Fantasy Book Swap

alibaker68
  • 5.0 (1)
  • BOOKS
  • UPDATED MONTHLY

Ali Baker and a guest discuss children’s fantasy fiction. The guest chooses a favourite for Ali, and Ali chooses a complementing contemporary book. Jokes and the occasional swear word may ensue. Please contact https://www.instagram.com/fantasy_book_swap_podcast/, @alisonbaker01 on BlueSky or https://www.facebook.com/Fantasybookswap. Ask questions, make comments and join in the discussion!

  1. 09/11/2025

    Ep. 49: When magic isn't a metaphor with Robert Berg

    Robert's choice: The Marvellous Land of Oz by L. Frank Baum Ali's choice: Wynd book 1: The Flight of the Prince by James Tynion IV and Michael Dialnyas Robert is 1/4 of wonderful Bona Books! The Wrath Month kickstarter is still open for stretch goals backing. Return to Oz (1985) trainer here: relive your childhood trauma! I still can't find the Arena documentary, but here is a PBS one Robert's favourite Oz retelling is Wicked by Gregory Maguire Mine is Was by Geoff Ryman Pride is a wonderful film about solidarity and intersectional identity Boom! Studios comics For other episodes on "race/ ethnicity" in fantasy, check out this episode with Russell Smith; for queerness in fantasy, this one with Juliet Kemp.  Follow Rob on Bluesky and Instagram Bona Books' Instagram  Follow me on Instagram for gorgeous images from Wynd and more!

    1h 4m

  2. 08/22/2025

    Ep 48: The anti-authoritarian politics of naughtiness with Sandra Bond

    Ep 48 Shownotes   Sandra’s book: The Wind on the Moon by Eric Linklater Ali’s book: The Wild Robot by Peter Brown. It’s also a film The Politics of Fantasy by Brian Attebury Catherine Crumb on her bicycle Nicolas Bentley’s illustrations Rudyard Kipling’s Just-So Stories Murderbot by Martha Wells. It’s also a TV series The Martian by Andy Weir Tik Tok by John Sladek Peter Brown’s website Sandra is not a dog groomer from the US Thanks as always to Steve Vapour Trails for production support. Why not go and give his radio show a listen?

    1h 5m

  3. 07/27/2025

    Ep 47: Worldbuilding Britain in historical fiction

    Caroline's choice: Dawn Wind by Rosemary Sutcliff Ali's choice (first read in 2022, not 2002!): The Short Knife by Elen Caldecott. Tir na n'Nog book award  Ken Slater and fan ac Some books where a “commoner” becomes a prince: The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain The Prisoner of Zenda and Rupert of Hentzau by Anthony Hope The Lost Prince by Frances Hodgson Burnett The Horse and his Boy by C. S. Lewis Caroline’s Rosemary Sutcliff books Elen Caldecott’s website and Leaf, the journal of writing for young people Caroline’s fan writing Reflections in the Shards edited by Claire Brialey and Mark Plummer Thanks as always to Steve Vapour Trails for production support. Why not go and give his radio show a listen?

    1h 45m

  4. 07/01/2025

    Episode 46: In Space, nobody provides childcare

    Jim’s book (with Twilight-style cover); with Alison Moyet cover Ali’s book Stars and Sabers publishing Ferengi “Human female” Murderbot trailer Dave McKean’s website SF Said’s website Alfred Bester: The Stars my Destination There are two sequels to War of the Worlds: the straight to DVD adaptation and Stephen Baxter’s The Massacre of Mankind Material Girls podcast episode discussing Romantasy Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles trailer. This is what the first couple of chapters of Phoenix is like. It doesn’t end up like this. Jim’s website, Worrad Enterprises   Thanks as always to Steve Vapour Trails, Jack Sadler-Johnson and Danny!

    1h 16m

  5. 06/16/2025

    Episode 45: Rainy season at the Hotel Romero

    Kylie Ding’s choice: The Rains of Eridan by H.M. Hoover Ali’s choice: The Zombie Project by Alice Nuttall M. Hoover on the Encyclopedia of Science Fiction Alice Nuttall’s Linktree The Hugo and Lodestar finalists Other books for children with adult protagonists (off the top of my head!): Professor Branestawm by Norman Hunter Mrs Pepperpot by Alf Prøysen Mr Benn by David McKee Mrs Armitage on Wheels by Quentin Blake George Romero’s The Night of the Living Dead- trailer First Thursday fandom drinks in London

    48 min

  6. 05/19/2025

    Ep 44: Horses and curses and home, but not at home

    Meg’s choice: The Little White Horse by Elizabeth Goudge Ali’s copy of the book Ali’s choice: The Beginners Guide to Curses by Lari Don More about Elizabeth Goudge More about Lari Don Heliotrope flowers Lari Don on Rhianna Pratchett’s BBC radio show about British mythical creatures talking about kelpies The legend of Gelert and Greyfriars Bobby Kate Crackernuts Whuppity Stoorie Mairi Hedderwick Katie Morag TV series Glasgow Worldcon 2024 Presents on Youtube LACon V: Worldcon 2026 Follow Meg on BlueSky

    1h 32m

  7. 05/03/2025

    Ep 43: Uncontextual pineapple with Catriona Silvey

    Recorded live at EasterCon in Belfast at 9:30am on Easter Sunday! Please forgive my wheeziness; I was coming down with a chest infection. Catriona’s choice: The Silver Crown by Robert C. O’ Brien Ali’s choice: Dread Wood by Jennifer Killick We discuss Robert C. O’ Brien’s better-known books, Z for Zachariah and Mrs Frisby and the Rats of NIMH. You may like to listen to the episode The Anti- Reepicheep League with Ang Rosin about Mrs Frisby and the Rats of NIMH and The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents here. We also mention The Demon Headmaster by Gillian Cross; Russell Smith selected it as his Fantasy Book Swap choice. Jennifer Killick was a guest on the fantastic podcast about children’s books, The Island of Brilliant. I am not a shill for The Phoenix Comic, I promise. Catch up with Catriona via her website, https://catrionasilvey.com/index.html Join us at EasterCon next year in Birmingham!

    1 hr

  8. 12/01/2024

    Ep 42: Pirates and Mermaids and Witches with Ida Keogh

    Ida’s choice: The Man whose Mother was a Pirate by Margaret Mahy Ali’s choice: The Mermaid, the Witch and the Sea by Maggie Tokuda-Hall. The sequel has just been published: The Siren, the Song and the Spy Ida had a different edition from mine Other books we mention in this episode: Fathomfolk by Eliza Chan The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Andersen Sarah Baartman, the Khoekhoe woman whose birth name may have been Ssehura, displayed in Europe as the Hottentot Venus Ida’s award-winning short story Infinite Tea in the Demerara Café is in the NewCon Press anthology London Centric Her novella Fish!  Ida has a story in the anthology Laughs in Space. Follow Ida on Bluesky Facebook and @ida_Keogh on Instagram

    47 min
See All (51)

Ratings & Reviews

About

Ali Baker and a guest discuss children’s fantasy fiction. The guest chooses a favourite for Ali, and Ali chooses a complementing contemporary book. Jokes and the occasional swear word may ensue. Please contact https://www.instagram.com/fantasy_book_swap_podcast/, @alisonbaker01 on BlueSky or https://www.facebook.com/Fantasybookswap. Ask questions, make comments and join in the discussion!

Information

  • Creator
    alibaker68
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2025
  • Episodes
    51
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2021 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Fantasy Book Swap