Best alibaker68 Podcasts (2024)

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Ep 39: Writeopolis v Fantasy Book Swap- not a dance off 2:03:59

3d ago2:03:59

2:03:59

Ep 39- Writeopolis v Fantasy Book Swap, but no dance-off In today’s episode, I am joined by Scott K. Andrews and Kit Power from the Writeopolis podcast. We have a lovely chat, and then Fantasy Book Swap proper starts at 12 minutes in. Scott’s choice: The Devil on the Road by Robert Westall Ali’s choice: Unraveller by Frances Hardinge The Lodestar a…

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Ep 38: Is that Conan in space? With Tade Thompson 45:46

23d ago45:46

45:46

Firstly, huge apologies for the delay in this episode, which was recorded live at EasterCon, Levitation 2024. Life got in the way. Tade Thompson’s Bluesky: @tadethompson.bsky.social Tade’s award-winning novel Rosewater is the New Scientist’s July book club pick. Tade’s pick: The Masters of Solitude by Marvin Kaye and Parke Godwin. It’s out of print…

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Ep 37: Totally Elemental with Esther MacCallum-Stewart, Chair of Glasgow 2024 WorldCon 1:06:16

11M ago1:06:16

1:06:16

Ali’s choice: The Boggart by Susan Cooper. Ali’s edition with cat tax. Esther’s choice: Like a Charm by Elle McNicoll Elle’s novel A Kind of Spark was adapted by CBBC. Several members of the cast are neurodiverse. Information about dyspraxia here Elle McNicholl’s website Esther and Ali mention a lot of books and other media! Hilary McKay’s Casson f…

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Ep 36: Ghosts, machines and aliens with Kit Power 1:29:58

12M ago1:29:58

1:29:58

Kit’s choice: The Tripods by John Christopher Ali’s choice: Wildspark by Vashti Hardy Kit’s Patreon Kit’s page on Amazon Kit reads his essay on The Tripods on his podcast feed The British Fantasy Society award shortlist Thanks as always to Steve Vapour Trails. Check out his radio show on Radio Lewes here! Thank you to Danny for the fresh new idents…

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Ep 35: A Confusion of Susans with Juliet Kemp 1:01:44

1y ago1:01:44

1:01:44

Juliet’s choice: We Didn’t Mean to Go to Sea by Arthur Ransome. There is a small display related to the Swallows and Amazons at the Ruskin Museum in Coniston, in the Lake District. It’s not far from Hill Top, Beatrix Potter’s house near Ambleside. Ali’s choice: The Strangeworlds Travel Agency: The Edge of the Ocean by L. D. Lapinski. I talked to Ph…

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34: Dragons and radical empathy with Trip Galey 1:03:30

1y ago1:03:30

1:03:30

Trip’s choice: Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher by Bruce Coville Ali’s choice: How To Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell The full list of Magic Shop books here Cressida Cowell’s Wizard of Once books and new book, Which Way to Anywhere have more diverse casts. My now 14-year-old as Hiccup when he was 5. He cosplayed Hiccup at his first Eastercon. T…

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Ep 33: A refreshing lack of Wizard Dads with SJ Groenewegen 57:01

1y ago57:01

57:01

Episode 33- A refreshing lack of Wizard Dads with S.J. Groenewegen SJ’s choice: Andra by Louise Lawrence, with the ABC TV cover Ali’s choice: Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao SJ’s website: https://www.sjgroenewegen.co.uk Pre-order The Disinformation War here @nyssa1968 – twitter Reachingforthevoid - tumblr https://mitpress.mit.edu/9781913380809/ - link…

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Ep 32 Imaginary horse husbands with Kari Sperring 57:01

1+ y ago57:01

57:01

Kari’s choice: The Silver Brumby by Elyne Mitchell This is the edition that Kari has We talk about the illustrations, by Ralph Thompson: Kookaburra and Wombat Ali’s choice: Abyssinia by Ursula Dubosarsky A doll’s dress at Rouse Hill Farm Estate, New South Wales Other books mentioned in the episode Marguerite Henry’s Misty of Chincoteague The Pullei…

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Ep 31 Getting rid of parents and grumpy magical helpers with Kate Towner 1:04:37

2y ago1:04:37

1:04:37

Kate’s choice: The House of Arden by E. Nesbit Ali’s choice: Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi The Mahabharat has been dramatized twice for TV. This is the one I watched in the 1980s. If you want to read the other great Sanskrit epic, the Ramayana, I recommend this graphic novel version told from Sita’s perspective. A new biography of…

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Ep 30: Hot Gladiators and Plague Gods 1:22:56

2y ago1:22:56

1:22:56

A bumper episode of 1 hr 20! Matt and Nina from Even the Trunchbull come to mine, after I guested on their podcast discussing Joan Aiken's Nightbirds on Nantucket and the lovely picture book Peggoty Po. Matt and Nina’s book: Slaves of the Mastery by William Nicholson Ali’s book: City of the Plague God by Sarwat Chadda Book covers- compare Slaves of…

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Moomintroll and a china rabbit with Laura Mauro at FantasyCon 2022 45:19

2y ago45:19

45:19

This episode was recorded live at FantasyCon 2022 so the sound is a little echoey Laura is a games writer, Manga translator and the award-winning author of Sing Your Sadness Deep (2019) among other wonderful things. You can follow her on Twitter here, and find out more at LauraMauro.com Laura’s choice: Moominland Midwinter by Tove Jansson Ali’s cho…

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Ep 28: Two horse girls’ training montages with Caroline Mersey 1:02:09

2y ago1:02:09

1:02:09

Two quick warnings: This episode contains mentions of sexual assault and abduction. Please proceed with care. It was recorded over the bank holiday in Brighton. Caroline and I attempted to find a quiet corner of a pub to record in during a day out, and despite fiddling with editing there is background noise. Caroline’s choice: The Blue Sword by Rob…

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Ep 27: The Anti-Reepicheep League with Ang Rosin 1:08:56

2y ago1:08:56

1:08:56

The Anti-Reepicheep League shownotes Ang’s choice: Mrs Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O’Brien Ali’s choice: The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents by Terry Pratchett Ang and Ali are book twins How I imagine Sardines doing his dance Reepicheep: ugh The Secret of NIMH is very weird The Trailer for the upcoming animated film of Amazing…

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Ep 26: Fairies and witches and toads, oh my! 1:01:13

2y ago1:01:13

1:01:13

Show notes ep 26 Fairies and witches and toads, oh my! Kit’s choice: The Stream that Stood Still by Beverley Nichols (who is a man! And he had quite the life). Ali’s choice: Otherland by Louie Stowell. Louie’s very funny The Dragon in the Library was one of the books discussed in Episode 1, with Helena McCallum Kit’s book, In the Heart of Hidden Th…

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Ep 25: Timeslips and dreams with Tony Keen 57:11

2y ago57:11

57:11

Apologies for the sound: it was incredibly hot in the kitchen in Hove so we recorded with the window open, so there is some traffic noise in the background. Tony’s choice: Tom’s Midnight Garden by Philippa Pearce Ali’s choice: The Freedom Maze by Delia Sherman Tony mentions the difference in portrayal of Roman slavery in Spartacus and Gladiator; ca…

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Ep 24: Look into my eyes with Russell Smith 1:03:31

2y ago1:03:31

1:03:31

Russell’s book: The Demon Headmaster by Gillian Cross Ali’s book: Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston Catherine Butler wrote a paper about mind control in children’s literature and you can read it here Russell and I talk about the new series of The Demon Headmaster. You can watch it on BBC iPlayer. Information about the 1990s series can be …

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Ep 23 Sweet Polly Oliver goes Over The Hills: Sharpe and Monstrous Regiment 30:38

2y ago30:38

30:38

Spoilers for Monstrous Regiment in this episode! Please note that some women who went to war disguised as men lived as men for the rest of their lives (such as James Barry) while others returned to living as women after their service. Sergeant Jackrum may be considered the former; he may have considered himself a trans man, if such terms were avail…

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Ep 22: I’m just a teenage necromancer, baby 1:09:28

2+ y ago1:09:28

1:09:28

I recorded this episode after having Covid, which affected my asthma. Apologies for the audible wheezing. Scott’s choice: A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula Le Guin Ali’s choice: Sabriel by Garth Nix Buy from your local bookseller, such as Bert’s Books in Swindon! The awful adaptation of A Wizard of Earthsea: Legend of Earthsea and a much better one: T…

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Episode 21: Fantasy Book Swap Live!!! at Reclamation 2022, with Tasha Suri 1:00:09

2+ y ago1:00:09

1:00:09

Shownotes Recorded at Reclamation 2022, the British Science Fiction and Fantasy Fan convention. Join us next year with Conversation 2023! With guest Tasha Suri Tasha’s pick: Alanna, The First Adventure by Tamora Pierce Ali’s pick: Utterly Dark and the Face of the Deep by Philip Reeve Follow Tasha on Twitter and Instagram Many thanks to everyone who…

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Deploy Emergency Podcast 8:53

2+ y ago8:53

8:53

A very short emergency podcast due to life, the pandemic and the general state of things that have disrupted my recording schedule. How rude. This episode is inspired by Octothorpe’s episode 54, Embrace the Sweat, where in discussion about Naomi Novik’s A Deadly Education Alison suggested that it was the first book to challenge the classism of the …

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Ep 19: Fairytale retellings and socialist fantasy with Ali Williams 1:16:17

2+ y ago1:16:17

1:16:17

Please note that there is mention of transphobia in this episode. Warning: there is mild swearing and a lot of cackling. Ali Williams’s book: Beauty by Robin McKinley Ali Baker’s book: Magyk by Angie Sage Robin McKinley’s website here Angie Sage’s website here This is Laurie Pink, Angie Sage’s child, who is an artist: https://mobile.twitter.com/lau…

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Ep 18: Going Underground Joan Aiken’s Is and Frances Hardinge’s A Face Like Glass 1:05:25

2+ y ago1:05:25

1:05:25

Aisha’s book: Is by Joan Aiken Ali’s book: A Face Like Glass by Frances Hardinge You can find out about all of Joan Aiken’s books here and follow her daughter, Lizza on Twitter. Aisha mentions The Harp of Fishbones, The Kingdom under the Sea and A Necklace of Raindrops with Jan Pienkowski’s illustrations, such as these ones You can hear LeVar Burto…

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Of Wolves and Birds with Damien Hine 50:14

2+ y ago50:14

50:14

Damien’s choice: Wolf Brother by Michelle Paver Ali’s choice: Asha and the Spirit Bird by Jasbinder Bilan Jasbinder Bilan wrote about the inspiration she got from a trip to India here You can find Damien Hine on Twitter here and Facebook. The audiobook of Out of Atlas can be bought here. Damien will be at the British SFF convention, EasterCon. You …

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Spooky Old Houses and Ghostly Mouses 47:51

2+ y ago47:51

47:51

This episode has a very special guest… my dad, Michael Baker, who was 84 yesterday. You can see him wearing his favourite hat here. This photo was taken last May, on my sister Kate’s belated 50th birthday. It was absolutely freezing! Our choices were: John Masefield's The Midnight Folk Chris Riddell's Ghost Girl and the Ghost of a Mouse During the …

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Episode 15: Crushing on Chrestomanci 47:38

2+ y ago47:38

47:38

Alice’s choice: Charmed Life by Diana Wynne Jones Ali’s choice: Who Let The Gods Out? by Maz Evans You can find Alice on Twitter, read her on Book Riot and read her webcomics here The most obvious example of an Agatha Christie novel with an unreliable narrator is The Murder of Roger Ackroyd. Alice mentions Robin Steven’s wonderful Murder Most Unlad…

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Episode 14- Series 1 finale. Of spooks, skeksis and Sherlock 10:19

2+ y ago10:19

10:19

Thank you, dear listeners, for your support and interest. Fantasy Book Swap has had 1000 downloads on Podbean! Look, I have the badge to prove it! This episode has the favourite winter reading of: Nicholas Jackson Danny DC so thank you all for your contributions! I very much enjoyed listening to them. Fantasy Book Swap is taking a break until the e…

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Wolves are not the most dangerous creatures in this forest: Stephanie Shields, The Dark is Rising and Breadcrumbs 1:02:23

2+ y ago1:02:23

1:02:23

Stef’s choice: The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper. Ali’s choice: Breadcrumbs by Anne Ursu. See one of Erin McGuire's illustrations for Breadcrumbs here You can find Stef on Twitter and Instagram, and buy her books here https://www.cynefinroad.co.uk/shop The next episode will be the last for a bit; I’m taking a break in January and will be back in e…

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Ep 12: Anne is not the Sansa Stark of the Famous Five- Fiona Moore on Edward Eager‘s Knight‘s Castle and Stephanie Burgis‘s The Dragon with the Chocolate Heart 55:35

2+ y ago55:35

55:35

You can find Fiona on Twitter, and her blog here, where you can find links to her fiction and other work. You can buy Fiona’s book on Doctor Who: The Robots of Death here. Fiona’s tiny buildings can be found on Instagram and Beau Paddington’s wardrobe on Twitter. Fiona’s choice was Edward Eager’s Knight’s Castle, which easily available in secondhan…

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Winter special trailer 0:42

2+ y ago0:42

0:42

Get involved! Email your voice recording introducing your favourite winter reads to fantasybookswap@gmail.com.By alibaker68

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Ep 11: Farah Mendlesohn, Fattypuffs and Thinifers and Lightfall 1:02:54

2+ y ago1:02:54

1:02:54

Follow Farah on Twitter. Farah is also a co-chair for the Eastercon 2024 bid Farah co-authored Children's Fantasy Literature: An Introduction with Michael Levy, and is the author of The Intergalactic Playground: A Critical Study of Children's and Teens' Science Fiction Farah recommends The Tea Dragon Society Farah's choice: Fattypuffs and Thinifers…

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”More funny than Thomas Hardy”: John Coxon, Rebecca‘s World and Flora & Ulysses 52:14

2+ y ago52:14

52:14

Rebecca’s World by Terry Nation As John states, there is an Audible audiobook of Rebecca’s World, read by Paul Darrow, who was indeed Avon from Blakes 7. Flora and Ulysses by Kate di Camillo. There is a Disney film based on the book; see the trailer here The Tale of Despereaux trailer on YouTube John mentions Groosham Grange by Anthony Horowitz Ali…

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Ep.9 ”Not your average hawk”: Tamora Pierce‘s Tortal universe with Ruth Hunt 1:03:59

3y ago1:03:59

1:03:59

Guest: my colleague Ruth Hunt. Find out more about Ruth and her research here Wild Magic by Tamora Pierce Tempests and Slaughter by Tamora Pierce The Tortall universe in chronological order- though new readers would be best off starting with Alanna: The First Adventure Tamora Pierce’s thinking about gender identity and sexuality has changed over ti…

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Episode True 8- Virginia Preston, cricket, cake and nuns 57:22

3y ago57:22

57:22

Antonia Forests’s The Cricket Term Daisy May Johnson’s How To Be Brave Fantasy Book Swap episode with Daisy The Dickens novel that we couldn’t remember was Dombey and Son, where an annoying child does indeed die The Worst Witch- Mildred unmasking the evil witches Eva Ibbotson’s books: The Journey to the River Sea is set in the Amazon rainforest Man…

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Episode 7 ”No booty call for Merlin”: Tiffani Angus on Mary Stewart‘s The Crystal Cave and James Clammer‘s Why I Went Back 49:01

3y ago49:01

49:01

Content warning for non-explicit discussion of sexual violence and mental health crises including sectioning. Recorded live at FantasyCon, so there is background noise of 3D humans, including some sound bleed of the panel in the room next door. Let's call it atmosphere! Mary Stewart's The Crystal Cave- it is in fact a quintet, not a trilogy James C…

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Episode 6 Fran Dowd: Puffin Club, Hobberdy Dick, The Wee Free Men and More! 1:09:08

3y ago1:09:08

1:09:08

Show notes Episode 6 Hobberdy Dick song by Rod Anderson https://www.reverbnation.com/rodanderson The Wee Free Men (from Steeleye Span’s Wintersmith album) https://youtu.be/ybsZpSn1grg Sheffield Science Fiction and Fantasy Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/2388189214 History of the Puffin Club https://puffinclub.co.uk/history Link to K. M. Brigg…

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Episode 5 Daisy May Johnson, Five Children and It and The Time of Green Magic 39:29

3y ago39:29

39:29

Unfortunately, we had technical difficulties recording this episode, so it is slightly shorter than usual. Quick correction: Nesbit’s relationship doesn’t seem to have been poly. It has been described as an open relationship, but her husband Hubert Bland’s affairs don’t seem to have been with her consent. Nesbit Five Children and It. My edition is …

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Episode 4 Steve Brooks The Trigan Empire and Eoin Colfer's Artemis Fowl The Graphic Novel 1:07:17

3y ago1:07:17

1:07:17

CONTENT WARNING- this episode discusses racism and orientalism in the context of children’s comics. Look and Learn Book of The Trigan Empire 1973- Some Trigan Empire books have been republished by Rebellion Publishers, owners of 2000AD https://2000ad.com/news/out-now-the-trigan-empire-vol-1/ Eoin Colfer’s Artemis Fowl: The Graphic Novel by Michael …

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Episode 3 Alison Scott, Marianne Dreams and Tamarind and the Star of Ishta 1:12:34

3y ago1:12:34

1:12:34

In which Ali gets the name of the podcast wrong twice! Marianne Dreams by Catherine Storr Tamarind and the Star of Ishta by Jasbinder Bilan, @jasinbath on Twitter We also mention Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier, Catherine Storr's The Chinese Egg and Marianne and Mark, and Jasbinder Bilan's Asha and the Spirit Bird. Alison's book recommendation list: h…

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Ep 2 Phil Dyson Howl's Moving Castle and Strangeworlds Travel Agency 1:01:25

3y ago1:01:25

1:01:25

In this episode, Phil and Ali discuss Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones and Strangeworlds Travel Agency by L.D. Lapinski. Please note that we spoil some important points of both books! Of course the first Chrestomanci book is Charmed Life! Please don't shout at me. You can find Phil @phildyson on Twitter. Find out more about EasterCon 22 @r…

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S1 Ep1 Helena McCallum Trees, libraries and dragons 1:01:29

3y ago1:01:29

1:01:29

Hello! Welcome to Fantasy Book Club's first episode, in which SFF conrunner, creative writing tutor and pandemic warrior Helena McCallum and Ali discuss childhood comfort reading, accessing books from libraries and jumble sales, Collins children's classics, punishment of unruly bodies in children's literature and the education of wizards. Enjoy! Wi…

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Trailer 0:23

3y ago0:23

0:23

Trailer! Coming soon from a kitchen in Hove... chat, jokes, social justice and Mild Peril!By alibaker68

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