Long Story Short Ep-18: A Meeting in Information Space, with Stewart Hotston
Robin and Dave dress up as writers to chat with Stewart Hotston about his latest novel, the magnificent space opera Project Hanuman. We ramble far and wide to chat about LARPing, bookshelves, reading recs, the British Science Fiction Association, and much, much more, but most importantly, we touch on some weighty topics that need to be discussed, like why SF authors write about politics, and what happens if we don’t.
https://britishfantasysociety.org/blog/bfs-podcast-long-story-short/
Are you a member of the British Fantasy Society yet? Join us here: https://britishfantasysociety.org/about-the-bfs/become-a-member/
Learn more about Stewart here: https://stewarthotston.com/about/
Visit Robin’s website: https://robincmduncan.com/
Or David’s: https://www.davidgreenwriter.com/
Time stamps:
(01:16) Project Hanuman;
(02:15) A quiet collapse;
(02:45) Inspirations for Project Hanuman;
(05:20) Iain M. Banks;
(05:45) Background physics;
(07:15) ** INTERLUDE **
(08:55) The Science-y Bit;
(18:10) Managing story scope vs word count;
(22:45) Writing out the Internet (Mission: Impossible);
(26:10) The experience of writing Project Hanuman;
(28:30) The book glossary in your head;
(31:15) Katie’s review: Peter Darling, by Austin Chant;
(33:00) Obscure punctuation / The Secret Code;
(35:20) BSFA Chair / helping fans do what they love;
(37:10) Challenges / the Cloak of Boring Politics;
(39:10) Work on your craft;
(40:40) Stewart’s recommendations:
- The Future, Naomi Alderman (2023)
- Exordia, Seth Dickinson (2024)
- The Traitor Baru Cormorant, Seth Dickinson (2015)
- The Proof of My Innocence, Jonathan Coe (2024)
- Judith Butler, feminist philosopher
(43:25) SFF and Politics;
(49:18) LARP;
(57:00) What are you up to next?
- The Next Enemy Will Be the Last (due 2026)
- Epic fantasy duology (2027/2028?)
- Portal fantasy…
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Long Story Short Ep-17a: The Speakies Special
The BFS are very pleased to support the Best Audiobook: Science Fiction & Fantasy category at the inaugural British Audio Awards, the ceremony for which takes place on 24th November. To mark the event, Long Story Short presents our very first Podcast Special.
https://www.thebookseller.com/the-british-audio-awards/the-british-audio-awards
https://britishfantasysociety.org/blog/bfs-podcast-long-story-short/
Are you a member of the British Fantasy Society yet? Join us here: https://britishfantasysociety.org/about-the-bfs/become-a-member/
Visit Robin’s website: https://robincmduncan.com/
And Pam’s: https://www.pslivingstone.com
And also David Green’s: https://www.davidgreenwriter.com/
Time stamps
(01:05) The Speakies organisers’ statement;
(01:40) summary of the award categories;
(02:05) “And the nominees are…” (Best Audiobook – SF & Fantasy);
(03:10) some words from Juno Dawson (read by PS Livingstone);
(04:57) Steve Lyons and Nicholas Briggs chat Agent of the Daleks;
(08:20) the evolution of audio drama;
(11:16) Nick and Steve’s processes;
(15:27) how important are audiobooks in your own reading?
(17:20) reading in the bath (+Nick’s recommendations):
The Intruder, John Rowe Townsend (1969)
First Light, Geoffrey Wellum (2020)
Rogue Male, Geoffrey Household (1939)
(21:06) the value of (audio drama) awards;
(25:00) revisiting books, but in audio: praise for Ian Holm and Peter Kenny;
(27:35) reading Revenge of the Cybermen;
(28:35) how does it feel to be nominated for a British Audio Award?
(32:12) some other nominations of potential interest.
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Long Story Short Ep-17: Emptying the Full Magazine, with Joe Hill
Robin & David were joined in the run up to World Fantasy in Brighton (UK) by Joe Hill, whose new novel, King Sorrow, is his first in nine years. This episode is a real doozy, with the chat ranging far-and-wide. Not to be missed! Check out our new detailed timestamps at the bottom of these notes.
https://britishfantasysociety.org/blog/bfs-podcast-long-story-short/
[There are handful of F-bombs in the episode]
Are you a member of the British Fantasy Society yet? Join us here: https://britishfantasysociety.org/about-the-bfs/become-a-member/
Learn more about Joe here: https://www.joehillfiction.com/#intro
Visit David’s website: https://www.davidgreenwriter.com/
And Robin’s: https://robincmduncan.com/
Time stamps (with about 30s lead-in)
(03:06) a home in the British Fantasy community
(05:35) 2000AD
(06:52) King Sorrow
(11:49) other kinds of peril
(13:48) Better Call Saul
(15:03) Dark Academia
(16:48) a Ken Follet epic
(21:29) the Broken Binding special edition
(24:20) illustration and physical books
(27:02) the Orwellian thing
(28:17) the pain is the point
(32:26) themes in King Sorrow
(36:40) dragon tattoos
(37:47) dragons like cats
(38:39) emptying the full magazine
(41:01) Stephen King
(48:52) King Sorrow; horror or fantasy?
(51:23) how terrible to live in Middle Earth
(53:26) banned books / we're all f**ked
(56:10) World Fantasy
(57:21) Locke & Key
(66:38) Return of the Jedi is not very good
(69:30) Hunger, a novel (2026)
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Long Story Short Ep-16: Storytelling Traditions, with Marve Michael Anson
Robin & Pam are joined by Marve Michael Anson, whose eagerly anticipated debut fantasy novel Firstborn of the Sun released this month. Come learn about ‘an epic world of courtly intrigue and forbidden power’, and the important work Marve does for the BFS on Outreach & Inclusion. https://britishfantasysociety.org/blog/bfs-podcast-long-story-short/
Are you a member of the British Fantasy Society yet? Join us here: https://britishfantasysociety.org/about-the-bfs/become-a-member/
Learn more about Marve here: https://www.justmarve.org
Visit Pam’s website: https://www.pslivingstone.com
And Robin’s: https://robincmduncan.com/
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Long Story Short Ep-15: So You Think You're A Disaster Mage, with Annabel Campbell
Annabel Campbell, whose debut novel The Outcast Mage released in January, joins Robin & David to talk mages of many varieties. How would you shape up as a wizard? Would you use your power for good, or be tempted to the Dark Side where - we are given to believe - there are cookies?
Are you a member of the British Fantasy Society yet? Join us here: https://britishfantasysociety.org/about-the-bfs/become-a-member/
Learn more about Annabel here: https://annabelcampbell.com
Visit David's website: https://www.davidgreenwriter.com/
And Robin’s: https://robincmduncan.com/
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