Long Story Short: The Official Podcast of The British Fantasy Society

Jeremy Szal joins Robin to talk all things grim and dark, particularly focusing on Jeremy’s excellent series of SF grimness, The Common, comprising STORMBLOOD, BLINDSPACE and WOLKSKIN. They also talk Worldcon perspectives, but mostly, it’s grim; do you ever hold back? How grim is too grim? https://britishfantasysociety.org/blog/bfs-podcast-long-story-short/ Are you a member of the British Fantasy Society yet? Join us here: https://britishfantasysociety.org/about-the-bfs/become-a-member/ Find out more about Jeremy here: https://jeremyszal.com Visit David’s website: https://www.davidgreenwriter.com/ And Robin’s: https://robincmduncan.com/   Time stamps 02:20 - discussing STORMBLOOD (The Common, Book 1) / where did Vakov Fukasawa come from? 11:10 - influences / Red Rising (Pierce Brown) 20:40 - how grim is too grim? / GoT approach 29:10 - other themes: war on the poor 34:10 - Katie Bruce reviews THE KNIGHT WATCH, by Thomas D Lee 36:20 - Jeremy’s LA Worldcon / Hurray for Hollywood / a con down-under 42:40 - What’s next for Jeremy?

Owen and Alvin from Chaptore are here to explain how they produce music for books with the intent of enhancing the reading experience.      https://britishfantasysociety.org/blog/bfs-podcast-long-story-short/ Chaptore’s website: https://chaptore.com Interviewed by Robin CM Duncan: https://robincmduncan.com/ Alvin’s desert island disc/artist is LUDWIG GÖRANSSON (OSTs including The Odyssey, Sinners, Tenet, Oppenheimer, and The Mandalorian and Grogu). Owen’s desert island disc is the soundtrack to the film CINEMA PARADISO, by Ennio Morricone (1988), and artist Elliot Smith (yes, that’s two; we noticed). ——— Instagram: @chaptorehq, @alvinroobi.wav

Robin and BFS online editor Lauren McMenemy speak with Hailey Piper about her latest novel THIS MOVIE DOESN’T END THE WAY WE WANT. Hear about the nature of horror today, the influence of capitalism, writing as archaeology, approaching short fiction and an upcoming tribute to Stephen King, to name but a few topics. https://britishfantasysociety.org/blog/bfs-podcast-long-story-short/ Are you a member of the British Fantasy Society yet? Join us here: https://britishfantasysociety.org/about-the-bfs/become-a-member/ Find out more about Hailey here: https://haileypiper.com …and about Lauren here: https://britishfantasysociety.org/meet-the-bfs-committee-lauren-mcmenemy-pr-marketing-officer/ And Robin’s: https://robincmduncan.com/    

Cleland Smith joins the podcast to talk about her latest novel, BLACK DOE, released in August 2026, which Anna Smith Spark called “Hauntingly beautiful, an exceptional book”, and which ‘someone’ described as “a feminist, Pictish Bourne Ultimatum”. Cleland gracefully navigates our questions, even twisting the ‘infamous’ Question 10 on its head to excellent effect.      https://britishfantasysociety.org/blog/bfs-podcast-long-story-short/ Cleland’s websites: https://angelacleland.co.uk   &   https://www.clelandsmith.com  Interviewed by Robin CM Duncan: https://robincmduncan.com/ Cleland recommends reading WHEN THERE ARE WOLVES AGAIN, by E.J. SWIFT (2025) Cleland’s desert island disc, BLACK DOE, by Mary Epworth (2023)      https://maryepworth.bandcamp.com/album/black-doe Cleland (recently) has been writing to THE DARK CRYSTAL soundtracks, original and new (1982, Trevor Jones and 2019, Daniel Pemberton & Samuel Sim), and also referred to WEST WORLD (2016, Ramin Djawadi). Bluesky, @angelacleland.co.uk   -   Instagram, @angelaclelandwriter

David is joined by "Senny Dreadful" herself, the excellent Jen Williams. In addition to delving into Jen’s latest release, THE SLEEPLESS, they discuss Jen’s approach to writing, her previous books, and of course this episode would not be complete with diving into the subject of gaming, particularly the influence of Dragon Age and Baldur’s Gate III. https://britishfantasysociety.org/blog/bfs-podcast-long-story-short/ Are you a member of the British Fantasy Society yet? Join us here: https://britishfantasysociety.org/about-the-bfs/become-a-member/ Find out more about Jen here: https://www.sennydreadful.co.uk …and @sennydreadful   (Bluesky and Instagram) Visit David’s website: https://www.davidgreenwriter.com/ And Robin’s: https://robincmduncan.com/   Time stamps 01:30 - a BFA winner / cage match! / karaoke 04:10 - Jen’s new book, THE DREAMLESS 05:35 - timescales in publishing / a chapter a day 11:00 - writing two books at once / deadline heat 14:35 - The End of the Series / 3 into 2 does go 18:15 - a new YA duology / the price of paper 24:14 - Katie Bruce reviews ALL HAIL CHAOS and LONG LIVE EVIL, by Sarah Rees Brennan 26:30 - romantic expectations / 3 is a magic number 32:56 - the influence of Dragon Age 41:08 - disaster characters