We spend a lot of time thinking about how to work with worldbuilding as writers -- but how does a reviewer approach the topic when they're reading works of sci-fi and fantasy? Guest Paul Weimer joins us to share his insights as a prolific consumer and critiquer of speculative fiction! Paul talks about the details that he pays attention to, the things he looks for, and the things that draw his attention, as well as discussing the purpose of reviews and who they're for (hint: it's not the authors!).
In this episode, we spin things around to look at how we approach worldbuilding and narrative construction as readers -- since we are, of course, readers as well as writers! We explore of aspects of how a writer can set and, hopefully, meet expectations through worldbuilding -- and where that can sometimes become challenging as a series goes on. What makes a world exciting to enter in the first place? What grips a reader and keeps them with it? And how can you use worldbuilding to make your wizard chase sequence a more cohesive part of your world?
Also, here's Natania's rock, as promised:
[Transcript TK]
Our Guest: Not really a Prince of Amber, but rather, an ex-pat New Yorker living in Minnesota, Paul Weimer has been reading sci-fi and fantasy for over 40 years. An avid and enthusiastic amateur photographer, blogger and podcaster, Paul primarily contributes to the Skiffy and Fanty Show as blogger and podcaster, to Nerds of a Feather as a reviewer and interviewer, to the SFF Audio podcast, and turns up elsewhere as well. If you’ve spent any time reading about SFF online, you’ve probably read one of his reviews, comments or tweets (he’s @PrinceJvstin).
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Episode 69: The Sexy Things People Don’t Want You To Think About, ft. ELSA SJUNNESON
Episode 68: Potpour-V
Episode 67: WorldCon Minisode
Episode 66: Deep History, ft MARIE BRENNAN and ALYC HELMS
Episode 65: Money Makes The Worldbuilding Go ‘Round
Episode 64: The Times, They Are A-Changin‘, ft. FONDA LEE
Episode 63: It’s A Grimdark World After All ft. ANNA SMITH SPARK
Episode 62: Otherworldly Worldbuilding ft. SEANAN MCGUIRE
Episode 61: Worldbuilding: The Search for Intelligent Life ft. MARTHA WELLS
Episode 60: Worldbuilding: The Never-Ending Story
Episode 59: Ooooh, Shiny! Crafting a World from Shiny Ideas
Episode 58: L’Etat, C’est… Quoi? ft. C.L. POLK
Episode 57: Ask a Necromancer ft. AMANDA DOWNUM
Episode 56: Word Building ft. SARAH BETH DURST
Episode 55: Epic GrimDarkPunk Romance
Episode 54: Cyberpunk Worldbuilding ft. PJ MANNEY
Episode 53: Worldbuilding 301
Episode 52: Pot4ri
Episode 51: Gender, Equality, & Gender Equality ft. E.J. BEATON
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