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.

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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/RealmsUnknown

Support us directly: http://thebuglepodcast.com

Expect 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.