Beyond The Trope

The author of Zombie Survival Guide and World War Z talks about the movie that shares a title with his book, his new comic series, and the upcoming graphic novel series.   Thanks, again, to Denver Comic Con, Comic Book Classroom, and Max Brooks for letting us moderate.

This is the audio that Denver Comic Con graciously allowed us to record at LeVar Burton's Reading Rainbow event in 2014.

We have another guest, Royce Roeswood from roeswood.com.   Mentioned in this episode:   Destination Imagination Whose Line Is It Anyway (TV Show) Bovine Metropolis Theatre Romeo and Juliet Werewolves and Vampires (Play) Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson Muppet Treasure Island (Movie) Northern Exposure (TV Show) Shakespeare The Lego Movie Dr. Who Makeshift Shakespeare (Improve Troupe) Voodoo Comedy Playhouse THE TAMING OF THE SHREW IMPRO by Keith Johnstone

Today, we ponder adaptations. From movies to books to stage plays. It's a blast!   Mentioned in this episode:   How to Train Your Dragon Lilo and Stitch The Last Airbender The Golden Compass High Fidelity Harry Potter Cyrano de Bergerac Eragon The Lord of the Rings The Hunger Games Sherlock Holmes Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter The Princess Bride The Two Princesses of Bamarre Divergent The Dresden Files Ender's Game The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Ella Enchanted Stardust A Knight's Tale Pride and Prejudice (and Zombies) Sense and Sensibility (and Sea Monsters) Warm Bodies Scott Pilgrim The Parasol Protectorate Code Name Verity The Scorpio Races Dealing with Dragons The Jeeves books by P. G. Wodehouse Dragonheart Thursday Next Dr. Who Love Actually Marvel Films and Comics Wheel of Time Shrek Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs The Polar Express 50 Shades of Gray Twilight Frozen Tangled Sandman Secret of Kells Kiera Knightly Natalie Portman Forrest Gump Ray Charles

This week we talk about Archetypes.   Mentioned in this episode:   THE HERO WITH A THOUSAND FACES by Joseph Campbell Carl Jung THE LORD OF THE RINGS by J. R. R. Tolkien THOMAS COVENANT THE UNBELIEVER (Book Series) by Stephen R. Donaldson Firefly (TV Show) Dexter (TV Show) THE ODYSSEY by Homer The Star Wars Trilogy (Original Movie Series) Superman (Movie and Comic Book Series) HARRY POTTER (Book Series) by J. K. Rowling ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST by Ken Kesey THE CIRCLE OF MAGIC (Book Series) by Tamora Pierce Plato HOW TO WRITE A DAMN GOOD NOVEL and other books by James N Frey NEVER LET ME GO by Kazuo Ishiguro TAROT FOR WRITERS by Corrine Kenner The Holiday (Movie) Frasier (TV Show) MegaMind (Movie) ALICE IN WONDERLAND by Lewis Carroll Inception (Movie) THE WIZARD OF OZ by L. Frank Baum The Matrix (Movie) Dr. Who (TV Show) THE HITCHHIKER'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY by Douglas Adams The Labyrinth (Movie) Pinky and the Brain (TV Show) THE DRESDEN FILES (Book Series) by Jim Butcher

We discussed some methods and the importance of Self Editing this week.   Mentioned in this episode:   WRITING MAGIC by Gail Carson Levine Steinbeck Tolstoy

We're talking about POV and Tense.   Mentioned in this episode:   Star Trek (Sci-Fi Franchise): Kobayashi Maru THE HUNGER GAMES by Suzanne Collins SPLINTERED by A. G. Howard BEKA COOPER (Book Series) by Tamora Pierce READY PLAYER ONE by Ernest Cline (Narrated by Will Wheaton) THE DRESDEN FILES (Book Series) by Jim Butcher NEVER LET ME GO by Kazuo Ishiguro SCORPIO RACES by Maggie Stiefvater A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE by George R. R. Martin THE HOBBIT and THE LORD OF THE RINGS by J. R. R. Tolkien THE PARASOL PROTECTORATE (Book Series) by Gail Carriger Charles Dickens ENDER'S GAME by Orson Scott Card DRACULA by Bram Stoker TWILIGHT by Stephenie Meyer ERAGON by Christopher Paolini ELLA ENCHANTED by Gail Carson Levine That 70s Show (TV Show) DUNE by Frank Herbert Writing Excuses Podcast with Brandon Sanderson et al DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE by Laini Taylor SANDMAN (Comics) by Neil Gaiman SCOUNDRELS by Timothy Zahn ROBOTECH (Books and TV Show) GUNDAM (Anime) LORD OF THE CLANS by Christie Golden DR. WHO (Novels) John S

Write What You Know. The old adage. It's what we discuss this week.   Mentioned in this episode:   Loki: Ragnarok And Roll Dr. Who Castle (TV Show) Brandon Sanderson Carl Jung Boom Studios R. A. Salvatore T.L. McCallan Jim Butcher Myers Briggs THE VAMPIRE CHRONICLES by Anne Rice Bram Stoker J. K. Rowling TWILIGHT by Stephanie Meyer Joseph Campbell William Shakespeare Jane Austen Diana Gabaldon J. R. R. Tolkien C. S. Lewis Clarkesworld Magazine Jason Heller Dead Poets Society (Movie) CIRCLE OF MAGIC by Tamora Pierce PAY IT FORWARD by Catherine Ryan Hyde The Matrix (Movie) Star Wars (Movie) Forest Gump (Movie) Star Trek (TV Show) Dexter (TV Show) Sherlock (BBC Modern Retelling) BLINDNESS by José Saramago Torchwood (TV Show) DREADPENNY TALES Edited by Quincy J. Allen Danielle Steele Debbie Macomber DIVERGENT by Veronica Roth Aladdin (Movie) Being There (Movie)

Short Stories and Long Fiction both have their merits. In this episode, we discuss both, but with a focus on Shorts.   Mentioned in this episode:   TO BUILD A FIRE by Jack London Edgar Allen Poe J. R. R. Tolkien Mark Twain VAMPIRE TAROT by Neil Gaiman NIGHT SHIFT (collection) by Stephen King Frank DuPont Dr. Who X-Men Ian T. Healy CABBAGES AND KINGS by O. Henry The Sixth Sense (Movie) Joyce Carol Oates YELLOW WALLPAPER by Charlotte Perkins Gilman Avatar: The Last Airbender (TV Show) West Side Story Comic Book Classroom Science Fiction and Fantasy Magazine THE HIGHWAYMAN by Alfred Noyes THE VELDT by Ray Bradbury M Night Shyamalan Fictionvale Magazine RMFW Anthology ARABY by James Joyce Veronica Roland DailyScienceFiction.com SFWA Tom Clancy Lorena McKennitt

Laughter makes the world go HA!   In this episode, we discussed humor and the following:   Jim Butcher Joss Whedon Rowdy Roddy Piper Loki: Agents of Asgard Star Wars Monty Python's Bookshop Sketch Will Ferrel Unexpected Shakespeare THE ROAD TO MARS by Eric Idle HITCHHIKER'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY by Douglas Adams GOOD OMENS by Terry Pratchet and Neil Gaiman Jasper Fforde Sweeney Todd Seth MacFarlan Molière Bugs Bunny Vince Vaughn Jane Austen TEMPING FATE by Esther M. Friesner Dead Like Me (TV Show) Warcraft 2 (Video Game) GAME OF THRONES by George R.R. Martin Sylvia Plath The Avengers (Movie) LAMB by Christopher Moore Dr. Who Waiting for Godot Shrek Finding Nemo (Movie) Quest for Camelot (Movie)

We discuss fan art.   Mentioned in this episode:   tortallcomicsproject.deviantart.com D&D World of Warcraft Robotech Star Trek Star Wars Dr. Who R.A. Salvatore The Doubleclicks Kirby Krackle M.C. Frontalot PAX Harry and the Potters Draco and the Malfoys Turn Left Chameleon Circuit A Very Potter Musical Tolkien The Dresden Files RPG @harriedwizard and @mollycarpenter @watsonjw and @sherlocksh Nancy Drew Roommates on DeviantArt Tamora Pierce Tomorrow Girl THE HUNGER GAMES by Suzanne Collins Supernatural Firefly Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling Etsy.com ThinkGeek.com Denver Comic Con Avatar: The Last Airbender Kid Loki Starfest Opusfest Circle of Magic Thor Invader Zim GURPS Munchkin Small World Evil Hat-FATE Serenity RPG

We FINALLY got around to Tropes!   Discussed: tvtropes.org KUNG FU PANDA from Deamworks HARRY POTTER by J.K. Rowling SUPERMAN 2 LOKI, AGENT OF ASGARD from Marvel Comics DR. WHO Jim Butcher DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE by Laini Taylor THE GIVER by Lois Lowry writingexcuses.com STAR TREK FIREFLY BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER THE YELLOW WALLPAPER by Charlotte Perkins Gilman

Aaron Michael Ritchey joins us to talk about his new book LONG LIVE THE SUICIDE KING.   Mentioned in this episode:   STORY by Robert McKee Deb Courtney from Courtney Literary Kirkus Review Harold and Maude Crescent Moon Press Stephen King RMFW Colorado Gold Contest Stephen King King of the Hill ERAGON by Christopher Paolini THE LORD OF THE RINGS by J.R.R. Tolkien THE NEVER PRAYER by Aaron Michael Ritchey 30 Seconds to Mars Winter's Bone Letters to Juilet Blade Runner THE FAULT IN OUR STARS by John Green TWILIGHT by Stephanie Meyer Ange,l Buffy, and Firefly of Joss Whedon fame Tamora Pierce Dallas Buyers Club National Treasure THE DaVINCI CODE by Dan Brown Paul Lell Breaking Bad "Cross the Ocean" by Bora Yoon AaronMRitchey.com

This week, we discuss our writing processes.   Mentioned during the podcast: CLOUD ATLAS by David Mitchell RMFW.org Terry Wright's Synopsis Guidelines at http://www.rmfw.org/download/contest_info/Synopsis.pdf Giles Hash's outlining technique at http://gilesth.blogspot.com/2012/04/how-to-write-outline.html HOW TO WRITE A DAMN GOOD MYSTERY by James N. Frey THE HUNGER GAMES by Suzanne Collins Shakespeare J.R.R. Tolkien ERAGON by Christopher Paolini HARRY POTTER by J.K. Rowling Tamara Pierce LOST YEARS OF MERLIN and THE GREAT TREE OF AVALON series by T.A. Barron

In this episode, we go on bunny trails.   Discussed in this episode:   The SERENITY RPG by Margaret Weis Productions (margaretweis.com) The DRESDEN FILES RPG by Evil Hat Productions (evilhat.com) little-details.livejournal.com ENSIGN SUE MUST DIE by Clare Moseley and Kevin Bolk GREEN LANTERN (DC Comics) Carol Berg (Fantasy Author and RMFW Presenter) RMFW.org Lydia Kang at lydiakang.blogspot.com SHREK (the first movie from Dreamworks) SHERLOCK (the BBC production. Found on PBS, Netflix, or HULU in the US)

Episode 3 Shakespeare   Liner Notes:   In this episode we geek out about The Bard Himself! William Shakespeare.   MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM HAMLET (the play, the movies staring Kenneth Branaugh or Mel Gibson) TEMPEST "Wishbone" from PBS (Great Show!) "Dr. Who" from BBC "Shakespeare Retold" from BBC MACBETH TAMING OF THE SHREW THE EMPEROR'S NEW CLOTHES by Hans Christian Andersen ROMEO AND JULIET JULIUS CAESAR (Read from Act I Scene I) WARM BODIES (book) by Isaac Marion Joss Whedon (the man!) "10 Things I Hate About You" (film adaptation of TAMING OF THE SHREW) OTHELLO Sir Patrick Stewart (The Big Man!) THE BIBLE Flogging Molly (band) Netflix (check out many films we mention on their site!) "She's The Man" (film adaptation of TWELFTH NIGHT) "Much Ado About Nothing" (Branaugh & Whedon versions)

Episode 2 Comics   This Week's Liner Notes:   In this episode, we talk about art in comics. Here are a few of the comics we mentioned during our discussion.   Ctrl+Alt+Del Comic http://www.cad-comic.com Penny Arcade http://penny-arcade.com V FOR VENDETTA by Alan Moore and David Lloyd MOUSEGUARD by David Petersen AMERICAN GODS by Neil Gaiman GOOD OMENS by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett FEAR ITSELF Avengers Arc JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY SANDMAN by Neil Gaiman THE AVENGERS THISTIL MISTIL KISTIL by Sarah Schanze WEREGEEK http://weregeek.com The Doubleclicks "Nothing to Prove" (song) CASTLE (TV show on ABC) THE DRESDEN FILES (Series) by Jim Butcher TWILIGHT (The Manga Adaptation) by Stephanie Meyer Shakespeare Comics http://shakespearecomics.com ENDER'S GAME by Orson Scott Card Drizzt Books (Forgotten Realms Series) by R.A. Salvatore REDWALL (and series) by Brian Jacques DINOTOPIA by James Gurney MAUS by Art Spiegelman WATCHMEN by Alan Moore, Dave Gibbons, and John Higgins SCOTT PILGRIM by Bryan Lee O'Malley JL8 Comic

We discuss some of the wonderful ways literature can be used in the classroom.   Mentioned in this episode: CALL IT COURAGE by Armstrong Sperry THE METAMORPHOSIS by Kafka THE LIGHTNING THIEF by Rick Riordan (http://www.rickriordan.com) THE DRESDEN FILES (series) by Jim Butcher TOM SAWYER and HUCKLEBERRY FINN by Mark Twain UNCLE TOM'S CABIN by Harriet Beecher Stowe FAHRENHEIT 451 by Ray Bradbury MARIE ANTOINETTE, SERIAL KILLER by Katie Alender JOHNNY TREMAIN by Esther Forbes MAUS by Art Spiegelman DEVIL IN THE WHITE CITY and THUNDERSTRUCK by Erik Larson PARANORMALCY by Kiersten White THE DAY I SWAPPED MY DAD FOR TWO GOLDFISH by Neil Gaiman THE WALLOPING WINDOW-BLIND by Charles Edward Carryl