

Realms Unknown
The Bugle
Fantasy, Sci Fi and speculative fiction, observed through the comedic lens of The Bugle. Become a Bugle subscriber to enjoy this show ad free and help us thrive.Expect reviews and supernova level hot takes on literature, gaming, films, TV, board games, and anywhere else you can experience space ships, clones and beautiful elves with massive weapons.A podcast from The Bugle. Hosted by Alice Fraser and friends. Also available as a video podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 29, 2025 • 37min
Portals // Frankenstein // Vorkosigan Saga
Tom Neenan joins Alice Fraser this week for episode 38 of your favourite sci-fi and fantasy podcast Realms Unknown!💰 Support Realms Unknown by becoming a Team Bugle subscriber https://thebuglepodcast.com/donate❤️🔥 Buy 'A Passion For Passion' audiobook https://www.thebuglepodcast.com/news/we-are-18-t6flf-5n9mc📚 Buy books featured in this and other episodes https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/RealmsUnknownNEWSCOMIC/FILM/TV Something Is Killing The ChildrenWHAT HAVE YOU BEEN PUTTING IN YOUR BRAIN?FILM Frankenstein TROPE ON A ROPEA Series of Unfortunate Events - Lemony SnicketFILM Apocalypse NowTV ArcaneFILM Doctor Who: The MovieSUB GENRE DEEP DIVE - PortalsAlice in Wonderland - Lewis CarrollVorkosigan Saga series - Lois McMaster BujoldGAME Portal 2FILM Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among ThievesTV Doctor Who - Nightmare of EdenTV Doctor Who - TimelashTV SlidersTV Stargate SG-1The Subtle Knife - Philip Pullman Hyperion Cantos series - Dan SimmonsMINES OF URRGHThe Magic Faraway Tree - Enid Blyton💰 Support Realms Unknown by becoming a Team Bugle subscriber https://thebuglepodcast.com/donate❤️🔥 Buy 'A Passion For Passion' audiobook https://www.thebuglepodcast.com/news/we-are-18-t6flf-5n9mc📚 Buy books featured in this and other episodes https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/RealmsUnknown📯 Subscribe to The Bugle YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@BuglePodcast🔔 Subscribe, like, and comment!🦋 Follow us on Bluesky!Produced by Chris Skinner and Ped Hunter. Hosted by Alice Fraser and Tom Neenan.📧 Got questions, feedback, or suggestions? Email us at realmsunknown@thebuglepodcast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 21, 2025 • 40min
Words of power // Magic of language // Earthsea
Myq Kaplan joins Alice Fraser this week for another sci-fi and fantasy packed episode of Realms Unknown!🔔 Set a reminder to watch Myq's new comedy special Rini on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0uf9i_z-Aw💰 Support Realms Unknown by becoming a Team Bugle subscriber https://thebuglepodcast.com/donate📚 Buy books featured in this and other episodes here! https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/RealmsUnknownWHAT HAVE YOU BEEN PUTTING IN YOUR BRAIN?Piranesi - Susanna ClarkeJonathan Strange & Mr Norrell - Susanna ClarkeAntkind - Charlie KaufmanBabel - RF KuangTROPE ON A ROPEExhalation: Stories - Ted ChiangFILM LooperTV Buffy the Vampire SlayerSUB GENRE DEEP DIVE - words of powerThe Books of Earthsea by Ursula K Le GuinRumplestiltskin - Jacob and Willhelm GrimmDylan Brody - Merlyn’s MistakeGAME Elder Scrolls V: SkyrimName of the Wind - Patrick RothfussGAME MystTV Star Trek MINES OF URRGHCOMIC/TV The Boys - Garth EnnisCOMIC/TV Preacher - Garth Ennis📯 Subscribe to The Bugle YouTube channel for episodes of all of our shows https://www.youtube.com/@BuglePodcast📚 Help your local bookshop by buying the books mentioned in the show in our Bookshop affiliate store https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/RealmsUnknown🔔 Subscribe, like, and comment!🦋 Follow us on Bluesky!Produced by Chris Skinner and Ped Hunter. Hosted by Alice Fraser and Myq Kaplan.📧 Got questions, feedback, or suggestions? Email us at realmsunknown@thebuglepodcast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 14, 2025 • 32min
Fan fiction // Alchemised // Alan Moore
It's an Alice-only special this week on Realms Unknown!📚 Buy recommended books here! https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/RealmsUnknownNEWSAPP Sora 2FILM BarbieWHAT HAVE YOU BEEN PUTTING IN YOUR BRAIN?Damned Whores and God’s Police - Anne SummersQueen Demon - Martha WellsThe Last Hour Between Worlds - Melissa Carusso Sixteen Ways To Defend a Walled City - K.J. ParkerTROPE ON A ROPEBeing able to cut a chain with a swordSUB-GENRE DEEP DIVE - Fan fictionManacled - SenLinYuAlchemised - SenLinYuCOMIC The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen - Alan MooreSun Eater series - Christopher RuocchioFILM Pride and Prejudice and ZombiesLicence Expired: The Unauthorised James Bond - Madeline Ashby and David NickleCOMIC Watchmen - Alan MooreCOMIC Supreme - Alan MooreCOMIC Tom Strong - Alan MooreCOMIC Neonomicon - Alan MooreCOMIC Providence - Alan MooreCOMIC The Courtyard - Alan MooreCOMIC Jack Staff - Paul GristCOMIC Teenage Mutant Ninja TurtlesCOMIC Michael Fiffe - CopraTwilight series - Stephanie MeyerFifty Shade of Grey - E.L. JamesA Court of Thorns and Roses - Sarah J MaasAUDIOBOOK A Passion For Passion - Alice Fraser. Buy NOW!📯 Subscribe to The Bugle YouTube channel for episodes of all of our shows https://www.youtube.com/@BuglePodcast💰 Support Realms Unknown by becoming a Team Bugle subscriber https://thebuglepodcast.com/donate📚 Help your local bookshop by buying the books mentioned in the show in our Bookshop affiliate store https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/RealmsUnknown🔔 Subscribe, like, and comment!🦋 Follow us on Bluesky!Produced by Chris Skinner and Ped Hunter. Hosted by Alice Fraser.📧 Got questions, feedback, or suggestions? Email us at realmsunknown@thebuglepodcast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 8, 2025 • 42min
We made a hit book, and saw none of the money! Chris and Alice Unleashed!!! B'Ankruptcy Edition
Chris and Alice tell the story of their experiences around Alice's hit book A Passion For Passion. A book that has generated over £50,000 in sales (maybe much more), yet we have barely seen a Penny. We tell the story of the publishers Unbound and Boundless who collapsed in debt, having failed to deliver for us (and a bunch of other authors).BUT, we won't give up. We'll fight for our money, and we have released it, in full as an Audiobook, available now... https://www.thebuglepodcast.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 30, 2025 • 37min
Post-colonial Africa // Alien: Earth // District 9
Tom Neenan joins Alice Fraser this week for another sci-fi and fantasy packed episode of Realms Unknown!📚 Buy recommended books here! https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/RealmsUnknownNEWSTV Doctor WhoPLAY AmadeusGAME FortniteTV The BoysTV PeacemakerFILM A Nightmare On Elm StreetFILM LonglegsWHAT HAVE YOU BEEN WATCHING?Alien:EarthMINES OF UURGHThe Hunger Games - Suzanne CollinsPLAY Harry Potter & The Cursed ChildSUB GENRE DEEP DIVE - Post-colonial African sci fi and fantasy meeting Western Anglosphere marketsTV Doctor Who - The Story and the EngineRosewater - Tade Thompson (from the Wormwood trilogy)Black Leopard, Red Wolf - Marlon JamesFILM District 9FILM ElysiumFILM Dirty Computer - Janelle MonaeOut There Screaming - Jordan Peele📯 Subscribe to The Bugle YouTube channel for episodes of all of our shows https://www.youtube.com/@BuglePodcast💰 Support Realms Unknown by becoming a Team Bugle subscriber https://thebuglepodcast.com/donate📚 Help your local bookshop by buying the books mentioned in the show in our Bookshop affiliate store https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/RealmsUnknown🔔 Subscribe, like, and comment!🦋 Follow us on Bluesky!Produced by Chris Skinner and Ped Hunter. Hosted by Alice Fraser and Tom Neenan.📧 Got questions, feedback, or suggestions? Email us at realmsunknown@thebuglepodcast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 23, 2025 • 35min
Installing buttons // Katherine Rundell // Harry Potter
Join comedian Eleanor Morton as she hilariously navigates the world of sci-fi and fantasy tropes. Hear her share an amusing tale about actors on set, the impact of iconic films like The Matrix on fashion, and reflect on the attraction to brooding characters. Eleanor critiques the portrayal of women in Harry Potter, bringing up its competitive undertones, while also calling out male writers' biases in character creation. From discussing fingerless gloves to the charm of tomboyism, this conversation is witty and thought-provoking!

Sep 16, 2025 • 40min
Competence // Star Trek // Outlander
Joining Alice Fraser this week is the satisfyingly and unrelentingly competent Tom Neenan! (The Mash Report, The Hauntening)📚 Buy recommended books here! https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/RealmsUnknownNEWSTV SeveranceTV Mission: Impossible - The Final ReckoningFILM The Lord of the Rings: Return of the KingFILM DuneTV Twisted MetalFILM The CreatorTV Outlander: Blood of My BloodWHAT HAVE YOU BEEN PUTTING IN YOUR BRAIN?Star Trek: Strange New WorldsTV Only Murders In The BuildingThe Phantom Tollbooth - Norton JusterHaroun and the Sea of Stories - Salman RushdieTROPE ON A ROPESomething has happened here…Straight to camera blogging as disasters unfoldSUB GENRE DEEP DIVE - competenceThe Martian - Andy WeirFILM The MartianFILM All Is LostFILM Die HardFILM The MechanicThe Expanse series - James S. A. CoreyTV The ExpanseFILMS The Bourne franchiseDiscworld series - Terry PratchettFILM SnatchTV Doctor Who - Midnight episodeTV ColumboTV PoirotTV Jonathan CreekRivers of London - Ben AaronovitchMINES OF EURGHFILM Ready Player OneCautionary Tales for Children - Hilaire Belloc📯 Subscribe to The Bugle YouTube channel for episodes of all of our shows https://www.youtube.com/@BuglePodcast💰 Support Realms Unknown by becoming a Team Bugle subscriber https://thebuglepodcast.com/donate📚 Help your local bookshop by buying the books mentioned in the show in our Bookshop affiliate store https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/RealmsUnknown🔔 Subscribe, like, and comment!🦋 Follow us on Bluesky!Produced by Chris Skinner and Ped Hunter. Hosted by Alice Fraser and Tom Neenan.📧 Got questions, feedback, or suggestions? Email us at realmsunknown@thebuglepodcast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 2, 2025 • 42min
Paladins // Grady Hendrix // Star Wars: Starfighter
Joining Alice Fraser this week is Realms Unknown firm favourite Tom Neenan (The Mash Report, The Hauntening).📚 Buy recommended books here! https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/RealmsUnknownNEWSFILM Star Wars: StarfighterFILM K-Pop Demon HuntersWHAT HAVE YOU BEEN INTO?Witchcraft for Wayward Girls - Grady Hendrix Horrorstör - Grady Hendrix My Best Friend’s Exorcism - Grady HendrixClockwork Boys - T. KingfisherThe Wonder Engine - T. KingfisherTROPE ON A ROPEFILM MulanGame of Thrones - George RR MartinDEEP DIVE - the paladinPaladin of Souls - Lois McMaster BujoldFILM Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among ThievesTV Doctor Who - Revelation of the DaleksCOMIC Die - Kieron GillenMINES OF URRGHRapunzel 📯 Subscribe to The Bugle YouTube channel for episodes of all of our shows https://www.youtube.com/@BuglePodcast💰 Support Realms Unknown by becoming a Team Bugle subscriber https://thebuglepodcast.com/donate📚 Help your local bookshop by buying the books mentioned in the show in our Bookshop affiliate store https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/RealmsUnknown🔔 Subscribe, like, and comment!🦋 Follow us on Bluesky!Produced by Chris Skinner and Ped Hunter. Hosted by Alice Fraser and Tom Neenan.📧 Got questions, feedback, or suggestions? Email us at realmsunknown@thebuglepodcast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 29, 2025 • 35sec
Big news next week
For complicated reasons we've taken a week off. Enjoy our many shows, and hang on for something exciting! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 19, 2025 • 39min
Bodies // Summer of Horror // Befuzzled kings
Joining Alice Fraser this week is the mighty Tom Neenan (The Mash Report, The Hauntening).The subgenre deep dive this week looks at bodies / good use of embodiment - such as body swapping in Altered Carbon or Cronenbergian body horror. Tom espouses that 2025 has seen the greatest summer for cinematic horror in recent memory, discusses the trope of befuzzled kings leaving a trail of chaos in their wake, and feels a bit eurrgh about campery being shorthand for villainy.📚 Buy recommended books here! https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/RealmsUnknownNEWSFILM Red SonjaWHAT HAVE YOU BEEN PUTTING IN YOUR BRAIN?FILM 28 Years LaterFILM Bring Her BackFILM WeaponsFILM TogetherSwordheart - T KingfisherTROPE ON A ROPEBefuzzled kings and the chaos they leave in their wakeLooking in the mirror, pulling at something and creating a Cronenbergian horrorSUB GENRE DEEP DIVE - bodiesFILM LooperFILM TogetherTV Doctor Who - The Invisible EnemyTV Doctor Who - Into The DalekFILM TuskPODCAST SmodcastAltered Carbon - Richard K. MorganThe Voyage of the Dawn Treader - C. S. LewisGhost In The ShellDune - Frank HerbertTV Alien: EarthFILM Ex MachinaMINES OF EURRGHCampery to mean villainyFILM Jupiter AscendingTV TwilightFILM The Little MermaidFILM The Lion KingFILM Robin HoodFILM The Fifth Element📯 Subscribe to The Bugle YouTube channel for episodes of all of our shows https://www.youtube.com/@BuglePodcast💰 Support Realms Unknown by becoming a Team Bugle subscriber https://thebuglepodcast.com/donate📚 Help your local bookshop by buying the books mentioned in the show in our Bookshop affiliate store https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/RealmsUnknown🔔 Subscribe, like, and comment!🦋 Follow us on Bluesky!Produced by Chris Skinner and Ped Hunter. Hosted by Alice Fraser and Tom Neenan.📧 Got questions, feedback, or suggestions? Email us at realmsunknown@thebuglepodcast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


