Welcome to the Kotar-verse! (Someone in my Patreon community coined this term; it feels a bit silly, but I like it, and …
When Science Fiction is Smarter than The New York Times
One of my projects right now is exploring what a canon of speculative fiction for our time might look like. For context, check out …
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The Wood Between the Worlds: Does Grimdark Fantasy Belong in the Canon of Speculative Fiction?
Why Am I Reading Grimdark? Recently I decided, for reasons that will become clear later this summer (how’s that for a teaser?), …
The Craftsman’s Workshop: Cultivating Imagination
Spring is springing! Flowers are blooming, and life returns after the death of winter. How fitting for the end of Lent and the …
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The Craftsman’s Workshop: Slow Productivity and Better Stories
As you may have heard me say by now, my goal this year is simple: don’t be butter scraped over too much bread. In other words, I …
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Stream New Podcasts
You're invited to sample my podcasts for free, but please note that new episodes are Patreon-exclusive. If you like what you hear …
Fantasy For Our Time: Touch the Darkness Again . . .
Could this be the Star Wars of our time?! . . . . no. Definitely not. Together, Richard and I discuss the final …
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In a Certain Kingdom: The Wooden Eagle
A certain Tsar collects artisans like trinkets. And what do you think? Of course they all compete for his attention. But once a …
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Fantasy For Our Time: The Shadow is a Passing Thing… Or Is It?
In this episode, dear friend Richard Rohlin and I continue our discussion on The Rings of Power, picking up with episodes 6 …
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In a Certain Kingdom: Prince Ivan, the Firebird, and Koschei the Deathless
In a variation of a familiar story, Prince Ivan is the only one of his three brothers with the vigilance to find the thief of his …
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Fantasy For Our Time: There Is a Tempest in Me . . .
Once again I'm joined by Richard Rohlin for a lively discussion about the Rings of Power! Together we discuss . . . well, many …
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Fantasy For Our Time: Without My Sword . . . What Am I?
At last, what you've all been waiting for . . . I discuss The Rings of Power! My friend Richard Rohlin joins me for a …
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Fantasy For Our Time: Resilience and Courage Through Story – Accept Your Quest with Humility and Purpose
This is the final video of my series on accepting unexpected hardships and using stories to help overcome them in a lasting …
Fantasy For Our Time: Resilience and Courage Through Story – Examining the Heart of Ideas You Hate
Welcome to week three of our series exploring how good stories can help us survive difficulty and come out stronger, living a …
In a Certain Kingdom: Prince Ivan, the Witch Baby, and the Little Prince of the Sun
Little Prince Ivan was born dumb, and his parents couldn't wait to have another child. Anything was better than a voiceless future …
Fantasy For Our Time: Resilience and Courage Through Story – Finding Meaning in Solitude
Welcome to the second episode in my series on finding resilience and courage during unexpectedly difficult times, all through the …
Fantasy For Our Time: Resilience and Courage Through Story – Finding Your Mentor
In an age of information overload, we need, more than ever, to find someone to help us make sense of it all. But there are …
Fantasy For Our Time: What Aragorn Can Teach Us About the Deep Life
One of the biggest questions of our age is what we are to make of ourselves in a post-pandemic reality. If we allow it, hardship …
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