One quest all of will at some point take part in, is the quest for our own identities. Whether this is something consciously undertaken or subconsciously sought, the narrative of who we are as individuals is a human quest. It's not then surprising that a lot of fiction reflects this; the classic hero's journey is, at its core, the search for identity, for a place in the world. This week the dragons delve into just why this is such an appealing aspect to add to a narrative. What exactly is identity in narrative terms? How does it put pressure on a plot? And what are some of the best ways this trope is used? On the slab this week - Trickster's Choice by Tamora Pearce, The Traitor Baru Cormorant by Seth Dickinson, The Last Unicorn by Peter S Beagle and many more.
Title Music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic
Episode 426: Change, Uncertainty and Unhappiness - making low stakes compelling
Episode 425: A Thousand Ships - The Awkward Side of Retelling Greek Myths
Episode 424: Starving Artists and Worshipped Writers - unrealistic depictions of creatives in Film and TV
Episode 423: Memory became legend legend became myth - the dawn of the fantasy genre part 2
Episode 422: Memory became legend legend became myth - the dawn of the fantasy genre part 1
Episode 421: Impossible Monsters - Dinosaurs and Megafauna in Speculative Fiction
Episode 420: Never Coming Home - The Moving Beyond Bereavement and Death is a Sad Thing Tropes
Episode 419: The Sun, the Moon & the Spindle - Tracing the Origins of Sleeping Beauty
Episode 418: the Dark Decent - Transforming a Hero into a Villain in SFF
Episode 417: An Abundance of Janes and Cathys - Retellings of the classics and why they usually suck pt 2
Episode 416: An Abundance of Janes and Cathys - Retellings of the classics and why they usually suck part 1
Episode 415: Seafarers, Swashbucklers and Chaotic Archaeologists - the evolution of Adventure Fiction
Episode 414: Seasons May Change - Stars Farmers & Wild Weather Calendars
Episode 413: Dragon riders & wolf speakers - the Animal Soul Bond in Speculative Fiction
Episode 412: By the Blade - the Evolution of Heroic Fantasy
Episode 411: Kitchen Heroes - Humble Protagonists who get Things Done in Speculative Fiction
Episode 410: In a Rural Dream - The Rise of Cottagecore
Episode 409: Pitched Perfectly - The Film was Better than the Book
Episode 408: There’s good news and...more good news - 2023 in review
Episode 407: Jingle Bell Rock - Storytelling through the medium of songs the Christmas edition
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Voice of Mushfik
Lit Society: Books and Drama
Ex Libris
The Story of Mankind
Anne of Green Gables
Fresh Air
The Count of Monte Cristo