Ep. 146: Bringing the Funny to Sci-Fi with John Scalzi (Writing Masterclass)

Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson and Greta Kelly as they delve into a writing masterclass on Bringing the Funny to Sci-Fi with bestselling, award-winning author John Scalzi. During the episode, John sets up the punchline for sci-fi comedy, including what humor means to us, humor as a skill that you develop, Douglas Adams and the progression of humor in sci-fi, the marketability of humorous sci-fi, why sci-fi and comedy combine so well, deciding how to infuse humor into a story, balancing humor with drama, action, etc., character voice and comedic delivery, worldbuilding with humor in mind, the subjectivity of humor and more.

NOTE: This is part two of a two-part chat with John. Click ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to check out part one.

OUR SPONSOR:

Transference by Ian Patterson is a near-future, sci-fi dystopia that dissects the medical/pharmaceutical industries, economic inequality, and what it means to be human in a city where diseases can be transferred.

Transference is available now in eBook and paperback. Purchase it ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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Thank you Ian Patterson, David Hopkins, Luke F. Shepherd, Christopher R. DuBois, Tai, Luke A. Winch and GavinGuile for supporting us on Patreon at $10+.

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ABOUT OUR GUEST:

John Scalzi is the bestselling, award-winning author of the Old Man's War series, The Interdependency series and more. His latest release is When the Moon Hits Your Eye, which you can purchase ⁠here⁠.

Find John on ⁠Bluesky⁠, ⁠Amazon⁠ and ⁠his personal website⁠.

ABOUT OUR HOSTS:

Adrian M. Gibson is a podcaster, writer and illustrator. His novel Mushroom Blues is available on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ in all formats.

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Greta Kelly is the author of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Queen of Days⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, The Frozen Crown and The Seventh Queen.

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AD ATTRIBUTION:

- Music: "⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Corporate Advertising Music⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠" by SigmaMusicArt / "⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Synthetic Deception⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠" by GioeleFazzeri

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