A monthly podcast devoted mostly to speculative fiction books, reviews and the odd bit of idle gossip. Hosted by Kirstyn McDermott and Ian Mond.
Episodes
Saturday Feb 18, 2023
Saturday Feb 18, 2023
Welcome to 2023! On this first episode for the year your hosts, Kirstyn McDermott and Ian Mond, chat briefly about the Locus Recommended Reading List in which Hard Places gets a mention. Huzzah! The books up for discussion this month are Every Version of You by Grace Chan [6:25] and The Women Could Fly by Megan Giddings [39:05].
For listeners interested in spec fic dealing with the second generation immigrant experience, Ian also recommends Flux by Jinwoo Chong.
And Kirstyn has found unbounded delight in a silly little browser add-on, Tabby Cat.
Next month, the two books on the slab will be:
Read ahead and join in the spoilerific fun!
Saturday Nov 12, 2022
Saturday Nov 12, 2022
On this final episode of The Writer and the Critic for 2022 your hosts, Kirstyn McDermott and Ian Mond, spend a few minutes musing over the missing of podcasts, the breaking of awards, and the end of time as we know it. The books up for discussion this month are January Fifteenth by Rachel Swirsky [9:30] and Patricia Wants to Cuddle by Samantha Allen [39:00].
The interview with Samantha Allen that was mentioned in this episode can be read here.
The fabulously sartorial Jules Mond can be found on Instagram @seemeswoon.
And for listeners curious to know what Ian's beautiful William Atheling Jr Award for Criticism or Review actually looks like, here it is complete with box:
Kirstyn promises to mail it to him before the end of the year. Maybe.
If you've skipped ahead to avoid spoilers, please come back at 109:10 for final remarks.
The first episode of 2023 will be uploaded in February 2023 and the two books on the slab will be:
Read ahead and join in the spoilerific fun!
Saturday Sep 17, 2022
Saturday Sep 17, 2022
On this episode of The Writer and the Critic your hosts, Kirstyn McDermott and Ian Mond, spend a few minutes discussing the work of Peter Straub, who sadly passed away this month. Listeners might like to revisit Episode 17 in which Kirstyn and Ian, along with special guest Rob Shearman, discuss Straub's marvelously unsettling collection, Houses Without Doors.
The books up for discussion this month are Helpmeet by Naben Ruthnum [10:25] and Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield [34:00].
Kirstyn also highly recommends The Ghost Sequences by A.C. Wise from her new favourite small press, Undertow Publications.
If you've skipped ahead to avoid spoilers, please come back at 108:20 for final remarks.
Next month, the two books on the slab will be:
Read ahead and join in the spoilerific fun!
Saturday Aug 27, 2022
Saturday Aug 27, 2022
On this episode of The Writer and the Critic your hosts, Kirstyn McDermott and Ian Mond, spend a few minutes discussing the aftermath of COVID-19 by which Kirstyn was unfortunately struck down last month. She is not happy about it.
The books up for discussion this month are Such a Pretty Smile by Kristi Demeester [4:10] and Checkout 19 by Claire-Louise Bennett [29:25].
Ian also heartily recommends Pond by Claire-Louise Bennett and Berg by Ann Quin.
Congratulations are due to Ian as well for his recent nomination for the William Atheling Jr Award for Criticism or Review! And a gracious reminder that Kirstyn's new collection, Hard Places, is available now from Trepidatio Publishing.
If you've skipped ahead to avoid spoilers, please come back at 104:40 for final remarks.
Next month, the two books on the slab will be:
Read ahead and join in the spoilerific fun!
Saturday Jul 23, 2022
Saturday Jul 23, 2022
On this episode of The Writer and the Critic your hosts, Kirstyn McDermott and Ian Mond, first take some time to shamelessly plug Kirstyn's forthcoming collection of short fiction, Hard Places, out soon through Trepidatio Publishing.
The books up for discussion this month are Dance Move by Wendy Erskine [9:55] and Ariadne, I Love You by J. Ashley-Smith [36:05].
Listeners may also want to check out other books by the same authors, including Sweet Home by Erskine and The Attic Tragedy by Ashley-Smith. The two interviews with J. Ashley-Smith mentioned on the podcast can be found at Tomes and Tales and paulsemel.com.
If you've skipped ahead to avoid spoilers, please come back at 102:05 for final remarks, including an unexpected and possibly ill-advised foray into Top Gun.
Next month, the two books on the slab will be:
Read ahead and join in the spoilerific fun!