

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 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
Joining Alice Fraser this week is the brilliant Eleanor Morton!📚 Buy recommended books here! https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/RealmsUnknownReading list to follow!📯 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 Eleanor Morton.📧 Got questions, feedback, or suggestions? Email us at realmsunknown@thebuglepodcast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.

Aug 12, 2025 • 33min
Interesting POVs // Romance // Dave Bautista
Alice Fraser is joined this week by Jen Prokop from the Fated Mates romance podcast, so expect a lot of romance recommendations and tropes!The subgenre deep dive looks into interesting uses of POV, and Jen is uncomfortable with the increasing use of violence in romance books but enjoyed the romance elements in recent films Superman and Sinners.📚 Buy recommended books here! https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/RealmsUnknownNEWSWho Is Elara Voss?FILM HighlanderTV OutlanderEpic Games secures legal win against GoogleWHAT HAVE YOU BEEN PUTTING IN YOUR BRAIN?SupermanSinnersTROPE ON A ROPEJack Reacher series - Lee ChildThe Faraway Tree - Enid BlytonThe Hunger Games - Suzanne CollinsSUB GENRE DEEP DIVE - single POVThe Fifth Season - N.K. JemisonNot Your Sidekick - C.B. LeeAncillary Justice - Ann Leckie The Baby Dragon Cafe - A.T. QureshiThe Baby Dragon Bakery - A.T. QureshiPiranesi - Susanna ClarkeMINES OF EURRGHGirls and their dragonsFourth Wing - Rebecca YarrosJack West Jr series - Matthew ReillyAmerican Gods - Neil Gaiman📯 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 Jen Prokop.📧 Got questions, feedback, or suggestions? Email us at realmsunknown@thebuglepodcast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 5, 2025 • 37min
Time loops // Bring Her Back // Time loops
Alice Fraser and Tom Neenan are your guides for this week as they traverse through manner of sci-fi and fantasy recommendations, tropes and news!They discuss time loops in sci-fi, the tropes of hypersexualised futures and post-coital never-nudes, and whether prison 'relationships' belong in the mines of urrggh!📚 Buy recommended books here! https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/RealmsUnknownNEWSFILM Attack of the 50 Foot WomanFILM Spider-Man: Brand New DayWHAT HAVE YOU BEEN ENJOYING?FILM SinnersFILM Bring Her BackTROPE ON A ROPEHypersexualised futuresFILM Blade Runner 2045FILM ShowgirlsFILM Starship TroopersFILM The Fifth ElementNever nudes in sexy scenesFILM Sex and the CitySUB GENRE DEEP DIVE - time loopsFILM Groundhog DayStrange Life of Ivan Osokin - P. D. OuspenskyTV The Twilight Zone ‘Shadow Play’FILM Edge of TomorrowTV Russian DollFILM Happy Death DayFILM Happy Death Day 2 UTV Doctor Who - Eve of the DaleksFILM Source CodeFILM Twelve MonkeysFILM Terminator 3: Rise of the MachinesThe Dark Tower - Stephen KingPLAY Ghost StoriesFILM TriangleTV Doctor Who - Heaven SentTV DarkMINES OF URRGHBourne series - Robert Ludlum📯 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.comAlice Fraser and Tom Neenan are your guides for this week as they traverse through manner of sci-fi and fantasy recommendations, tropes and news!🌐 Visit thebuglepodcast.com to support us and find more! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 29, 2025 • 36min
Arthurian legends // Perfume // The Dark is Rising
Alice Fraser and Eleanor Morton are your guides for this week as they traverse through manner of fantasy recommendations, tropes and news!They discuss Arthurian legend in fantasy (and some sci-fi), David Bowie's tights in Labyrinth, and audible sharpness (*insert your own sword noise here!*)📚 Buy recommended books here! https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/RealmsUnknownNEWSFILM The OdysseyTV Star Trek: Starfleet AcademyWHAT HAVE YOU BEEN ENJOYING?Perfume - Patrick SüskindThe Emperor’s Blades - Brian StaveleyThe Undercutting of Rosie and Adam - Megan BannenTROPE ON A ROPE - audible sharpnessFILM Robin HoodSUB GENRE DEEP DIVE - Arthurian legendsThe Once and Future King - T.H. WhiteFILM The Sword and the StoneFILM Star WarsFILM Harry PotterTV Merlin (Sam Neill)FILM Monty Python and the Holy GrailPODCAST CamlannTV The RottentrollsTV Sir Gadabout - The Worst Knight in the LandFILM The Green KnightThe Dark is Rising - Susan CooperPOEM The Dragons of Dinas Emrys - PendaranTV Merlin (BBC)COMIC Camelot 3000MINES OF URRGHFILM LabyrinthAvalon series - Marion Zimmer Bradley📯 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 Eleanor Morton.📧 Got questions, feedback, or suggestions? Email us at realmsunknown@thebuglepodcast.com🌐 Visit thebuglepodcast.com to support us and find more! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.