A Meal of Thorns
The Ancillary Review of BooksA critical book club from the Ancillary Review of Books. Host Jake Casella Brookins invites writers, scholars, and critics to discuss thorny works of science fiction, fantasy, and other speculative genres.
| Publishes | Twice monthly | Episodes | 57 | Founded | 2 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | BooksArtsFictionScience Fiction | |||
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Latest Episodes
A deeply strange and arresting short novel, The Water Statues defies easy categorization but has a powerful and cerebral atmosphere, putting us in mind of a lot of other works—including Clarke’s Piranesi. Langdon Hickman, last unshriven host of Death... more
More famous for his science fiction and dark fantasy, Ray Bradbury also tried his hand at crime fiction, with often-fascinating results. Writer, critic, and editor Aigner Loren Wilson talks us through the strange flourishes and tonal experiments of K... more
In this con-coverage episode, Casella talks to folks at Readercon in Boston, including Lisa from Narrated, author Sara S. Messenger, and editor Carl Engle-Laird. We also visit Porter Square Books, an indie bookstore that has recently launched their o... more
Literary agent and Print Run podcaster extraordinaire Laura Zats is on to talk about a novel that is the most urban fantasy you can imagine, and yet seems to run towards different traditions and ideas the closer you examine it—Robin McKinley’s award-... more
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- A pleasure to listen to
This is a great way to expand your understanding of the fiction landscape and lineages and get book recommendations, I’ve especially enjoyed learning about titles that are before my time.
Apple Podcasts5l0bst3rc0p
United States6 months ago - Great, thoughtful podcast about science fiction and fantasy
The only thing keeping me from listening to all of these in a binge is the fact that I need to catch up and read many of the novels under discussion. Broad ranging, informative, and host and guests always care about the books, even the bad ones.
Apple Podcasts5Ouranosaurus
Canada9 months ago - Exceptional
There aren’t many speculative fiction review podcasts so I was so excited to find this one. I like how guests have expertise in relation to episode’s title selection and I especially enjoy the titles chosen to discuss. There is a nice mix of newer and less recent titles.
Apple Podcasts5kayemmeUnited States10 months ago
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Frequently Asked Questions About A Meal of Thorns
What is A Meal of Thorns about and what kind of topics does it cover?
This show acts as a deep-dive critical book club for speculative fiction, pairing a knowledgeable host with guests who are authors, editors, critics, and scholars. Episodes routinely dissect complex novels and themes—from race and colonialism to genre boundaries, narrative structure, and cultural context—often tying readings to broader industry trends, publishing histories, and convention culture. Listeners are likely drawn to thoughtful, academically informed discussions that balance close readings with accessible critique, plus practical insights for writers, editors, and booksellers alike. A standout pattern is the blend of canonical and contemporary works, plus a consistent emphasis on ethics, representation, and the evolving landscape ... more
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Which podcasts are similar to A Meal of Thorns?
These podcasts share a similar audience with A Meal of Thorns:
1. Shelved By Genre
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3. Octothorpe
4. Side Story
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How many episodes of A Meal of Thorns are there?
A Meal of Thorns launched 2 years ago and published 57 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.
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What guests have appeared on A Meal of Thorns?
Recent guests on A Meal of Thorns include:
1. Aigner Loren Wilson
2. Carl Engle-Laird
3. Sara S. Messenger
4. Josh Cook
5. Laura Zats
6. Ian Mond
7. Premee Mohamed
8. Gareth Watkins
To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.