Realms Unknown

Please take our listener survey so we can do even better: http://bit.ly/realmsunknown-surveyHosts Alice Fraser and James Colley bring you episode 11 of Realms Unknown: your one-stop show for genre fiction tropes, news and recommendations!All episodes are available in your podcast feed and on our YouTube channelSupport Realms Unknown by becoming a Team Bugle subscriber. We offer extra shows, merch and warm fluffy feelings! thebuglepodcast.com/donateYou can support your local bookshop by buying the books mentioned in the show in our Bookshop affiliate storeExplore the list of all books, games, films and TV series at the bottom of these show notes.Episode 11In this week's news, Edgar Wright has finished filming his remake of The Running Man, while set images from The Odyssey, starring Zendaya and Tom Holland have been released.James has been enjoying The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley, Alice has been reading The Craft Sequence by Max Gladstone, and they both loved Hyperion by Dan Simmons.In this week's Trope on a Rope section, James wonders if anyone has seen the 'Filbert report on Liberia'? and Alice notices all of the noir detectives getting the shit beaten out of them.The 'Convince Me' section sees listener Joyce Ketterer give the big pitch to the Tiffany Aching series of books by Terry Pratchett.And take a plunge in the deep dive sub-genre submarine, as James and Alice rattle off all manner of evil corporations in the worlds of film, games and books.NewsFILMSThe Running ManThe OdysseyWhat have you been into of late?BOOKSMinistry of Time - Kaliane BradleyMax Gladstone - The Craft SequenceHyperion - Dan SimmonsConvince MeTerry Pratchett - Tiffany Aching seriesTerry Pratchett - The Amazing Maurice and his Educated RodentsFlatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions - Edwin Abbott AbbottSub genre submarine - Evil corporationsTV FuturamaFILMThe Fifth ElementTank GirlAlienJudge DreddBOOKSThursday Next series - Jasper FfordeMurderbot series - Martha WellsHit - Delilah S DawsonGAMESPortalFallout🔔 Subscribe, like, and comment with your thoughts or recommendations! We’d love to hear from you!Produced by Chris Skinner and Ped Hunter. Hosted by Alice Fraser and James Colley.📧 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.

Hosts Alice Fraser and Tom Neenan bring you episode 10 of Realms Unknown with all the latest genre fiction based news and recommendations.All episodes are available in your podcast feed and on our YouTube channelSupport Realms Unknown by becoming a Team Bugle subscriber. We offer extra shows, merch and warm fluffy feelings! thebuglepodcast.com/donateYou can support your local bookshop by buying the books mentioned in the show in our Bookshop affiliate storeEpisode 10In this week's news, we look at the cinema release of Snow White, Wheel of Time on Amazon, and The Electric State on Netflix - starring Millie Bobby Brown and Chris Pratt.Hear why Tom is enjoying re-reading Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro, what he thought of the film Opus, and what drew Alice to reading The Unorthodox Chronicles by James J Butcher.In this week's Trope on a Rope section you can hear the various examples of a 'special little boy' and why Tom has issue with it, and Alice discusses the trope of being able to sense someone walking into a busy room.Take a plunge in the deep dive sub-genre submarine, as Tom and Alice totally recall the various memory modification based books, films, TV shows and games.And Tom opens up an interesting conversation about the representation of little people on screen.NewsFILMSSnow White - cinemasThe Electric State - NetflixTVWheel of Time - AmazonWhat have you been into of late?BOOKSKlara and the Sun - Kazuo IshiguroThe Unorthodox Chronicles - James J ButcherFILMOpusTrope on a ropeTV Daredevil - Disney+Sub genre submarine - Memory modificationFILMS Bourne IdentityTotal RecallThe PrestigeCompanionTVDollhouseSeveranceAltered CarbonThe Shining Girls - Apple TVDr Who episode Mawdryn UndeadBOOKSWe Can Remember It For You Wholesale - Philip K DickThe Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde - Robert Louis StevensonAncillary Justice - Ann LeckieReasons to be Cheerful - Greg EganThe Shining Girls - Lauren BeukesMemory - Lois McMaster BujoldGAME Soma🔔 Subscribe, like, and comment with your thoughts or recommendations! We’d love to hear from you!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🌐 Visit thebuglepodcast.com to support us and find more! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosts Alice Fraser and Henry Fraser bring you episode 9 of Realms Unknown with all the latest genre fiction based news and recommendations.All episodes are available in your podcast feed and on our YouTube channelSupport Realms Unknown by becoming a Team Bugle subscriber. We offer extra shows, merch and warm fluffy feelings! thebuglepodcast.com/donateYou can support your local bookshop by buying the books mentioned in the show in our Bookshop affiliate storeEpisode 9In this week's news, Terry Brooks is to retire from writing the Shannara series books, with Delilah S. Dawson taking over as the new author, Sarah J. Maas’ publisher launches new sci fi and fantasy imprint, Bloomsbury Archer, and Naruto has become the most watched anime on Netflix. Henry has been enjoying Miles Cameron, with the Cold Iron trilogy and Artefact Space duology coming highly recommended. But the real big recommendation this week - from both Henry and Alice - is for everyone to marvel at the incredible archery skills of Lars Anderson on YouTube. Post-apocalypse (specifically post-technological and post-AI-collapse) fiction books are the focus of the sub-genre submarine deep dive - with a whole library full of examples and recommendations to explore - see the affiliate store. There are also games such as Horizon Zero Dawn and story-based fitness apps like Zombies Run and The Walk to explore. We also have Trope on a Rope, with Henry questioning the 'blood brothers' hand cuts, and Alice's trope gripe is female protagonists supposedly not reading the really quite obvious signs from their admirers. TVShannara ChroniclesNarutoBlue Eye SamuraiYOUTUBELars Anderson: A new level of archery https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEG-ly9tQGk&GAMESHorizon Zero DawnZombies Run - story based running appThe Walk - story based fitness appBOOKSWHAT ARE YOU INTO OF LATE?Miles Cameron - Cold Iron trilogy (Masters and Mages)Miles Cameron - Artefact Space duologyPOST-APOCALYPSE/POST-TECHNOLOGICAL/POST-AI-COLLAPSEDune - Frank HerbertShattered Sea trilogy - Joe AbercrombieA Canticle for Leibowitz - Walter M Miller JrSun Eater series - Christopher RuocchioAnathem - Neal StephensonElder Race - Adrian TchaikovskyBee Speaker - Adrian TchaikovskyThe Hungry Gods - Adrian TchaikovskyCold Fire trilogy - CS FriedmanCONVINCE MESum: Tales from the Afterlife by David Eagleman (sent in by Thomas Craven)🔔 Subscribe, like, and comment with your thoughts or recommendations! We’d love to hear from you!Produced by Chris Skinner and Ped Hunter. Hosted by Alice Fraser and Henry Fraser.📧 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.

Hosts Alice Fraser and Tom Neenan bring you episode 8 of Realms Unknown with all the latest genre fiction based news and recommendations.All episodes are available in your podcast feed and on our YouTube channelSupport Realms Unknown by becoming a Team Bugle subscriber. We offer extra shows, merch and warm fluffy feelings! thebuglepodcast.com/donateYou can support your local bookshop by buying the books mentioned in the show in our Bookshop affiliate storeEpisode 8In this week's news, as Paapa Essiedu has been cast as Snape in the new TV adaptation of Harry Potter, Alice and Tom discuss the racial considerations of the casting and how this might play out within the characterisation. Also, Bong Joon-ho's new film Mickey 17 starring Robert Pattinson intrigues them both, as does it being a Warner Bros production.Metaphysical libraries are the focus of the sub-genre deep dive this week - with a whole library full of examples and recommendations to explore - see the affiliate store.We also have Trope on a Rope, with certain commonly-used phrases the source of ire this week. And find out which significant public figure popping up in Iron Man 2, Star Trek Discovery, The Simpsons and Rick and Morty makes Tom uneasy.FILMSMickey 17TimestalkerTVHarry Potter (HBO)Dr Who - Silence in the Library + Forest of the Dead episodesGAMESThe Last of Us Part IIBOOKSThe Library of Babel - Jorge Luis BorgesUnseen Academicals - Terry PratchettThe Library at Mount Char - Scott HawkinsThursday Next series - Jasper FfordeThe Book that Wouldn’t Burn - Mark LawrenceHollowpox: The Hunt for Morrigan Crow - Jessica TownsendGolden Enclaves - Naomi NovikService Model - Adrian TchaikovskySnow Crash - Neal Stephenson🔔 Subscribe, like, and comment with your thoughts or recommendations! We’d love to hear from you!Produced by Chris Skinner, Ped Hunter and Laura Turner. Hosted by Alice Fraser and Tom Neenan.📧 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.

Support Realms Unknown by becoming a Team Bugle subscriber. We offer extra shows, merch and warm fluffy feelings. Info: www.thebuglepodcast.com/donate Hosts Alice Fraser and Chris Skinner bring you the second of two child-friendly World Book Day (UK) episodes of Realms Unknown this week, with today's focusing on children's fantasy and science fiction books for ages 12-17 years old. Part 1, which looked at books for 0-12 years old, is available in your podcast feed and on YouTube. Before diving into the many great books in this episode, Chris and Alice recommend some music with a sci-fi/fantasy twist, with Janelle Monáe's 2010 album The ArchAndroid being enjoyed at the family dinner table for Chris, and Alice enjoying the storytelling of LayLow's TRINITY album, released in 2020.In this episode’s Trope on a Rope, Alice brings the use of parental neglect to the table, preferring the loving and engaged parenting in books like The Golden Enclaves by Naomi Novik, while Chris bemoans beings magically being able to just learn a language at a speed unfamiliar to a Duolingo user like himself.Chris and Alice then enthuse over a number of fantasy and sci-fi books that shaped them as teenagers, which you can find listed below and can buy in our Bookshop affiliate store, which supports your local bookshops.Age 12-17 booksLoving and engaged parentsThe Golden Enclaves - Naomi NovikSibling adventuresMagic Faraway Tree - Enid BlytonThe Dark is Rising - Susan CooperNarnia series - CS LewisGillian Rubinstein - Space DemonsThe Storm Keeper’s Island - Catherine DoyleWhy teenagers should read fantasyPhillip Pullman - His Dark MaterialsPhillip Pullman - The Ruby in the SmokePhillip Pullman - The Book of DustSabriel series - Garth NixLioness series - Tamora PierceTerry Pratchett - MortTerry Pratchett - EricGalax-Arena - Gillian RubinsteinShort storiesDangerous Women - George R R Martin & Gardner DozoisMore to exploreEnder's Game - Orson Scott CardDune - Frank Herbert🔔 Subscribe, like, and comment with your thoughts or recommendations! We’d love to hear from you!Produced by Chris Skinner and Ped Hunter. Hosted by Alice Fraser and Chris Skinner.📧 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.

Support Realms Unknown by becoming a Team Bugle subscriber. We offer extra shows, merch and warm fluffy feelings. Info: www.thebuglepodcast.com/donate Hosts Alice Fraser and Chris Skinner bring you two child-friendly World Book Day (UK) episodes of Realms Unknown this week, focusing on children's books from 0-10 years old.The second episode, looking at books for older children, will be out on Thursday 6 March!In the regular news section, they touch on Doctor Who and Pokémon Go while detouring down memory lane, recalling He-Man, Thundercats and The Trap Door.Chris is pleasantly surprised to be enjoying the Amazon series The Rings of Power, having not taken to The Hobbit off-shoots of Lord of the Rings. While Alice is enjoying the gentle calm of toddler books such as Kuma-Kuma Chan by Kazue Takahashi and Grug by Ted Prior.In this episode’s Trope on a Rope, Alice wonders where tropes of boys being ballerinas, or girls wanting to play soccer are still relevant in a more inclusive age.Chris and Alice recommend a number of books they've enjoyed both as children and as parents, which you can find listed below and can buy in our Bookshop affiliate store. Bookshop supports the local and independent book stores in your area.Age 0-5 booksThe Tiger Who Came To Tea - Judith KerrNot Now Bernard - David McKeeI Want My Hat Back - Jon KlassenThe Gruffalo, Zog, The Smeds and the Smoos - Julia DonaldsonCautionary Tales for Children - Hilaire BellocMeg and Mog - Helen Nicholl and Jan PienkowskiAge 5-8 booksIsadora Moon and Mirabelle series - Harriet MuncasterAge 8-10 booksThe Phantom Tollbooth - Norton JusterThe 13 Clocks - James ThurberThe Stormkeeper’s Island - Catherine DoyleAlso, don’t miss our recommendations for what to do, watch, or read this week. Tune in for a packed episode full of insightful discussions, book and TV recommendations, and much more!🔔 Subscribe, like, and comment with your thoughts or recommendations! We’d love to hear from you!Produced by Chris Skinner and Ped Hunter. Hosted by Alice Fraser and Chris Skinner.📧 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.

In Episode 5 of Realms Unknown, hosts Alice Fraser and Tom Neenan leap into the latest news in pop culture and fantasy! Hear what's coming up from Guy Gavriel Kay, Jim Butcher, Game of Thrones, Mila Jovovich, and ACOTAR.They take a deep dive into this week's sub-genre of steampunk, making recommendations from film, books and games such as Mortal Engines, Cinder Spires, Bioshock Infinite, Howl's Moving Castle, and more.In this episode’s Trope on a Rope, Tom explains the much-used prop of an epic city final battle featuring a column of light or energy, while Alice is baffled by sexy fights in films.Also, don’t miss our recommendations for what to do, watch, or read this week. Tune in for a packed episode full of insightful discussions, book and TV recommendations, and much more! Buy the books we cover in this episode in our affiliate store.🔔 Subscribe, like, and comment with your thoughts or recommendations! We’d love to hear from you!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🌐 Visit thebuglepodcast.com to support us and find more! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Episode 4 of Realms Unknown, hosts Alice Fraser and Jackie Kashian dive into the latest news in pop culture and fantasy! From Ian McKewan's new 'science fiction without the science' novel What We Can Know, to new seasons of Alice in Borderland and The Handmaid's Tale, to Natasha Lyonne producing and starring in the upcoming Basketful of Heads movie.They take a deep dive into this week's sub-genre of cyberpunk, discussing books like Neuromancer, Mindstar Rising, and Ten Low. They discuss the similarities and differences with steampunk and Jackie recommends When Gravity Falls by George Alec Effinger, while Alice suggests Market Forces by Richard Morgan.In this episode’s Trope on a Rope, Jackie bemoans the Marvel trope of a female character meeting their end off a cliff, while Alice recalls the scientists trying to save the world who panic and try to open the airlock. Meanwhile, listener Elyse makes the case for reading the Lost Omens: Divine Mysteries Pathfinder RPG book.Also, don’t miss our recommendations for what to do, watch, or read this week. Tune in for a packed episode full of insightful discussions, book and TV recommendations, and much more! Buy the books we cover in this episode in our affiliate store.🔔 Subscribe, like, and comment with your thoughts or recommendations! We’d love to hear from you!Produced by Chris Skinner and Ped Hunter. Hosted by Alice Fraser and Jackie Kashian.📧 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.

In this episode of Realms Unknown, hosts Alice Fraser and Eleanor Morton dive into the latest news in pop culture and fantasy! Get the scoop on Buffy's return with Sarah Michelle Gellar, exciting Back to the Future updates, the new video game Atomfall, and a fascinating partnership between the Ministry of Defence and sci-fi writers.They also shine a spotlight on the gritty world of Grimdark fiction, discussing epic books like Prince of Thorns, The Black Company, and Legends & Lattes. Eleanor shares her thoughts on the game Hobbs Barrow, while Alice recommends the TV series Pantheon.In this episode’s Trope on a Rope, Eleanor breaks down the redhead trope in fantasy and sci-fi, touching on Gulliver’s Travels, Eddie Redmayne’s role in Jupiter Ascending, and Gimli from Lord of the Rings. Plus, Sandy convinces us to read Joe Abercrombie’s Best Served Cold in the Convince Me to Read This Book segment!Also, don’t miss our recommendations for what to do, watch, or read this week. Tune in for a packed episode full of insightful discussions, book and TV recommendations, and much more! Buy the books we cover in this episode in our affiliate store🔔 Subscribe, like, and comment with your thoughts or recommendations! We’d love to hear from you!Produced by Chris Skinner. 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.

Realms Unknown is your gateway to the strange, the dark, and the mind-bendingly brilliant worlds of sci-fi and fantasy. Hosted by the incomparable Alice Fraser, with guest co-host Tom Neenan, this podcast takes a deep (and hilarious) dive into some of the genre’s greatest works—whether it’s the brutal landscapes of Grimdark, the existential horror of The Cube, the radical utopias of Ursula K. Le Guin’s The Dispossessed, or the timey-wimey brilliance of Doctor Who.Our store, with links to books we recommend is here: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/RealmsUnknownSupport us directly: http://thebuglepodcast.comExpect sharp insights, unexpected tangents, and plenty of laughs as Alice and Tom unravel what makes these stories so enduring (and weird). Produced by Chris Skinner and Laura Turner for The Bugle, Realms Unknown is your guide to the best and strangest corners of speculative fiction. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.