Wizards & Spaceships

Rachel A. Rosen & David L. Clink
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Welcome to Wizards and Spaceships, the only podcast that’s about wizards and also about spaceships. Well, probably not, but it does involve wizards, spaceships, and the things we love (and complain about) in science fiction, fantasy, and horror.

  1. 15 JAN

    Editing Roundtable ft. Alexandra Pierce and Josh Wilson

    Magazines and journals have been a foundational part of sci-fi, fantasy, and horror since the very beginning and provide us with the stories, art, and critical analysis that keep the genre vibrant. These collaborations are a labour of love and the lifeblood of the literary scene. With us to talk about the work of editing and producing them are two rising stars in the field, Josh Wilson, editor of The Fabulist, and Alexandra Pierce, editor of Speculative Insight. Show Notes: The FabulistThe Fabulist on BlueskyThe Fabulist on InstagramSpeculative InsightSpeculative Insight on BlueskySpeculative Insight on InstagramLetters to TiptreeLuminescent ThreadsRadon JournalClarkesworldkhōréōTrollbreath

    49 min

  2. 15/12/2025

    Postcolonialism in SFFH, ft. Suzan Palumbo

    The famous introduction to Star Trek lays out the mission of the Starship Enterprise:  to explore strange new worlds; to seek out new life and new civilizations; to boldly go where no man has gone before! Later on, they changed it to be more inclusive—where no one has gone before. But the fundamental problem remains—if no one has gone there, what exactly are all those new civilizations? Could science fiction and fantasy have a colonialism problem? With us to discuss this thorny issue and the sci-fi, fantasy, and horror writers challenging Eurocentric assumptions is Suzan Palumbo, author of Countess and co-founder of the Ignyte Awards. Show notes: Suzan's BlueskySuzan's Instagram2024 Nebula Awards shortlistStelliform PressReading list: “The Butcher of the Forest” by Premee Mohamed“The Tusks of Extinction” by Ray Nayler“Lost Ark Dreaming” by Suyi Davies Okungbowa“Countess” by Suzan Palumbo“The Practice, the Horizon, and the Chain” by Sofia Samatar“The Dragonfly Gambit” by A. D. Sui“Green Fuse Burning” by Tiffany Morris“We Speak Through the Mountain and “Annual Migration of Clouds” by Premee Mohamed“Blackheart Man” by Nalo Hopkinson

    34 min

  3. 15/11/2025

    How to Write a Kick-Ass Fantasy Battle ft. Suzannah Rowntree

    Anyone who’s ever written fantasy has faced this problem: You have hit the point of conflict in a story where problems can no longer be worked out with witty retorts or a magic spell. The orcs are at the gates, the peace talks have broken down…that’s right—you’re going to have to write a battle scene. In this episode, we talk to Suzannah Rowntree, author of How to Write a Fantasy Battle: Basic Medieval and Modern Military Tactics for Authors, The Watchers of Outremer Series, and other historical fantasies, about how to get a battle right. Show Notes: Suzannah's Bluesky: suzannahrowntreeSuzannah's Instagram: suzannahsnapsSuzannahrowntree.siteHow to Write a Fantasy Battle: Basic Medieval and Modern Military Tactics for AuthorsWestern Warfare In The Age Of The Crusades, 1000-1300 by John FranceByzantine flamethrowerBattle of Antioch (1098)Battle of Hattin (1187)Seventh CrusadeMedicine in the Crusades: Warfare, Wounds and the Medieval Surgeon by Piers D. MitchellMagistra HersendGodfrey of BouillonThe Rebellion Of Count Hugh Of Jaffa

    38 min

  4. 15/10/2025

    WITCHES!

    Happy Halloween! We're talking about WITCHES! A staple of fantasy, horror, and Broadway musicals, witches can be anything from a murderous presence in the woods to the friendly neighbourhood Wiccan who revives your dying African violet. So let's get our witch on! Show Notes: Kiki’s Delivery Service (1989)Spirited Away (2001)VenCo by Cherie DimalineBuffy the Vampire Slayer, "Helpless"Barbie-Yaga Dream HutCool People Who Did Cool Stuff, "Baba Yaga: Everyone's Favorite Witch From Folklore" Part 1 and Part 2Baba Yaga: The greatest 'wicked witch' of all?The Chronicles of Narnia by CS LewisCaliban and the Witch by Silvia FedericiA Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking by T. Kingfisher"Love Potion No. 9" by the CloversThe Witch Boy by Molly Knox OstertagSeason of the Witch (2011)Bewitched (1964-1972)The Good Witch (2008)The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (2018-2020)Charmed (1998-2006)

    48 min

  5. 15/09/2025

    The Science Bros Answer Your Science Questions, Part 2, ft. Rob & Jon Mound

    You guys had so many science questions that our resident scientists couldn't answer them all in just one episode! In this episode, Rob & Jon Mound tackle important questions such as time travel, the mutability or lack thereof of the laws of physics, and dragon taxonomy. Also, why we are not going to Mars. Show Notes: The Forever War, Joe Haldeman The Chronicles of Narnia, C.S. Lewis The Time Machine (1960) Ninefox Gambit, Yoon Ha Lee The Walking Dead World of Warcraft corrupted blood incident Game of Thrones dragons Coelacanth Unusual a**l fin offers new insight into evolution Tiktaalik Total Recall (1990) terraforming Mars scene Spaceballs (1987) Keep the conversation going, or ask the Science Bros more questions by joining our Discord or Facebook group!

    49 min

  6. 15/08/2025

    The Science Bros Answer Your Science Questions, Part 1, ft. Rob & Jon Mound

    Suspension of disbelief is a cornerstone of speculative fiction, but as writers and fans, we often find ourselves wondering just how grounded in reality our favourite stories really are. We asked you, our listeners, for questions like: What would happen if I went through a wormhole? Does a Star Trek transporter just kill you and create a new copy of you? What kind of technology can or can’t you use to blow up the world? And then we got biologist Rob Mound and geophysicist Jon Mound to answer the questions you sent. There were so many we had to split it into two parts! In this part, we look at jumping out of a spaceship without a suit (why?), octopus people (yes!), sex in space (obviously!), and more! Show Notes The Core (2003) The Expanse - 5x07 | Naomi's Leap From The Pella A City On Mars, Kelly Weinersmith and Zach Weinersmith Star Trek Voyager "Cathexis" on Memory Alpha Gattaca (1997) When You Nut In Space, It Push You Backwards (NSFW) "There Are Four Lights," scene from Star Trek: The Next Generation Best Served Cold, Joe Abercrombie Gerald Bull The Martian growing poop potatoes Keep the conversation going, or ask the Science Bros more questions by joining our Discord or Facebook group!

    1h 1m

  7. 15/07/2025

    Against Hopepunk ft. Nick Mamatas

    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 MurdersNick’s BlueskyPerfect Crime PartyDark Yonder Issue 1Nick’s website that never gets updatedThat Slayer meme Have you bought Blight yet? If you like dark things, you should! Buy it from your favourite online retailerBuy direct from the publisher "Do You Love the Colour Of the Sky?" in Trollbreath Magazine

    45 min

  8. 15/06/2025

    The Ur-Pisode: The Queer Heart of The Epic of Gilgamesh, ft. Julian Gunn

    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 instagramJulian's blogJulian's gamesVictoria Festival of AuthorsThe Epic of Gilgamesh, translated by Maureen KovacsThe Epic of Gilgamesh, translated by Andrew GeorgeThe 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.

    55 min
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About

Welcome to Wizards and Spaceships, the only podcast that’s about wizards and also about spaceships. Well, probably not, but it does involve wizards, spaceships, and the things we love (and complain about) in science fiction, fantasy, and horror.

Information

  • Creator
    Rachel A. Rosen & David L. Clink
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    22
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Rachel A. Rosen & David L. Clink
  • Show Website
    Wizards & Spaceships