14 - We Read This Very Differently (Again)

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This week @afishtrap and I continue our discussion of Grace of Kings & look at nobility in the book (and to some extent various epic traditions more broadly) through the Rima & Jizu episode.  We refer to my reading that every member of the old noble houses acquits themselves with “honor”, which I extend to a reading that there is something inherently special about the DNA of nobles in Grace of Kings, at which point we discovered that (recurring theme!) we read this very differently. Along the way we get into how Kuni (not a noble!) and Mata (a hero from the old noble houses) embody or contradict our readings. Our discussion opens and closes with Mata, his extraordinary heroism, and fitness to rule.

The amazing art which inspired me to actually get this project off the ground was created by @etrandem

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Music - Jazzy Ashes by The Underscore Orkestra

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13 - Short Stories with Nick Mamatas

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This week, Nick Mamatas (@nmamatas) joins me to talk about short stories - the appeal of the format and some strengths and weaknesses.

Stories discussed (all three are freely available & quick reads)

Freytag Triangle

Freytag Triangle

Nick's final recommendation is The Masonic Dream Engine (Thom Metzger) in Flurb

The amazing art which inspired me to actually get this project off the ground was created by @etrandem

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Music - Jazzy Ashes by The Underscore Orkestra

If you want to subscribe to the show, the RSS feed is: http://www.cabbagesandkings.audio/?format=rss

12 - We Read This Very Differently (part 1)

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@afishtrap and I begin our discussion of Ken Liu's Grace of Kings in medias res as all good Epics must.  In this case, with the passage that I highlighted as the one I'd most want to argue with.

For me, this passage is about the conflict between practical engineering and divine intervention, a frequent hobgoblin of fantasy traditions with distant-but-present gods. Coming out of the Chinese traditions the engineering developments and divine influence read very differently.

This week also concludes with my reminiscing because of a new Black Sun Rising readalong at bibliotropic (@bibliotropic).

The amazing art which inspired me to actually get this project off the ground was created by @etrandem

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Music - Jazzy Ashes by The Underscore Orkestra

If you want to subscribe to the show, the RSS feed is: http://www.cabbagesandkings.audio/?format=rss

11 - Interview with Shana DuBois

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My guest this week is Shana (@booksbound on Twitter).  We talk about her own introduction to the genre via horror and science fiction TV shows, The Canon, supporting Small Presses (including some great books!), waiting on a series, and re-reading and marking up books.  Shana also reveals her standard for what makes a book good enough to keep her hooked.

Shana's list of small presses - 

 

Coode St. Podcast discussion of Elysium (ep 209, around 27 minutes)

Discussion with Nicolette of Bookpunks including "collecting" authors

Book Smugglers review of Archivist Wasp

The amazing art which inspired me to actually get this project off the ground was created by @etrandem

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Music - Jazzy Ashes by The Underscore Orkestra

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10 - Interview with Akil Harris

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This week I interview Akil Harris, a student, reader, and writer.  Akil leads us through his history with the fantasy genre and the authors and stories he's enthusiastically reading (and sometimes writing in) now.

CoverHundredThousandKingdoms.jpg

The Destroy Science Fiction series (with People of Color Destroy Science Fiction anticipated in 2016!) 

Introductory list of writers of color - Octavia E. Butler, Tananarive Due, Steven Barnes, David Anthony Durham, Samuel R. Delaney, Nnedi Okorafor, N.K. Jemisin, Sofia Samatar 

Resources for discovering & creating diverse Science Fiction & Fantasy - 

Media mentioned - 

The amazing art which inspired me to actually get this project off the ground was created by@etrandem

Send feedback! Tweet me! Tweet the show! Be a guest on the show! 

Music - Jazzy Ashes by The Underscore Orkestra

If you want to subscribe to the show, the RSS feed is: http://www.cabbagesandkings.audio/?format=rss