If This Goes On (Don't Panic): Science Fiction, Fantasy & Progressive Politics

If This Goes On (Don't Panic): Science Fiction, Fantasy & Progressive Politics

Bringing hope to the world through Speculative Fiction. Interviews with Science Fiction and Fantasy writers, gamers, creators, and activists.

Episodes

June 23, 2025 14 mins

In this episode Alan reviews (books linked below):

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In this mash-up column, Paul Jessup, of Fear is the Fire That Lights the Heart, and our own Alan Bailey along with guests Maurice Broaddus, and Susan Kaye Quinn explore the differences and simularities between the genre of horror and the subgenre of Solarpunk and come to some very surprising conclusions. We discuss community, resiliance, Weird fiction, anger and anxiety as inspiration, libraries, and the creation of possibilities. ...

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May 28, 2025 65 mins

In this episode, Alan and Cat talk to prolific writer and historian Harry Turtledove. They discuss Cat and Harry's collaboration on The Trumps Will Sound, Turtledove's new book: Powerless, Vaclav Havel, Totalitarianism, the power of the individual, Elon Musk, the alt-right in Science Fiction, reader interpretation of work, how the US would break up, staying inspired, Imposter Syndrome, Peter Beagle, Ted Sturgeon, staying relevent, ...

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In the first part of this new column about the alt-right and Speculative Fiction fandom, we get to know the author of the groundbreaking discussion, Speculative Witeness. Alan and Jordan discuss gateway genre authors, JRR Tolkien, transgressive science fiction, how SF fans experience time differently, how Jordan started studying the alt-right in conjunction with Speculative Fiction, Jordan's relationship to fandom, becoming a Hugo ...

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April 22, 2025 98 mins

In this episode, Alan and Diane talk to writer and editor Douglas Gwilym. We discuss the Horror Writers Association, the importance of character, blending genres, the Triangulation Anthologies, editing anthologies, joy in writing, monsters, journies in fiction, the importance of writing fiction in uncertain times, and much more.

You can find Novus Monstrum here. https://thedragonsroost.biz/product/novus-monstrum/

If you'd like to s...

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As Alan convalesces from a covid infection, we've been going back through our archives looking for something interesting for our feed. This selection is an interview betwen Alan and Fantasy Grandmaster Peter Beagle the day after Beagle received his Grandmaster award. Their discussion includes: advice to younger writers, Patrick Rothfuss, Peter's relationship to Pittburgh Baseball, politics, Peter's love of animals.

TW: There is som...

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TW: Suicide and Cults

In this episode, Alan and Cat talk to author, TJ Klune. We discuss Howl's Moving Castle, belief in aliens, X-Files, Coast to Coast with Art Bell, the 1990s, the Heaven's Gate cult, JKR, TJ's future projects, pets, more X-Files (so much X-Files), and much more.

TJ Klune's Website: https://www.tjklunebooks.com/

If you'd like to support us you can give us a one time donation at Kofi or you can subscribe to our Pa...

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February 17, 2025 14 mins

In this episode Alan reviews (books linked below):

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February 3, 2025 75 mins

In this episode, Alan and Diane talk to teacher, author, Solarpunk, and witch, Brightflame. We discuss how Solarpunk relates to witchcraft, second world fantasy, inspiring art with questionable creators, your shadow self, the Reclaiming Tradition, Witch Camp, how to know if you're doing enough politically, writing a community of characters, stereotypes, and much more.

Winter Witchcamp: https://winterwitchcamp.org/ 

BrightFlame's we...

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The second part of Diane's column about Military Scence Fiction is here! In this column, Diane grapples with the physical manifestations of PTSD, and discusses Military Science Fiction that represents PTSD realistically.

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In this episode, Alan and guest co-host, Dave Robison, talk to our own Cat Rambo about Cat's newest novel Rumor Has It, the evolution of her work, her upcoming work, the pragmatisim of necromancy, villiains, clones, humor, 2025 WorldCon, 10 book series, building romance in a story, Conan the Barbarian and Robert E Howard, and much more.

If you'd like to support us you can give us a one time donation at Kofi or you can subscribe to ...

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In this episode of the Book Navigator column, Navarre Bartz reviews a collection of short fiction, a children's fiction series, as well as a lot of nonfiction including:

Solarpunk Creatures by World Weaver Press

Penelope Rex by Ryan T. Higgins

The Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv

The Internet Con by Cory Doctorow

How to Build with Grid Beam  by Phil...

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In this episode, Alan talks to writer Cynthia Gomez about La Llarona, Poltergeist. The Shining, horror and social justice, story inspiration, racism, working in education, covid and cons, unions, and much more.

If you'd like to support us you can give us a one time donation at Kofi or you can subscribe to our Patreon.

 

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In this episode Alan reviews (books linked below):

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November 5, 2024 54 secs

Hello US Listeners, this is just a reminder to please vote. Today is election day and it is an extremely important election. We stand against Trump and authoritarianism, but unless we all stand together it could be lost. PLEASE do the what you can.

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In this episode, Alan and Cat talk to author, comedian, and teacher Alex Jennings about New Orleans, music, the legend of Stagger Lee, the practice of signifying, The Phantom Tollbooth, the X-Men, and much more.

If you'd like to support us you can give us a one time donation at Kofi or you can subscribe to our Patreon.

 

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October 19, 2024 23 mins

In this Episode of Publishing in Africa, Oghenechovwe and Alan discuss The Best African Speculative Fiction Volume 3, trends in African fiction, WorldCon 2024, Scotland, the Nommo Awards, the Hugo Awards, how to make conferences diverse.

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Just in time for October, Paul is back with another Hope in Horror column. This time Paul confronts Godzilla itself and discusses how the newest kaiju movie gives him hope. He also discusses the balance between hope and horror and how they change a story.

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September 18, 2024 65 mins

TW: Sexual Assualt

In this episode, Alan and Cat talk to bestselling author Tananarive Due about imprisoning children, almost giving up on The Reformatory, historical research, To Kill a Mocking Bird, child child protagonists, using horror to deal with social issues, Kamala Harris, and much more.

If you'd like to support us you can give us a one time donation at Kofi or you can subscribe ...

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In this LIVE episode, Alan and Diane talk to authors Dan Scamell and Bradley Sides about the weird, the bizarro sub-genre, aliens, monsters, haveing the confidence to publish, story structure, getting published, and much more. 

If you'd like to support us you can give us a one time donation at Kofi or you can subscribe to our Patreon.

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