Speculative fiction has long been the perfect place to debate - via written word or screen - the dynamics of power and the appropriation of the same. One of the most commonly used metaphors is magic. And one of the most commonly used situations, especially in YA pec fic, is a radical overhaul of the status quo in which a group of 'others' are oppressed and then rise to challenge the system. The dragons love a good revolution as much as the next fantasy fans but there are times when you have to ask yourself what exactly is the story saying? Because magic equals power, and if the oppressed group have power then why are they oppressed? Could it be that unconsciously the love of a good resistance style plot occasionally means that authors punch down instead of up? SFF authors Jules and Madeleine take a look at where this works and where it clearly doesn't. Under the microscope this week - The Black Magician Series - Trudi Canavan, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Red Queen Series - Victoria Aveyard, Gilded Cage - Vic James and many more.
Title Music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic
Dissecting Dragons: Episode 94: Inner Space - Altered Realities in Speculative Fiction
Dissecting Dragons: Episode 93: Damnation, Retribution and Redemption - Hell Planes and Purgatory in Speculative Fiction
Dissecting Dragons: Episode 92: Blood Drinkers and Psychic Thieves - the Vampire in SpeculativeFiction
Dissecting Dragons: Episode 91: Evil Twins and Partners in Crime - Siblings in Speculative Fiction and Real Life
Dissecting Dragons: Episode 90: Yay or Neigh - Horses, Pegasus and Kelpies in Speculative Fiction
Dissecting Dragons: Episode 89: A Night at the Overlook Hotel - Haunted Houses in Speculative Fiction (And their real life counterparts)
Dissecting Dragons: Episode 88: Heavenly Hosts and Fallen Fiends - The Angelic Being in Speculative Fiction
Dissecting Dragon: Episode 87: Losing the Plot - Revamping, Recycling and Reusing your Writing.
Dissecting Dragons: Episode 86: Leches, Perverts and Peeping Toms - Attitudes to Sexual Depravity in Speculative Fiction
Dissecting Dragons: Episode 85: Witches, Bitches & Shrews - The Wise Woman Archetype in Speculative Fiction
Dissecting Dragons: Episode 84: More Tainted Love - the Romantic Subplot in Speculative Fiction
Dissecting Dragon: Episode 83: Spellbinding Songs, Enchanting Tunes & the Magic of Music in Fiction
Dissecting Dragons: Episode 82: Incubi, Vampires and Fallen Angels - the Demon Lover in Speculative Fiction
Dissecting Dragon: Episode 81: War! What is it good for... in Storytelling?
Dissecting Dragons: Episode 80: Pivot Points - Historical Moments that changed Everything
Dissecting Dragon: Episode 79: Ouija Boards, Possessed Dolls & Bloody Mary - the Fascination with Supernatural Games
Dissecting Dragons: Episode 78: Portents, Symbols and Future Knowledge - Precognition and Foreshadowing in Speculative Fiction
Dissecting Dragon: Episode 77: Man out of Time - Displaced Protagonists in Speculative Fiction
Disseecting Dragons: Episode 76: From Aslan to Ananda - Religious Allegory in Speculative Fiction
Dissecting Dragons: Episode 75: Labyrinth - Looking at the Mystery of Mazes
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