signed up for a year's subscription to the ancillary review of books because I've really been enjoying the speculative fiction reviews on the @mealofthorns.bsky.social podcast
A Meal of Thorns
@mealofthorns.bsky.social
A speculative book club, where critics, writers, and scholars join us to talk about thorny, interesting titles. A podcast from the Ancillary Review of Books. https://ancillaryreviewofbooks.org/amealofthorns/
finally actually reading BOOK OF THE NEW SUN and recognizing all the places where people thought I'd been referencing it
🎛️ Crank up the volume, it's Critical Friends! 🏆 Uh-oh, it's some more awards chat. @abigailnussbaum.bsky.social and @amritesh.bsky.social talk to me about the Clarke, the Hugo, the Booker, the Le Guin ... ⁉️ What relationship between critic and award, award and reader? 🤔 Also: marketing. Again.
Critical Friends Episode 26: On Awards
In this episode of Critical Friends, the Strange Horizons SFF criticism podcast, Amritesh Mukherjee and Abigail Nussbaum join Dan Hartland to talk about literary awards.
strangehorizons.com
Later this month, I'll be moderating a @bookcritics.bsky.social panel on literary podcasts, featuring people from Otherppl, @bythebywater.bsky.social, Limousine, One Bright Book, and Reading Writers! Register here... us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: Podcasts as Criticism. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar.
Literary podcasts have established themselves as a place for insightful conversations about books and reading. For this virtual event, representatives of five bookish podcasts will discuss the ways in...
us02web.zoom.us
This inspired a reread from me.
Ancillary Review of Books@ancillaryreviewofbooks.org · 3w agoNew podcast episode! Literary agent and publishing podcaster @lzats.bsky.social joins to discuss Robin McKinley's award-winning SUNSHINE: an urban fantasy vampire novel that's fascinating in its own right, and also offers a lens on whole eras of publishing:
New Episode! Foundational Fantasy: Beauty, by Robin McKinley, with guest Megan Cutter hugospodcast.com/podcast/foun...
Also just want to shoutout @ancillaryreviewofbooks.org & @mealofthorns.bsky.social as absolutely fantastic projects & I hope that if nothing else they get increased attention from being Hugo finalists because I think the critical work they're doing is invaluable.
We've got a few, and more on the way!
AMOT episodes on Translated SF
A Meal of Thorns discussions of work not originally in English, or episodes that include significant discussion of works in translation.
ancillaryreviewofbooks.org
Rachel Cordasco@rachelcordasco.bsky.social · 6d ago#sff podcasts should highlight translators and translations more- interview translators, feature #SFinTranslations in your audio reads, actually see what's going on outside the Anglophone world. Inform your listeners. Believe me, they'll love it.
In this episode we deal with a veritably bulging mailbag before diving back into the WSFS Business Meeting and bringing you all the HOTTEST GOSSIP. Who was the best-dressed? What was controversial about a jar of jam? And why are bees? Listen here: octothorpe.podbean.com/e/165-e-ese-...
Did folks listen to Laura as a guest here? Fun conversation!
Ancillary Review of Books@ancillaryreviewofbooks.org · 3w agoNew podcast episode! Literary agent and publishing podcaster @lzats.bsky.social joins to discuss Robin McKinley's award-winning SUNSHINE: an urban fantasy vampire novel that's fascinating in its own right, and also offers a lens on whole eras of publishing:
Good morning #BookSky & happy #WeirdBooksWednesday. I've just updated our, dare I say, iconic "Weird Weirder Weirdest" display with nary a single novel. Here's what's on it...
Sports in SFF mention! With an interesting point about sports writing in relation to writing fantasy!
A Meal of Thorns@mealofthorns.bsky.social · last wk.New Episode! Reporting back from this year's @readercon.org, w/interviews with @lisajune.bsky.social, @smessenger.bsky.social, & @englelaird.bsky.social. Plus, talks with Katherine & @joshthelibromancer.bsky.social of @portersqbooks.bsky.social and their new review project!
Great talking with you at @readercon.org, Casella! This is a fun episode, and I especially enjoyed the coverage of @portersqbooks.bsky.social. I was working in Porter Square 20 years ago when they opened, and they’ll always have a special place in my heart!
A Meal of Thorns@mealofthorns.bsky.social · last wk.New Episode! Reporting back from this year's @readercon.org, w/interviews with @lisajune.bsky.social, @smessenger.bsky.social, & @englelaird.bsky.social. Plus, talks with Katherine & @joshthelibromancer.bsky.social of @portersqbooks.bsky.social and their new review project!
New Episode! Reporting back from this year's @readercon.org, w/interviews with @lisajune.bsky.social, @smessenger.bsky.social, & @englelaird.bsky.social. Plus, talks with Katherine & @joshthelibromancer.bsky.social of @portersqbooks.bsky.social and their new review project!
A Meal of Thorns 55- Readercon & the PSRB
In this con-coverage episode, Casella talks to folks at Readercon in Boston, including Lisa from Narrated, author Sara S. Messenger, and editor Carl Engle-Laird. We also visit Porter Square Books, …
ancillaryreviewofbooks.org
Talking about #Audiofuturism for the Worlds Beyond Worlds podcast tomorrow! I like how many scholars are participating in the podcast space. It makes sense: we like to talk. Currently listening to a previous episode on Afrofuturism, Autonomy, and Utopia worldbeyondworlds.substack.com #SFF
Worlds Beyond Worlds | Patrick J. D'Silva, PhD | Substack
Home for explorations of how religion, race, and speculative fiction (sci-fi and fantasy) all intersect to create different visions of how to be human. Click to read Worlds Beyond Worlds, by Patrick J...
worldbeyondworlds.substack.com
Really enjoyed the latest Coode Street, even if it did once again make me feel guilty about not reading enough short fiction these days jonathanstrahan.podbean.com/e/episode-72...
Episode 726: Jonathan's busiest year ever | The Coode Street Podcast
In this week’s episode, we sort of turn the tables on Jonathan to discuss the art of assembling anthologies, and in particular no fewer than four books he has coming out over the next few months: Revo...
jonathanstrahan.podbean.com
Archita's a fellow writer from Kolkata who recently lost her father & is the sole caregiver of her mother who's suffering from cancer & needs extensive and very costly treatment. She's all alone and struggling to bear the costs. Please share widely & donate if you can:
Archita Mittra@architamittra.bsky.social · last wk.Neither my physical nor mental health is great, but I'm NOT giving up. I urgently need funds for our healthcare, so please circulate/donate if you can, and if you're able to help out in any other way, pls DM. You can donate via Gpay/UPI QR code (if you're in India) or ko-fi: Ko-fi.com/architamittra
Had a great time guesting on The Deep Dive podcast and talking all things Play in Utopian and Dystopian Fiction. The episode is now available via Spotify, Apple Podcasts or on the podcast's website: open.spotify.com/episode/7AuD...
Bravo and congratulations to @tansyg.bsky.social and the @goingroguepod.bsky.social podcast on the 5 part breakdown of The Rise of Skywalker. What a great series to listen to.
I wrote about language, lying & world-building for the NYTBR as expressed in 3 extraordinary & very different books: THERE IS NO ANTIMEMETICS DIVISION by qntm, THE MISHEARD WORLD by Aliya Whiteley, & THE LANGUAGE OF LIARS by SL Huang.
New Science Fiction About Truth and Lies in an Age of War (Gift Article)
Three recent novels explore the use of deception by both invaders and the invaded.
nytimes.com
really have enjoyed @mollytempleton.com's reviews this season, good stuff
Reactor Magazine@reactorsff.bsky.social · 2w agoNo, Lestat, thank YOU for your historical proximity to US! It's time for The Vampire Lestat to take a bow. @mollytempleton.com reviews the season finale, and we'll start the countdown for when Akasha shows up: #TheVampireLestat
Ran errands today listening to the latest episode of my co-2026 Hugo finalist fancast @mealofthorns.bsky.social, where @casella.bsky.social and @lzats.bsky.social discussed Robin McKinley’s Sunshine. And you should listen, too! All of th finalists are fun! ancillaryreviewofbooks.org/2026/07/13/a...
A Meal of Thorns 54- SUNSHINE with Laura Zats
Literary agent and Print Run podcaster extraordinaire Laura Zats is on to talk about a novel that is the most urban fantasy you can imagine, and yet seems to run towards different traditions and id…
ancillaryreviewofbooks.org
SHELVED BY GENRE continues RETURN OF THE KING in the latest episode, discussing portentous dreams, the apparent fall of evil, and the deleterious effects of media distortion throughout histories real and imagined: rangedtouch.com/2026/07/17/t...
💜 It’s been pretty wonderful to see how well the fund drive has been doing this year … a bit over 4k from our stretchiest of stretch goals is emotional. 🙏 If you haven’t already, chip in? Thank you, means a lot to everyone at and around the mag.
Gautam Bhatia@gautambhatia88.bsky.social · 3w ago📣📣LAST 24 HOURS of the annual Strange Horizons fund-drive! 📣📣 We have passed our first stretch goal, and can pay authors at 9c/word for 2027. Our next stretch goal - $4.3K away - will let us raise this to 10c/word (our present rates). To help us get there: www.backerkit.com/c/projects/s...
PODCAST DROP: I got to chat about the weirdness that is SUNSHINE by the great Robin McKinley. Come listen if you want to explore with us why the writing is so slippery, why there’s WAYYYY too much worldbuilding for the plot it has, and how this book engages (and rejects) the Western Vampire Canon.
A Meal of Thorns@mealofthorns.bsky.social · 3w agoThe rise and fall (and rise) of vampire lit, YA recategorization choices, and the lingering effects of standalone books in an ocean of series: @lzats.bsky.social joins to talk about Robin McKinley's SUNSHINE!
Coode Street 725: Amal El-Mohtar and the Seasons of Glass and Iron @garykwolfe & @JonathanStrahan talk to @tithenai about reading, writing, and new collection Seasons of Glass and Iron! www.podbean.com/eas/pb-dgbpi...
Episode 725: Amal El-Mohtar and the Seasons of Glass and Iron
This week, Jonathan and Gary are joined by multiple award winning writer and critic Amal El-Mohtar, whose first story collection Seasons of Glass and Iron appeared earlier this year, and whose novella...
podbean.com
I have a book coming out later this year! Roll on charts, do jobs, live life, write stories, and do all that other interesting stuff that happens before the first day of your fantasy adventure (and if it sells enough we'll do a sci fi one). Preorder now!
Possible Worlds Games@possibleworlds.bsky.social · 3w agoPossible Worlds Games is proud to announce Path Apparatus by @ckunzelman.bsky.social & @mmcwh.bsky.social—a study of & system for lifepaths in TTRPGs! Find it alongside our fall pre-orders, available on its own or with combined shipping for November delivery: realis.backerkit.com/hosted_preor...
NEW EPISODE ❌❌❌THE RED FLAG-ISODE❌❌❌ This week we talked about things that should give you pause when working with literary agents--what's normal, what isn't, and what you should do about it! soundcloud.com/printrunpodc...
Episode 188—The Red-flagisode
This week, in response to a steady stream of questions about how to interface with literary agents either during the query process or once you’re actually working with them, we present to you: a list
soundcloud.com
The rise and fall (and rise) of vampire lit, YA recategorization choices, and the lingering effects of standalone books in an ocean of series: @lzats.bsky.social joins to talk about Robin McKinley's SUNSHINE!
A Meal of Thorns 54- SUNSHINE with Laura Zats
Literary agent and Print Run podcaster extraordinaire Laura Zats is on to talk about a novel that is the most urban fantasy you can imagine, and yet seems to run towards different traditions and id…
ancillaryreviewofbooks.org
Charles Saunders's Birthday today, so in addition to reading his excellent S&S fiction, you should ALSO go read his incredibly important essay "Die, Black Dog:" A Look at Racism in Fantasy Literature web.archive.org/web/20220120...
Charles R. Saunders - Blog
web.archive.org