The Worldbuilder's Tavern

Mar 05 2025 52 ep. 38 mins 161
The Worldbuilder's Tavern Podcast artwork

At The Worldbuilder's Tavern podcast, we like to kick back with a drink and chat about the storytelling in science fiction and fantasy books, movies, and TV shows. Your hosts are three nerds—writer Emma Maione, editor Allison Alexander, and academic Christiana Jones—who love breaking down tropes, examining plot, and questioning the status quo. If you write novels or just enjoy discussions about worldbuilding, you're in the right place.

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3.12 Comedic Sci-Fi: Futurama

Mar 05 2025 32 mins  
In this episode, we're talking about humour, worldbuilding, genre, and the animated TV showFuturama.Proprietor's Pick:I Got Abducted by Aliens and Now I'm Trapped in a Rom-Comby Kimberly Lemming (Disclosure: we are a Bookshop.org affiliate, so if you purchase through this link we will earn a small commission AND you will support an indie bookstore!)Intro and outro music

3.11 YA Sci-Fi: Skyward

Feb 19 2025 46 mins  
In this episode, we're talking about genre, the state of YA sci-fi in publishing, and the writing and worldbuilding in the young adult science fiction novel Skyward by Brandon Sanderson. Proprietor's Pick: Red Rising by Pierce Brown (Disclosure: we are a bookshop.org affiliate, so if you purchase through these links we will earn a small commission AND you will support an

3.10 Comedic RPG: Fantasy High

Feb 05 2025 43 mins  
In this episode, we're talking about the worldbuilding in the Dungeons & Dragons RPG comedy Fantasy High: Freshman Year, which is a Dimension 20 show produced by Dropout TV. Proprietor's Pick: Highfire by Eoin Colfer (Disclosure: we are a Bookshop.org affiliate, so if you purchase through this link we will earn a small commission AND you will support an indie booksto

3.9 Dark Fairy Tale: Nettle & Bone

Jan 22 2025 45 mins  
In this episode, we're talking about the writing and worldbuilding in the fantasy novel Nettle & Bone by T. Kingfisher, and how the story feels like a fairy tale even though it is not a retelling. Proprietor's Pick: All the Murmuring Bones by A.G. Slatter (Disclosure: we are a Bookshop.org affiliate, so if you purchase through these links we will earn a small commission AND y

3.8 Horror: A Quiet Place

Jan 08 2025 45 mins  
In this episode, we're talking about the horror movie A Quiet Place. Proprietor's Pick: Lucky Day by Chuck Tingle and Birdbox by Michael Louis Calvillo (Disclosure: we are a Bookshop.org affiliate, so if you purchase through these links we will earn a small commission AND you will support an indie bookstore!) Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi Visit the Taver

3.7 Children's Sci-Fi: Wall-E

Dec 25 2024 34 mins  
In this episode, we're talking about environmental sci-fi, ecological themes, children's literature, and the Disney movie Wall-E. Proprietor's Pick: A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers (Disclosure: we are a Bookshop.org affiliate, so if you purchase through these links we will earn a small commission AND you will support an indie bookstore!) Intro and outro music: "The

3.6 Cozy Sci-Fi: The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet

Dec 11 2024 42 mins  
In this episode, we're talking about cozy science fiction and The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers. Proprietor's Pick: Cascade Failure by L.M. Sagas (Disclosure: we are a Bookshop.org affiliate, so if you purchase through these links we will earn a small commission AND you will support an indie bookstore!) Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi

3.5 Horror Romance: Someone You Can Build a Nest In

Nov 27 2024 46 mins  
In this episode, we're talking about how horror and romance can go together (and whether cozy horror is a thing) in Someone You Can Build a Nest In by John Wiswell. Proprietor's Pick: Voyage of the Damned by Frances White (Disclosure: we are a Bookshop.org affiliate, so if you purchase through these links we will earn a small commission AND you will support an indie bookstore!)

3.4 Dark Fantasy: The Witcher

Nov 13 2024 43 mins  
In this episode, we're talking about deconstructing tropes, dark fairy tales, costs of magic, monsters, and more in the dark fantasy TV show The Witcher. Proprietor's Pick: Foul Days by Genoveva Dimova (Disclosure: we are a Bookshop.org affiliate, so if you purchase through these links we will earn a small commission AND you will support an indie bookstore!) Intro and outro mus

3.3 Space Opera: All Systems Red

Oct 30 2024 45 mins  
In this episode, we're talking about the novella All Systems Red (The Murderbot Diaries #1) by Martha Wells. Proprietor's Pick: The Mercy of Gods by James S.A. Corey (Disclosure: we are a Bookshop.org affiliate, so if you purchase through these links we will earn a small commission AND you will support an indie bookstore!) Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi