Fantasy Book Swap

Fantasy Book Swaphttps://www.spreaker.com/podcast/fantasy-book-swap--5074168fantasybookswap@gmail.com, @fantasyswap on Twitter or https://www.facebook.com/Fantasybookswap. Ask questions, make comments and join in the discussion!]]>enBooksCopyright Fantasy Book Swaphttps://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/89d30d9fad51270e2cf460f54b43d337.jpgFantasy Book Swaphttps://www.spreaker.com/podcast/fantasy-book-swap--5074168Wed, 19 Aug 2026 16:22:09 +0000Fantasy Book SwapFantasy Book Swapfeeds@spreaker.comAli Baker and a guest discuss children's fantasy fiction. The guest chooses a favourite for Ali, and Ali chooses a complementing contemporary book. Jokes and the occasional swear word may ensue. Please contact fantasybookswap@gmail.com, @fantasyswap...fantasybookswap@gmail.com, @fantasyswap on Twitter or https://www.facebook.com/Fantasybookswap. Ask questions, make comments and join in the discussion!]]>falsed970b5cf-ffb4-54cf-9d27-11f90b7da495episodicEp 57 Lost boys and celebrity rivers with Tajinder Hayerhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/ep-57-lost-boys-and-celebrity-rivers-with-tajinder-hayer--74323602The Borribles by Michael de Larrabeiti Taj’s choice: The Blackthorn Branch by Elen Caldecott Ebbs and Flows by Tajinder on Ragged Edge Productions’ website Taj’s episode of Zog: The Great Gnome Games Ali’s article on The Borribles, Punk and Protest can be read in this edition of Vector, the BSFA’s journal. SUS laws Media mentioned in this episode The Warriors Assault on Precinct 13 The Tribe Mad Max: Beyond the Thunderdome You can use the TfL Walking website to follow the route from Angel to Farringdon that Oliver Twist and the Artful Dodger walked to Fagin’s den. Three Men in a Boat and The Wind in the Willows are two classics of leisurely life on the river. Former guest Sandra Bond’s Three Men in Orbit relocates Jerome K. Jerome’s characters in space! The Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad Watership Down by Richard Adams The Snow Spider by Jenny Nimmo Elidor by Alan Garner Aru Shah and the End of Time I thoroughly recommend Sarwat Chadda’s Ash Mistry series as another brilliant use of Indian traditional stories for children’s fantasy. The Mahabharata and Ramayana are key texts that are the basis of spiritual practices that originated in India Edgelands by Paul Farley and Michael Symonds Roberts Taj’s webpage at Lancaster University My Buy me a coffee link buymeacoffee.com/alibaker68e ]]>alibaker68.podbean.com/38a62eef-cc35-3271-a633-e92da7cb7456Wed, 19 Aug 2026 15:33:59 +0000Fantasy Book SwapAli’s choice: https://www.hive.co.uk/product/michael-de-larrabeiti/the-borribles/15805985 Taj’s choice:...The Borribles by Michael de Larrabeiti Taj’s choice: The Blackthorn Branch by Elen Caldecott Ebbs and Flows by Tajinder on Ragged Edge Productions’ website Taj’s episode of Zog: The Great Gnome Games Ali’s article on The Borribles, Punk and Protest can be read in this edition of Vector, the BSFA’s journal. SUS laws Media mentioned in this episode The Warriors Assault on Precinct 13 The Tribe Mad Max: Beyond the Thunderdome You can use the TfL Walking website to follow the route from Angel to Farringdon that Oliver Twist and the Artful Dodger walked to Fagin’s den. Three Men in a Boat and The Wind in the Willows are two classics of leisurely life on the river. Former guest Sandra Bond’s Three Men in Orbit relocates Jerome K. Jerome’s characters in space! The Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad Watership Down by Richard Adams The Snow Spider by Jenny Nimmo Elidor by Alan Garner Aru Shah and the End of Time I thoroughly recommend Sarwat Chadda’s Ash Mistry series as another brilliant use of Indian traditional stories for children’s fantasy. The Mahabharata and Ramayana are key texts that are the basis of spiritual practices that originated in India 6794false58fullEp 56: Weird Science with Dr Annie Czajkowskihttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/ep-56-weird-science-with-dr-annie-czajkowski--73176232The Girl with the Silver Eyes by Willo Davis Roberts Ali’s choice: The Lie Tree by Frances Hardinge A short piece by Willo Davis Roberts on writing mysteries for young people Annie has just got back from Finncon where her husband, multiple award-winning author Adrian Tchaikovsky was a guest of honour. Rosebud is an excellent bookshop. If you’re ever in Helsinki you should definitely visit. Annie talks about Xan Van Roojen, a South African writer who lives in Finland, and their use of music while writing. My vote for a new National Anthem: Disco Inferno I listen to a lot of Philip Glass music when writing. It calms my brain. This is the beginning of his opera Akhnaten, which I was lucky enough to see staged in Leeds in the mid-90s. The Girl with the Silver Eyes reminds me of Escape to Witch Mountain, a Disney live-action film. Tales of the City by Armistead Maupin Shockingly I misremembered the opening sentence of Pride and Prejudice. I will retire my English Literature degree. In my defence, I'm a Victorianist. It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife. My earworm this week: Mean Green Mother From Outer Space from Little Shop of Horrors Alnwick Castle Poison Garden Maelstrom LARP The Coral Bones by EJ Swift has been on my TBR list for an embarrassingly long time. You can find out more about Annie and her research here and hear some of her music on Adrian Tchaikovsky and Emma Newman’s Starship Alexandria podcast, where Adrian and Emma take it in turns to select a favourite piece of speculative fiction and discuss it. Fantasy Book Swap has recently been shortlisted for a British Fantasy Society award! Thanks so much to anyone who nominated. ]]>alibaker68.podbean.com/dfc85d31-cdd5-3f0a-b514-91fc929b9dceSun, 26 Jul 2026 11:27:46 +0000Fantasy Book SwapAnnie’s choice:https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/198719.The_Girl_with_the_Silver_Eyes Ali’s choice:...The Girl with the Silver Eyes by Willo Davis Roberts Ali’s choice: The Lie Tree by Frances Hardinge A short piece by Willo Davis Roberts on writing mysteries for young people Annie has just got back from Finncon where her husband, multiple award-winning author Adrian Tchaikovsky was a guest of honour. Rosebud is an excellent bookshop. If you’re ever in Helsinki you should definitely visit. Annie talks about Xan Van Roojen, a South African writer who lives in Finland, and their use of music while writing. My vote for a new National Anthem: Disco Inferno I listen to a lot of Philip Glass music when writing. It calms my brain. This is the beginning of his opera Akhnaten, which I was lucky enough to see staged in Leeds in the mid-90s. The Girl with the Silver Eyes reminds me of Escape to Witch Mountain, a Disney live-action film. Tales of the City by Armistead Maupin Shockingly I misremembered the opening sentence of Pride and Prejudice. I will retire my English Literature degree. In my defence, I'm a Victorianist. It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife. My earworm this week: Mean Green Mother From Outer Space from Little Shop of Horrors Alnwick Castle Poison Garden Maelstrom LARP The Coral Bones by EJ Swift has been on my TBR list for an embarrassingly long time. You can find out more about Annie and her research here and hear some of her music on Adrian Tchaikovsky and Emma Newman’s Starship Alexandria podcast, where Adrian and Emma take it in turns to select a favourite piece of speculative fiction and discuss it. Fantasy Book Swap has recently been shortlisted for a British Fantasy Society award! Thanks so much to anyone who nominated. ]]>4878false57fullEpisode 55: Time slips and haunting with Elen Caldecotthttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/episode-55-time-slips-and-haunting-with-elen-caldecott--72831031A Traveller in Time by Alison Uttley Ali’s choice: The Haunting of Aveline Jones by Phil Hickes Elen’s recently-published text book: Writing for Young People: Critical Readings and Discussion on Craft Alison Uttley’s diaries were published in 2009 The history of the Babington plot Books mentioned in this episode: Charlotte Sometimes, Tom’s Midnight Garden, The Borrowers, Tyger. The book by Joan Aiken that I couldn’t remember is In Thunder’s Pocket. We didn’t talk about the awful adaptation from 1978. You have been warned. Elen’s book The Short Knife won the Tir na n’Og award in 2021. Hear her reading the chapter and talking to Nikki Gamble here. Elen teaches at Lancaster and Bath Spa universities. She is one of the managing editors of Leaf Journal on writing for children. You can follow her on Bluesky and Instagram. Fantasy Book Swap has recently been shortlisted for a British Fantasy Society award! Thanks so much to anyone who nominated. ]]>alibaker68.podbean.com/6c416a35-b0c8-3c45-83e2-6cd86283179bSun, 05 Jul 2026 20:13:51 +0000Fantasy Book SwapElen’s choice: https://www.hive.co.uk/product/alison-uttley/a-traveller-in-time/17048303 Ali’s choice: https://www.hive.co.uk/product/phil-hickes/the-haunting-of-aveline-jones/24902164 Elen’s recently-published text book:...A Traveller in Time by Alison Uttley Ali’s choice: The Haunting of Aveline Jones by Phil Hickes Elen’s recently-published text book: Writing for Young People: Critical Readings and Discussion on Craft Alison Uttley’s diaries were published in 2009 The history of the Babington plot Books mentioned in this episode: Charlotte Sometimes, Tom’s Midnight Garden, The Borrowers, Tyger. The book by Joan Aiken that I couldn’t remember is In Thunder’s Pocket. We didn’t talk about the awful adaptation from 1978. You have been warned. Elen’s book The Short Knife won the Tir na n’Og award in 2021. Hear her reading the chapter and talking to Nikki Gamble here. Elen teaches at Lancaster and Bath Spa universities. She is one of the managing editors of Leaf Journal on writing for children. You can follow her on Bluesky and Instagram. Fantasy Book Swap has recently been shortlisted for a British Fantasy Society award! Thanks so much to anyone who nominated. ]]>4292false56fullEp 54 Minisode British Fantasy Society Award shortlisthttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/ep-54-minisode-british-fantasy-society-award-shortlist--72386793British Fantasy Society Award for Best Audio- Non-Fiction. The others in the shortlist are: Breaking the Glass Slipper, a previous winner and Hugos nominee The Folklore Podcast, hosted by folklorist and author Mark Norman Uncanny, a BBC podcast hosted by comedy writer and performer Danny Robins, investigating supernatural happenings. It is an honour to be on the shortlist with such amazing creators, some of whom I hope to meet at the awards at FantasyCon in October!]]>alibaker68.podbean.com/3d3f8813-08b2-3f63-a14d-442ac1c7d333Sat, 06 Jun 2026 12:51:00 +0000Fantasy Book SwapHello friends! Fantasy Book Swap has been nominated for a https://britishfantasysociety.org/the-british-fantasy-awards-2026-shortlists/ for Best Audio- Non-Fiction. The others in the shortlist are: https://www.breakingtheglassslipper.com/, a previous...British Fantasy Society Award for Best Audio- Non-Fiction. The others in the shortlist are: Breaking the Glass Slipper, a previous winner and Hugos nominee The Folklore Podcast, hosted by folklorist and author Mark Norman Uncanny, a BBC podcast hosted by comedy writer and performer Danny Robins, investigating supernatural happenings. It is an honour to be on the shortlist with such amazing creators, some of whom I hope to meet at the awards at FantasyCon in October!]]>167false55fullEp 53: Lord of the Rings, but with mice with C. L. McCartneyhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/ep-53-lord-of-the-rings-but-with-mice-with-c-l-mccartney--72047514Mossflower by Brian Jacques Ali’s choice: The Spick and the Span by Pil Van Martin, longlisted for the Carnegie award Mossflower cover art for the 1989 Red Lion edition by Pete Lyon Castaways of the Flying Dutchman by Brian Jacques Robin Hood and Maid Marion Warrior Cats by Erin Hunter. I met Cherith Baldry, one of the Erin Hunter writers, at Glasgow WorldCon. Alex Rider by Anthony Horowitz; Young James Bond by Charlie Higson I made a recipe from the Redwall cookbook A journal article by Christopher Quah Wai Kheong and Anita Harris Satkunananthan on othering in Outcast of Redwall Professor Dimitra Fimi ‘Was Tolkien really racist?’Cluny the Scourge. The first two episodes of the Redwall cartoon series feature Cluny.Spindle’s End by Robin McKinley Marvel: Damage Control was a limited series of comics, a TV show was in development but never made. The Superhero Clean Up Squad was a comedy series from 2015.The Rest Of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness is the story of the other students of the high school infested by zombies and vampires, not the chosen ones; the ones who just want to graduate before school blows up again. Check out Bona Books Follow Chris on Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/chrismccartney.bsky.social]]>alibaker68.podbean.com/b959eb41-5d0d-3b0c-83a2-7f1f6b59b916Sun, 17 May 2026 21:49:12 +0000Fantasy Book SwapChris’s choice: https://www.hive.co.uk/Product/Brian-Jacques/Mossflower/7246157 Ali’s choice: https://www.hive.co.uk/Product/Pil-Van-Martin/The-Spick-and-the-Span/31031037,...Mossflower by Brian Jacques Ali’s choice: The Spick and the Span by Pil Van Martin, longlisted for the Carnegie award Mossflower cover art for the 1989 Red Lion edition by Pete Lyon Castaways of the Flying Dutchman by Brian Jacques Robin Hood and Maid Marion Warrior Cats by Erin Hunter. I met Cherith Baldry, one of the Erin Hunter writers, at Glasgow WorldCon. Alex Rider by Anthony Horowitz; Young James Bond by Charlie Higson I made a recipe from the Redwall cookbook A journal article by Christopher Quah Wai Kheong and Anita Harris Satkunananthan on othering in Outcast of Redwall Professor Dimitra Fimi ‘Was Tolkien really racist?’Cluny the Scourge. The first two episodes of the Redwall cartoon series feature Cluny.Spindle’s End by Robin McKinley Marvel: Damage Control was a limited series of comics, a TV show was in development but never made. The Superhero Clean Up Squad was a comedy series from 2015.The Rest Of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness is the story of the other students of the high school infested by zombies and vampires, not the chosen ones; the ones who just want to graduate before school blows up again. Check out Bona Books Follow Chris on Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/chrismccartney.bsky.social]]>4914false54fullEp 52: Team Binabik with Stewart Hotstonhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/ep-52-team-binabik-with-stewart-hotston--71840389the chair of the BSFA. Stewart’s choice: Memory, Sorrow and Thorn by Tad Williams (First in the Dragonbone Chair trilogy. It is 5 1/2 cm deep.You can see the original cover on Tad Williams’s website Ali’s choice: Shadow of the Fox by Julie Kagawa. It is considerably less thick. The Girl with All the Gifts by M. R. Carey. A novel about a child, but not a children’s book. Aliette de Bodard’s essay On Motherhood and Erasure. Anna Smith Spark’s A Sword of Bronze and Ashes is one of the few fantasy books where a mother is the protagonist. Catherynne M. Valente’s excellent The Refrigerator Monologues addresses the phenomenon of fridging women characters as a plot device and motivation for male superheroes. Stewart recommends Richard Swan, David Wragg and Neal Stephenson’s Baroque cycle for interesting takes on mythology and folklore. Wuxia such as Monkey adapted from Journey to the West by Wu Cheng’en. Zen Cho’s novelette The Order of the Pure Moon Reflected in Water. Historical C-dramas are very big on yearning glances. Stewart is currently watching Veil of Shadows. Stewart recently read The Library of Broken Worlds by Alaya Dawn Johnson. The most challenged books. The CLPE’s Reflecting Realities report demonstrates that the number of children’s books with protagonists of colour published in 2025 was lower than in previous years. Stewart wrote a blog about representation and the Clarke Awards. EasterCon is the British SFF fan-run con that travels around the UK. Next year it is in Glasgow! Find Stewart online! Website, Bluesky, Nerds of a Feather. Read Project Hanuman.]]>alibaker68.podbean.com/0b83e435-9178-3be5-9098-2b9aa5840339Sun, 03 May 2026 14:35:53 +0000Fantasy Book SwapStewart Hotston is https://www.bsfa.co.uk/. Stewart’s choice: https://www.hive.co.uk/Product/Tad-Williams/The-Dragonbone-Chair--Memory-Sorrow--Thorn-Book-1/19200055 (First in the Dragonbone Chair trilogy....the chair of the BSFA. Stewart’s choice: Memory, Sorrow and Thorn by Tad Williams (First in the Dragonbone Chair trilogy. It is 5 1/2 cm deep.You can see the original cover on Tad Williams’s website Ali’s choice: Shadow of the Fox by Julie Kagawa. It is considerably less thick. The Girl with All the Gifts by M. R. Carey. A novel about a child, but not a children’s book. Aliette de Bodard’s essay On Motherhood and Erasure. Anna Smith Spark’s A Sword of Bronze and Ashes is one of the few fantasy books where a mother is the protagonist. Catherynne M. Valente’s excellent The Refrigerator Monologues addresses the phenomenon of fridging women characters as a plot device and motivation for male superheroes. Stewart recommends Richard Swan, David Wragg and Neal Stephenson’s Baroque cycle for interesting takes on mythology and folklore. Wuxia such as Monkey adapted from Journey to the West by Wu Cheng’en. Zen Cho’s novelette The Order of the Pure Moon Reflected in Water. Historical C-dramas are very big on yearning glances. Stewart is currently watching Veil of Shadows. Stewart recently read The Library of Broken Worlds by Alaya Dawn Johnson. The most challenged books. The CLPE’s Reflecting Realities report demonstrates that the number of children’s books with protagonists of colour published in 2025 was lower than in previous years. 4267false53fullEp 51: A snake out of water with Emily Teshhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/ep-51-a-snake-out-of-water-with-emily-tesh--71261570Briar’s Book/ The Healing in the Vine by Tamora Pierce Ali’s choice: A Snake falls to Earth by Darcy Little Badger EasterCon- the annual British fan-run Science Fiction and Fantasy convention Emily was on a panel celebrating the centenary of Anne McCaffrey Scholastic Book Fairs are still going! Tamora Pierce’s books have been challenged and removed from libraries. Attempts at censoring reading are rising in the UK. If you want to read to support authors, please bear in mind that LGBTQ+ authors and authors of colour are more likely to be under threat of having their books removed from libraries and schools. See the list of books removed from Lowry Academy in Manchester where a librarian has lost her job and is unlikely to work with young people again. For more information on the effects of book banning on authors, listen to this episode of Our Opinions Are Correct with Maggie Tokuda-Hall. Food in SFF- Dr Fiona Moore cooks recipes from SFF cook books so we don’t have to. She found this recipe for cherry tarts inspired by Alanna: The First Adventure. The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones has been nominated for several awards. Stephen Graham Jones is also a Native American (Blackfeet) author who writes mostly in horror. I also really enjoyed Monoquill Blackgoose’s To Shape a Dragon’s Breath. Darren Chetty’s ‘You can’t say that! Stories are supposed to be about white people!’ from Nikesh Shukla (Ed) The Good Immigrant. This book was published by Unbound, which has collapsed. The amazing Petronella Breinburg, who was born in Suriname, not the Caribbean. Thank you as always for listening, sharing and engaging!]]>alibaker68.podbean.com/2451e19f-80b7-3b69-a73a-956a1fcec42dSat, 11 Apr 2026 16:41:36 +0000Fantasy Book SwapEmily’s choice: https://www.tamora-pierce.net/books/briars-book/ Ali’s choice: https://www.hive.co.uk/Product/Darcie-Little-Badger/A-Snake-Falls-to-Earth--Newbery-Honor-Award-Winner/30616976https://eastercon.fandom.com/wiki/Eastercon_Wiki Emily was...Briar’s Book/ The Healing in the Vine by Tamora Pierce Ali’s choice: A Snake falls to Earth by Darcy Little Badger EasterCon- the annual British fan-run Science Fiction and Fantasy convention Emily was on a panel celebrating the centenary of Anne McCaffrey Scholastic Book Fairs are still going! Tamora Pierce’s books have been challenged and removed from libraries. Attempts at censoring reading are rising in the UK. If you want to read to support authors, please bear in mind that LGBTQ+ authors and authors of colour are more likely to be under threat of having their books removed from libraries and schools. See the list of books removed from Lowry Academy in Manchester where a librarian has lost her job and is unlikely to work with young people again. For more information on the effects of book banning on authors, listen to this episode of Our Opinions Are Correct with Maggie Tokuda-Hall. Food in SFF- Dr Fiona Moore cooks recipes from SFF cook books so we don’t have to. She found this recipe for cherry tarts inspired by Alanna: The First Adventure. The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones has been nominated for several awards. Stephen Graham Jones is also a Native American (Blackfeet) author who writes mostly in horror. I also really enjoyed Monoquill Blackgoose’s To Shape a Dragon’s Breath. Darren Chetty’s ‘You can’t say that! Stories are supposed to be about white people!’ from Nikesh Shukla (Ed) The Good Immigrant. This book was published by Unbound, which has collapsed. The amazing Petronella Breinburg, who was born in Suriname, not the Caribbean. Thank you as always for listening, sharing and engaging!]]>3711false52fullEp 50: Demon horses and ghost dogs with Anna Smith Sparkhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/ep-50-demon-horses-and-ghost-dogs-with-anna-smith-spark--70213508The Moon of Gomrath by Alan Garner Ali’s book choice: Vivi Conway and the Sword of Legend by Lizzie Huxley-Jones. Sadly, I have just found out that Knights Of publishers have gone out of business, so Vivi’s trilogy is out of print. Hopefully you will be able to find them at online second hand book stores. Find out more about Anna Smith Spark The Bread Horse by Alan Garner- front cover. Boneland, which I intend to read. The Ceffyl Dwr, the wild hunt, Afanc. Rhianna Pratchett’s podcast on British mythology, Mythical Creatures, discusses water demons in episode 3. Herne the Hunter. Herne features in The Box of Delights by John Masefield, Silver in the Tree by Susan Cooper and (foreshadowing!) Tad Williams’s Memory, Shadow and Thorn series. Angharad Golden-Hand. Rhiannon. Epona, the Celtic horse goddess, who has nothing to do with Sulis/ Aquae Sulis/ Bath. Hobby Horse- a May Day tradition, originally associated with Morris dancers. The Mari Lwyd is a Christmas tradition, first referenced in the early 19th Century. Gelert the wolfhound; of course Gelert's grave isn't real. Nina Beachcroft, an excellent children’s author of spooky stories. Anna discusses Cold Christmas, which is the name of a hamlet in Hertfordshire, Nina Beachcroft’s home county- and mine, though I grew up near Watford rather than Hertford. The Stephen Collins cartoon on Netflix exposition Nancy Drew, The Chalet School- there are 58 books in the original series, but it was incredibly difficult to read them in order in the 1970s and 1980s! I encountered the wonderful Scrivener’s Books when in Buxton for Novacon. It’s a wonderful place, and that perfect shop for stumbling over that elusive third book in an out of print series! I remembered Pat O’Shea’s The Hounds of the Morrigan and Aliette de Bodard on Motherhood and Erasure in speculative fiction- Aliette talks about this blog on the Breaking the Glass Slipper podcast. Seanan McGuire’s wonderful The Wayward Children series]]>alibaker68.podbean.com/600a58fd-b5c6-3b25-bf8e-1e192562eaa2Sun, 22 Feb 2026 16:31:09 +0000Fantasy Book SwapAnna’s book choice: https://www.hive.co.uk/Product/Alan-Garner/The-Moon-of-Gomrath/15167 Ali’s book choice: https://lizziehuxleyjones.com/#Vivi. Sadly, I have just found out that Knights Of publishers have gone out of business, so Vivi’s trilogy is...The Moon of Gomrath by Alan Garner Ali’s book choice: Vivi Conway and the Sword of Legend by Lizzie Huxley-Jones. Sadly, I have just found out that Knights Of publishers have gone out of business, so Vivi’s trilogy is out of print. Hopefully you will be able to find them at online second hand book stores. Find out more about Anna Smith Spark The Bread Horse by Alan Garner- front cover. Boneland, which I intend to read. The Ceffyl Dwr, the wild hunt, Afanc. Rhianna Pratchett’s podcast on British mythology, Mythical Creatures, discusses water demons in episode 3. Herne the Hunter. Herne features in The Box of Delights by John Masefield, Silver in the Tree by Susan Cooper and (foreshadowing!) Tad Williams’s Memory, Shadow and Thorn series. Angharad Golden-Hand. Rhiannon. Epona, the Celtic horse goddess, who has nothing to do with Sulis/ Aquae Sulis/ Bath. Hobby Horse- a May Day tradition, originally associated with Morris dancers. The Mari Lwyd is a Christmas tradition, first referenced in the early 19th Century. Gelert the wolfhound; of course Gelert's grave isn't real. Nina Beachcroft, an excellent children’s author of spooky stories. Anna discusses Cold Christmas, which is the name of a hamlet in Hertfordshire, Nina Beachcroft’s home county- and mine, though I grew up near Watford rather than Hertford. The Stephen Collins cartoon on Netflix...]]>4684false51fullEp. 49: When magic isn't a metaphor with Robert Berghttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/ep-49-when-magic-isn-t-a-metaphor-with-robert-berg--67719491The Marvellous Land of Oz by L. Frank Baum Ali's choice: Wynd book 1: The Flight of the Prince by James Tynion IV and Michael Dialnyas Robert is 1/4 of wonderful Bona Books! The Wrath Month kickstarter is still open for stretch goals backing. Return to Oz (1985) trainer here: relive your childhood trauma! I still can't find the Arena documentary, but here is a PBS one Robert's favourite Oz retelling is Wicked by Gregory Maguire Mine is Was by Geoff Ryman Pride is a wonderful film about solidarity and intersectional identity Boom! Studios comics For other episodes on "race/ ethnicity" in fantasy, check out this episode with Russell Smith; for queerness in fantasy, this one with Juliet Kemp. Follow Rob on Bluesky and Instagram Bona Books' Instagram Follow me on Instagram for gorgeous images from Wynd and more!]]>alibaker68.podbean.com/7957f49e-713b-399d-8dfd-0b6489828af3Thu, 11 Sep 2025 12:35:26 +0000Fantasy Book SwapRobert's choice: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/54 Ali's choice: https://www.hive.co.uk/Product/James-Tynion-IV/Wynd-Book-One-The-Flight-of-the-Prince/24960402 Robert is 1/4 of wonderful Bona Books! https://www.bona-books.com/projects/wrath-month...The Marvellous Land of Oz by L. Frank Baum Ali's choice: Wynd book 1: The Flight of the Prince by James Tynion IV and Michael Dialnyas Robert is 1/4 of wonderful Bona Books! The Wrath Month kickstarter is still open for stretch goals backing. Return to Oz (1985) trainer here: relive your childhood trauma! I still can't find the Arena documentary, but here is a PBS one Robert's favourite Oz retelling is Wicked by Gregory Maguire Mine is Was by Geoff Ryman Pride is a wonderful film about solidarity and intersectional identity Boom! Studios comics For other episodes on "race/ ethnicity" in fantasy, check out this episode with Russell Smith; for queerness in fantasy, this one with Juliet Kemp. Follow Rob on Bluesky and Instagram Bona Books' Instagram Follow me on Instagram for gorgeous images from Wynd and more!]]>3834false50fullThe anti-authoritarian politics of naughtiness with Sandra Bondhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-anti-authoritarian-politics-of-naughtiness-with-sandra-bond--67476968The Wind on the Moon by Eric Linklater Ali’s book: The Wild Robot by Peter Brown. It’s also a film The Politics of Fantasy by Brian Attebury Catherine Crumb on her bicycle Nicolas Bentley’s illustrations Rudyard Kipling’s Just-So Stories Murderbot by Martha Wells. It’s also a TV series The Martian by Andy Weir Tik Tok by John Sladek Peter Brown’s website Sandra is not a dog groomer from the US Thanks as always to Steve Vapour Trails for production support. Why not go and give his radio show a listen? ]]>alibaker68.podbean.com/d4536fbd-63ef-392c-8d41-8190f3b79d23Fri, 22 Aug 2025 10:37:05 +0000Fantasy Book SwapEp 48 Shownotes Sandra’s book: https://www.hive.co.uk/Product/Eric-Linklater/The-Wind-on-the-Moon/14973107 Ali’s book: https://www.hive.co.uk/Product/Peter-Brown/The-Wild-Robot--Now-a-major-DreamWorks-animation/21879921. It’s...The Wind on the Moon by Eric Linklater Ali’s book: The Wild Robot by Peter Brown. It’s also a film The Politics of Fantasy by Brian Attebury Catherine Crumb on her bicycle Nicolas Bentley’s illustrations Rudyard Kipling’s Just-So Stories Murderbot by Martha Wells. It’s also a TV series The Martian by Andy Weir Tik Tok by John Sladek Peter Brown’s website Sandra is not a dog groomer from the US Thanks as always to Steve Vapour Trails for production support. Why not go and give his radio show a listen? ]]>3916false49fullEp 47: Worldbuilding Britain in historical fictionhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/ep-47-worldbuilding-britain-in-historical-fiction--67145875Dawn Wind by Rosemary Sutcliff Ali's choice (first read in 2022, not 2002!): The Short Knife by Elen Caldecott.Tir na n'Nog book award Ken Slater and fan ac Some books where a “commoner” becomes a prince: The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain The Prisoner of Zenda and Rupert of Hentzau by Anthony Hope The Lost Prince by Frances Hodgson Burnett The Horse and his Boy by C. S. Lewis Caroline’s Rosemary Sutcliff books Elen Caldecott’s website and Leaf, the journal of writing for young people Caroline’s fan writing Reflections in the Shards edited by Claire Brialey and Mark Plummer Thanks as always to Steve Vapour Trails for production support. Why not go and give his radio show a listen?]]>alibaker68.podbean.com/ec0f249e-0ea6-3d72-808a-b0879e8a0d9fSun, 27 Jul 2025 19:51:59 +0000Fantasy Book SwapCaroline's choice: https://www.hive.co.uk/Product/Rosemary-Sutcliff/Dawn-Wind/14526889 Ali's choice (first read in 2022, not 2002!):...Dawn Wind by Rosemary Sutcliff Ali's choice (first read in 2022, not 2002!): The Short Knife by Elen Caldecott.Tir na n'Nog book award Ken Slater and fan ac Some books where a “commoner” becomes a prince: The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain The Prisoner of Zenda and Rupert of Hentzau by Anthony Hope The Lost Prince by Frances Hodgson Burnett The Horse and his Boy by C. S. Lewis Caroline’s Rosemary Sutcliff books Elen Caldecott’s website and Leaf, the journal of writing for young people Caroline’s fan writing Reflections in the Shards edited by Claire Brialey and Mark Plummer Thanks as always to Steve Vapour Trails for production support. Why not go and give his radio show a listen?]]>6304false48fullIn Space, nobody provides childcarehttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/in-space-nobody-provides-childcare--66823231Jim’s book (with Twilight-style cover); with Alison Moyet cover Ali’s book Stars and Sabers publishing Ferengi “Human female”Murderbot trailer Dave McKean’s website SF Said’s website Alfred Bester: The Stars my Destination There are two sequels to War of the Worlds: the straight to DVD adaptation and Stephen Baxter’s The Massacre of Mankind Material Girls podcast episode discussing Romantasy Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles trailer. This is what the first couple of chapters of Phoenix is like. It doesn’t end up like this. Jim’s website, Worrad Enterprises Thanks as always to Steve Vapour Trails, Jack Sadler-Johnson and Danny!]]>alibaker68.podbean.com/7f365408-9c91-3d5e-9e8a-d3e91c44791fTue, 01 Jul 2025 16:12:02 +0000Fantasy Book Swaphttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12010981-earthseed (with Twilight-style cover);...Jim’s book (with Twilight-style cover); with Alison Moyet cover Ali’s book Stars and Sabers publishing Ferengi “Human female”Murderbot trailer Dave McKean’s website SF Said’s website Alfred Bester: The Stars my Destination There are two sequels to War of the Worlds: the straight to DVD adaptation and Stephen Baxter’s The Massacre of Mankind Material Girls podcast episode discussing Romantasy Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles trailer. This is what the first couple of chapters of Phoenix is like. It doesn’t end up like this. Jim’s website, Worrad Enterprises Thanks as always to Steve Vapour Trails, Jack Sadler-Johnson and Danny!]]>4546false47fullEpisode 45: Rainy season at the Hotel Romerohttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/episode-45-rainy-season-at-the-hotel-romero--66582680The Rains of Eridan by H.M. Hoover Ali’s choice: The Zombie Project by Alice Nuttall

M. Hoover on the Encyclopedia of Science Fiction

M. Hoover on the Encyclopedia of Science Fiction

Alice Nuttall’s Linktree The Hugo and Lodestar finalists Other books for children with adult protagonists (off the top of my head!): Professor Branestawm by Norman Hunter Mrs Pepperpot by Alf Prøysen Mr Benn by David McKee Mrs Armitage on Wheels by Quentin Blake George Romero’s The Night of the Living Dead- trailer First Thursday fandom drinks in London ]]>2877false46fullEp 44: Horses and curses and home, but not at homehttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/ep-44-horses-and-curses-and-home-but-not-at-home--66152440The Little White Horse by Elizabeth GoudgeAli’s copy of the book Ali’s choice: The Beginners Guide to Curses by Lari Don More about Elizabeth Goudge More about Lari Don Heliotrope flowers Lari Don on Rhianna Pratchett’s BBC radio show about British mythical creatures talking about kelpies The legend of Gelert and Greyfriars Bobby Kate Crackernuts Whuppity Stoorie Mairi Hedderwick Katie Morag TV series Glasgow Worldcon 2024 Presents on Youtube LACon V: Worldcon 2026 Follow Meg on BlueSky]]>alibaker68.podbean.com/545b2d92-f8bb-39ed-8c1c-6bd668d754b2Mon, 19 May 2025 15:36:52 +0000Fantasy Book SwapMeg’s choice:...The Little White Horse by Elizabeth GoudgeAli’s copy of the book Ali’s choice: The Beginners Guide to Curses by Lari Don More about Elizabeth Goudge More about Lari Don Heliotrope flowers Lari Don on Rhianna Pratchett’s BBC radio show about British mythical creatures talking about kelpies The legend of Gelert and Greyfriars Bobby Kate Crackernuts Whuppity Stoorie Mairi Hedderwick Katie Morag TV series Glasgow Worldcon 2024 Presents on Youtube LACon V: Worldcon 2026 Follow Meg on BlueSky]]>5520false45fullEp 43: Uncontextual pineapple with Catriona Silveyhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/ep-43-uncontextual-pineapple-with-catriona-silvey--65881706The Silver Crown by Robert C. O’ Brien Ali’s choice: Dread Wood by Jennifer Killick We discuss Robert C. O’ Brien’s better-known books, Z for Zachariah and Mrs Frisby and the Rats of NIMH. You may like to listen to the episode The Anti- Reepicheep League with Ang Rosin about Mrs Frisby and the Rats of NIMH and The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents here. We also mention The Demon Headmaster by Gillian Cross; Russell Smith selected it as his Fantasy Book Swap choice. Jennifer Killick was a guest on the fantastic podcast about children’s books, The Island of Brilliant. I am not a shill for The Phoenix Comic, I promise. Catch up with Catriona via her website, https://catrionasilvey.com/index.html Join us at EasterCon next year in Birmingham!]]>alibaker68.podbean.com/f452d9cb-0ceb-3079-a0c5-1ec7efa077b2Sat, 03 May 2025 13:23:49 +0000Fantasy Book SwapRecorded live at EasterCon in Belfast at 9:30am on Easter Sunday! Please forgive my wheeziness; I was coming down with a chest infection. Catriona’s choice: https://www.worldofbooks.com/en-gb/products/silver-crown-book-robert-c-o-brien-9780006710059...The Silver Crown by Robert C. O’ Brien Ali’s choice: Dread Wood by Jennifer Killick We discuss Robert C. O’ Brien’s better-known books, Z for Zachariah and Mrs Frisby and the Rats of NIMH. You may like to listen to the episode The Anti- Reepicheep League with Ang Rosin about Mrs Frisby and the Rats of NIMH and The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents here. We also mention The Demon Headmaster by Gillian Cross; Russell Smith selected it as his Fantasy Book Swap choice. Jennifer Killick was a guest on the fantastic podcast about children’s books, The Island of Brilliant. I am not a shill for The Phoenix Comic, I promise. Catch up with Catriona via her website, https://catrionasilvey.com/index.html Join us at EasterCon next year in Birmingham!]]>3594false44fullEp 42: Pirates and Mermaids and Witches with Ida Keoghhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/ep-42-pirates-and-mermaids-and-witches-with-ida-keogh--63097467The Man whose Mother was a Pirate by Margaret Mahy Ali’s choice: The Mermaid, the Witch and the Sea by Maggie Tokuda-Hall. The sequel has just been published: The Siren, the Song and the Spy Ida had a different edition from mine Other books we mention in this episode: Fathomfolk by Eliza Chan The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Andersen Sarah Baartman, the Khoekhoe woman whose birth name may have been Ssehura, displayed in Europe as the Hottentot Venus Ida’s award-winning short story Infinite Tea in the Demerara Café is in the NewCon Press anthology London Centric Her novella Fish! Ida has a story in the anthology Laughs in Space.Follow Ida on Bluesky Facebook and @ida_Keogh on Instagram]]>alibaker68.podbean.com/717c77e3-9636-3a18-9d60-e48b2699e1ffSun, 01 Dec 2024 20:49:20 +0000Fantasy Book SwapIda’s choice: https://www.hive.co.uk/Product/Margaret-Mahy/The-Man-Whose-Mother-Was-a-Pirate/14872645 Ali’s choice: https://www.hive.co.uk/Product/Maggie-Tokuda-Hall/The-Mermaid-the-Witch-and-the-Sea/25041749. The sequel has just been published:...The Man whose Mother was a Pirate by Margaret Mahy Ali’s choice: The Mermaid, the Witch and the Sea by Maggie Tokuda-Hall. The sequel has just been published: The Siren, the Song and the Spy Ida had a different edition from mine Other books we mention in this episode: Fathomfolk by Eliza Chan The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Andersen Sarah Baartman, the Khoekhoe woman whose birth name may have been Ssehura, displayed in Europe as the Hottentot Venus Ida’s award-winning short story Infinite Tea in the Demerara Café is in the NewCon Press anthology London Centric Her novella Fish! Ida has a story in the anthology Laughs in Space.Follow Ida on Bluesky Facebook and @ida_Keogh on Instagram]]>2842false43fullEp 41: Narnia Business with Katie Brucehttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/ep-41-narnia-business-with-katie-bruce--62512694C.S. Lewis’s The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe. Ali’s choice: David A. Robertson’s The Barren Grounds Katie is just back from FantasyCon! Next year Brighton hosts World FantasyCon 2025; come and join us! Neil Gaiman’s short story is called ‘The Problem of Susan’ and is in the collection Fragile Things (it is of course entirely up to you whether or not you wish to support Gaiman’s work by buying it new or second hand.) Katie couldn’t continue with Robin Hobb’s Soldiers Sons trilogy because the food descriptions brought on morning sickness Fiona Moore’s blog, where she cooks from SFF cook books so we don’t have to! Lovely Gili Bar-Hillel introduced me to this brilliant piece of fan fic where Anthony Bourdain reviews Narnian hospitality. Read it, it’s perfect! https://archiveofourown.org/works/137185 The BBC 1988 adaptation of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe Leeds Playhouse’s adaptation of The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe runs from 18th November 2024- 25th January 2025 Trailer for Greta Gerwig’s adaptation Tilda Swinton’s White Witch tempts Edmund I delivered a paper on orientalism in the Chronicles of Narnia at a Historical Fictions Network conference. You can read it here David A. Robertson’s website Scottish bannock recipe. Canadian First Nations Bannocks were adapted from Scottish recipes. I have not found a bison chili recipe; I assume that you first catch your bison. The Little Bookshop, Leeds City Books, Brighton Find Katie online AuthorAssist.co.uk @Katiebruce.bsky.social on BlueSky @Katiebrucecake on Instagram I was a guest on Steve Vapour Trail’s radio show many moons ago with a selection of fantasy and science fiction-themed music. Enjoy the playlist here. Thank you to Danny for the idents, and to Jack Sadler-Johnson for the use of his beautiful track Bliss. ]]>alibaker68.podbean.com/a13fcb4b-8060-342c-8024-c8b10534bcb5Sat, 26 Oct 2024 12:35:15 +0000Fantasy Book SwapKatie’s choice: https://www.hive.co.uk/Product/C-S-Lewis/The-Lion-the-Witch-and-the-Wardrobe-Paperback/12882 Ali’s choice: https://www.hive.co.uk/Product/David-A-Robertson/The-Barren-Grounds--The-Misewa-Saga-Book-One/25941802 Katie is just back from...C.S. Lewis’s The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe. Ali’s choice: David A. Robertson’s The Barren Grounds Katie is just back from FantasyCon! Next year Brighton hosts World FantasyCon 2025; come and join us! Neil Gaiman’s short story is called ‘The Problem of Susan’ and is in the collection Fragile Things (it is of course entirely up to you whether or not you wish to support Gaiman’s work by buying it new or second hand.) Katie couldn’t continue with Robin Hobb’s Soldiers Sons trilogy because the food descriptions brought on morning sickness Fiona Moore’s blog, where she cooks from SFF cook books so we don’t have to! Lovely Gili Bar-Hillel introduced me to this brilliant piece of fan fic where Anthony Bourdain reviews Narnian hospitality. Read it, it’s perfect! https://archiveofourown.org/works/137185 The BBC 1988 adaptation of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe Leeds Playhouse’s adaptation of The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe runs from 18th November 2024- 25th January 2025 Trailer for Greta Gerwig’s adaptation Tilda Swinton’s White Witch tempts Edmund I delivered a paper on orientalism in the Chronicles of Narnia at a Historical Fictions Network conference. You can read it here David A. Robertson’s website Scottish bannock recipe. Canadian First Nations Bannocks were adapted from Scottish recipes. I have not found a bison chili recipe; I assume that you first catch your bison. The Little Bookshop, Leeds City Books, Brighton Find Katie online AuthorAssist.co.uk 42fullEp 40 Mansfield Park in Space with Una McCormackhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/ep-40-mansfield-park-in-space-with-una-mccormack--62379482Una McCormack, New York Times best-selling author and member of Gold SF editorial board. Una’s choice: Lucy M Boston’s The Children of Green Knowe . This is the Puffin edition Una has. The 70th anniversary edition is available from Hemingford Grey shop. The TV adaptation Ali’s choice: Pádraig Kenny’s The Monsters of Rookhaven Illustrations here and here Una mentions Tom’s Midnight Garden. You can listen to Episode 25 with Tony Keen, where we discuss the book here. Books mentioned in this episode:

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
Mansfield Park by Jane Austen
The Spire by William Golding
Red Shift by Alan Garner
The Spare Man by Mary Robinette Kowal
Meg and Mog by Helen Nicoll, illus Jan Pienkowski
Thornhill by Pam Smy
Isadora Moon by Helen Muncaster
Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke
Earthsea and Annals of the Western Shore by Ursula Le Guin
Chronicles of Prydain by Lloyd Alexander

Authors mentioned in this episode:

Catherine Cookson, who is still in print
Helen Forrester

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
Mansfield Park by Jane Austen
The Spire by William Golding
Red Shift by Alan Garner
The Spare Man by Mary Robinette Kowal
Meg and Mog by Helen Nicoll, illus Jan Pienkowski
Thornhill by Pam Smy
Isadora Moon by Helen Muncaster
Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke
Earthsea and Annals of the Western Shore by Ursula Le Guin
Chronicles of Prydain by Lloyd Alexander

Authors mentioned in this episode:

Catherine Cookson, who is still in print
Helen Forrester

Una’s most recent book: Doctor Who: Caged Follow Una on Bluesky @unamccormack.bsky.social Thanks as always to Steve Vapour Trails. Check out his radio show on Radio Lewes here! Thank you to Danny for the fresh new idents, and to Jack Sadler-Johnson for the use of his beautiful track Bliss.]]>3814false41fullEp 39: Writeopolis v Fantasy Book Swap- not a dance offhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/ep-39-writeopolis-v-fantasy-book-swap-not-a-dance-off--60835894Writeopolis podcast. We have a lovely chat, and then Fantasy Book Swap proper starts at 12 minutes in. Scott’s choice: The Devil on the Road by Robert Westall Ali’s choice: Unraveller by Frances Hardinge The Lodestar award finalists- scroll to the bottom of the page. My copy of The Devil in the Road. Note the cat’s eye, and the gibbet with the executed witch’s body. Children of the Stones on YouTube, and the trailer for the adaptation of Red Shift Robert Westall’s official website Frances Hardinge’s official website Frances Hardinge conference, Saturday 11th July 2026, Aston University, Birmingham. As Kit mentions, he was on Fantasy Book Swap before! We discussed The Tripods by John Christopher and Wildspark by Vashti Hardy. A Wikipedia summary of Hans Christian Andersen’s story The Wild Swans A list of Joan Aiken’s Wolves books Leon Garfield Find out more about Scott here, Kit here and join the Writeopolis patreon here. Thanks as always to Steve Vapour Trails. Check out his radio show on Radio Lewes here! Thank you to Danny for the fresh new idents, and to Jack Sadler-Johnson for the use of his beautiful track Bliss. Until next time, bye! ]]>alibaker68.podbean.com/cf72b5c9-f5f3-373e-b2ab-92216321df4aSun, 28 Jul 2024 10:26:12 +0000Fantasy Book SwapEp 39- Writeopolis v Fantasy Book Swap, but no dance-off In today’s episode, I am joined by Scott K. Andrews and Kit Power from the https://open.spotify.com/show/429LE1r7sPKDEzhcSuM1HJ?si=0960ace7889c4e73 podcast. We have a lovely chat, and then...Writeopolis podcast. We have a lovely chat, and then Fantasy Book Swap proper starts at 12 minutes in. Scott’s choice: The Devil on the Road by Robert Westall Ali’s choice: Unraveller by Frances Hardinge The Lodestar award finalists- scroll to the bottom of the page. My copy of The Devil in the Road. Note the cat’s eye, and the gibbet with the executed witch’s body. Children of the Stones on YouTube, and the trailer for the adaptation of Red Shift Robert Westall’s official website Frances Hardinge’s official website Frances Hardinge conference, Saturday 11th July 2026, Aston University, Birmingham. As Kit mentions, he was on Fantasy Book Swap before! We discussed The Tripods by John Christopher and Wildspark by Vashti Hardy. A Wikipedia summary of Hans Christian Andersen’s story The Wild Swans A list of Joan Aiken’s Wolves books Leon Garfield Find out more about Scott here, Kit here and join the Writeopolis patreon here. Thanks as always to Steve Vapour Trails. Check out his radio show on Radio Lewes here! Thank you to Danny for the fresh new idents, and to Jack Sadler-Johnson for the use of his beautiful track Bliss. Until next time, bye! ]]>7440false40fullEp 38: Is that Conan in space? With Tade Thompsonhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/ep-38-is-that-conan-in-space-with-tade-thompson--60642417Rosewater is the New Scientist’s July book club pick. Tade’s pick: The Masters of Solitude by Marvin Kaye and Parke Godwin. It’s out of print, but widely available second hand with absolutely dreadful covers like this and this, the Conan in Space one. Ali’s pick: An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir. Thanks as always to Steve Vapour Trails. Check out his radio show on Radio Lewes here! Thank you to Danny for the fresh new idents, and to Jack Sadler-Johnson for the use of his beautiful track Bliss. Until next time, bye!]]>alibaker68.podbean.com/cbba06d5-932c-349b-a4ab-b8c68c5e8f27Tue, 09 Jul 2024 13:13:54 +0000Fantasy Book SwapFirstly, huge apologies for the delay in this episode, which was recorded live at EasterCon, Levitation 2024. Life got in the way. Tade Thompson’s Bluesky: @tadethompson.bsky.social Tade’s award-winning novel...Rosewater is the New Scientist’s July book club pick. Tade’s pick: The Masters of Solitude by Marvin Kaye and Parke Godwin. It’s out of print, but widely available second hand with absolutely dreadful covers like this and this, the Conan in Space one. Ali’s pick: An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir. Thanks as always to Steve Vapour Trails. Check out his radio show on Radio Lewes here! Thank you to Danny for the fresh new idents, and to Jack Sadler-Johnson for the use of his beautiful track Bliss. Until next time, bye!]]>2747false39fullEp 37: Totally Elemental with Esther MacCallum-Stewart, Chair of Glasgow 2024 WorldConhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/ep-37-totally-elemental-with-esther-maccallum-stewart-chair-of-glasgow-2024-worldcon--56962902The Boggart by Susan Cooper. Ali’s edition with cat tax. Esther’s choice: Like a Charm by Elle McNicoll Elle’s novel A Kind of Spark was adapted by CBBC. Several members of the cast are neurodiverse. Information about dyspraxia here Elle McNicholl’s website Esther and Ali mention a lot of books and other media! Hilary McKay’s Casson family books, Terry Pratchett’s Only You Can Save Mankind, the spinning room in Poltergeist, You’re Wrong About… podcast on the Amityville horror and the CBC podcast on the satanic panic.The history of Castle Stalker with photos Greyfriars Bobby monument and the story Candlemakers Row. I think the red shop is the bookshop. Glasgow Necropolis Mary King’s Close, Edinburgh which features in Lari Don’s book First Aid for Fairies. It’s an injured centaur that Helen looks after first. Andy The Highlander Romance book recommendations

Thanks so much to Esther! Find out more about Glasgow 2024 Worldcon here. Thanks for listening! Thanks to Steve for the production assistance. Steve’s band, The Late Returns, are playing a gig supporting Bone Records at The Brunswick, Hove on Friday! Unfortunately, it’s sold out. Thanks to Danny for the idents and to Jack Sadler-Johnson for the use of his beautiful track Bliss. Follow me on Instagram and Bluesky @alisonbaker01.]]>3977false38fullEp 36: Ghosts, machines and aliens with Kit Powerhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/ep-36-ghosts-machines-and-aliens-with-kit-power--56480385The Tripods by John Christopher Ali’s choice: Wildspark by Vashti Hardy Kit’s Patreon Kit’s page on Amazon Kit reads his essay on The Tripods on his podcast feed The British Fantasy Society award shortlist Thanks as always to Steve Vapour Trails. Check out his radio show on Radio Lewes here! Thank you to Danny for the fresh new idents, and to Jack Sadler-Johnson for the use of his beautiful track Bliss. I have signed up for Ko-Fi. For the month of September I have pledged to walk for 30 minutes a day in aid of the Trussell Trust, who both provide food banks and campaign for the end of food poverty. If you’d like to support me, please donate at https://ko-fi.com/alibb. I will post a screenshot daily from my Active 10 app onto my Instagram, and on 30th September will share how much I am donating!]]>alibaker68.podbean.com/7a3f4ac3-4940-36c4-8d7f-a094173576b6Tue, 15 Aug 2023 21:01:47 +0000Fantasy Book SwapKit’s choice: https://www.hive.co.uk/Product/John-Christopher/Tripods-The-White-Mountains-Book-1/20842974 Ali’s choice:...The Tripods by John Christopher Ali’s choice: Wildspark by Vashti Hardy Kit’s Patreon Kit’s page on Amazon Kit reads his essay on The Tripods on his podcast feed The British Fantasy Society award shortlist Thanks as always to Steve Vapour Trails. Check out his radio show on Radio Lewes here! Thank you to Danny for the fresh new idents, and to Jack Sadler-Johnson for the use of his beautiful track Bliss. I have signed up for Ko-Fi. For the month of September I have pledged to walk for 30 minutes a day in aid of the Trussell Trust, who both provide food banks and campaign for the end of food poverty. If you’d like to support me, please donate at https://ko-fi.com/alibb. I will post a screenshot daily from my Active 10 app onto my Instagram, and on 30th September will share how much I am donating!]]>5399false37fullEp 35: A Confusion of Susans with Juliet Kemphttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/ep-35-a-confusion-of-susans-with-juliet-kemp--56266033We Didn’t Mean to Go to Sea by Arthur Ransome. There is a small display related to the Swallows and Amazons at the Ruskin Museum in Coniston, in the Lake District. It’s not far from Hill Top, Beatrix Potter’s house near Ambleside. Ali’s choice: The Strangeworlds Travel Agency: The Edge of the Ocean by L. D. Lapinski. I talked to Phil Dyson about the first book in the series, way back in episode 2! Find links to Juliet’s social media and information about their books from their website. Check out their short fiction via the link, and also their non-fiction writing: I love this essay on capitalism in worldbuilding. I talk about the amazing South Riding by Winifred Holtby. Read it; it’s an amazing piece of writing with an strong sense of place. Please do like, review and recommend! It does satisfy my vanity- but it’s also great to know that people enjoy what I do. And it helps to bring in new listeners. Thanks as always to Steve Vapour-Trails for production assistance and to Jack Sadler-Johnson for the use of his track Bliss. Why not check out Steve’s radio show, Vapour Trails on Radio Lewes?]]>alibaker68.podbean.com/622a974b-9124-34b6-9863-3a9a26c1bcefFri, 28 Jul 2023 17:22:32 +0000Fantasy Book SwapJuliet’s choice: https://www.hive.co.uk/Product/Arthur-Ransome/We-Didnt-Mean-to-Go-to-Sea/143052 by Arthur Ransome. https://ruskinmuseum.com/who-was-arthur-ransome/swallows-and-amazons-on-coniston-water/ in Coniston, in the Lake District. It’s not far...We Didn’t Mean to Go to Sea by Arthur Ransome. There is a small display related to the Swallows and Amazons at the Ruskin Museum in Coniston, in the Lake District. It’s not far from Hill Top, Beatrix Potter’s house near Ambleside. Ali’s choice: The Strangeworlds Travel Agency: The Edge of the Ocean by L. D. Lapinski. I talked to Phil Dyson about the first book in the series, way back in episode 2! Find links to Juliet’s social media and information about their books from their website. Check out their short fiction via the link, and also their non-fiction writing: I love this essay on capitalism in worldbuilding. I talk about the amazing South Riding by Winifred Holtby. Read it; it’s an amazing piece of writing with an strong sense of place. Please do like, review and recommend! It does satisfy my vanity- but it’s also great to know that people enjoy what I do. And it helps to bring in new listeners. Thanks as always to Steve Vapour-Trails for production assistance and to Jack Sadler-Johnson for the use of his track Bliss. Why not check out Steve’s radio show, Vapour Trails on Radio Lewes?]]>3705false36full34: Dragons and radical empathy with Trip Galeyhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/34-dragons-and-radical-empathy-with-trip-galey--56100412Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher by Bruce Coville Ali’s choice: How To Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell The full list of Magic Shop books here Cressida Cowell’s Wizard of Once books and new book, Which Way to Anywhere have more diverse casts. My now 14-year-old as Hiccup when he was 5. He cosplayed Hiccup at his first Eastercon. The note that Mr Elives gives Jeremy and the magical librarian Hyacinth Priest from the US edition of Jeremy Thatcher. Illustrator: Gary A. Lippincott. How To Train Your Dragon, the book within the book. For more information about research into boys and reading, I recommend Boys Don’t Try? by Matt Pinkett and Mark Roberts. It’s available as an e-book as well as a paperback. I recommend the audiobook of How To Train Your Dragon, read by David Tennent. Try using your local library app to borrow it! Trip’s social media links here and Bona Books here As always, thanks to Steve Vapour-Trails for production assistance. Check out his latest show on Radio Lewes!]]>alibaker68.podbean.com/51aab956-c3b1-3262-a8c5-840c436fb83bFri, 14 Jul 2023 11:18:04 +0000Fantasy Book SwapTrip’s choice: https://www.brucecoville.com/library/jeremy-thatcher-dragon-hatcher/ by https://www.brucecoville.com/ Ali’s choice: https://www.hive.co.uk/Product/Cressida-Cowell/How-to-Train-Your-Dragon--Book-1/856714 by...Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher by Bruce Coville Ali’s choice: How To Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell The full list of Magic Shop books here Cressida Cowell’s Wizard of Once books and new book, Which Way to Anywhere have more diverse casts. My now 14-year-old as Hiccup when he was 5. He cosplayed Hiccup at his first Eastercon. The note that Mr Elives gives Jeremy and the magical librarian Hyacinth Priest from the US edition of Jeremy Thatcher. Illustrator: Gary A. Lippincott. How To Train Your Dragon, the book within the book. For more information about research into boys and reading, I recommend Boys Don’t Try? by Matt Pinkett and Mark Roberts. It’s available as an e-book as well as a paperback. I recommend the audiobook of How To Train Your Dragon, read by David Tennent. Try using your local library app to borrow it! Trip’s social media links here and Bona Books here As always, thanks to Steve Vapour-Trails for production assistance. Check out his latest show on Radio Lewes!]]>3811false35fullEp 33: A refreshing lack of Wizard Dads with SJ Groenewegenhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/ep-33-a-refreshing-lack-of-wizard-dads-with-sj-groenewegen--53970442Andra by Louise Lawrence, with the ABC TV cover Ali’s choice: Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao SJ’s website: https://www.sjgroenewegen.co.uk Pre-order The Disinformation War here @nyssa1968 – twitter Reachingforthevoid - tumblr https://mitpress.mit.edu/9781913380809/ - links to pre-orders/orders for the Disinformation War, out on 13 June. SJ will be at Super Relaxed Fantasy Club on 13 June at Star of Kings, London, for readings and Q&A. https://www.facebook.com/groups/srfclondon/about 1990 was the dystopian TV series SJ couldn’t remember the title of, not 1991. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075469/ Dangerous Visions and New Worlds: Radical Science Fiction, 1950 to 1985 Edited by Andrew Nette and lain McIntyre © 2021 PM Press ISBN: 9781629638836 Mentions Andra on a few pages, including the TV series. It quotes Kari Sperring about Louise Lawrence. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empress_Wu_(TV_series) the TV show on SBS in the late 1980s in Australia. The Untamed was my first Chinese drama show, and Ali kept thinking of it when reading Iron Widow. ]]>alibaker68.podbean.com/753e920b-43c8-34ab-98fc-bb45a9ec4568Tue, 23 May 2023 12:33:50 +0000Fantasy Book SwapEpisode 33- A refreshing lack of Wizard Dads with S.J. Groenewegen SJ’s choice: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/1775646 Ali’s choice: https://www.waterstones.com/book/iron-widow/xiran-jay-zhao/9780861542116 SJ’s website:...Andra by Louise Lawrence, with the ABC TV cover Ali’s choice: Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao SJ’s website: https://www.sjgroenewegen.co.uk Pre-order The Disinformation War here @nyssa1968 – twitter Reachingforthevoid - tumblr https://mitpress.mit.edu/9781913380809/ - links to pre-orders/orders for the Disinformation War, out on 13 June. SJ will be at Super Relaxed Fantasy Club on 13 June at Star of Kings, London, for readings and Q&A. https://www.facebook.com/groups/srfclondon/about 1990 was the dystopian TV series SJ couldn’t remember the title of, not 1991. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075469/ Dangerous Visions and New Worlds: Radical Science Fiction, 1950 to 1985 Edited by Andrew Nette and lain McIntyre © 2021 PM Press ISBN: 9781629638836 Mentions Andra on a few pages, including the TV series. It quotes Kari Sperring about Louise Lawrence. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empress_Wu_(TV_series) the TV show on SBS in the late 1980s in Australia. The Untamed was my first Chinese drama show, and Ali kept thinking of it when reading Iron Widow. ]]>3422false34fullEp 32 Imaginary horse husbands with Kari Sperringhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/ep-32-imaginary-horse-husbands-with-kari-sperring--53502990The Silver Brumby by Elyne Mitchell This is the edition that Kari has We talk about the illustrations, by Ralph Thompson: Kookaburra and Wombat Ali’s choice: Abyssinia by Ursula Dubosarsky A doll’s dress at Rouse Hill Farm Estate, New South Wales Other books mentioned in the episode Marguerite Henry’s Misty of Chincoteague The Pullein-Thompson sisters Ruby Ferguson’s Jill books and sequels by Jane Badger, righting the wrongs of Jill being exiled from the world of ponies The Follyfoot books by Monica Dickens. Please enjoy the brilliant TV show theme tune!K.M. Peyton’s Flambards, which was also televised Walter Farley’s Black Stallion books Mary O’Hara’s My Friend Flicka Rumer Godden’s Miss Happiness and Miss Flower Helen Clare’s Five Dolls series Enid Blyton’s Amelia Jane Kari on Facebook and website. Buy her new book!]]>alibaker68.podbean.com/e9665cb5-f5f0-3fe7-a70c-a596df33f3ffTue, 11 Apr 2023 13:47:24 +0000Fantasy Book SwapKari’s choice: https://www.hive.co.uk/Product/Elyne-Mitchell/The-Silver-Brumby/34274 by...The Silver Brumby by Elyne Mitchell This is the edition that Kari has We talk about the illustrations, by Ralph Thompson: Kookaburra and Wombat Ali’s choice: Abyssinia by Ursula Dubosarsky A doll’s dress at Rouse Hill Farm Estate, New South Wales Other books mentioned in the episode Marguerite Henry’s Misty of Chincoteague The Pullein-Thompson sisters Ruby Ferguson’s Jill books and sequels by Jane Badger, righting the wrongs of Jill being exiled from the world of ponies The Follyfoot books by Monica Dickens. Please enjoy the brilliant TV show theme tune!K.M. Peyton’s Flambards, which was also televised 33fullEp 31 Getting rid of parents and grumpy magical helpers with Kate Townerhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/ep-31-getting-rid-of-parents-and-grumpy-magical-helpers-with-kate-towner--51795536Ali’s choice: Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi
The Mahabharat has been dramatized twice for TV. This is the one I watched in the 1980s.
If you want to read the other great Sanskrit epic, the Ramayana, I recommend this graphic novel version told from Sita’s perspective.
A new biography of Edith Nesbit was published in 2019.
The House of Arden was dramatized for BBC radio in 1989. You can buy an audiobook collection of Nesbit adaptations here.
Follow Kate on Twitter at @katepreach and @fantasybookclu3, and on Instagram, where she posts pictures of her artwork and cats @kate.towner.
Thanks as always to Steve Vapour Trails and Jack Sadler-Johnson.]]>alibaker68.podbean.com/0b1fd551-9341-38ce-a084-2dc55e15152bSat, 05 Nov 2022 14:00:20 +0000Fantasy Book SwapKate’s choice: The House of Arden by E. Nesbit Ali’s choice: Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi The Mahabharat has been dramatized twice for TV. This is the one I watched in the 1980s. If you want to read the other great Sanskrit epic,...Ali’s choice: Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi
The Mahabharat has been dramatized twice for TV. This is the one I watched in the 1980s.
If you want to read the other great Sanskrit epic, the Ramayana, I recommend this graphic novel version told from Sita’s perspective.
A new biography of Edith Nesbit was published in 2019.
The House of Arden was dramatized for BBC radio in 1989. You can buy an audiobook collection of Nesbit adaptations here.
Follow Kate on Twitter at @katepreach and @fantasybookclu3, and on Instagram, where she posts pictures of her artwork and cats @kate.towner.
Thanks as always to Steve Vapour Trails and Jack Sadler-Johnson.]]>3878false32fullEp 30: Hot Gladiators and Plague Godshttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/ep-30-hot-gladiators-and-plague-gods--51542189Matt and Nina from Even the Trunchbull come to mine, after I guested on their podcast discussing Joan Aiken's Nightbirds on Nantucket and the lovely picture book Peggoty Po.
Matt and Nina’s book: Slaves of the Mastery by William Nicholson
Ali’s book: City of the Plague God by Sarwat Chadda
Book covers- compare Slaves of the Mastery with The Hunger Games
The cover that would have put Matt off, which reminded me of Stephen Pearson’s classic posters
Follow Even the Trunchbull podcast on Twitter @Trunchbullpod, on Instagram @eventhetrunchbull and follow at your favourite podcast emporium.
Thanks as always to Steve Vapour Trails for production assistance and to Jack Sadler-Johnson for the use of his beautiful track Bliss.]]>alibaker68.podbean.com/512b688b-16da-3df7-9c5c-4249b63e5b7dTue, 11 Oct 2022 20:22:17 +0000Fantasy Book SwapA bumper episode of 1 hr 20! Matt and Nina from Even the Trunchbull come to mine, after I guested on their podcast discussing Joan Aiken's Nightbirds on Nantucket and the lovely picture book Peggoty Po. Matt and Nina’s book: Slaves of the Mastery by...Matt and Nina from Even the Trunchbull come to mine, after I guested on their podcast discussing Joan Aiken's Nightbirds on Nantucket and the lovely picture book Peggoty Po.
Matt and Nina’s book: Slaves of the Mastery by William Nicholson
Ali’s book: City of the Plague God by Sarwat Chadda
Book covers- compare Slaves of the Mastery with The Hunger Games
The cover that would have put Matt off, which reminded me of Stephen Pearson’s classic posters
Follow Even the Trunchbull podcast on Twitter @Trunchbullpod, on Instagram @eventhetrunchbull and follow at your favourite podcast emporium.
Thanks as always to Steve Vapour Trails for production assistance and to Jack Sadler-Johnson for the use of his beautiful track Bliss.]]>4977falsefullMoomintroll and a china rabbit with Laura Mauro at FantasyCon 2022https://www.spreaker.com/episode/moomintroll-and-a-china-rabbit-with-laura-mauro-at-fantasycon-2022--51375936Laura is a games writer, Manga translator and the award-winning author of Sing Your Sadness Deep (2019) among other wonderful things. You can follow her on Twitter here, and find out more at LauraMauro.com
Laura’s choice: Moominland Midwinter by Tove Jansson
Ali’s choice: The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo
We mention Tove Jansson’s biography by Boel Westin
I really love Kate DiCamillo’s work, and John Coxon read Flora & Ulysses for the podcast back in November 2021. You can listen again here.
The trailer of The Tale of Despereaux adapted from Kate DiCamillo here
Laura remembers the Japanese cartoons of the Moomins. I love the German stop motion animations. I mention the Moomins on the Riviera film
Thanks as always to Steve Vapour Trails for production assistance and to Jack Sadler-Johnson for the use of his beautiful track Bliss. Thank you to the committee for giving me a programme slot, and to the audience for coming along and asking questions! See you at FantasyCon 2023!]]>alibaker68.podbean.com/3664bc56-2f41-305d-8b11-29d927dbe897Sun, 25 Sep 2022 13:33:28 +0000Fantasy Book SwapThis episode was recorded live at FantasyCon 2022 so the sound is a little echoey Laura is a games writer, Manga translator and the award-winning author of Sing Your Sadness Deep (2019) among other wonderful things. You can follow her on Twitter here,...Laura is a games writer, Manga translator and the award-winning author of Sing Your Sadness Deep (2019) among other wonderful things. You can follow her on Twitter here, and find out more at LauraMauro.com
Laura’s choice: Moominland Midwinter by Tove Jansson
Ali’s choice: The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo
We mention Tove Jansson’s biography by Boel Westin
I really love Kate DiCamillo’s work, and John Coxon read Flora & Ulysses for the podcast back in November 2021. You can listen again here.
The trailer of The Tale of Despereaux adapted from Kate DiCamillo here
Laura remembers the Japanese cartoons of the Moomins. I love the German stop motion animations. I mention the Moomins on the Riviera film
Thanks as always to Steve Vapour Trails for production assistance and to Jack Sadler-Johnson for the use of his beautiful track Bliss. Thank you to the committee for giving me a programme slot, and to the audience for coming along and asking questions! See you at FantasyCon 2023!]]>2720falsefullEp 28: Two horse girls’ training montages with Caroline Merseyhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/ep-28-two-horse-girls-training-montages-with-caroline-mersey--51104664This episode contains mentions of sexual assault and abduction. Please proceed with care.
It was recorded over the bank holiday in Brighton. Caroline and I attempted to find a quiet corner of a pub to record in during a day out, and despite fiddling with editing there is background noise.
Caroline’s choice: The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley. Sadly, it seems to be out of print in the UK, and it doesn’t appear to be available as an audio book or in ebook format, which is a real shame.
Ali’s choice: A Wind in Cairo by Judith Tarr. You can find the link to the Kindle edition, the audio book and paperback via Amazon here or a Kobo ebook here.
Caroline mentions Katherine Kerr, author of the Deverry series and more.
Judith Tarr on Tor.com. Her column on what C.S. Lewis gets wrong about horses here.
Enjoy this video of Lipizzaner horses, the breed that Judith Tarr keeps. You can see some of the tricks that Khamsin performs in A Wind in Cairo.
Caroline’s Twitter. Her bio includes links to her blog and Super Relaxed Fantasy Club- enjoy the videos recorded during lockdown here!]]>alibaker68.podbean.com/c5d9ee44-b14a-30f2-b7ed-7e8339a31d76Thu, 01 Sep 2022 12:55:07 +0000Fantasy Book SwapTwo quick warnings: This episode contains mentions of sexual assault and abduction. Please proceed with care. It was recorded over the bank holiday in Brighton. Caroline and I attempted to find a quiet corner of a pub to record in during a day out,...This episode contains mentions of sexual assault and abduction. Please proceed with care.
It was recorded over the bank holiday in Brighton. Caroline and I attempted to find a quiet corner of a pub to record in during a day out, and despite fiddling with editing there is background noise.
Caroline’s choice: The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley. Sadly, it seems to be out of print in the UK, and it doesn’t appear to be available as an audio book or in ebook format, which is a real shame.
Ali’s choice: A Wind in Cairo by Judith Tarr. You can find the link to the Kindle edition, the audio book and paperback via Amazon here or a Kobo ebook here.
Caroline mentions Katherine Kerr, author of the Deverry series and more.
Judith Tarr on Tor.com. Her column on what C.S. Lewis gets wrong about horses here.
Enjoy this video of Lipizzaner horses, the breed that Judith Tarr keeps. You can see some of the tricks that Khamsin performs in A Wind in Cairo.
Caroline’s Twitter. Her bio includes links to her blog and Super Relaxed Fantasy Club- enjoy the videos recorded during lockdown here!]]>3730falsefullEp 27: The Anti-Reepicheep League with Ang Rosinhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/ep-27-the-anti-reepicheep-league-with-ang-rosin--50900343Ang’s choice: Mrs Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O’Brien
Ali’s choice: The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents by Terry Pratchett
Ang and Ali are book twins
How I imagine Sardines doing his dance
Reepicheep: ugh
The Secret of NIMH is very weird
The Trailer for the upcoming animated film of Amazing Maurice
Follow Ang on Twitter @ang_grrr
Thank you to everyone who reviewed! I know people reviewed on other platforms and I really appreciate it. If you can’t review on your platform, please do share! It all helps.
Find the BSFA discord here: (play nicely)
Thanks as always to Steve Vapour-Trails for production support.]]>alibaker68.podbean.com/db977cf2-81ed-3dd8-bd35-a8ea39877eabFri, 12 Aug 2022 20:06:40 +0000Fantasy Book SwapThe Anti-Reepicheep League shownotes Ang’s choice: Mrs Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O’Brien Ali’s choice: The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents by Terry Pratchett Ang and Ali are book twins How I imagine Sardines doing his dance...Ang’s choice: Mrs Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O’Brien
Ali’s choice: The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents by Terry Pratchett
Ang and Ali are book twins
How I imagine Sardines doing his dance
Reepicheep: ugh
The Secret of NIMH is very weird
The Trailer for the upcoming animated film of Amazing Maurice
Follow Ang on Twitter @ang_grrr
Thank you to everyone who reviewed! I know people reviewed on other platforms and I really appreciate it. If you can’t review on your platform, please do share! It all helps.
Find the BSFA discord here: (play nicely)
Thanks as always to Steve Vapour-Trails for production support.]]>4137falsefullEp 26: Fairies and witches and toads, oh my!https://www.spreaker.com/episode/ep-26-fairies-and-witches-and-toads-oh-my--50753099Fairies and witches and toads, oh my!
Kit’s choice: The Stream that Stood Still by Beverley Nichols (who is a man! And he had quite the life).
Ali’s choice: Otherland by Louie Stowell. Louie’s very funny The Dragon in the Library was one of the books discussed in Episode 1, with Helena McCallum
Kit’s book, In the Heart of Hidden Things, can be bought as a hardback or ePub. Kindle edition here and audiobook via Audible here. You can see Jenna Barton’s artwork here.
Other books with terrifying fairy folk: Terry Pratchett’s The Wee Free Men, discussed with Fran Dowd in episode 6, and Peadar O’Guillin’s The Call and The Invasion. Be warned: these are brilliant books, but very much YA. There’s a lot of body horror involved. I talked about them at Dublin WorldCon and you can read my paper here.
You can follow Kit on Twitter here and #askafairysmith here.
Thanks, as always, to Steve Vapour Trails for production assistance and Jack Sadler-Johnson for the use of his beautiful track Bliss.
]]>alibaker68.podbean.com/4c3dae7f-1cf4-37f6-aa0d-90aedebfa343Fri, 29 Jul 2022 20:08:06 +0000Fantasy Book SwapShow notes ep 26 Fairies and witches and toads, oh my! Kit’s choice: The Stream that Stood Still by Beverley Nichols (who is a man! And he had quite the life). Ali’s choice: Otherland by Louie Stowell. Louie’s very funny The Dragon in the Library was...Fairies and witches and toads, oh my!
Kit’s choice: The Stream that Stood Still by Beverley Nichols (who is a man! And he had quite the life).
Ali’s choice: Otherland by Louie Stowell. Louie’s very funny The Dragon in the Library was one of the books discussed in Episode 1, with Helena McCallum
Kit’s book, In the Heart of Hidden Things, can be bought as a hardback or ePub. Kindle edition here and audiobook via Audible here. You can see Jenna Barton’s artwork here.
Other books with terrifying fairy folk: Terry Pratchett’s The Wee Free Men, discussed with Fran Dowd in episode 6, and Peadar O’Guillin’s The Call and The Invasion. Be warned: these are brilliant books, but very much YA. There’s a lot of body horror involved. I talked about them at Dublin WorldCon and you can read my paper here.
You can follow Kit on Twitter here and #askafairysmith here.
Thanks, as always, to Steve Vapour Trails for production assistance and Jack Sadler-Johnson for the use of his beautiful track Bliss.
]]>3674falsefullEp 25: Timeslips and dreams with Tony Keenhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/ep-25-timeslips-and-dreams-with-tony-keen--50451141Tony’s choice: Tom’s Midnight Garden by Philippa Pearce
Ali’s choice: The Freedom Maze by Delia Sherman
Tony mentions the difference in portrayal of Roman slavery in Spartacus and Gladiator; can we only empathise if the protagonist is enslaved unjustly? More information on Spartacus here with links to information about screenwriter Dalton Trumbo who had been blacklisted after appearing before the House of Un-American Activities Committee.
Tony watched this adaptation of Tom’s Midnight Garden; Ali watched this one while at university. There was also a BBC radio dramatization which can be obtained via Audible.
Tony on Twitter: @tonykeen46 and his blog: Memorabilia Antonia.
Thanks as always to Steve Vapour Trails for production assistance and to Jack Sadler-Johnson for the use of his beautiful track, Bliss.]]>alibaker68.podbean.com/96f4502a-09bc-3356-84af-edb20a73b332Sun, 03 Jul 2022 14:10:37 +0000Fantasy Book SwapApologies for the sound: it was incredibly hot in the kitchen in Hove so we recorded with the window open, so there is some traffic noise in the background. Tony’s choice: Tom’s Midnight Garden by Philippa Pearce Ali’s choice: The Freedom Maze by...Tony’s choice: Tom’s Midnight Garden by Philippa Pearce
Ali’s choice: The Freedom Maze by Delia Sherman
Tony mentions the difference in portrayal of Roman slavery in Spartacus and Gladiator; can we only empathise if the protagonist is enslaved unjustly? More information on Spartacus here with links to information about screenwriter Dalton Trumbo who had been blacklisted after appearing before the House of Un-American Activities Committee.
Tony watched this adaptation of Tom’s Midnight Garden; Ali watched this one while at university. There was also a BBC radio dramatization which can be obtained via Audible.
Tony on Twitter: @tonykeen46 and his blog: Memorabilia Antonia.
Thanks as always to Steve Vapour Trails for production assistance and to Jack Sadler-Johnson for the use of his beautiful track, Bliss.]]>3432falsefullEp 24: Look into my eyes with Russell Smithhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/ep-24-look-into-my-eyes-with-russell-smith--50229591Ali’s book: Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston
Catherine Butler wrote a paper about mind control in children’s literature and you can read it here
Russell and I talk about the new series of The Demon Headmaster. You can watch it on BBC iPlayer.
Information about the 1990s series can be found here
There is a second Amari book on the way.
I like the look of this and I saw this on Twitter
Follow Russell at @RASmithPSL, and his blog at https://projectshadowlondon.com/]]>alibaker68.podbean.com/4fd0b000-bf09-300d-ac1a-aaf4358dced8Thu, 16 Jun 2022 19:04:20 +0000Fantasy Book SwapRussell’s book: The Demon Headmaster by Gillian Cross Ali’s book: Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston Catherine Butler wrote a paper about mind control in children’s literature and you can read it here Russell and I talk about the new series...Ali’s book: Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston
Catherine Butler wrote a paper about mind control in children’s literature and you can read it here
Russell and I talk about the new series of The Demon Headmaster. You can watch it on BBC iPlayer.
Information about the 1990s series can be found here
There is a second Amari book on the way.
I like the look of this and I saw this on Twitter
Follow Russell at @RASmithPSL, and his blog at https://projectshadowlondon.com/]]>3812falsefullSweet Polly Oliver goes Over The Hills: Sharpe and Monstrous Regimenthttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/sweet-polly-oliver-goes-over-the-hills-sharpe-and-monstrous-regiment--50048010Please note that some women who went to war disguised as men lived as men for the rest of their lives (such as James Barry) while others returned to living as women after their service. Sergeant Jackrum may be considered the former; he may have considered himself a trans man, if such terms were available to him in Discworld.
Alistair’s choice: Sharpe’s Eagle by Bernard Cornwell
Ali’s choice: Monstrous Regiment by Terry Pratchett
During the discussion, Alistair and I talked about the representation of women by both novels: while there are no women viewpoint characters in Sharpe’s Eagle they are there. It’s incredible to me that women were so close to the front line in the peninsula wars, and in such a variety of roles. As I mentioned in the podcast, Phoebe Hessel’s gravestone is still (just about) legible in the graveyard of St Nicholas of Myrna, Brighton, which is just down the hill from where I live. You can find out more about the “Stepney Amazon” here.
See Alistair’s wonderful kickstarter for dyslexia-friendly books for adults, including Sharpe’s Skirmish by Bernard Cornwell!
Thank you Alistair! Follow Books on the Hill on Twitter: @Booksonthehill
Thanks as always to Steve Vapour Trails and Jack Sadler-Johnson]]>alibaker68.podbean.com/8d7437ba-64b8-3a77-99ad-ec392152c3fcFri, 03 Jun 2022 09:27:24 +0000Fantasy Book SwapSpoilers for Monstrous Regiment in this episode! Please note that some women who went to war disguised as men lived as men for the rest of their lives (such as James Barry) while others returned to living as women after their service. Sergeant...Please note that some women who went to war disguised as men lived as men for the rest of their lives (such as James Barry) while others returned to living as women after their service. Sergeant Jackrum may be considered the former; he may have considered himself a trans man, if such terms were available to him in Discworld.
Alistair’s choice: Sharpe’s Eagle by Bernard Cornwell
Ali’s choice: Monstrous Regiment by Terry Pratchett
During the discussion, Alistair and I talked about the representation of women by both novels: while there are no women viewpoint characters in Sharpe’s Eagle they are there. It’s incredible to me that women were so close to the front line in the peninsula wars, and in such a variety of roles. As I mentioned in the podcast, Phoebe Hessel’s gravestone is still (just about) legible in the graveyard of St Nicholas of Myrna, Brighton, which is just down the hill from where I live. You can find out more about the “Stepney Amazon” here.
See Alistair’s wonderful kickstarter for dyslexia-friendly books for adults, including Sharpe’s Skirmish by Bernard Cornwell!
Thank you Alistair! Follow Books on the Hill on Twitter: @Booksonthehill
Thanks as always to Steve Vapour Trails and Jack Sadler-Johnson]]>690falsefullEp 22: I’m just a teenage necromancer, babyhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/ep-22-i-m-just-a-teenage-necromancer-baby--49750540
Scott’s choice: A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula Le Guin
Ali’s choice: Sabriel by Garth Nix
Buy from your local bookseller, such as Bert’s Books in Swindon!
The awful adaptation of A Wizard of Earthsea: Legend of Earthsea and a much better one: Tales from Earthsea
Vetch is indeed a plant.
HP Lovecraft Band’s song Country Boy and Bleeker Street
Scott mentions the Caryl Churchill play Vinegar Tom
Tim Curry narrates the audiobook of Sabriel
Authors that Scott mentions reading to his son:
Vashti Hardy
G. Leonard
Jakob Wegelius

We also talk about Chris Riddell’s Goth Girl discussed by my dad and me on episode 16, and L.D Lapinski’s Strangeworlds Travel Agency, discussed with Phil Dyson in episode 2. The final book in the Strangeworlds Travel Agency is now published- The Secrets of the Stormforest.
Find Scott on Twitter: @stumpyduck77 and on Instagram @doggerelg]]>alibaker68.podbean.com/a151fcbf-be0e-3413-b3ec-fdd81e430020Tue, 10 May 2022 21:44:30 +0000Fantasy Book SwapI recorded this episode after having Covid, which affected my asthma. Apologies for the audible wheezing. Scott’s choice: A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula Le Guin Ali’s choice: Sabriel by Garth Nix Buy from your local bookseller, such as Bert’s Books...
Scott’s choice: A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula Le Guin
Ali’s choice: Sabriel by Garth Nix
Buy from your local bookseller, such as Bert’s Books in Swindon!
The awful adaptation of A Wizard of Earthsea: Legend of Earthsea and a much better one: Tales from Earthsea
Vetch is indeed a plant.
HP Lovecraft Band’s song Country Boy and Bleeker Street
Scott mentions the Caryl Churchill play Vinegar Tom
Tim Curry narrates the audiobook of Sabriel
Authors that Scott mentions reading to his son:
Vashti Hardy
G. Leonard
Jakob Wegelius

We also talk about Chris Riddell’s Goth Girl discussed by my dad and me on episode 16, and L.D Lapinski’s Strangeworlds Travel Agency, discussed with Phil Dyson in episode 2. The final book in the Strangeworlds Travel Agency is now published- The Secrets of the Stormforest.
Find Scott on Twitter: @stumpyduck77 and on Instagram @doggerelg]]>4169falsefullEpisode 21: Fantasy Book Swap Live!!! at Reclamation 2022, with Tasha Surihttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/episode-21-fantasy-book-swap-live-at-reclamation-2022-with-tasha-suri--49502165Recorded at Reclamation 2022, the British Science Fiction and Fantasy Fan convention. Join us next year with Conversation 2023!
With guest Tasha Suri
Tasha’s pick: Alanna, The First Adventure by Tamora Pierce
Ali’s pick: Utterly Dark and the Face of the Deep by Philip Reeve
Follow Tasha on Twitter and Instagram
Many thanks to everyone who got up before 10:30am on Bank Holiday Monday to be at the recording! And thanks to you for listening.
]]>alibaker68.podbean.com/1fa7daa8-cb2b-3e1e-9fa6-5fa6c94c09c3Thu, 21 Apr 2022 10:05:23 +0000Fantasy Book SwapShownotes Recorded at Reclamation 2022, the British Science Fiction and Fantasy Fan convention. Join us next year with Conversation 2023! With guest Tasha Suri Tasha’s pick: Alanna, The First Adventure by Tamora Pierce Ali’s pick: Utterly Dark and the...Recorded at Reclamation 2022, the British Science Fiction and Fantasy Fan convention. Join us next year with Conversation 2023!
With guest Tasha Suri
Tasha’s pick: Alanna, The First Adventure by Tamora Pierce
Ali’s pick: Utterly Dark and the Face of the Deep by Philip Reeve
Follow Tasha on Twitter and Instagram
Many thanks to everyone who got up before 10:30am on Bank Holiday Monday to be at the recording! And thanks to you for listening.
]]>3610falsefullDeploy Emergency Podcasthttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/deploy-emergency-podcast--49353701This episode is inspired by Octothorpe’s episode 54, Embrace the Sweat, where in discussion about Naomi Novik’s A Deadly Education Alison suggested that it was the first book to challenge the classism of the Harry Potter series. I disagree!
You can find out more about Jonathan Stroud here. I think he’s a fantastic author. The first of the Bartimaeus books is The Amulet of Samarkand . We meet Kitty Jones and the Resistance in The Golem’s Eye and the final novel of the original trilogy is Ptolemy’s Gate.
The next scheduled recording is live on Easter Monday at EasterCon, Reclamation 2022, with Tasha Suri as guest. We will be discussing Tamora Pierce’s Alanna: The First Adventure and Philip Reeve’s Utterly Dark and the Face of the Deep. Please come along if you’re there, and send questions via @fantasyswap or fantasybookswap@gmail.com]]>alibaker68.podbean.com/66e04b97-c0c2-3b73-a2ef-633a0ded9e1cThu, 07 Apr 2022 13:10:44 +0000Fantasy Book SwapA very short emergency podcast due to life, the pandemic and the general state of things that have disrupted my recording schedule. How rude. This episode is inspired by Octothorpe’s episode 54, Embrace the Sweat, where in discussion about Naomi...This episode is inspired by Octothorpe’s episode 54, Embrace the Sweat, where in discussion about Naomi Novik’s A Deadly Education Alison suggested that it was the first book to challenge the classism of the Harry Potter series. I disagree!
You can find out more about Jonathan Stroud here. I think he’s a fantastic author. The first of the Bartimaeus books is The Amulet of Samarkand . We meet Kitty Jones and the Resistance in The Golem’s Eye and the final novel of the original trilogy is Ptolemy’s Gate.
The next scheduled recording is live on Easter Monday at EasterCon, Reclamation 2022, with Tasha Suri as guest. We will be discussing Tamora Pierce’s Alanna: The First Adventure and Philip Reeve’s Utterly Dark and the Face of the Deep. Please come along if you’re there, and send questions via @fantasyswap or fantasybookswap@gmail.com]]>534falsefullEp 19: Fairytale retellings and socialist fantasy with Ali Williamshttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/ep-19-fairytale-retellings-and-socialist-fantasy-with-ali-williams--49111718
Ali Williams’s book: Beauty by Robin McKinley

Ali Baker’s book: Magyk by Angie Sage

Robin McKinley’s website here

Angie Sage’s website here

This is Laurie Pink, Angie Sage’s child, who is an artist: https://mobile.twitter.com/lauriepink

Ali Williams’s website: https://www.aliwilliams.org/ where you can find links to her lectures, Romancing the Discourse, her editing and writing. You can find the booklist for her paranormal romance lecture here.

You can follow Ali on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok @claficionado

Ali’s paranormal romance novel, Forged in Flames, is published later this year. You can see the gorgeous cover here

Thanks to Ali for being an emergency stand-in guest!]]>alibaker68.podbean.com/90bcef42-ff86-3a7f-bd9c-2b96428d1e66Fri, 18 Mar 2022 21:17:30 +0000Fantasy Book SwapWarning: there is mild swearing in this episode, and a lot of cackling. Ali Williams’s book: Beauty by Robin McKinley Ali Baker’s book: Magyk by Angie Sage Robin McKinley’s website here Angie Sage’s website here This is Laurie Pink, Angie Sage’s...
Ali Williams’s book: Beauty by Robin McKinley

Ali Baker’s book: Magyk by Angie Sage

Robin McKinley’s website here

Angie Sage’s website here

This is Laurie Pink, Angie Sage’s child, who is an artist: https://mobile.twitter.com/lauriepink

Ali Williams’s website: https://www.aliwilliams.org/ where you can find links to her lectures, Romancing the Discourse, her editing and writing. You can find the booklist for her paranormal romance lecture here.

You can follow Ali on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok @claficionado

Ali’s paranormal romance novel, Forged in Flames, is published later this year. You can see the gorgeous cover here

Thanks to Ali for being an emergency stand-in guest!]]>4578falsefullEp 18: Going Underground Joan Aiken’s Is and Frances Hardinge’s A Face Like Glasshttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/ep-18-going-underground-joan-aiken-s-is-and-frances-hardinge-s-a-face-like-glass--48968086
Ali’s book: A Face Like Glass by Frances Hardinge

You can find out about all of Joan Aiken’s books here and follow her daughter, Lizza on Twitter.

Aisha mentions The Harp of Fishbones, The Kingdom under the Sea and A Necklace of Raindrops with Jan Pienkowski’s illustrations, such as these ones

You can hear LeVar Burton reading ‘Furry Night’ from The People in the Castle here

Frances Hardinge’s website, Facebook fan page and Twitter

Ali’s editions here and Aisha’s

Dr Aishwarya Subramanian’s staff profile on Strange Horizons. You can follow her on Twitter.

Strange Horizons Critical Friends podcast with Aisha, Maureen Kinkaid Speller and Dan Hartland discussing Science Fiction criticism.

The news from Ukraine is terrible. If you’re looking for a bookish charity to support, you might like to try PEN International, which supports authors. Those in Ukraine critical of Russian politics will be in particular need.]]>alibaker68.podbean.com/bef1005a-8e02-34ad-a979-60eeb1d52e51Sun, 06 Mar 2022 15:11:18 +0000Fantasy Book SwapAisha’s book: Is by Joan Aiken Ali’s book: A Face Like Glass by Frances Hardinge You can find out about all of Joan Aiken’s books here and follow her daughter, Lizza on Twitter. Aisha mentions The Harp of Fishbones, The Kingdom under the Sea and A...
Ali’s book: A Face Like Glass by Frances Hardinge

You can find out about all of Joan Aiken’s books here and follow her daughter, Lizza on Twitter.

Aisha mentions The Harp of Fishbones, The Kingdom under the Sea and A Necklace of Raindrops with Jan Pienkowski’s illustrations, such as these ones

You can hear LeVar Burton reading ‘Furry Night’ from The People in the Castle here

Frances Hardinge’s website, Facebook fan page and Twitter

Ali’s editions here and Aisha’s

Dr Aishwarya Subramanian’s staff profile on Strange Horizons. You can follow her on Twitter.

Strange Horizons Critical Friends podcast with Aisha, Maureen Kinkaid Speller and Dan Hartland discussing Science Fiction criticism.

The news from Ukraine is terrible. If you’re looking for a bookish charity to support, you might like to try PEN International, which supports authors. Those in Ukraine critical of Russian politics will be in particular need.]]>3926falsefullOf Wolves and Birds with Damien Hinehttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/of-wolves-and-birds-with-damien-hine--48848892
Ali’s choice: Asha and the Spirit Bird by Jasbinder Bilan

Jasbinder Bilan wrote about the inspiration she got from a trip to India here

You can find Damien Hine on Twitter here and Facebook. The audiobook of Out of Atlas can be bought here. Damien will be at the British SFF convention, EasterCon. You can buy membership here, but do it soon as prices will be rising at the end of the month.

Fantasy Book Swap is Hugo-eligible! If you’re a member of Discon 3 or Chicon 8 you can add the podcast to the longlist. Help more people read fantastic British children’s fantasy fiction!

Thanks as always to Steve Vapour-Trails for production assistance, and Jack Sadler-Johnson for the use of his beautiful track Bliss.]]>alibaker68.podbean.com/09e44144-1beb-365c-943b-7ccac8146240Wed, 23 Feb 2022 20:52:48 +0000Fantasy Book SwapDamien’s choice: Wolf Brother by Michelle Paver Ali’s choice: Asha and the Spirit Bird by Jasbinder Bilan Jasbinder Bilan wrote about the inspiration she got from a trip to India here You can find Damien Hine on Twitter here and Facebook. The...
Ali’s choice: Asha and the Spirit Bird by Jasbinder Bilan

Jasbinder Bilan wrote about the inspiration she got from a trip to India here

You can find Damien Hine on Twitter here and Facebook. The audiobook of Out of Atlas can be bought here. Damien will be at the British SFF convention, EasterCon. You can buy membership here, but do it soon as prices will be rising at the end of the month.

Fantasy Book Swap is Hugo-eligible! If you’re a member of Discon 3 or Chicon 8 you can add the podcast to the longlist. Help more people read fantastic British children’s fantasy fiction!

Thanks as always to Steve Vapour-Trails for production assistance, and Jack Sadler-Johnson for the use of his beautiful track Bliss.]]>3015falsefullSpooky Old Houses and Ghostly Mouseshttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/spooky-old-houses-and-ghostly-mouses--48712027
During the podcast I mention John Masefield’s poem Sea Fever. You can read it here. I just found this poem, The Ship and Her Makers, which seems closer to his prose, somehow.

The sketch Chris Riddell gave me is here and look at the shiny!

My dad is a published author! His book, The Mountain and the Summer Stars, was published the year I was born. Dad continued to write stories for my sisters and me, and Father Christmas left us some brilliant letters thanking us for the mince pies, sherry and glass of whisky that we left out for him.

Fantasy Book Swap is Hugo eligible! If you’re a member or supporting member of Chicon 8, this year’s WorldCon, and you enjoy the podcast, please do consider a nomination for the long list.]]>alibaker68.podbean.com/edf1fcb2-2d64-3a63-99bf-cef722808efdSun, 13 Feb 2022 11:10:14 +0000Fantasy Book SwapThis episode has a very special guest… my dad, Michael Baker, who was 84 yesterday. You can see him wearing his favourite hat here. This photo was taken last May, on my sister Kate’s belated 50th birthday. It was absolutely freezing! During the...
During the podcast I mention John Masefield’s poem Sea Fever. You can read it here. I just found this poem, The Ship and Her Makers, which seems closer to his prose, somehow.

The sketch Chris Riddell gave me is here and look at the shiny!

My dad is a published author! His book, The Mountain and the Summer Stars, was published the year I was born. Dad continued to write stories for my sisters and me, and Father Christmas left us some brilliant letters thanking us for the mince pies, sherry and glass of whisky that we left out for him.

Fantasy Book Swap is Hugo eligible! If you’re a member or supporting member of Chicon 8, this year’s WorldCon, and you enjoy the podcast, please do consider a nomination for the long list.]]>2872falsefullEpisode 15: Crushing on Chrestomancihttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/episode-15-crushing-on-chrestomanci--48472928
Ali’s choice: Who Let The Gods Out? by Maz Evans

You can find Alice on Twitter, read her on Book Riot and read her webcomics here

The most obvious example of an Agatha Christie novel with an unreliable narrator is The Murder of Roger Ackroyd. Alice mentions Robin Steven’s wonderful Murder Most Unladylike books, which I can’t recommend enough.

Do you use Storygraph to log your reading? Follow me there, and see what is coming up on the podcast! https://app.thestorygraph.com/profile/alibakerbrooks

Thanks as always to Steve Vapour Trails for production assistance and Jack Sadler-Johnson for the use of his track Bliss.

Please do rate and review the podcast on the platform you use! It helps other people find the podcast, and it satisfies my vanity!]]>alibaker68.podbean.com/09ffe887-7b3a-3c85-9767-829ec0f37ba9Thu, 27 Jan 2022 20:24:21 +0000Fantasy Book SwapAlice’s choice: Charmed Life by Diana Wynne Jones Ali’s choice: Who Let The Gods Out? by Maz Evans You can find Alice on Twitter, read her on Book Riot and read her webcomics here The most obvious example of an Agatha Christie novel with an...
Ali’s choice: Who Let The Gods Out? by Maz Evans

You can find Alice on Twitter, read her on Book Riot and read her webcomics here

The most obvious example of an Agatha Christie novel with an unreliable narrator is The Murder of Roger Ackroyd. Alice mentions Robin Steven’s wonderful Murder Most Unladylike books, which I can’t recommend enough.

Do you use Storygraph to log your reading? Follow me there, and see what is coming up on the podcast! https://app.thestorygraph.com/profile/alibakerbrooks

Thanks as always to Steve Vapour Trails for production assistance and Jack Sadler-Johnson for the use of his track Bliss.

Please do rate and review the podcast on the platform you use! It helps other people find the podcast, and it satisfies my vanity!]]>2859falsefullEpisode 14- Series 1 finale. Of spooks, skeksis and Sherlockhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/episode-14-series-1-finale-of-spooks-skeksis-and-sherlock--48099326
This episode has the favourite winter reading of:

Nicholas Jackson

Danny

DC

so thank you all for your contributions! I very much enjoyed listening to them.

Fantasy Book Swap is taking a break until the end of January, when I will be back with Fantasy Book Swap 2: Swap Harder.

Thanks, as always, to Steve Vapour Trails for production support, and for Jack Sadler-Jackson for the use of his beautiful track, Bliss.]]>alibaker68.podbean.com/71176ebe-53d9-3792-89d3-d268df0ce51dWed, 29 Dec 2021 17:37:56 +0000Fantasy Book SwapThank you, dear listeners, for your support and interest. Fantasy Book Swap has had 1000 downloads on Podbean! Look, I have the badge to prove it! This episode has the favourite winter reading of: Nicholas Jackson Danny DC so thank you all for...
This episode has the favourite winter reading of:

Nicholas Jackson

Danny

DC

so thank you all for your contributions! I very much enjoyed listening to them.

Fantasy Book Swap is taking a break until the end of January, when I will be back with Fantasy Book Swap 2: Swap Harder.

Thanks, as always, to Steve Vapour Trails for production support, and for Jack Sadler-Jackson for the use of his beautiful track, Bliss.]]>620falsefullWolves are not the most dangerous creatures in this forest: Stephanie Shields, The Dark is Rising and Breadcrumbshttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/wolves-are-not-the-most-dangerous-creatures-in-this-forest-stephanie-shields-the-dark-is-rising-and-breadcrumbs--48016534
Ali’s choice: Breadcrumbs by Anne Ursu.

See one of Erin McGuire's illustrations for Breadcrumbs here

You can find Stef on Twitter and Instagram, and buy her books here https://www.cynefinroad.co.uk/shop

The next episode will be the last for a bit; I’m taking a break in January and will be back in early February.

Do you use Storygraph to log your reading? Follow me there, and see what is coming up on the podcast! https://app.thestorygraph.com/profile/alibakerbrooks

Thanks as always to Steve Vapour Trails for production assistance and Jack Sadler-Johnson for the use of his track Bliss.]]>alibaker68.podbean.com/ac658cce-80d9-34e4-9132-1a4c013f36cdTue, 21 Dec 2021 21:31:44 +0000Fantasy Book SwapStef’s choice: The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper. Ali’s choice: Breadcrumbs by Anne Ursu. See one of Erin McGuire's illustrations for Breadcrumbs here You can find Stef on Twitter and Instagram, and buy her books here...
Ali’s choice: Breadcrumbs by Anne Ursu.

See one of Erin McGuire's illustrations for Breadcrumbs here

You can find Stef on Twitter and Instagram, and buy her books here https://www.cynefinroad.co.uk/shop

The next episode will be the last for a bit; I’m taking a break in January and will be back in early February.

Do you use Storygraph to log your reading? Follow me there, and see what is coming up on the podcast! https://app.thestorygraph.com/profile/alibakerbrooks

Thanks as always to Steve Vapour Trails for production assistance and Jack Sadler-Johnson for the use of his track Bliss.]]>3744falsefullEp 12: Anne is not the Sansa Stark of the Famous Five- Fiona Moore on Edward Eager‘s Knight‘s Castle and Stephanie Burgis‘s The Dragon withhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/ep-12-anne-is-not-the-sansa-stark-of-the-famous-five-fiona-moore-on-edward-eager-s-knight-s-castle-and-stephanie-burgis-s-the-dragon-with--47921855
Fiona’s choice was Edward Eager’s Knight’s Castle, which easily available in secondhand editions. However, N. M. Bodecker’s illustrations are hard to beat, so try to find an edition including them. My favourite is here. Fiona mentions the Christmas song Silver Bells, and we discuss the 1952 film Ivanhoe, with Elizabeth Taylor playing Rebecca. See the trailer here. The E. Nesbit book The Magic City is out of print, but you can read it free via Project Gutenberg.

Ali’s choice was Stephanie Burgis’s The Dragon with the Chocolate Heart. This book has to be read under a blanket, drinking hot chocolate. This recipe for vegan hot chocolate with chili looks perfect. Stephanie’s most recent book, The Raven Heir, will be my Christmas holiday read this year.

Fiona also mentioned Audrey NIffenegger’s Her Fearful Symmetry as an example of an unreliable first-person narrator.

What is your favourite seasonal read? Record a voice message with your name, the title of your favourite book to read at this time of year, and email to fantasybookswap@gmail.com. Include your postal address if you would like a Fantasy Book Swap badge.

Thanks as always to Steve Vapour Trails for production assistance and Jack Sadler-Johnson for the use of his track Bliss.]]>alibaker68.podbean.com/a674f28c-d0ec-3598-a1c2-8e1e5315f960Tue, 14 Dec 2021 19:25:03 +0000Fantasy Book SwapYou can find Fiona on Twitter, and her blog here, where you can find links to her fiction and other work. You can buy Fiona’s book on Doctor Who: The Robots of Death here. Fiona’s tiny buildings can be found on Instagram and Beau Paddington’s wardrobe...
Fiona’s choice was Edward Eager’s Knight’s Castle, which easily available in secondhand editions. However, N. M. Bodecker’s illustrations are hard to beat, so try to find an edition including them. My favourite is here. Fiona mentions the Christmas song Silver Bells, and we discuss the 1952 film Ivanhoe, with Elizabeth Taylor playing Rebecca. See the trailer here. The E. Nesbit book The Magic City is out of print, but you can read it free via Project Gutenberg.

Ali’s choice was Stephanie Burgis’s The Dragon with the Chocolate Heart. This book has to be read under a blanket, drinking hot chocolate. This recipe for vegan hot chocolate with chili looks perfect. Stephanie’s most recent book, The Raven Heir, will be my Christmas holiday read this year.

Fiona also mentioned Audrey NIffenegger’s Her Fearful Symmetry as an example of an unreliable first-person narrator.

What is your favourite seasonal read? Record a voice message with your name, the title of your favourite book to read at this time of year, and email to fantasybookswap@gmail.com. Include your postal address if you would like a Fantasy Book Swap badge.

Thanks as always to Steve Vapour Trails for production assistance and Jack Sadler-Johnson for the use of his track Bliss.]]>3336falsefullWinter special trailerhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/winter-special-trailer--47783893fantasybookswap@gmail.com. ]]>alibaker68.podbean.com/bfd5ab80-8c10-3c8b-a75f-e2c2c73d52d6Sat, 04 Dec 2021 15:22:36 +0000Fantasy Book SwapGet involved! Email your voice recording introducing your favourite winter reads to fantasybookswap@gmail.com. fantasybookswap@gmail.com. ]]>43falsefullEp 11: Farah Mendlesohn, Fattypuffs and Thinifers and Lightfallhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/ep-11-farah-mendlesohn-fattypuffs-and-thinifers-and-lightfall--47672110
Farah co-authored Children's Fantasy Literature: An Introduction with Michael Levy, and is the author of The Intergalactic Playground: A Critical Study of Children's and Teens' Science Fiction

Farah recommends The Tea Dragon Society

Farah's choice: Fattypuffs and Thinifers by Andre Maurois

Ali's choice: Lightfall by Tim Probert

Please tell me your favourite Winter reads! Record a short voice note and email fantasybookswap@gmail.com

Thanks to Steve Vapour Trails for production assistance and Jack Sadler-Johnson for the use of his beautiful track, Bliss.]]>alibaker68.podbean.com/ad2bf98e-ea05-3aee-8a85-d4f04b49a799Fri, 26 Nov 2021 20:20:19 +0000Fantasy Book SwapFollow Farah on Twitter. Farah is also a co-chair for the Eastercon 2024 bid Farah co-authored Children's Fantasy Literature: An Introduction with Michael Levy, and is the author of The Intergalactic Playground: A Critical Study of Children's and...
Farah co-authored Children's Fantasy Literature: An Introduction with Michael Levy, and is the author of The Intergalactic Playground: A Critical Study of Children's and Teens' Science Fiction

Farah recommends The Tea Dragon Society

Farah's choice: Fattypuffs and Thinifers by Andre Maurois

Ali's choice: Lightfall by Tim Probert

Please tell me your favourite Winter reads! Record a short voice note and email fantasybookswap@gmail.com

Thanks to Steve Vapour Trails for production assistance and Jack Sadler-Johnson for the use of his beautiful track, Bliss.]]>3775falsefull”More funny than Thomas Hardy”: John Coxon, Rebecca‘s World and Flora & Ulysseshttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/more-funny-than-thomas-hardy-john-coxon-rebecca-s-world-and-flora-ulysses--47430673As John states, there is an Audible audiobook of Rebecca’s World, read by Paul Darrow, who was indeed Avon from Blakes 7.

Flora and Ulysses by Kate di Camillo. There is a Disney film based on the book; see the trailer here
The Tale of Despereaux trailer on YouTube

John mentions Groosham Grange by Anthony Horowitz

Ali mentions The Eighteenth Emergency by Betsy Byars and You’re A Bad Man, Mr Gum! by Andy Stanton

Octothorpe British SFF fandom podcast with Liz Batty, John and Alison Scott

John’s website, including links to his fan writing, is procrastinations.co.uk
Reclamation 2022, the 72nd EasterCon

It’s the 50th Novacon this weekend coming (12th-14th November)

MERCH! From Stow Shirts

Thanks as always to Steve Vapour Trails for production assistance and Jack Sadler-Johnson for the use of his track Bliss.]]>alibaker68.podbean.com/6e62b80d-c907-37ab-a936-4d3fbba7eda2Thu, 11 Nov 2021 19:15:01 +0000Fantasy Book SwapRebecca’s World by Terry Nation As John states, there is an Audible audiobook of Rebecca’s World, read by Paul Darrow, who was indeed Avon from Blakes 7. Flora and Ulysses by Kate di Camillo. There is a Disney film based on the book; see the...As John states, there is an Audible audiobook of Rebecca’s World, read by Paul Darrow, who was indeed Avon from Blakes 7.

Flora and Ulysses by Kate di Camillo. There is a Disney film based on the book; see the trailer here
The Tale of Despereaux trailer on YouTube

John mentions Groosham Grange by Anthony Horowitz

Ali mentions The Eighteenth Emergency by Betsy Byars and You’re A Bad Man, Mr Gum! by Andy Stanton

Octothorpe British SFF fandom podcast with Liz Batty, John and Alison Scott

John’s website, including links to his fan writing, is procrastinations.co.uk
Reclamation 2022, the 72nd EasterCon

It’s the 50th Novacon this weekend coming (12th-14th November)

MERCH! From Stow Shirts

Thanks as always to Steve Vapour Trails for production assistance and Jack Sadler-Johnson for the use of his track Bliss.]]>3135falsefullEp.9 ”Not your average hawk”: Tamora Pierce‘s Tortal universe with Ruth Hunthttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/ep-9-not-your-average-hawk-tamora-pierce-s-tortal-universe-with-ruth-hunt--47234006
Wild Magic by Tamora Pierce

Tempests and Slaughter by Tamora Pierce

The Tortall universe in chronological order- though new readers would be best off starting with Alanna: The First Adventure

Tamora Pierce’s thinking about gender identity and sexuality has changed over time

An interview with Tamora Pierce on Beyond the Trope podcast

Ruth Hunt the Wild Mage’s wildlife photos here]]>alibaker68.podbean.com/2b095787-04f9-3217-ad21-84f96d5c8e02Sat, 30 Oct 2021 14:49:54 +0000Fantasy Book SwapGuest: my colleague Ruth Hunt. Find out more about Ruth and her research here Wild Magic by Tamora Pierce Tempests and Slaughter by Tamora Pierce The Tortall universe in chronological order- though new readers would be best off starting with...
Wild Magic by Tamora Pierce

Tempests and Slaughter by Tamora Pierce

The Tortall universe in chronological order- though new readers would be best off starting with Alanna: The First Adventure

Tamora Pierce’s thinking about gender identity and sexuality has changed over time

An interview with Tamora Pierce on Beyond the Trope podcast

Ruth Hunt the Wild Mage’s wildlife photos here]]>3840falsefullEpisode True 8- Virginia Preston, cricket, cake and nunshttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/episode-true-8-virginia-preston-cricket-cake-and-nuns--47016807
Daisy May Johnson’s How To Be Brave

Fantasy Book Swap episode with Daisy

The Dickens novel that we couldn’t remember was Dombey and Son, where an annoying child does indeed die

The Worst Witch- Mildred unmasking the evil witches

Eva Ibbotson’s books: The Journey to the River Sea is set in the Amazon rainforest

Many of Angela Brazil’s books are on Project Gutenberg

Nicola and Rowan discuss Dorothy L Sayers’s Murder Must Advertise. A cricket match is the climax, foreshadowing the climactic cricket match in The Cricket Term

Nesbit’s Bastables books

The Chalet School book where to the best of my memory, buried treasure is found

Join us at Reclamation2022!

Follow Virginia on Twitter

Thanks to Steve Vapour Trails for production assistance. Please check out his radio show! Also to Jack Sadler-Johnson for the use of his beautiful track, Bliss.

]]>alibaker68.podbean.com/74427ef6-506f-3c2e-916e-a3a58e8b4acbSun, 17 Oct 2021 14:30:35 +0000Fantasy Book SwapAntonia Forests’s The Cricket Term Daisy May Johnson’s How To Be Brave Fantasy Book Swap episode with Daisy The Dickens novel that we couldn’t remember was Dombey and Son, where an annoying child does indeed die The Worst Witch- Mildred unmasking...
Daisy May Johnson’s How To Be Brave

Fantasy Book Swap episode with Daisy

The Dickens novel that we couldn’t remember was Dombey and Son, where an annoying child does indeed die

The Worst Witch- Mildred unmasking the evil witches

Eva Ibbotson’s books: The Journey to the River Sea is set in the Amazon rainforest

Many of Angela Brazil’s books are on Project Gutenberg

Nicola and Rowan discuss Dorothy L Sayers’s Murder Must Advertise. A cricket match is the climax, foreshadowing the climactic cricket match in The Cricket Term

Nesbit’s Bastables books

The Chalet School book where to the best of my memory, buried treasure is found

Join us at Reclamation2022!

Follow Virginia on Twitter

Thanks to Steve Vapour Trails for production assistance. Please check out his radio show! Also to Jack Sadler-Johnson for the use of his beautiful track, Bliss.

]]>3443falsefullEpisode 8 ”No booty call for Merlin”: Tiffani Angus on Mary Stewart‘s The Crystal Cave and James Clammer‘s Why I Went Backhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/episode-8-no-booty-call-for-merlin-tiffani-angus-on-mary-stewart-s-the-crystal-cave-and-james-clammer-s-why-i-went-back--46723179
Recorded live at FantasyCon, so there is background noise of 3D humans, including some sound bleed of the panel in the room next door. Let's call it atmosphere!

Mary Stewart's The Crystal Cave- it is in fact a quintet, not a trilogy

James Clammer's Why I Went Back

I got Steve and Jimmy's friendship origin story wrong- Steve was friends at university with some of Jimmy's friends, but they actually met in Brighton. My story is better, though.

Find Tiffani here

Big thanks to Edward James and Jeremy Carter for audio support! Please check out Cast of Wonders, Katherine Inskipp and Jeremy's YA fiction podcast.

Thanks as always to Steve Vapour Trails for production support and Jack Sadler-Johnson for the use of his track Bliss. Your Letters of Comment are always welcome at Fantasybookswap@gmail.com,]]>alibaker68.podbean.com/19a0b832-818e-38ab-abf5-5f7089a2e432Tue, 28 Sep 2021 09:58:19 +0000Fantasy Book SwapContent warning for non-explicit discussion of sexual violence and mental health crises including sectioning. Recorded live at FantasyCon, so there is background noise of 3D humans, including some sound bleed of the panel in the room next door. Let's...
Recorded live at FantasyCon, so there is background noise of 3D humans, including some sound bleed of the panel in the room next door. Let's call it atmosphere!

Mary Stewart's The Crystal Cave- it is in fact a quintet, not a trilogy

James Clammer's Why I Went Back

I got Steve and Jimmy's friendship origin story wrong- Steve was friends at university with some of Jimmy's friends, but they actually met in Brighton. My story is better, though.

Find Tiffani here

Big thanks to Edward James and Jeremy Carter for audio support! Please check out Cast of Wonders, Katherine Inskipp and Jeremy's YA fiction podcast.

Thanks as always to Steve Vapour Trails for production support and Jack Sadler-Johnson for the use of his track Bliss. Your Letters of Comment are always welcome at Fantasybookswap@gmail.com,]]>2942falsefullEpisode 6 Fran Dowd: Puffin Club, Hobberdy Dick, The Wee Free Men and More!https://www.spreaker.com/episode/episode-6-fran-dowd-puffin-club-hobberdy-dick-the-wee-free-men-and-more--46578030

Hobberdy Dick song by Rod Anderson https://www.reverbnation.com/rodanderson

The Wee Free Men (from Steeleye Span’s Wintersmith album) https://youtu.be/ybsZpSn1grg

Sheffield Science Fiction and Fantasy Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/2388189214

History of the Puffin Club https://puffinclub.co.uk/history

Link to K. M. Briggs’ papers and correspondence at University of Leeds https://explore.library.leeds.ac.uk/special-collections-explore/6579

Terry Pratchett’s books for younger readers https://www.terrypratchettbooks.com/book-series/younger-readers/

We also talked about The Little Grey Men by ‘BB’. More information here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Little_Grey_Men

Tony Keen’s course on London and the Fantastic https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/london-and-the-fantastic-individual-sessions-tickets-166044255839?aff=erelpanelorg (individual session on 22nd September)

Fran has read The Death of Grass by John Christopher as a result of discussion on Tony’s course https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/96de7be2-25f3-4799-b6d4-666eedafd275?fbclid=IwAR1icbdZ0Iv7JyDZOxB1NdKXBryXHU6uzHFdllCuhxoIh22xyABHFrV_CtU]]>alibaker68.podbean.com/e73957a4-ad23-362f-9ea1-ba32f88f371cSat, 18 Sep 2021 12:20:12 +0000Fantasy Book SwapShow notes Episode 6 Hobberdy Dick song by Rod Anderson https://www.reverbnation.com/rodanderson The Wee Free Men (from Steeleye Span’s Wintersmith album) https://youtu.be/ybsZpSn1grg Sheffield Science Fiction and Fantasy Group...

Hobberdy Dick song by Rod Anderson https://www.reverbnation.com/rodanderson

The Wee Free Men (from Steeleye Span’s Wintersmith album) https://youtu.be/ybsZpSn1grg

Sheffield Science Fiction and Fantasy Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/2388189214

History of the Puffin Club https://puffinclub.co.uk/history

Link to K. M. Briggs’ papers and correspondence at University of Leeds https://explore.library.leeds.ac.uk/special-collections-explore/6579

Terry Pratchett’s books for younger readers https://www.terrypratchettbooks.com/book-series/younger-readers/

We also talked about The Little Grey Men by ‘BB’. More information here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Little_Grey_Men

Tony Keen’s course on London and the Fantastic https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/london-and-the-fantastic-individual-sessions-tickets-166044255839?aff=erelpanelorg (individual session on 22nd September)

Fran has read The Death of Grass by John Christopher as a result of discussion on Tony’s course https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/96de7be2-25f3-4799-b6d4-666eedafd275?fbclid=IwAR1icbdZ0Iv7JyDZOxB1NdKXBryXHU6uzHFdllCuhxoIh22xyABHFrV_CtU]]>4149falsefullEpisode 5 Daisy May Johnson, Five Children and It and The Time of Green Magichttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/episode-5-daisy-may-johnson-five-children-and-it-and-the-time-of-green-magic--46401728
Quick correction: Nesbit’s relationship doesn’t seem to have been poly. It has been described as an open relationship, but her husband Hubert Bland’s affairs don’t seem to have been with her consent.

Nesbit Five Children and It. My edition is the Puffin Classics one published in 2008, with the foreword by Quentin Blake, but really poor-quality reproductions of illustrations.

Hilary McKay The Time of Green Magic MacMillan’s Children’s Books.

Daisy May Johnson’s wonderful book How To Be Brave

Daisy’s blog, with links to her other social media]]>alibaker68.podbean.com/5425016c-c4b6-3ff0-a2f7-0747d4333560Mon, 06 Sep 2021 19:10:53 +0000Fantasy Book SwapUnfortunately, we had technical difficulties recording this episode, so it is slightly shorter than usual. Quick correction: Nesbit’s relationship doesn’t seem to have been poly. It has been described as an open relationship, but her husband Hubert...
Quick correction: Nesbit’s relationship doesn’t seem to have been poly. It has been described as an open relationship, but her husband Hubert Bland’s affairs don’t seem to have been with her consent.

Nesbit Five Children and It. My edition is the Puffin Classics one published in 2008, with the foreword by Quentin Blake, but really poor-quality reproductions of illustrations.

Hilary McKay The Time of Green Magic MacMillan’s Children’s Books.

Daisy May Johnson’s wonderful book How To Be Brave

Daisy’s blog, with links to her other social media]]>2370falsefullEpisode 4 Steve Brooks The Trigan Empire and Eoin Colfer's Artemis Fowl The Graphic Novelhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/episode-4-steve-brooks-the-trigan-empire-and-eoin-colfer-s-artemis-fowl-the-graphic-novel--46298990
Look and Learn Book of The Trigan Empire 1973- Some Trigan Empire books have been republished by Rebellion Publishers, owners of 2000AD https://2000ad.com/news/out-now-the-trigan-empire-vol-1/

Eoin Colfer’s Artemis Fowl: The Graphic Novel by Michael Moreci and Stephen Gilpin. We know that there is a film; we haven’t been able to bring ourselves to watch it.

The names of the characters in Die Hard are of course John McClane and Hans Gruber.

Peric’s daughter is called Salvia

Ming the Merciless; Zorth of Loka

Radio Lewes https://radiolewes.weebly.com/

Steve’s Vapour Trails website https://www.vapourtrails.org/

Follow Steve on Twitter @stevevapourtra1]]>alibaker68.podbean.com/88748961-28c7-3317-bf30-067829e2bb3eMon, 30 Aug 2021 14:25:39 +0000Fantasy Book SwapCONTENT WARNING- this episode discusses racism and orientalism in the context of children’s comics. Look and Learn Book of The Trigan Empire 1973- Some Trigan Empire books have been republished by Rebellion Publishers, owners of 2000AD...
Look and Learn Book of The Trigan Empire 1973- Some Trigan Empire books have been republished by Rebellion Publishers, owners of 2000AD https://2000ad.com/news/out-now-the-trigan-empire-vol-1/

Eoin Colfer’s Artemis Fowl: The Graphic Novel by Michael Moreci and Stephen Gilpin. We know that there is a film; we haven’t been able to bring ourselves to watch it.

The names of the characters in Die Hard are of course John McClane and Hans Gruber.

Peric’s daughter is called Salvia

Ming the Merciless; Zorth of Loka

Radio Lewes https://radiolewes.weebly.com/

Steve’s Vapour Trails website https://www.vapourtrails.org/

Follow Steve on Twitter @stevevapourtra1]]>4038falsefullEpisode 3 Alison Scott, Marianne Dreams and Tamarind and the Star of Ishtahttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/episode-3-alison-scott-marianne-dreams-and-tamarind-and-the-star-of-ishta--46278733
Marianne Dreams by Catherine Storr

Tamarind and the Star of Ishta by Jasbinder Bilan, @jasinbath on Twitter

We also mention Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier, Catherine Storr's The Chinese Egg and Marianne and Mark, and Jasbinder Bilan's Asha and the Spirit Bird.

Alison's book recommendation list: https://www.facebook.com/alison.scott.3998/posts/10158236430174766

Stow Shirts on Etsy

Octothorpe podcast (where news of Punctuation 3 is likely to be found!) https://octothorpe.podbean.com/

Escape into Night https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57eRt8kpS4Q&t=206s

]]>alibaker68.podbean.com/373428be-9908-3feb-be9d-5c0512534291Mon, 16 Aug 2021 17:38:10 +0000Fantasy Book SwapIn which Ali gets the name of the podcast wrong twice! Marianne Dreams by Catherine Storr Tamarind and the Star of Ishta by Jasbinder Bilan, @jasinbath on Twitter We also mention Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier, Catherine Storr's The Chinese Egg and...
Marianne Dreams by Catherine Storr

Tamarind and the Star of Ishta by Jasbinder Bilan, @jasinbath on Twitter

We also mention Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier, Catherine Storr's The Chinese Egg and Marianne and Mark, and Jasbinder Bilan's Asha and the Spirit Bird.

Alison's book recommendation list: https://www.facebook.com/alison.scott.3998/posts/10158236430174766

Stow Shirts on Etsy

Octothorpe podcast (where news of Punctuation 3 is likely to be found!) https://octothorpe.podbean.com/

Escape into Night https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57eRt8kpS4Q&t=206s

]]>4355falsefullEp 2 Phil Dyson Howl's Moving Castle and Strangeworlds Travel Agencyhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/ep-2-phil-dyson-howl-s-moving-castle-and-strangeworlds-travel-agency--46278735
Please note that we spoil some important points of both books!

Of course the first Chrestomanci book is Charmed Life! Please don't shout at me.

You can find Phil @phildyson on Twitter. Find out more about EasterCon 22 @reclamation2022 and https://reclamation2022.co.uk/. You email Phil via the site.

As always, Letters of Comment welcome via fantasybookswap@gmail.com]]>alibaker68.podbean.com/51838436-6dc8-3a06-be46-3ede0aaaf1d7Tue, 27 Jul 2021 19:53:38 +0000Fantasy Book SwapIn this episode, Phil and Ali discuss Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones and Strangeworlds Travel Agency by L.D. Lapinski. Please note that we spoil some important points of both books! Of course the first Chrestomanci book is Charmed Life!...
Please note that we spoil some important points of both books!

Of course the first Chrestomanci book is Charmed Life! Please don't shout at me.

You can find Phil @phildyson on Twitter. Find out more about EasterCon 22 @reclamation2022 and https://reclamation2022.co.uk/. You email Phil via the site.

As always, Letters of Comment welcome via fantasybookswap@gmail.com]]>3687falsefullS1 Ep1 Helena McCallum Trees, libraries and dragonshttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/s1-ep1-helena-mccallum-trees-libraries-and-dragons--46279293
With thanks to Helena McCallum (@adela_terrell).

Music- Bliss by Jack Sadler-Johnson, with many thanks

Production support by Steve Vapour Trails (@SteveVapourTra1)]]>alibaker68.podbean.com/499697a4-a763-3fac-8b97-4a0b0ef3f523Wed, 14 Jul 2021 10:39:42 +0000Fantasy Book SwapHello! Welcome to Fantasy Book Club's first episode, in which SFF conrunner, creative writing tutor and pandemic warrior Helena McCallum and Ali discuss childhood comfort reading, accessing books from libraries and jumble sales, Collins children's...
With thanks to Helena McCallum (@adela_terrell).

Music- Bliss by Jack Sadler-Johnson, with many thanks

Production support by Steve Vapour Trails (@SteveVapourTra1)]]>3690falsefullTrailerhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/trailer--46278734alibaker68.podbean.com/7e82028e-f085-3f00-a72f-0fd8cc484362Thu, 01 Jul 2021 17:17:46 +0000Fantasy Book SwapTrailer! Coming soon from a kitchen in Hove... chat, jokes, social justice and Mild Peril!24childrensliterature,fantasyfiction#,mildperilfalsefull