The Worldbuilder’s Tavern
Welcome to The Worldbuilder’s Tavern — where great books meet creative minds.
Twice a month, we explore the worlds inside your favourite sci-fi and fantasy novels and build our own right alongside them. Whether you're constructing your next novel, TTRPG setting, or just love speculative fiction, pull up a chair at the Tavern!
Welcome to The Worldbuilder’s Tavern — where great books meet creative minds.
Twice a month, we explore the worlds inside your favourite sci-fi and fantasy novels and build our own right alongside them. Whether you're constructing your next novel, TTRPG setting, or just love speculative fiction, pull up a chair at the Tavern!
Episodes
Wednesday Jul 24, 2024
2.22 Comedy and Characters in Pirates of the Caribbean
Wednesday Jul 24, 2024
Wednesday Jul 24, 2024
In this episode, we're talking about humour, character arcs, prologues, pirate mythology, and more in the movie Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl.
Proprietor's Pick: The Wicked Bargain by Gabe Cole Novoa
(Disclosure: we are a Bookshop.org affiliate, so if you purchase through these links we will earn a small commission AND you will support an indie bookstore!)
Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi
Visit the Tavern: Twitter | TikTok | Discord
Access bonus content and support us on Patreon
Support Haneen's family in Gaza
Wednesday Jul 10, 2024
2.21 Mechs and Feminism in Iron Widow
Wednesday Jul 10, 2024
Wednesday Jul 10, 2024
In this episode, we're talking about mechs, feminism, disability representation, and more in the novel Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao.
Proprietor's Pick: A Song to Drown Rivers by Ann Liang
(Disclosure: we are a Bookshop.org affiliate, so if you purchase through these links we will earn a small commission AND you will support an indie bookstore!)
Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi
Visit the Tavern: Twitter | TikTok | Discord
Access bonus content and support us on Patreon
Support Haneen's family in Gaza
Wednesday Jun 26, 2024
2.20 Science in 3 Body Problem
Wednesday Jun 26, 2024
Wednesday Jun 26, 2024
In this episode, we're talking about nanofibers, science as a weapon, and supercomputers in the TV show 3 Body Problem.
Proprietor's Pick: Jumpnauts by Hao Jingfang
(Disclosure: we are a Bookshop.org affiliate, so if you purchase through these links we will earn a small commission AND you will support an indie bookstore!)
Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi
Visit the Tavern: Twitter | TikTok | Discord
Access bonus content and support us on Patreon
Wednesday Jun 12, 2024
2.19 Tension in 3 Body Problem
Wednesday Jun 12, 2024
Wednesday Jun 12, 2024
In this episode, we're talking about science gone haywire, confusing vs. interesting worldbuilding, and tension in the TV show 3 Body Problem.
Proprietor's Pick: Exordia by Seth Dickinson
Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi
Visit the Tavern: Twitter | TikTok | Discord
Access bonus content and support us on Patreon
Wednesday May 29, 2024
2.18 Mythology in Song of the Sea
Wednesday May 29, 2024
Wednesday May 29, 2024
In this episode, we're talking about sense of place, metaphor, mythology, and symbolism in the movie Song of the Sea.
Proprietor's Pick: The Selkie's Daughter by Linda Crotta Brennan
Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi
Visit the Tavern: Twitter | TikTok | Discord
Access bonus content and support us on Patreon
Wednesday May 15, 2024
2.17 False Utopia in Pet
Wednesday May 15, 2024
Wednesday May 15, 2024
In this episode, we're talking about writing a story based on a theme, age categories, oppressive systems, and utopian societies in the novella Pet by Akwaeke Emezi.
Proprietor's Pick: Hell Followed With Us by Andrew Joseph White
Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi
Visit the Tavern: Twitter | TikTok | Discord
Access bonus content and support us on Patreon
Wednesday May 01, 2024
2.16 Retro-Futurism in Fallout
Wednesday May 01, 2024
Wednesday May 01, 2024
In this episode, we're talking about factions, over-the-top worldbuilding, and retro-futurism in the TV show (based on the video game) Fallout.
Proprietor's Pick: Service Model by Adrian Tchaikovsky
Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi
Visit the Tavern: Twitter | TikTok | Discord
Access bonus content and support us on Patreon
Wednesday Apr 17, 2024
2.15 The Afterlife in The Good Place
Wednesday Apr 17, 2024
Wednesday Apr 17, 2024
In this episode, we're talking about humour, morality, and the afterlife in the TV show The Good Place.
Proprietor's Pick: How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying by Django Wexler
Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi
Visit the Tavern: Twitter | TikTok | Discord
Access bonus content and support us on Patreon
Wednesday Apr 03, 2024
2.14 Gods, Realms, and Portals with Trudie Skies
Wednesday Apr 03, 2024
Wednesday Apr 03, 2024
In this episode, we're chatting with author Trudie Skies about deities, races, domains, magic, and expansive worldbuilding in The Thirteenth Hour, a gaslamp adult fantasy and the first in The Cruel Gods series.
Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi
Visit the Tavern: Twitter | TikTok | Discord
Access bonus content and support us on Patreon
Find Trudie Skies trudieskies.com
Wednesday Mar 20, 2024
2.13 Environment in Princess Mononoke
Wednesday Mar 20, 2024
Wednesday Mar 20, 2024
In this episode, we're chatting about historical worldbuilding, weirdness, anti-capitalism, and ecological themes in the Studio Ghibli movie Princess Mononoke.
Proprietor's Pick: Godkiller by Hannah Kaner
Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi
Visit the Tavern: Twitter | TikTok | Discord
Access bonus content and support us on Patreon








