Episode 8: World Building and 5 items for a Hobbit adventure

World building is a foundational aspect of fantasy and science fiction and in truth, all fiction. We discuss our preferences in the world, especially examining Tolkien in Lord of the Rings and the Silmarillion, Gene Wolfe in the Book of the New Sun and Wizard Knight, Robert E Howard’s Conan series set in the Hyborian Age, Glen Cook’s The Black Company, Red Rising by Pierce Brown, John Gwynne’s Faithful and the Fallen, and JB Jackon’s Shagduk. We talk about how world building is key even in non-fantastical settings but is paramount in worlds real or imagined. 

 

Then we select five items, three that we remembered to grab, and two that Gandalf brings that we forgot before embarking on the adventure to the Lonely Mountain. 

 

The episode starts with Takes from Dragonstone Island and a first installment of thoughts about House of the Dragon and Fire & Blood. Are dragons nukes?

 

The song you heard on was Greener Pastures by Hole Dweller from his great Crossroads EP.