Dissecting Dragons

A fairly recent addition to the list of historical fantasy sub genres is the regency fantasy. Despite being a comparatively small span of time, the Regency in England and comparable time period in Europe - especially France - seems to pair extremely well with elements such as schools of magical thought, dragons and faery courts. This week Jules and Madeleine delve into the subject to discover why and what the broad appeal is for readers and viewers. On the slab this week - Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell - Suzanna Clarke, A Declaration of the Rights of Magicians - H. G. Parry, Half a Soul - Olivia Atwater and many more.   Title Music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

Continuing their 'Fairytales in Focus' series, this week the dragons tackle one of the best known and loved stories of all time. While Cinderella has enjoyed centuries of popularity in Europe, the tale has roots that go back millennia, and a lineage that sees versions of it emerging in almost every culture worldwide. From Egypt to India, Russia to Scotland, France to Finland, Jules and Madeleine follow the trail of 'girls who lost their slippers and sandals', emerging from ignominy and oppression to a life where their true value is seen. It's a far wilder ride than you might expect if you're only familiar with the Disney version.  On the slab this week: Cinder - Marissa Meyer, The Slipper & the Rose (1976), Ever After (1998), Ella Enchanted - Gail Carson Levine and many more.   Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic 

No, that is not a typo! If you're not familiar with the term 'filk' it refers to the multi-genre music produced by fans of science fiction, fantasy and horror. The dragons have said before that a mark of great art is that it inspires others, both amateur and professional, to create art of their own. This week, Jules and Madeleine take a look at the witty, acerbic, poignant and humorous fan music inspired by speculative fiction. Where does the boundary between filk and mainstream come in? Where did the term come from? And what is it about filk that draws us in? Find out in this fun, light hearted episode.    Title Music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

The dragons have covered aspects of worldbuilding in previous episodes, but not much attention has ever been given to the aspect of sport in writing SFF. Not just by this podcast but in general, so this week Jules and Madeleine take a look at sport in speculative fiction. Sport is an important part of cultural history and national identity. It can form a major if indirect part of diplomacy between neighbouring countries or nations at odds. The added benefit in speculative fiction is that you are not bound by the mundane - you can have magical sports and spaceship races. So why don't more authors incorporate it? And who has done so and done it well? On the slab this week: The Hunger Games, The Lies of Locke Lamora, The Queen's Gambit, Fence (S.C, Pacat) and many more.   Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

This week the dragons are delighted to welcome back special guest Hamish Steele to talk about his forthcoming Netflix series Dead End: Paranormal Park. Based on the DeadEndia graphic novels, the setting of the series makes Hamish the perfect person to join this week's discussion. Carnivals, circuses and fair grounds are niche but popular settings for speculative fiction. As liminal spaces where the usual rules are suspended, they are ideal places to look at the world in a different way or challenge mundane boundaries. Their inherent whimsy, surreality and eeriness allow them to fit into multiple different genres - mystery, fantasy, horror, even science fiction. But where does this setting and the sense of suspension of rules originate? And what exactly is out fascination with them born of? Find out in this week's episode.   Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic 

As always, the dragons resist handing down prescriptive writing advice, however, when it comes to writing for publication and the process of publishing itself, there are definitely some dos and don'ts! This week Jules and Madeleine look at practical considerations when sending a book out into the world or when sitting down with a concept to write one. What is PLR? Are titles copyright protected? Should you be trying to write to market or chasing the latest big trend? All this and more in this week's episode.   Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

The second episode in the dragons 'fairy tales in focus' series looks at the origins of famous favourite, Snow White. The story appears in many European and Indonesian folktales, with the components - for example a jealous older woman, or a young, beautiful woman trapped in suspended animation - being far older. Following the subtle but powerful themes, Jules and Madeleine uncover a story that was never intended for children at all - at least not in its original incarnations. From Giambattista Basile's The Young Slave, to Joseph Jacobs Gold Tree and Silver Tree, the dragons trace a path through Snow White's possible historical origins and through the dark forests of the Brothers Grimm.   Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

Have you ever wondered what makes some books, films and TV series take off, while others (often arguably better produced/ written) just do ok? The dragons certainly have. And they might well have an answer. Or at least a large chunk of one. In the second part of this two part episode, Jules and Madeleine will be looking focusing themes and sub themes in bestselling fiction - and why they're just delicious for readers/ viewers when done well. On the slab this week: Harry Potter, The Hunger Games, Twilight and many more.    Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

Have you ever wondered what makes some books, films and TV series take off, while others (often arguably better produced/ written) just do ok? The dragons certainly have. And they might well have an answer. Or at least a large chunk of one. In the first part of this two part episode, Jules and Madeleine will be looking what all best selling speculative fiction has in common, focusing this time on core wounds and character arcs - and why they're just delicious for readers/ viewers when done well. On the slab this week: Harry Potter, The Hunger Games, Twilight and many more.  Look out for Part two next week. Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

Most writers are driven to write when they strongly feel they have something to say or a story to tell. This is a good thing - readers can always tell when a writer is phoning it in. However, if you have strong opinions on various subjects and you're tackling them in your work, it can be easy to lose sight of the fact that story is king and deliver your themes with more zeal than nuance. This week, the dragons look at books and films which have unfortunately strayed into preachiness as well as those who have handled their themes in a more balanced  manner, before delving into how to avoid preaching in your own work. On the slab this week: Imaginary Friend - Stephen Chbosky, The Stand - Stephen King, The Black Magician Trilogy - Trudi Canavan, Shadow and Bone and many more.   Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

Giving something a label can be helpful. On a book, for example, it can tell you where to shelve it in a bookstore or which audience might most appreciate being shown it. However, labels are often limiting. Outside the convenience of genre in terms of shelving and marketing, labelling a book can have a number of knock on effects. This is especially the case when the label transfers from the book to the author. Compounding this issue, is the connected problem of authors being assumed to hold the same opinions as their antagonistic characters, or even being mistaken for their main characters. This week, the dragons take a look at why these opinions form and why they are almost always wrong. Are labels more helpful or harmful on balance? Can you ever really know an author by reading their books? Join Jules and Madeleine for an opinion piece episode.   Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

Jules and Madeleine are delighted to introduce a new 'series within a series' on Dissecting Dragons. Fairytales in focus will be a set of occasional podcast episodes that pop up during regularly scheduled programming, which take a single folk tale or fairy story and looks at the ways in which it has evolved and is still evolving.   This week, the dragons delve into the origins and iterations of Little Red Riding Hood. Just who is the bas guy in that fairy tale? (The answer might surprise you.) Where did the story originate and what are its enduring themes? How is the story shapeshifting to fit a modern audience? Find out in this week's deep dive. Under the scalpel this week: The Girl in Red - Christina Henry, Low Red Moon - Ivy Devlin, Scarlet - Marissa Meyer and many more.   Title Music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

Ever watched a film or read a book and found yourself getting annoyed with a character because they are utterly invested in an issue that has nothing to do with the plot? Or worse, that they clearly know very little about? You're not alone - both of the dragons are right there with you. Do not be deceived by the quirky (quote-y) title, this episode is a look at the 'activist character' trope in speculative fiction, and why it often doesn't work. And, of course, how to alter a few things so that you can include an 'activist' character and have it work for your own writing. Under the microscope this week: Bridgerton, Legally Blonde, The Princess Diaries and many more.   Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

Even though the term was coined fairly recently, Dark Academia has existed for decades, changing shape and borrowing from many sources including 19th C Gothic fiction and Romantic and Existential Nature poetry. Over the last two years or so, the sub genre's popularity has exploded. This week the dragons take a deep dive into the glass darkly looking at what makes something dark academia rather than magical academia, examining its relationship with other genres and looking at both the pros and cons of the sun genre. On the slab this week: The Secret History - Donna Tart, If We Were Villains - M. L. Rio, A Deadly Education - Naomi Novak and many more.   Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

There's a fine line between romance and horror, and it doesn't take much to cross over it. Not just because romances that go wrong - 'bad romances' - can easily morph into horror stories in their own write. Romance and horror often both tap into the same universal human emotions, explore similar themes from different ends of the spectrum and even hit similar beats albeit from different angles. Naturally this crossover means that there are a handful of tropes which could fit in either genre and it just depends on how you handle them. This week, Jules and Madeleine take a look at three main tropes which they enjoy in one genre but not so much in another. What really drives the 'love never dies' trope or the idea of 'soul mates'? Find out in this week's episode. Under the microscope this week: Francis Ford Coppola's Dracula, Over the Moon, Outlander and many more.   Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

Regular listeners will not be surprised to hear that both dragons are nerds about weaponry in general and swords in particular. However, there are ways of writing and filming weapons in speculative fiction that work and other ways that don't. This week Jules and Madeleine take a look how to incorporate a signature weapon into a story (everyone loves a superhero with a cool blade or unusual axe, right?) and how to avoid common mistakes for writing use of weapons in sff. Just how much speculation is too much in a weapons scene? What do you need to be aware of? And how can you avoid a clanger that will throw a more knowledgeable reader out of the story? On the slab this week - MCU Infinity War & End Game, The Wheel of Time, Star Trek - The Next Generation and many more   Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

We've all read characters like this: the character who has clearly become the author's precious darling upon whom she will bestow all gifts, abilities, luck and narrative candy. In fact, a lot of readers have characters about whom they feel the same, so is it even a problem? Sadly, yes. An over-candied character will rot your story, weigh down the plot and kill tension.  What constitutes candy in character terms? And how can you give your character all the cool stuff you want to give them without destroying the story? This week Jules and Madeleine look at why this happens and what to do about it. On the slab this week - Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Harker & Blackthorn, Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan and many more.   Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

Part 2 of a 2 part episode Both dragons are big urban fantasy fans. (This will surprise no one who regularly listens or reads their work - both write UF, after all). However, they've each grown a little tired of certain iterations of UF tropes so this week, Jules and Madeleine are taking a look at UF tropes which are maybe a little tired and could do with being rested or reimagined. Please note, this is an opinion piece, not specific writing advice - they may discuss tropes that are evergreen for you, and if you love them, that's fine. We all want different things from our Urban Fantasy! On the slab this week - Scarlett Bernard series by Melissa F Olson, Dresden Files by Jim Butcher, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, The Guild Codex by Annette Marie and many more.   Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

Part 1 of a 2 part episode Both dragons are big urban fantasy fans. (This will surprise no one who regularly listens or reads their work - both write UF, after all). However, they've each grown a little tired of certain iterations of UF tropes so this week, Jules and Madeleine are taking a look at UF tropes which are maybe a little tired and could do with being rested or reimagined. Please note, this is an opinion piece, not specific writing advice - they may discuss tropes that are evergreen for you, and if you love them, that's fine. We all want different things from our Urban Fantasy! On the slab this week - Scarlett Bernard series by Melissa F Olson, Dresden Files by Jim Butcher, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, The Guild Codex by Annette Marie and many more.   Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

Believable child characters can be tricky to write. Children are not merely mini adults but tend to see the world very differently. Added to which, writing a child protagonist for a child reader is completely different to writing a child character for an adult audience. This week the dragons delve into how to create a child character for both audiences, both the perils and pitfalls, and the neat tricks you can use to make your character pitch perfect in terms of age and life experience. Under the microscope this week: Home by Amanda Berriman, To Kill a Mocking Bird - Harper Lee, Interview with a Vampire and many more.   Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic