Word Magic 2025 - Accidental Gods' pick of fiction, non-fiction, poetry and podcasts through the year

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Dec 14, 2025

Explore the magic of storytelling with a roundup of remarkable fiction and poetry. Discover Natasha Pulley's mythic narrative in The Hymn to Dionysus and delve into the genre shift in Antonia Hodgson's The Raven Scholar. Manda celebrates the transformative power of emotional literacy and the lyrical wonders of Amal El Mohtar. Uncover insightful non-fiction like Economic Space Agency's radical proposals and Julie Brahms' paths to healing. Plus, catch inspiring podcast recommendations that encourage a harmonious relationship with our world.

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INSIGHT

Emotional Literacy Matters In Fiction

Manda Scott values fiction that combines deep emotional literacy with strong narrative drive and worldbuilding.
She uses such books to expand readers' emotional range and craft skills.

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ANECDOTE

Championing A Self-Published Favorite

Manda praises Rachel Neumeyer as a rare, high-quality self-published author with prolific output.
She lists four Tuyo series books and One standalone, recommending readers follow Neumeyer's website.

insights

INSIGHT

Pulley's Mythic Writing Feels Rare

Manda regards Natasha Pulley as near-genius and deeply feels loss after finishing her books.
She warns about modern rewrites of Greek myths but loved Pulley's The Hymn to Dionysus.

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Why emotional literacy matters in fiction

02:24 • 2min

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Natasha Pulley's mythic reinvention

04:22 • 4min

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Antonia Hodgson's genre shift

08:05 • 52sec

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Catherine Addison's rich worldbuilding

08:57 • 1min

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Amal el-Mohtar's lyrical magic

10:23 • 3min

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Other fiction favourites and discoveries

13:43 • 53sec

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Andrea Gibson's performance poetry

14:36 • 2min

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Joy Harjo's map to renewal

16:07 • 2min

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Protocols for post-capitalist expression

17:53 • 1min

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Healing collective trauma with IFS and presencing

18:54 • 2min

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The Nature Embedded Mind as a bridge

20:54 • 49sec

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Kincentric leadership and living earth

21:43 • 2min

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The case against superintelligent AI

24:02 • 2min

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Balancing Silicon Valley views with kincentricity

26:03 • 2min

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Podcasts that inspire regenerative ideas

Cocreating with a living intelligent Earth

A handbook for kincentric leaders

Anna Kovasna

Justine Afra-Huxley

#48420

The Nature Embedded Mind

Eight Doors from Dawn to Midnight

• Mentioned in 5 episodes

Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet

Becky Chambers

#5396

• Mentioned in 7 episodes

Altered Carbon

Richard K. Morgan

In this 2002 cyberpunk novel, Richard K. Morgan explores a future where interstellar travel and relative immortality are possible through the transfer of consciousness into new bodies, known as 'sleeves'. The story follows Takeshi Kovacs, a former U.N. elite soldier turned private investigator, who is hired by the wealthy and influential Laurens Bancroft to investigate his own murder. Bancroft, a member of the elite class known as the 'Meths', has no memories of his death and believes he was murdered. Kovacs must navigate a complex web of corruption, class disparity, and technological advancements to uncover the truth. The novel delves into themes of identity, morality, and the commodification of human life, set against a backdrop of a gritty, dystopian future.

#10103

• Mentioned in 4 episodes

You Better Be Lightning

Andrea Gibson

You Better Be Lightning by Andrea Gibson is a collection of poems that range from deeply personal reflections to broader explorations of the world. The book covers topics such as love, identity, illness, space, and climate change, showcasing Gibson's trademark honesty and vulnerability. It welcomes readers to be their authentic selves and addresses various social and personal issues, including mental health, relationships, and pivotal moments in history. The collection has been praised for its creative views, eloquent phrases, and tender comfort, even in its more intense moments.

#16420

• Mentioned in 3 episodes

Protocols for Post-Capitalist Expression

Agency, finance and sociality in the new economic space

Dick Bryan

Akseli Virtanen

Jorge Lopez

Protocols for Post-Capitalist Expression explores how computational networks can serve as a new economic medium, challenging traditional economic logic. The book suggests upgrading this logic to better coordinate around ecological health, community resilience, and open-source knowledge. It proposes viewing the economy as a networking protocol with shared understandings and formal rules. The authors argue that by understanding capital as a formal accounting protocol, it can be re-engineered with surgical precision. This approach denaturalizes capitalism, presenting it as a formal economic coordination protocol that can be changed.

#285

• Mentioned in 74 episodes

If Anyone Builds It, Everyone Dies

Eliezer Yudkowsky

Nate Soares

This book delves into the potential risks of advanced artificial intelligence, arguing that the development of superintelligence could lead to catastrophic consequences for humanity. The authors present a compelling case for the need for careful consideration and regulation of AI development. They explore various scenarios and potential outcomes, emphasizing the urgency of addressing the challenges posed by rapidly advancing AI capabilities. The book is written in an accessible style, making complex ideas understandable to a broad audience. It serves as a call to action, urging policymakers and researchers to prioritize AI safety and prevent potential existential threats.

#23261

• Mentioned in 2 episodes

A Map to the Next World

Poetry and Tales

Joy Harjo

#16205

• Mentioned in 3 episodes

Releasing Our Burdens

A Guide to Healing Individual, Ancestral, and Collective Trauma

Richard C. Schwartz

Thomas Hübl

#18669

• Mentioned in 2 episodes

A Guide to Navigating the AI Revolution

Natasha Pulley

#25890

• Mentioned in 2 episodes

Tomb of Dragons

Katherine Addison

#9371

• Mentioned in 4 episodes

The River Has Roots

Amal El-Mohtar

No description available.

Here's Manda's round up of (some of) the best books, poetry and podcasts she's come across this year. Most of the links are to Bookshop.org in the UK where you can link to an independent bookshop of your choice. In some cases, we've linked to the authors' website.

Fiction

Rachel Neumeier - Rihasi, Marag, Sekaran, Hedesa - all four are part of the TUYO series. 8 Doors from Dawn to Midnight is a stand alone.

Natasha Pulley - The Hymn to Dionysus

Antonia Hodgson- The Raven Scholar

Katherine Addison - The Tomb of Dragons

Amal El Mohtar - The River has Roots

Jacqui Morris and Tamsin Abbott - Wild Folk Wild Gods Rising - Podcast with the authors

Richard Morgan Altered Carbon

Becky Chambers A Long Way to A Small Angry Planet

Poetry:

You better be Lightning by Andrea Gibson

A Map to the Next World: Poems and Tales by Joy Harjo (YouTube Interview on the Power of Poetry)

Non Fiction

Economic Space Agency (Dick Bryan, Jorge Lopez and Akseli Virtanen) Protocols for Post Capitalist Expression

Richard Schwartz and Thomas Hübl - Releasing our Burdens: A Guide to Healing Individual, Ancestral and Collective Trauma

Julie Brams The Nature Embedded Mind: How the Way We Think Can Heal Our Planet and Ourselves

Tristan Gooley How to Read a Tree: Clues and Patterns from Roots to Leaves

Justine Afra Huxley and Anna Kovasna Co-creating with a Living Intelligent Earth: Pathways towards Kincentric Leadership

Eliezer Yudkowsky & Nate Soares If Anyone Builds it, Everyone Dies: The case against superintelligent AI

PODCASTS

Nate Hagens The Great Simplification: If Anyone Builds it, Everyone Dies: How Artificial SuperIntelligence Might Wipe Out our Entire Species w Nate Soares

Your Undivided Attention: Feed Drop: “Into the Machine” with Tobias Rose-Stockwell

Upstream - A World out of Balance: Introducing Doughnut 3.0 w Andrew Fanning

Point of Relation with Thomas Hübl: Becoming an Ally of Life

Love and Philosophy by Andrea Hiott: Moving Beyond Binaries in Eduction: Andrea Hiott in Conversation with Tim Logan of Future Learning Design

Future Learning Design What’s Love Got to Do with Education? A Conversation with Dr Laura Penn, Khadija Shahper Backthiar, Jamie Bristow and Andrea Hiott

Step Outside, Stand Still Pauline Leitch

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