Those of us who enjoy sci-fi, also probably enjoy a good 'conspiracy theory' trope. Whether it's governments plotting ways to create a docile populace or supercharged plagues accidentally released with disastrous consequences or human experimentation, there's something both thrilling and morbidly fascinating (not to mention chilling) in the idea that those in power may not have our best interests at heart. Or worse, that they may be actively working to remove our autonomy. But where does the conspiracy theory trope originate? This week Jules and Madeleine take a look at possible origins - from the Cold War to the horrors of the 20th C eugenics movement. Following their favourite and most reviled versions of this trope leads the dragons down some very murky paths indeed. On the slab this week - The Diviners by Libba Bray, The Stand by Stephen King, Feed by Mira Grant and many more.
Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic
Episode 257: Peacekeepers to Punishers - The Police Force in Speculative Fiction
Episode 256: Assembling the Skeleton - Showing, Telling and Cutting Out Scenes in Speculative Fiction
Episode 255: The Trials and Triumphs of 2020
Episode 254: Blood on the Snow - The Darker Christmas Stories
Episode 253: The Good Neighbours - Festive Faeries and Winter Elves
Episode 252: Why is There Never a Happy Ending? - and Other Questions Writers Get Asked
Episode 251 To Queer or not to Queer - Including LGBTQ+ Characters in Speculative Fiction
Episode 250: The Usual Suspects - Cast Calling for your Novel
Episode 249 - The Goddess' Chariot - Myths and Folktales of the Moon
Episode 248: All the Feels - Emotion and Characterisation in Speculative Fiction
Episode 247: Sweet, Awkward and Tongue-tied - The Unromantic Hero in Speculative Fiction
Episode 246 - Casting Long Shadows - How Horror Influences Other Genres
Episode 245: Old Gods & Ancient Stones - What Folk Horror has to say to a Modern Audience
Ep 244 - Of Fates and Phantoms - The Anatomy of the Ghost Story
Episode 243: The Mother of Science Fiction - The Life of Mary Shelley
Episode 242 - Chairs, Dolls & Diamonds - Cursed Objects in Fact and Fiction
Episode 241 - Vampires, Incubae and Goblin Kings - The Daemon Lover in Myth and Speculative Fiction
Episode 240: Paging Dr Love - What the Romance Genre can Teach Us about Writing
Episode 239: Unpopular Opinion Time (part 2) - The Dragon's Hot Takes on Speculative Issues
Episode 238: Unpopular Opinion Time (part 1) - The Dragons' Hot Takes on Speculative Issues
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