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PODCAST

Is This Just Fantasy?

Is This Just Fantasy?

The book club where we review all things fantasy! Join Duncan and Geordie as they embark on a quest to track the breadth and history of the fantasy genre, one epic at the time. Whether you"re a fan of book-stopper tomes like Duncan, or lighter YA fantasy like Geordie, we want you to read-along with us. Episodes are released every two weeks, giving you enough to read the book (or skim the synopsis if you"re just here for the banter.)

arts books

All Episodes

72:07

Empire of the Vampire - the revisit

Is This Just Fantasy? ·

2024/04/18

In a parallel world this ought to have been episode 3 of this podcast. In anticipation of reading Empire of the Damned, Geordie and Duncan,,, well, just Geordie actually, return to the dark world of Empire of the Vampire. Geordie catches Duncan back up on all the dramatic fights, the vampiric lore, the cool tattoos, and the slight overabundance of references to either Elric or the last of us.

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78:50

Our Top 50 fantasy novels - two year anniversary...

Is This Just Fantasy? ·

2024/04/04

Over two years and (slightly over) 50 books under their belt, Duncan and Geordie revisit every fantasy novel fantasy novels they've read over the past two years, ranking them from the very lowest lows to the absolute bests of the genre. It gets contentious at times, tune in to hear Geordie call Duncan a heretic and find out what you should be reading this year.Thank you to everyone who's listened to the podcast, to the arguments and the laughs and the erroneous facts spat with a little too much

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65:47

Assassin's Apprentice

Is This Just Fantasy? ·

2024/03/24

To commemorate their 50th fantasy novel the fellas read and discuss a classic in the fantasy genre, the beginning to Robin Hobb's seminal Realm of the Elderlings series: Assassin's Apprentice. The fellas cover the book's influence, the strength of its characters, as well as some of slightly,,, slower moments. They also spend a lot of time discussing Game of Thrones and Green Rider.

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93:47

Best Served Cold

Is This Just Fantasy? ·

2024/03/07

Just how many times can Geordie say "roaring rampage of revenge" in just one episode? That's one of many questions the fellas ask as they delve into Joe Abercrombie's Best Served Cold. Duncan pulls a Murtagh, pulling Geordie into the fourth book in a series, Can they keep their bearings? Can Geordie figure out who the Bloody Nine is? And will ever discover what domming is? Only time will tell.

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66:02

The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas

Is This Just Fantasy? ·

2024/02/22

Things get philosophical as the fellas are compelled to cover the trolley problem, vegetarianism, and ethical consumption under capitalism, all because Geordie picked the Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas by Ursula K. LeGuin. He also spends an unforgivable amount of time talking about his latest weird interest at the start, but he has since been suitably punished. The hotest debate in the whole episode though is right in the title: is this (just) fantasy.

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84:42

Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief

Is This Just Fantasy? ·

2024/02/10

On the heels of the first season's finale, the fellas wrap up their review of a book which had a Vader-like (Vaderesque? Vaderonean?) chokehold on Geordie's childhood. Does it hold up? Of course it does. This episode is a major hit with them both. Episode highlights are Geordie teaching Duncan the correct pronunciation of Uranus, and Duncan making a... very interesting request of Geordie.Editing note: there were some unfortunate recording issues with this episode which may carry over to the

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84:09

Murtagh

Is This Just Fantasy? ·

2024/01/25

For one it's a return to an old favourite. For another, it's beginning a dense fantasy series at book 5 with very little context. The fellas leap into Murtagh the follow up to Eragon and the Inheritance cycle, which Duncan has never read. Episode highlights are Duncan demanding to know what an Urgal is, an enthusiastic discussion of the book's magic system, and Geordie fulfilling his dream of becoming a game show host.

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73:05

Shadow Kingdom

Is This Just Fantasy? ·

2024/01/11

In a cracking start to the new year and their 3rd season the fellas have delivered what they agree is probably their best episode yet. And of course that had to happen when discussing a lesser known creation by an author writing in 1929. Kull of Atlantis, the original Conan. Duncan rocks Geordie's world by introducing Geordie to the world of queer readings of Kull and Conan, whilst Geordie shares the story of his most hysterical mistake in his history of playing RPGs.

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65:38

A look back at 2023

Is This Just Fantasy? ·

2023/12/31

Look how far we've come this year. Geordie and Duncan look back at all the novels they've covered through 2023 and spare a moment of highlight some of the best surprises, their least favourites, and the very best they came across.

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78:24

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

Is This Just Fantasy? ·

2023/12/27

For this year's holiday special the fellas review the only other Christmas fantasy book they could think of: The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe. They discuss the charming book's humble and adorable origins, the world's most impactful trip to the zoo, Geordie teaches Duncan Bible stories, whilst Duncan recounts the most hare-brained story of the creation of the iconic lampost. Most importantly both hosts discuss how their schools made them dress up as evacuated children and realise that their

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76:14

Legends and Lattes

Is This Just Fantasy? ·

2023/12/15

Ooooh, what a delight this one was. Duncan and Geordie put on their slippers, slip under a blanket, get their coffee mug (then Geordie puts his away because he doesn't actually like coffee) and discuss Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree. They find it a wonderful and charming book with impeccable vibes. With dual fantasies of orcs, elves and running a successful business. The fellas discuss supporting local businesses, Duncan discovers what a coffee shop AU is then orders Geordie to write one,

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118:46

Sisters of Sword and Shadow

Is This Just Fantasy? ·

2023/11/27

It's hot off the press. This week the fellas crack open feminist leader Laura Bates' fantasy debut Sisters of Sword and Shadow. They discuss this depiction of sorority, feminism, the deconstruction of Arthurian chivalry, as well as its high and lows. They cover the differences between feminist fiction writing and non-fiction writing, Duncan gives us an engineering crash-course in swords made of tin, Geordie spends entirely too much time weaving conspiracy theories about the number of number of

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51:35

An Interview with Hailey Piper (The Worm and His Kings)

Is This Just Fantasy? ·

2023/11/23

Duncan and Geordie are eager to present their interview with author Hailey Piper, writer of one of their recent faves: The Worm and His Kings. They discuss her writing process, the orgins of her interest in horror, the bold end to the novel, and something about kaiju chickens?

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103:24

The Poppy War

Is This Just Fantasy? ·

2023/11/12

TW: this episode contains discussions of depictions of sexual violence in the context of the Rape of Nanjing. Things get fiery in their longest episode to date, discussing R. F. Kuang's The Poppy War. The fellas have a lot to cover, discussing their mixed feelings regarding the acclaimed debut. Duncan is... exceedingly patient with Geordie this time as he goes on several rants about MMA, kung fu, the Cultural Revolution, and Operation Downfall. He just has a lot of feelings about Operation Downfall,

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83:53

The Worm and His Kings

Is This Just Fantasy? ·

2023/10/31

In the grand finale of their Halloween collection, the fellas tackle a dark horse: The Worm and His Kings by Hallie Piper, and wouldn't you know it, its the best surprise of the year. They discuss its darkly profound ending, its amazing characters and relationships, and an example of positive nihilism.TW: this book contains themes of gender dysphoria and a botched sex change operation.

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63:11

Shadow Over Innsmouth

Is This Just Fantasy? ·

2023/10/15

The fellas make their first foray into the maddening world of H. P. Lovecraft to discuss one of his most famous works. They discuss: how does Geordie's knowledge of local geography compare to a guy at a 1920s bus station? Will Duncan hide behind his partner when confronted by a serial killer? And is it easier for Geordie to pronounce miscegenation or ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn?Tune in for Geordie pitching his Shadow Over Innsmouth film adaptation, coming to cinemas as soon as

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92:09

Berserk: Tower of Conviction

Is This Just Fantasy? ·

2023/10/06

Wrapping up their 2023 review of Berserk with the 'Binding Chain ' and the 'Rebirth Ceremony' chapters (but the fellas insist on calling in the Tower of Conviction arc.) The fellas are rapturous over the action and the new characters added to the Berserk canon, and go head to head debating whether Mozgus is a good villain or not. Episode highlights include: Duncan joining the Serpico fan-club, Geordie's rousing re-enactment of the titular conviction speak, the introduction of the Beast of Darkness,

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79:41

Berserk: Lost Children Arc

Is This Just Fantasy? ·

2023/10/01

Trigger warnings for discussions of sexual violence. It's back! It's back and Geordie is excited! The fellas return to the horrible world of Guts and Puck. Following on from their last episode on the Eclipse and the end of the Golden Age Arc, they're back in Guts' sad boy era with the Lost Children Chapter of the Conviction Arc. Things get heated as Duncan and Geordie debate the merits of Puck, whether Guts was going to take out Jill, and Geordie really gives the business to r/berserk. But most

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82:23

The Weird of the White Wolf

Is This Just Fantasy? ·

2023/09/16

The fellas return to the Moorcockiverse to experience the further adventures of Elric of Melnibone in his first published appreance in: The Dreaming City, While the Gods Laugh, and The Singing Citadel. They discuss magic, misogyny, and how its all made up for by amazing speeches, evil soul-stealing swords, and an anti-hero who is as cool as he is goth,

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68:06

The Silence of the Girls

Is This Just Fantasy? ·

2023/09/04

In what's set to become an annual summer-time tradition, the boys are back in Troy. This time they're seeing the Iliad through the eyes of Briseis and into the silent suffering of slave women in Pat Barker's critique of the Iliad: The Silence of the Girls. In this episode the fellas argue over whether vikings could free-style rap, Duncan wonders whether anyone has ever seen the movie Troy (who can say for sure?), and Geordie wraps up the episode by delivering Duncan a devastating burn from which

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