Be The Serpent

Alexandra Rowland, Freya Marske, Jennifer Mace
  • 4.9 (98)
  • BOOKS
Be The Serpent

A podcast by three red-headed fantasy authors talking about everything from academic mythology to dick jokes (and sometimes, both at once), as well as the role of fanfiction as an integral yet oft-overlooked part of the literary conversation and in the broader cultural context. It is, obviously, a podcast of extremely deep literary merit.

  1. 04/07/2022

    Episode 101: Jumping the Shark

    And here you thought that the Twitter announcement on April Fool's Day about our upcoming shark episode WAS the joke! No! The joke is on us because we had to watch Sharknado for this prank! Also Jaws and Deep Blue Sea.   What We’re Into Lately If They Haven’t Learned Your Name by silentwalrusSuccessionThe Big Bad Wolf series by Charlie AdharaThe Absolute Book by Elizabeth KnoxThe City We Became by N.K. JemisinSorrowland by Rivers Solomon“A Cornstalk Fiddle” by notbecauseofvictories“To Call the Darkness Home” by scioscribeThe Heir to the House of Prince by Ada_Lovelaced & elph13“Aurelius (to be called) Magnus” by Victoria Goddard“Portrait of a Wide Seas Islander” by Victoria GoddardBlack SailsOther Stuff We MentionedCaptain America: The Winter SoldierThe Thick of ItDiana Wynne Jones (author)Dan Brown (author)The Devil Went Down to Georgia (And Then Went Down on Johnny) series by notbecauseofvictoriesJustifiedThe Hands of the Emperor by Victoria GoddardThe Chant series by Alexandra RowlandAlienOverinvested podcastOverinvested’s Jaws episodeTitanicJurassic WorldJurassic ParkStar WarsWatergate scandalFrankenstein by Mary Wollstonecraft ShelleyThe Day After Tomorrow2012Sharks In VeniceThe MegThe “Cows With Guns” YouTube videoFreya’s Twitter: @freyamarkse A Marvellous Light by Freya MarskeA Restless Truth by Freya Marske (sequel to A Marvellous Light, coming out Nov 1st, 2022)Pre-order for A Restless TruthMacey’s Twitter: @englishmace“heat death” poem by Jennifer Mace “Silk & Steel” short story anthology (featuring Jennifer Mace & Freya Marske)Alex’s Twitter: @_alexrowlandA Taste of Gold and Iron by Alexandra Rowland (coming out Aug 30th, 2022)Alex’s website store: alexandrarowland.net/store.The infamous “sharks are smooth as hell” shitpost   Content Warnings Gore (in every tentpole & throughout episode discussion)Body horror (in episode discussion) Sexual harassment (in Sharknado) Misogyny (discussed)   Transcription The transcript of this episode is available here. Thanks to our fabulous scribes for their work!

    1h 2m

  2. 12/01/2021

    Episode 100: Superstravaganza

    On this week's episode, we have a two-hour special to answer questions sent in by our darling listeners! Thank you to everyone who has been with us through the last four years! The Great Hiatus begins now, but we will return for at least one more episode next year! Get hype!   What We’re Into Lately My Name  Beyond Evil Honey Girl by Morgan Rogers All the Feels by Olivia Dade Frankenstein by Mary Shelley And This, Your Living Kiss by opal_bullets The Courtier’s Love Affair (and Other Stories) by tridenture Harlots Bridgerton  The Living and the Dead  Macey’s NaNoWriMo Project: The Resurrection Chalice In the Realms of Gold by Victoria Goddard Sword Dance trilogy by AJ Demas Plum Duff by Victoria Goddard Alex’s NaNoWriMo Project: Some by Virtue Fall   Other Stuff We’ve Mentioned Spoiler Alert by Olivia Dade Supernatural Sleuth of the Ming Dynasty Merlin A Taste of Gold and Iron by Alexandra Rowland The Vorkosigan Saga by Lois McMaster Bujold Unmasked by the Marquess by Cat Sebastian Silk and Steel Our Opinions Are Correct Tales from the Trunk Fated MatesHeaving BosomsSmart Bitches, Trashy BooksFansplainingThe Fantasy InnBreaking the Glass SlipperOverinvestedCampaign SkyjacksTor.comThe Rec CenterPinboardDragon Age: InquisitionFantasia in D Minor by Wolfgang Amadeus MozartAllegro by Wolfgang Amadeus MozartBtS episode 6 “Cross Your Stars and Hope to Bi”BtS Special EpisodeStrange HorizonsMiss CongenialityBtS episode 80 “Extravaganza”My Hero AcademiaYesterday Upon the Stair by PitViperOfDoomBtS episode 98 “[SPOOKY NOISES]”“Bakugou and Todoroki’s Foolproof 5-Step Plan to F**k with Mineta Minoru” by Anubis_2701NarutoThe Witcher (video game)The Witcher (TV)Person of Interest (2011) The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas by Ursula K. Le GuinThe Ones Who Stay And Fight by N.K. JemisinSinging my Sister Down by Margo LanaganThe Lottery by Shirley JacksonYuri!!! in Space series by FahyeChoir of Lies by Alexandra RowlandA Sword On Two Fingers by Freya Marske (unpublished) Viable Paradise (writers’ workshop)Sam Hawke (Australian author)Jenn Lyons (Author)E. Jade Lomax (Author)The Hunger Games series by Suzanne CollinsWelcome to Night Vale podcastThe Goblin Emperor by Katherine AddisonThe Hands of the Emperor by Victoria GoddardastolatMacey’s Frozen Meat Salesman SegmentMacey’s misspent youthSutton cottage (from A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske)Stars in the marsh (from A Choir of Lies by Alexandra Rowland)   Transcription The transcript of this episode is available here. We'd like to take this moment to give an extra-special thank you to our team of scribes, who are amazing and meticulous and dedicated and extremely hard-working. Scribes, thank you, thank you, thank you. You're all amazing.

    1h 57m

  3. 11/17/2021

    Episode 99: Detective Boyfriends

    On this week's episode, we're celebrating the release of Freya's debut book by talking about detectives in love! The tentpoles are Of Dragons, Feasts, and Murders by Aliette de Bodard, A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske, and the fanfic If Life Was A Movie We’d Have A Better Soundtrack Than This by galaxysoup.   What We’re Into Lately  Dark Rise by C. S. PacatThe Saint of Steel series by T. Kingfisherthat ruthless love by alherathThe Warrior of the Third Veil by Victoria GoddardThe Sisters Avramapul series by Victoria Goddard Other Stuff We Mentioned Captive Prince by C. S. PacatChant Universe by Alexandra Rowland"You Should Really Be Reading Victoria Goddard’s Nine Worlds Series" by Alexandra RowlandGuardian BonesCastle Lord Peter Wimsey series by Dorothy L. Sayers A Taste of Gold and Iron by Alexandra RowlandHouseThe Angel of Crows by Katherine AddisonDoctor WhoThe Memory of Souls by Jenn LyonsCaptive Prince series by C. S. PacatWinter's Orbit by Everina MaxwellA Memory Called Empire by Arkady MartineVorkosigan Saga by Lois McMaster BujoldKomarr by Lois McMaster BujoldLeverageThe X-FilesHannibalRosemary & ThymePoirotHinterlandHot FuzzLady Sherlock series by Sherry ThomasTwilight by Stephenie MeyerThe Will Darling Adventures by K.J. Charles John le CarréJames Bond novels by Ian FlemingThink of England by K.J. CharlesAn iconic Doctor & Donna scene from Doctor Who Greenwing & Dart series by Victoria GoddardBe the Serpent Episode 33: Turn In Your Badge and Gun!A Private Reason for This by femmequixotic (aka mentioned Harry/Draco case fic)A Dead Djinn In Cairo by P. Djèlí ClarkGood Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch by Terry Pratchett & Neil GaimanFor Next TimeNone, it's the Extravaganza! Content Warnings Minor fantasy violence in Of Dragons, Feasts, and Murders and A Marvellous Light.   Transcription The transcript of this episode is available here. Thank you so much to our wonderful team of scribes for their hard work!

    1h 4m

  4. 11/03/2021

    Episode 98: [SPOOKY NOISES]

    Happy (slightly belated) spooky season, darling listeners! On this week's episode we're talking about afterlife career plans and... well, ghosts! Tentpoles this week are Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas, the film Ghost, and the Inception fic, “The Boy Who Spoke With Ghosts” by AvocadoLove.   What We’re Into Lately Squid Game The Discord of Gods by Jenn LyonsA Chorus of Dragons series by Jenn LyonsThe Library of the Dead by T.L. HuchuMy Words Will Be Your Light by Page161of180The Memory of Souls by Jenn LyonsMidnight MassNaruto self-insert ficthe name of the game by a_sassinthe sun don't shine underground by ultranosBar Cart BookshelfHow A Realist Hero Rebuilt The KingdomThe Bride of the Blue Wind by Victoria Goddard“You Should Really Be Reading Victoria Goddard’s Nine Worlds Series” by Alexandra Rowland Other Stuff We Mentioned SnowpiercerThe Hunger Games series by Suzanne CollinsThe MagiciansThe Queen's GambitAvatar: The Last AirbenderThe Hands of the Emperor by Victoria GoddardBluebeardInceptionThe Sixth Sense Dead Like Me (2003) The Ghost of You by luchia The Untamed  All that’s left of two hearts on fire by Lirelyn  A Christmas Carol  by Charles Dickens Crimson Peak Be the Serpent Episode 74: Darling, It’s Better Down Where It’s WetterInto the Drowning Deep by Mira GrantGhostbustersSupernaturalAsk a Mortician YouTube channela tempest, a cyclone, a goddamned hurricane by DialuxBoku no Hiro Akademia Yesterday Upon The Stair by PitViperOfDoomBlack Sailsthe aftershocks remain by pdameronA Taste of Gold and Iron by Alexandra Rowland   For Next Time A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske   Content WarningsSome gore in Ghost.Depictions/discussions of death through all tentpoles and the podcast discussion Transcription The transcript of this episode can be found here. Thank you to our wonderful team of scribes for their work!

    1h 4m

  5. 10/20/2021

    Episode 97: A Symphony of Serpents

    On this week's episode, we're discussing music! Musicians! Being gripped by the madness of creation! Selling one's soul for art! The tentpoles this week are the film Amadeus, the fanfic "String Theory" by toft,  and Ryka Aoki’s Light from Uncommon Stars.   What We’re Into Lately  The Hellion’s Waltz by Olivia WaitePeter Cabot Gets Lost by Cat SebastianThe Angel of the Crows by Katherine AddisonSymphony for the City of the Dead by M. T. AddersonThe Dawnhounds by Sascha Stronach Compass of thy Soul by Umei_no_MaiCampaign Skyjacks Skyjacks: Couriers Call Hannah Gadsby: DouglasThe Wilds‘In the Company of Gentlemen’ by Victoria Goddard Other Stuff We Mentioned Leverage The other two Feminine Pursuits books by Olivia WaiteSherlock Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry PratchettHollow and Honeycomb by antistar_eThe Old GuardLostThe Lymond Chronicles by Dorothy DunnettStargate: AtlantisShakespeare in LoveDoctor Faustus by Christopher Marlowe (“topless towers of Ilium” quote)Maskerade by Terry PratchettThe Phantom of the Opera“Requiem” by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart“Requiem” by Gabriel Fauré"Devil Went Down to Georgia" by The Charlie Daniels BandThe Devil Went Down to Georgia (And Then Went Down on Johnny) series by notbecauseofvictories Black Swan (2010) Aria of the Sea by Dia Calhoun Catalyst by Jennifer Mace (unreleased) Scheherazade (character) A Conspiracy of Truths by Alexandra RowlandHamilton (musical)Fall Out Boy (band)Crystal Singer series by Anne McCaffreySpace Opera by Catherynne M. ValenteSoul Music by Terry PratchettBeatlemaniaDef Leppard (band)The Velvet Underground (band)Isavalta series by Sarah ZettelThe Little Mermaid by Hans Christian AndersenThe Goose Girl from Grimms’ Fairy TalesJack and the Beanstalk“Bonny Swans” traditional balladSistersong by Lucy Holland“The Bonny Swans” by Loreena McKennittHild by Nicola GriffithJohann Sebastian BachHarry Potter film scoreRamin Djawadi’s musical scores for Game of Thrones & WestworldThe Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. TolkienThe Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers   For Next Time Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas   Content WarningsAttempted suicide (in Amadeus and brief mention of it in the discussion)On-the-page sexual assault, on-the-page hate transphobia, child abuse both explicit and referenced (in Light From Uncommon Stars)   Transcription The transcript of this episode can be found here. Thank you to our wondrous choir of scribes!

    1h 1m

  6. 10/06/2021

    Episode 96: Changing Places

    On this week's episode, we're discussing body swap fic! Swapping bodies! Trading meatsuits! It's all fun and comedy, right? ...Or is it? Anyway, the tentpoles for this episode are the anime film, Your Name, the fanfic Vinculum by Skadiseven, and the Farscape episode, "Out of Their Minds."   What We’re Into Lately  Bombshell by Sarah MacLean The Devil and the Dark Water by Stuart Turton Schmigadoon! (on Apple TV) Hunger Makes the Wolf by Alex Wells Pressure Machine by the Killers Campaign Skyjacks (podcast) The Bachelor’s Valet by Arden PowellPetty Treasons by Victoria Goddard   Other Stuff We Mentioned The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart TurtonThe Hands of the Emperor by Victoria GoddardThe UntamedStar Trek: The Next GenerationFarscape The Dark CrystalJupiter AscendingFreaky Friday by Mary RodgersStar Trek: The Original SeriesLaughing Gas by PG WodehouseStranger Than FictionBabylon 5Jumanji: Welcome to the JungleSword Art OnlineStargateThe Scum Villain's Self-Saving SystemCaptain America: The Winter Soldierto memory now I can’t recall by EthareiHowl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne JonesCastle in the Air by Diana Wynne JonesNight Watch by Terry PratchettGuardianFeet of Clay by Terry PratchettGood Omens by Neil Gaiman & Terry PratchettGood Omens miniseries   For Next Time Light From Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki   Content WarningsMention of molestation in the context of the bodyswap trope (in episode discussion) Mention of dysphoria & trans erasure in the context of the bodyswap trope (in episode discussion)   Transcription The transcript for this episode is available here. Thank you to our stylish and fashionable team of scribes!

    1h 4m

  7. 09/22/2021

    Episode 95: The Jasmine Throne

    On today's episode we're doing another deep dive on the marvelously sapphic fantasy novel The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri!   What We’re Into Lately  The Secrets of Charlotte Street series by Scarlett Peckham     - book 2: The Earl I Ruined     - book 3: The Lord I Left Seducing the Sorcerer by Lee WelchThe Bachelor’s Valet by Arden Powell Game of Thrones fanfic Hunger Makes the Wolf by Alex Wells cast your bitterness into the sea by Kilerkki  Campaign Skyjacks Till Human Voices Wake Us by Victoria Goddard    Other Stuff We Mentioned Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones Swordheart and The Paladin’s Grace by T. Kingfisher Jeeves/Wooster fanfiction Firefly Hands of the Emperor by Victoria GoddardThe Witcher“Hellfire” from The Hunchback of Notre DameGame of ThronesEmpresses in the PalaceThe Realm of AshThe Magpie Lord seriesA Cradle of Vines by Jennifer MaceSleeping Beauty‘Seasons of Glass and Iron’ by Amal El-MohtarRealm of Ash by Tasha SuriThe Twilight Zone themeThe Unbroken by C.L. ClarkShe Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-ChanA Marvellous Light by Freya Marske For Next TimeYour Name. Content WarningsViolence against women, imperialist violence, semi-graphic death descriptions, references to torture and drugging in The Jasmine Throne   Transcription The transcript of this episode is available here. Thanks once again to our most excellent team of scribes for their hard work!

    1h 3m

  8. 09/08/2021

    Episode 94: Into the Woods

    On this week's episode, Macey is forcing us to put on our hiking shoes and dragging us out into the forest to look at some "really nice moss." The tentpoles we’re discussing are Princess Mononoke, Silver in the Wood by Emily Tesh, and Ursula K. Le Guin’s story ‘Vaster Than Empires and More Slow.’ What We’re Into Lately  ‘a kind of dwell and welcome’ by leupagusReputation by Lex Croucher Seven Days in June by Tia Williamsorange_crushed ‘s Untamed fics (esp Pentimento.)And What Can We Offer You Tonight by Premee MohamedThe Necessity of Stars by E. Catherine ToblerVictoria Goddard’s books:Greenwing & Dart series (esp Love-in-a-Mist)Ask A Mortician Youtube Channel  Other Stuff We Mentioned Ted Lasso Gundam WingPonyoRobin Hood legendsHannibalThe Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham JonesThe Jungle Book by Ruyard KiplingThe Secret Life of the Forest by Richard M. KetchumThe Hidden Life of Trees by by Peter WohllebenPandoQISemiosis by Sue BurkeBrain coralGreen Man motifFor the Wolf by Hannah WhittenHild by Nicola GriffithThe Hobbit by J.R.R. TolkienHarry Potter series by J.K. RowlingSpinning Silver by Naomi NovikInto the WoodsSorrowland by Rivers SolomonBlack SailsVikingsMagician by Raymond E. FeistThe Hunger Games by Suzanne CollinsWestworldStargate: AtlantisStar Wars: Return of the JediBlack Spot TV showAvatar Avatar: The Last AirbenderPocahontasAnnihilation by Jeff VanderMeerBTS Episode 16: A Bump In the Night, and Not the Sexy KindEntangled Life: How Fungi Make Our Worlds, Change Our Minds & Shape Our Futures by Merlin SheldrakeMerlin Sheldrake’s YouTube video showing him eating book fungusBraiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer 1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus by Charles C. MannEager: The Surprising, Secret Life of Beavers and Why They Matter by Ben GoldfarbThe Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate – Discoveries from a Secret World by Peter WohllebenAround the World In 80 Trees by Jonathan Drori‘Colors of the Wind’ from PochahontasThe Biggest Estate On Earth: How Aborigines Made Australia by Bill GammageTomorrow, When the War Began by John Marsden For Next Time The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri Content WarningsRacism (in ‘Vaster Than Empires and More Slow’)Problematic portrayal of an autistic character (in ‘Vaster Than Empires and More Slow’)   Transcription The transcript for this episode is available here! Thanks to our team of scribes for their great work!

    1h 2m
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4.9
out of 5
98 Ratings

About

A podcast by three red-headed fantasy authors talking about everything from academic mythology to dick jokes (and sometimes, both at once), as well as the role of fanfiction as an integral yet oft-overlooked part of the literary conversation and in the broader cultural context. It is, obviously, a podcast of extremely deep literary merit.

Information

  • Creator
    Alexandra Rowland, Freya Marske, Jennifer Mace
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2022
  • Episodes
    100
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2018 . All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Be The Serpent

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