Share
Realms Unknown
Sinners // Experiments in Form // Guards! Guards!
Ep. 18
•
Host Alice Fraser and Tom Neenan (The Mash Report, The Hauntening) bring you episode 18 of Realms Unknown: your one-stop show for speculative fiction tropes, news and recommendations!
This week, we're looking at experiments in form!
Episode 18
This week's news features the Highlander remake moving to Amazon, Sinners continuing to tear up the box office, and the sad introduction of AI-narrated audiobooks.
Hear what Alice and Tom have been enjoying recently, which tropes they love or hate, then take a deep dive with them into early sci-fi and fantasy, and hear the things that they used to love but now make them feel a bit urrrgh.
Host book
Alice Fraser - A Passion for Passion
News
FILM Highlander remake
FILM Sinners
What have you been into?
FILM Sinners
The Blacktongue Thief - Christopher Buehlman
The Murderbot Diaries - Martha Wells
Trope on a rope
Guards! Guards! - Terry Pratchett
Sub-genre deep dive: experiments in form
The Book of Good Times - Hank Green
The Ship of Theseus - VM Straka
This Is How You Lose The Time War - Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone
SCP-3008
Frankenstein - Mary Shelley
Subcutanean - Aaron Reed
PODCAST - The Last Post
PODCAST - Revolutions
WEBCOMIC - xkcd
WEBCOMIC - Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal
PODCAST Beef and Dairy Network
PODCAST Welcome to Night Vale
Convince Me
The Rest of Us Just Live Here - Patrick Ness
Redshirts - John Scalzi
The mines of urrrgh
FILM Indiana Jones and The Temple of Doom
FILM Wall-E
Subscribe to The Bugle YouTube channel for episodes of all of our shows
Support Realms Unknown by becoming a Team Bugle subscriber https://thebuglepodcast.com/donate
Help your local bookshop by buying the books mentioned in the show in our Bookshop affiliate store
🔔 Subscribe, like, and comment!
🦋 Follow us on Bluesky!
Produced by Chris Skinner and Ped Hunter. Hosted by Alice Fraser and Tom Neenan.
📧 Got questions, feedback, or suggestions? Email us at realmsunknown@thebuglepodcast.com
🌐 Visit thebuglepodcast.com to support us and find more!
More episodes
View all episodes
51. Urban Fantasy, Fish Out of Water Tropes, and Giving up Waiting for a Next Instalment
35:13||Season 1, Ep. 51This week Alice is joined by Patrick Lenton to talk everything Urban Fantasy, from Rivers of London to Twelve Months. Stick around to the end for a special announcement! 🖊️ Links to all things Patrick Lenton: https://patricklenton.com/ 📕 'A Passion For Passion' is back on sale! https://www.thebuglepodcast.com/store/p/a-passion-for-passion-a-delirious-love-letter-to-romance❤️🔥 Buy 'A Passion For Passion' audiobook https://www.thebuglepodcast.com/news/we-are-18-t6flf-5n9mc💰 Support Realms Unknown by becoming a Team Bugle subscriber https://thebuglepodcast.com/donate📯 Subscribe to The Bugle YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@BuglePodcast50. 28 Days Later sequels, Good Doctors, Bad Doctors and Comedic Doctors and an insight into writing processes!
45:52||Season 1, Ep. 50Alice is joined by Tom Neenan as they chat their way through 28 Days Later sequels, Good Doctors, Bad Doctors and Comedic Doctors, as well as an insight into writing processes! 🎤 Gigs to see Tom Neenan can be found here! https://www.angelcomedy.co.uk/event-detail/tom-neenan-wip-wed-4th-mar-the-bill-murray-london-tickets-202603041830/ 📕 'A Passion For Passion' is back on sale! https://www.thebuglepodcast.com/store/p/a-passion-for-passion-a-delirious-love-letter-to-romance❤️🔥 Buy 'A Passion For Passion' audiobook https://www.thebuglepodcast.com/news/we-are-18-t6flf-5n9mc💰 Support Realms Unknown by becoming a Team Bugle subscriber https://thebuglepodcast.com/donate📯 Subscribe to The Bugle YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@BuglePodcast49. Witches, their Archetypes and the new Dresden Files
32:23||Season 1, Ep. 49Alice is joined by Eleanor Morton as they delve into the world of Witches, exploring all types of the Witch archetype and discuss the release of the latest novel in the Dresden Files! 🎤 Gigs to see Eleanor Morton can be found here! https://eleanormortoncomedian.com/upcoming-gigs/🎧 Listen to Eleanor's podcast 'Eleanor and Alasdair Read That https://open.spotify.com/show/3lFPREITvFz0z7dg9Fh4et📕 'A Passion For Passion' is back on sale! https://www.thebuglepodcast.com/store/p/a-passion-for-passion-a-delirious-love-letter-to-romance❤️🔥 Buy 'A Passion For Passion' audiobook https://www.thebuglepodcast.com/news/we-are-18-t6flf-5n9mc💰 Support Realms Unknown by becoming a Team Bugle subscriber https://thebuglepodcast.com/donate📯 Subscribe to The Bugle YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@BuglePodcast
48. Lost, The Mist and other controversial endings
39:13||Season 1, Ep. 48Alice starts the New Year joined by the fantastic Tom Neenan as they discuss the endings that stuck their landing, and endings that audience screaming at the thier TV sets! 🎤 'Tom Neenan (WIP) tickets can be found here! https://www.angelcomedy.co.uk/event-detail/tom-neenan-wip-wed-4th-mar-the-bill-murray-london-tickets-202603041830/ 📕 'A Passion For Passion' is back on sale! https://www.thebuglepodcast.com/store/p/a-passion-for-passion-a-delirious-love-letter-to-romance❤️🔥 Buy 'A Passion For Passion' audiobook https://www.thebuglepodcast.com/news/we-are-18-t6flf-5n9mc💰 Support Realms Unknown by becoming a Team Bugle subscriber https://thebuglepodcast.com/donate📯 Subscribe to The Bugle YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@BuglePodcast
48. 2026 Rumours // Gossip // Hearsay
01:30||Ep. 48Alice has an important update about what's to come in 2026📕 'A Passion For Passion' is back on sale! https://www.thebuglepodcast.com/store/p/a-passion-for-passion-a-delirious-love-letter-to-romance❤️🔥 Buy 'A Passion For Passion' audiobook https://www.thebuglepodcast.com/news/we-are-18-t6flf-5n9mc💰 Support Realms Unknown by becoming a Team Bugle subscriber https://thebuglepodcast.com/donate📯 Subscribe to The Bugle YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@BuglePodcast47. Exciting things in 2026 // The Odyssey // Disclosure Day
32:32||Ep. 47Alice Fraser is joined by Chris Skinner as they look ahead to 2026 and discuss the exciting forthcoming releases in the sci-fi and fantasy realms. 📕 'A Passion For Passion' is back on sale! https://www.thebuglepodcast.com/store/p/a-passion-for-passion-a-delirious-love-letter-to-romance❤️🔥 Buy 'A Passion For Passion' audiobook https://www.thebuglepodcast.com/news/we-are-18-t6flf-5n9mc💰 Support Realms Unknown by becoming a Team Bugle subscriber https://thebuglepodcast.com/donate📯 Subscribe to The Bugle YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@BuglePodcast📚 Buy books featured in this and other episodes https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/RealmsUnknownWHAT HAVE YOU BEEN PUTTING IN YOUR BRAIN?The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida - Shehan KarunatilakaFire Boy - Sami ShahFILM The GrinchFILM Mary PoppinsTROPE ON A ROPEFILM Disclosure DayCOMING UP IN 2026A Trade of Blood - Robert Jackson BennettPlatform Decay - Martha WellsQueen Demon - Martha WellsDungeon Crawler Carl - Matt DinnimanOperation Bounce House - Matt DinnimanTV A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge KnightFILM TwinsTwelve Months - Jim ButcherTV SiloThe Tapestry of Fate - Shannon ChakrabortyWolf Worm - T. KingfisherFILM The OdysseyTV Stranger Things: Tales from ‘85TV Something Very Bad Is Going To Happen🔔 Subscribe, like, and comment!🦋 Follow us on Bluesky!🎚️ Produced by Chris Skinner and Ped Hunter. Hosted by Alice Fraser and Tom Neenan📧 Got questions, feedback, or suggestions? Email us at realmsunknown@thebuglepodcast.com46. Christmas // Hogfather // It's A Wonderful Life
41:35||Ep. 46Rejoice! For Tom Neenan joins Alice Fraser for a special festive episode 46 of your favourite sci-fi and fantasy podcast, Realms Unknown!📕 'A Passion For Passion' is back on sale! https://www.thebuglepodcast.com/news ❤️🔥 Buy 'A Passion For Passion' audiobook https://www.thebuglepodcast.com/news/we-are-18-t6flf-5n9mc💰 Support Realms Unknown by becoming a Team Bugle subscriber https://thebuglepodcast.com/donate📯 Subscribe to The Bugle YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@BuglePodcast📚 Buy books featured in this and other episodes https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/RealmsUnknown🔔 Subscribe, like, and comment!🦋 Follow us on Bluesky!🎚️ Produced by Chris Skinner and Ped Hunter. Hosted by Alice Fraser and Tom Neenan📧 Got questions, feedback, or suggestions? Email us at realmsunknown@thebuglepodcast.com45. Narnia // Stranger Things // Space Jesus
34:09||Ep. 45Dive into your nearest wardrobe and enjoy Eleanor Morton and Alice Fraser on episode 45 of your favourite sci-fi and fantasy podcast, Realms Unknown!❤️🔥 Buy 'A Passion For Passion' audiobook https://www.thebuglepodcast.com/news/we-are-18-t6flf-5n9mc💰 Support Realms Unknown by becoming a Team Bugle subscriber https://thebuglepodcast.com/donate📚 Buy books featured in this and other episodes https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/RealmsUnknown📯 Subscribe to The Bugle YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@BuglePodcastEleanor Morton - Life Lessons From Historical Women🔔 Subscribe, like, and comment!🦋 Follow us on Bluesky!🎚️ Produced by Chris Skinner and Ped Hunter. Hosted by Alice Fraser and Eleanor Morton📧 Got questions, feedback, or suggestions? Email us at realmsunknown@thebuglepodcast.com44. Unfiction // Dinotopia // Implausibly large ribcages
31:31||Ep. 44A very welcome return for SFF author Nate Crowley as he joins Alice Fraser for episode 44 of your favourite sci-fi and fantasy podcast, Realms Unknown!❤️🔥 Buy 'A Passion For Passion' audiobook https://www.thebuglepodcast.com/news/we-are-18-t6flf-5n9mc💰 Support Realms Unknown by becoming a Team Bugle subscriber https://thebuglepodcast.com/donate📚 Buy books featured in this and other episodes https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/RealmsUnknownThe Twice-Dead King: Omnibus - Nate CrowleyNotes from Small Planets - Nate CrowleyNEWSFILM The Magic Faraway TreeEnid Blyton - The Magic Faraway TreeWHAT HAVE YOU BEEN PUTTING IN YOUR BRAIN?FILM BatmanTV Jurassic World: Chaos TheoryGumnut Babies - May GibbsWallet Babies - May GibbsSnugglepot and Cuddlepie - May GibbsKing’s Watch series - Mark HaydenTROPE ON A ROPEImplausibly large ribcagesGAME SubnauticaGAME BorderlandsFILM Star Wars: Episode IV - A New HopeFILM Godzilla vs KongPerdido Street Station - China MiévilleShadow of the Gods series - John GwynneLooming roar monstersSUB GENRE DEEP DIVE - Unfiction / fictional non-fictionDinotopia series - James GurneyExpedition - Wayne BarlowePODCAST Revolutions - Mike DuncanThe World of Kong: A Natural History of Skull Island - Weta WorkshopFILM King KongGAME NeuorocracyNotes from Small Planets - Nate CrowleyMINES OF URRGHThe Years of Rice and Salt - Kim Stanley RobinsonTV Wolf Hall💰 Support Realms Unknown by becoming a Team Bugle subscriber https://thebuglepodcast.com/donate❤️🔥 Buy 'A Passion For Passion' audiobook https://www.thebuglepodcast.com/news/we-are-18-t6flf-5n9mc📚 Buy books featured in this and other episodes https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/RealmsUnknown📯 Subscribe to The Bugle YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@BuglePodcast🔔 Subscribe, like, and comment!🦋 Follow us on Bluesky!🎚️ Produced by Chris Skinner and Ped Hunter. Hosted by Alice Fraser and Nate Crowley.📧 Got questions, feedback, or suggestions? Email us at realmsunknown@thebuglepodcast.com