and where we're going from here (plus an interview with fantasy author Shelly Campbell). Have no fear, the podcast isn't going anywhere! We will back with Season 3 (revamped and revitalized) on January 4, 2023.

Searching for the answer to a mystery? Need a rare, magic spell? Is what you know about history not adding up? Well, then you obviously need to make a trip to the library full of secrets, for it holds the answers to life, the universe, and everything. But be careful, because the library is usually dangerous, potentially an inescapable labyrinth or guarded by magical beings that only let the one who is worthy read its books. Episode Hosts: Kyle, Emma, Christiana. Produced by Mythos & Ink.

The development of self-aware computers will have a huge impact on the world. Whether the A.I. goes haywire, decides to wipe out the human race, or becomes the super smart pilot of your crew’s spaceship, society will look different with artificial intelligence in play. Let’s take a look at how some stories have masterfully applied this trope. Hosts: Kyle, Allison, Christana Produced by: Mythos & Ink

Eons ago, people faced a terrible evil and were unable to defeat it. But they locked it away so it would never bother the earth again! Er… did we say “never”? We meant, of course, that the bars of its prison will weaken in a thousand years and it will be set free to ravage the world once more. But that’s future humanity’s problem. This trope lends a certain panache to your villain… they are legendary. They are powerful. They are feared (and probably immortal). Who wants to go up against that? Episode Hosts: Kyle, Allison, Christiana. Produced by Mythos & Ink.

Today's Trope: The Plants Have Risen Up Against Us. There’s something sinister about your surroundings trying to kill you—especially when those surroundings include giant, human-eating plants, trees that try to smother you with their roots, or other dangerous flora. Guns, swords, and sometimes even fire aren’t effective against shrewd shrubbery. Episode Hosts: Emma, Kyle, Christiana. Produced by Mythos & Ink.

Today's Trope: The Government is out to get us. Want your character to face off against impossible odds? Pit them against a corrupt, evil empire who’s hiding something important from the people or taking advantage of them in some way! This trope usually involves oppression of the masses, and a hierarchy of a few people who benefit from the system while many others suffer. Episode Hosts: Emma, Kyle, Christiana. Produced by Mythos & Ink.

Today’s Trope: Clones are Humans, Too. Are clones expendable, since they’re just copies? Do they have souls? Are they evil doppelgangers who need to be destroyed? Not in this trope! In these stories, clones become characters in their own right, with individual personalities and everything.  Stories Covered: Star Wars: The Bad Batch, Moon, The Prestige. Episode Hosts: Emma, Allison, Christiana. Produced by Mythos & Ink.

Hosts Kyle and Christiana take some time to talk to Allison Alexander and Shelly Campbell about their upcoming work (published by Mythos & Ink) called Making Myths and Magic. It's a field guide of sorts for all of us (fantasy and sci-fi writers especially) to help us with the creation of our worlds and get us set in the right direction for our writing journey.  Produced by Mythos & Ink.

Today’s Trope: Forbidden Power. While the power might not be evil in and of itself, it often twists the user in terrible ways. Whether it takes a toll on the mage’s mind or body, summons spirits that are difficult to control, or requires human sacrifice, the cost is usually high. And that’s why this magic is often feared, forbidden, and/or outlawed. Stories Covered: Star Wars, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Full Metal Alchemist. Episode Hosts: Emma, Allison, Christiana. Produced by Mythos & Ink. Announcement Music: “Coffee Beats” by Aaron Parsons (used with permission).

Episode Hosts: Kyle, Allison, and Emma Today's Trope: Everything is a Simulation (a.k.a. the awful truth about your world). In science fiction and fantasy, sometimes the truth about the world is hidden from the masses because it’s so horrible. You’re living in a simulation. We’re raising you to be fed to a multi-tentacled monster that demands sacrifices. Everyone is dead and this is actually hell. The mystery of this awful truth is built up throughout the story, so you want to know, even though you really don’t want to know. Stories Covered: Sword Art Online, The Good Place, WandaVision Produced by Mythos & Ink. Announcement Music: “Coffee Beats” by Aaron Parsons (used with permission).

Episode Hosts: Allison, Christiana, and Kyle. Today's Trope: Who wants to live forever? (a.k.a. immortal magics and technology.) Some characters are driven to find a way to live forever, and go on a quest for eternal life. But, often, when they do snag that elixir of life, or that fountain of youth, or that tech that lets you upload your consciousness into a new body, they find immortality isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. We’re going to look at how some writers have played with this trope in interesting ways. Stories Covered: Upload, Interview with a Vampire, Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson Produced by Mythos & Ink. Announcement Music: “Coffee Beats” by Aaron Parsons (used with permission).

Episode Hosts: Allison, Christiana, and Kyle. Today's Trope: Aliens are Weird. Sometimes, very weird. Their bodies often work in different ways than humans’ do, whether that means they have blue skin, multiple arms, can breathe underwater, have ten sexes, or only mate during a full moon. What makes an alien’s biology unique is entirely up to your imagination, though science and a basic understanding of anatomy might inspire you in the creation of alien species. Stories Covered: Alien, Stargate: SG-1, Cycle of Fire by Hal Clement Produced by Mythos & Ink. Announcement Music: “Coffee Beats” by Aaron Parsons (used with permission).

Episode Hosts: Emma, Kyla, and Christiana. Today's Trope: Werewolves, Vampires. Wizards. Pixies. Leprechauns. Banshees. They’re there—just out of sight for your normal citizen. But for those in the know, magic is a real part of our world. How is it kept a secret from society at large? Stories Covered: Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan, Men in Black, A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab Produced by Mythos & Ink. Announcement Music: “Coffee Beats” by Aaron Parsons (used with permission).

Episode Hosts: Emma, Kyla, and Christiana. Today's Trope: Fantasy fiction tends to make recurring use of specific races, species, or peoples and their societies. For example, elves live in forests and practice nature magic, dwarves live underground and are miners, and humans populate large cities and are concerned with technological advancement. Oh, and the above races are usually “good,” while orcs, goblins, and dark elves are “evil.” Today’s trope: “Elves Lives in Forests,” a.k.a. standard fantasy races and societies. Stories Covered: Death Valley, Shadowhunter by Cassandra Clare Produced by Mythos & Ink. Announcement Music: “Coffee Beats” by Aaron Parsons (used with permission).

Show Hosts: Kyle, Emma, and Allison. Today's Trope: Characters need to get to another galaxy, because reasons! Often that reason is that the planet is dying. Either humans have destroyed it, a giant asteroid hit the surface, or some other cataclysmic event occurred. Earth can no longer sustain life, and its people must find another world, in another galaxy, to inhabit. But how do they get there? This depends on the science of space travel! Hyperdrives, jump drives, warp drives, wormholes, generation ships, and cryo-travel are common methods of transporting people long distances in science fiction. Stories Covered: Lost in Space (cryosleep), Battlestar Galactica (jump drive), The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers (wormholes) Produced by Mythos & Ink. Announcement Music: “Coffee Beats” by Aaron Parsons (used with permission).

Show Hosts: Kyle, Emma, and Allison. Welcome to SEASON TWO of the podcast!! We're so excited to be back. Our theme for this season is sci-fi and fantasy tropes! Writers often think of tropes negatively, but they’re just commonly used themes or plot elements—symbols of the genre that keep readers coming back for more. Understanding tropes and using them effectively can deepen your worldbuilding! Today’s trope: the legendary artifact of power. The thing that separates these artifacts from other magical items is rarity. There’s often only one, and the artifact is so powerful it may have the ability to end worlds (or, at least, cause a lot of destruction). This power usually makes the object one of desire and even myth. Stories Covered: The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien, Deltora Quest by Emily Rodda, Aladdin Produced by Mythos & Ink. Announcement Music: “Coffee Beats” by Aaron Parsons (used with permission).

What is worldbuilding without fat dragons, magicless bards, and birdfolk named Jarnathan? Join us for a discussion about the fun romp that is Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves. And don't forget to vote on the topic of our finale episode! Will we discuss the worldbuilding of Wednesday, The Last of Us, or House of the Dragon? It's up to you, dear listeners! Cast your vote on Twitter here. If you're a patron, vote here instead, and your vote counts as double! Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi Proprietor's Pick: The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by S.A. Chakraborty Visit the Tavern: Twitter | TikTok | Discord Support us on Patreon to access bonus content.

In this episode, we rant about capitalism and unfair political systems. We dig into the dystopian world of The Hunger Games (both the movies and the books by Suzanne Collins) and argue about whether Snow could have ever been a good person. Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi Proprietor's Pick: The Ten Percent Thief by Lavanya Lakshminarayan Visit the Tavern: Twitter | TikTok | Discord Support us on Patreon to vote on topics and access bonus episodes.

In this episode, we discuss season three of The Mandalorian. Hear us chat about the writing being more disjointed this season, the strange episode with Doctor Pershing that shows the world under the New Republic's wing, and the differing cultures of the two Mandalorian groups. Also, is Din Djarin even the titular Mandalorian in this season? Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi Proprietor's Pick: The Splinter in the Sky by Kemi Ashing-Giwa Visit the Tavern: Twitter | TikTok | Discord Support us on Patreon to vote on topics and access bonus episodes.

In this episode, we discuss seasons one and two of The Mandalorian. Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi Proprietor's Pick: Star Wars Inquisitor: Rise of the Red Blade by Delilah S. Dawson Visit the Tavern: Twitter | TikTok | Discord Support us on Patreon to vote on topics and access bonus episodes.