The Dragons were startled to realise that despite brushing against the topic in previous episodes, that they had never devoted an episode to psychic characters - specifically psychic characters who commune with the dead. So naturally they set out to rectify this. In the past, Jules and Madeleine have talked about how ghost stories and Gothic fiction allow you to confront fear, especially the fear of dying, in a safe and comfortable setting. Looking at those stories from a different perspective, what do characters with one foot in either realm have to offer us beyond entertainment? Why is there an endless fascination in urban fantasy and Gothic fiction, for characters who do cross that divide between life and death? And how do write such characters well? Find out in this week's episode. On the slab - The Umbrella Academy, The Whitby Witches by Robin Jarvis, The Sixth Sense, and many more. (The dragons also discuss their own work.)
Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic
Episode 315: Vampire Detectives & Snarky Female Cops - Urban Fantasy Tropes that need a Change
Episode 314: Old Souls and Mischievous Urchins - Writing Child Characters in Speculative Fiction
Episode 313: The Economy of Boots - Wealth and Poverty in Speculative Fiction
Episode 312: All the Feels - Widening the Appeal of Your Writing with Feel Good Moments
Episode 311: Run Away! Run Away! - the enduring Charm of Cowardly Characters
Episode 310: Villainesses and Dense Heroines - the Reverse Harem Trope in Speculative Fiction
Episode 309: False Prophets and Unwanted Messiahs - Examining the White Saviour Trope in Speculative Fiction part 2
Episode 308: False Prophets and Unwanted Messiahs - Examining the White Saviour Trope in Speculative Fiction Part 1
Episode 307: Good News Everyone! - 2021 the Best Bits
Episode 306: Japes and Tricks and Festive Diversions - Traditional Games Played at Yule and Christmas
Episode 305: Skulls and Sheets and Winter Puzzles - The Origins of the Riddle
Episode 304: What If Examining Storytelling by Changing the Pivot Points in Speculative Fiction
Episode 303: Wicked Queens and Nefarious Princes - The Evolution of the Disney Villain
Episode 302: My Only Love Sprung from My Only Hate - the Enemies to Lovers Trope in Speculative Fiction
DD Episode 301: Everyone was Kung Fu Fighting - Martial Arts as a Storytelling Tool in Speculative Fiction
Episode 300: How Not to be a Bad Art Friend - Professionalism and Empathy in Writing
Episode: 299: Who Watches the Watchmen - Gatekeeping in Speculative Fiction
Episode 298: Long Pig & a Nice Chianti - Cannibalism in Fact and Fiction
Episode 297: Of Human Evil - Serial Killers in Fact and Fiction
Episode 296: A Young Priest and An Old Priest - Exorcism in Fact and Fiction
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