Sci-fi and fantasy has always had an optimistic current, whether it’s utopian space-age cities or noble chosen ones vanquishing a dark lord. In recent years, with the popularity of romantasy and cozy fantasy, it’s easier than ever to immerse yourself in a more hopeful world.

But what if instead we made you feel bad?

In this wide-ranging conversation with multitalented author and editor Nick Mamatas, we talk about crushing your joy, corporate greed in the publishing and music production industries, and why the 80s and 90s were objectively the best time for music.

Show Notes:

• Alex Rowland’s original hopepunk post.
• Buy 120 Murders
• Nick’s Bluesky
• Perfect Crime Party
• Dark Yonder Issue 1
• Nick’s website that never gets updated
• That Slayer meme

Have you bought Blight yet? If you like dark things, you should!

• Buy it from your favourite online retailer
• Buy direct from the publisher

"Do You Love the Colour Of the Sky?" in Trollbreath Magazine

For 4000 years, The Epic of Gilgamesh has influenced mythology, theology, and literature, and its rediscovery in the 1850s is itself an epic tale of war, theft, and Hobby Lobby. A meditation on love and death, rage and grief, civilization and nature, starring two problematic queer frat boys, it is the foundation of so many of our stories. In this episode, we talk to poet, artist, and essayist Julian Gunn about the story that started it all.

Show Notes:

• Gilgamesh, A King, At Uruk (Star Trek: The Next Generation, "Darmok")
• What makes the world’s first bar joke funny? No one knows.
• @radiantfracture on instagram
• Julian's blog
• Julian's games
• Victoria Festival of Authors
• The Epic of Gilgamesh, translated by Maureen Kovacs
• The Epic of Gilgamesh, translated by Andrew George
• The Epic of Gilgamesh, translated by Sophus Helle

If you haven't had enough problematic gays raging against the gods by the end of this episode, you might enjoy Rachel's new novel, Blight! Buy it from your favourite online bookstore or directly from the publisher.

Also, voting for the Aurora Awards opens June 7th! You can vote for us. Or other people. But please vote for us.

Break out the cake, balloons, and gigantic bone tentacles, it's season 2 of Wizards & Spaceships! Rachel has a new book out, Blight, the sequel to her first novel, Cascade. In this episode, you get a behind-the-scenes look at the newest instalment in the Sleep of Reason series.

And did you know that tomorrow is Rachel's birthday? Why not celebrate by buying one or more of her books?

• Pre-order Blight (The Sleep of Reason Book 2):
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• Buy Cascade (The Sleep of Reason Book 2)Buy (or download the free ebook) The Sad Bastard Cookbook: Food You Can Make So You Don't DieBuy Instant Classic (That No One Will Read)Aurora Awards 2025 BallotWant to stay informed? Here's how to find Rachel all over social media:
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