
100 episodes

Be The Serpent Alexandra Rowland, Freya Marske, Jennifer Mace
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- Arts
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4.9 • 97 Ratings
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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.
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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! -
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. -
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! -
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! -
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! -
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!
Customer Reviews
New favorite!
If you love Overdue or The Worst Best Sellers you will love this podcast. It’s my new binge and it’s giving me so much to think about and new things to read. It’s also very comforting. I love it.
The Trope-tastic Podcast of My Heart
I know that Fahrenheit 451 is a dystopia, and that the parlor is meant to be quietly horrifying, but if it existed I would happily spend my days sipping tea and pretending to be involved in the madcap and amazing conversations of these three wonderful people. Finding this podcast was one of my (very) few sources of true joy in 2020, and made a measurable difference in my ability to survive it.
As a fan and—extremely amateur hobbyist—writer of fantasy their discussions are constantly illuminating and inspiring, but the real magic is in their dynamic together as they dissect, digress, and occasionally make pterodactyl noises at one another. But also a word of warning: budget some money for new books, and plenty of time to read, because you will NEED it.
fave
even when i have negative interest in the tentpoles they're discussing it's a good time just to listen to three friends bounce ideas and chat and hang out. which is not to say my TBR is not groaning from the weight of all the stuff the serpents mention. absolute top tier favorite podcast, keep it up guys!