Share

Realms Unknown
Side characters as leads // Final Fantasy // Magician
Alice Fraser and James Nokise bring you episode 23 of Realms Unknown: your one-stop show for speculative fiction tropes, news and recommendations!
Episode 23
This week's news covers The Odyssey, Masters of the Universe and the Highlander remake, and James and Alice dive into all manner of good things sci fi and fantasy. The sub genre deep dive is all about side characters as leads!
Alice Fraser - A Passion for Passion
James Nokise - PODCAST The Last Voyage of the Rainbow Warrior
News
FILM The Odyssey
FILM Masters of the Universe
FILM Highlander
Ads
GAME Hero’s Quest
GAME Police Quest
GAME Space Quest
What have you been enjoying?
GAMES Final Fantasy
Lirael - Garth Nix
Sub genre deep dive - side characters as leads
PLAY Rosencratz and Guildenstein Are Dead - Tom Stoppard
TV Dollhouse - Joss Whedon
The Curse of Chalion - Lois McMaster Bujold
GAME Final Fantasy XII
Paladin of Souls - Lois McMaster Bujold
FILM Solo
The Book of the New Sun - Gene Wolf
TV Star Trek: Lower Decks
Redshirts - John Scalzi
Ancillary Justice - Ann Leckie
The Wheel of Time - Robert Jordan
Magician - Raymond E. Feist
Mines of Urrgh
The Belgariad - David Eddings
FILM The Sword and the Sorcerer
FILM Close Encounters of the Third Kind
FILM Popeye
FILM Masters of the Universe
Subscribe to The Bugle YouTube channel for episodes of all of our shows https://www.youtube.com/@BuglePodcast
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 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 James Nokise.
📧 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

55. Iconic Puppets in Sci-Fi & Fantasy
28:28||Season 1, Ep. 55Joining Alice this week is Eleanor Morton, as the pair jump into this week’s sub-genre deep dive, Puppets in Sci-Fi and Fantasy. From Jim Henson’s fantasy efforts, to Ridley Scott's Xenomorph in Alien. 🖊️ Links to all things Eleanor Morton: https://eleanormortoncomedian.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/@BuglePodcast🖊️ Get involved with everything Realms Unknown: https://bsky.app/profile/realmsunknown.bsky.social
54. AI interfering with the creative process again! The Dr Who's missing tapes, and Music & Sci-Fi
36:41||Season 1, Ep. 54Joining Alice this week is Tom Neenan, as they dive deep into the sub-genre Music in Sci-Fi, they also discuss the recently discovered missing Dr. Who tapes, and Grammarly finding themselves in hot water over AI controversy! 🖊️ Links to all things Tom Neenan: https://www.instagram.com/tpneenan/ 📕 '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🖊️ Get involved with everything Realms Unknown: https://bsky.app/profile/realmsunknown.bsky.social
53. When Fantasy turns into Sci-Fi, Pre-Jackson Lord of the Rings and the Moomins?
38:18||Season 1, Ep. 53This week Alice is joined by Joz Norris as they take a deep dive into a pet peeve of Fantasy turning into Sci-Fi, they also discuss the pre-Jackson adaptations of Lord of the Rings, and a rogue reference from the Moomins by producer Harry, all that and much more on Realms Unknown!🖊️ Links to all things Joz Norris: https://www.joznorris.co.uk/📕 '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🖊️ Get involved with everything Realms Unknown: https://bsky.app/profile/realmsunknown.bsky.social
52. Moving Cities, Lord of the Rings Rewatch, and Questioning the Monarchy in the World of Fantasy!
29:47||Season 1, Ep. 52This week Alice is joined by Nate Crowley as they deep dive into Moving Cities, they also discuss introducing the next generation to the Lord of the Rings, and how to perfect the best eat-along-watch-along! Plus the pair question the role of monarchy in the world of fantasy. 🖊️ Links to all things Nate Crowley: https://x.com/FrogCroakley 📕 '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
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/@BuglePodcast
50. 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/@BuglePodcast
49. 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/@BuglePodcast