Fantasy podcast

Not to be confused with podcasts about fantasy sports.

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A fantasy podcast is a podcast related to or discussing the fantasy genre, which usually focuses on the magical, supernatural, mythical, or folkloric. Fantasy stories are set in fictional universes or fantasy worlds that are often reminiscent of the Middle Ages and the early modern period. Despite having a fictional setting, fantasy stories can contain or reference locations, events, or people from the real world. Characters in these stories often encounter fictional creatures such as dwarves, elves, dragons, and fairies. Common types of fantasy podcasts are audio dramas, narrated short stories, role-playing games, or discussions and reviews of fantasy topics such as fantasy films, books, games, and other media. The intended audience of a fantasy podcast can vary from young children to adults. Fantasy podcasts emerged from storytelling and the creation of the radio. Fantasy podcasts have often been adapted into television programs, graphic novels, and comics. Fantasy podcasts are a subgenre of fiction podcasts and are distinguished from science fiction podcasts and horror podcasts by the absence of scientific or macabre themes, respectively, though these subgenres regularly overlap.

Genre

As of 2021, The longest running fantasy podcast is PodCastle, which has been actively releasing content since 2007.[1] The most common subgenre of fantasy podcasts is high fantasy, however, other subgenres include urban fantasy, modern fantasy, and dark fantasy.[2][3]

Science fiction and fantasy podcasts

See also: Science fantasy

The content of fantasy podcasts often overlaps with science fiction podcasts. These two genres are often grouped together under the label science fiction and fantasy podcasts, which is sometimes shortened to sci-fi/fantasy podcasts or simply SFF.[4][5] Some examples of podcasts that cover both science fiction and fantasy topics include SFF Yeah!, The SFF Audio Podcast, and Sword & Laser.[6] Two of the longest running science fiction and fantasy podcasts, as of 2021, are Sword and Laser and the Clarkesworld Magazine podcast, which have both been regularly releasing episodes since 2008.[7][8]

Style

Audio drama

The Two Princes is a popular audio drama style LGBT fantasy podcast.[9][10] Other fantasy podcasts include Carcerem and Roommate From Hell.[11][12] Aja Romano, for Vox, compiled a list of seven fantasy audio drama podcast that included Kalila Stormfire's Economical Magick Services, The Magical History of Knox County, Victoriocity, The Alexandria Archives, Love and Luck, Alba Salix, and Supernatural Sexuality with Dr Seabrooke.[13] Other fantasy audio dramas or audio fiction podcasts include Inn Between, The Once and Future Nerd, The Penumbra Podcast, and The Prickwillow Papers.[2]

Narrated short stories

Based on an Audio Publishers Association report, the audiobook industry grew thirty-four percent between 2015 and 2016. According to Andrew Liptak, for The Verge, this increasing listenership has contributed to the success of podcasts released by science fiction and fantasy magazines. For instance, the Clarkesworld Magazine releases a science fiction and fantasy podcast containing short stories read by Kate Baker. As opposed to an audio drama, the stories are read by an individual rather than a cast of voice actors.[14] Other example of fantasy magazines that release short stories as podcast episodes include The BCS Audio Vault and PodCastle.[15][2]

Improvisation

The fantasy podcast Hello from the Magic Tavern is entirely improvised except for the premise of the fantasy world in which the characters reside.[16][17] The improv science fiction podcasts Mission to Zyxx and Voyage to the Stars both have fantasy themes.[18][19][20]

Role-playing games

See also: Actual play

Dungeons & Dragons, a tabletop role-playing game, is often adapted into fantasy podcasts. Marion Frayna, of AsiaOne, recommends learning how to play the game by watching or listening to other people play on live streams (such as Critical Role) or podcasts (such as The Adventure Zone). These fantasy podcasts often include players asking questions and actively learning the rules of the game and regularly involve players making jokes and improvising rather than following a script.[21][22][23] Other Dungeons & Dragons role-playing or actual play podcasts include The Broadswords, Rivals of Waterdeep, Tavern Tales Junior, and Roll For Wenches.[2]

Other role-playing game systems have been used to create fantasy podcasts such as Welcome to Warda which uses the Fate system, Queer Dungeoneers which uses Dungeon World,[2] and Very Random Encounters which uses a different role-playing system for each campaign.[24]

Discussion and critique

Fantasy podcasts such as SFF Yeah! and Sword & Laser cover news of fantasy related media and discuss or review the latest releases. For instance, SFF Yeah! discusses the latest science fiction and fantasy books.[6][25] Rather than discuss or review fantasy related media, nonfiction podcasts like Imaginary Worlds and Words to That Effect explore, analysis, and deconstruct fantasy worlds and the themes and tropes used in the genre.[26][3]

Adaptions

Some web series have been adapted into podcast form, including shows such as Critical Role, High Rollers, and Girls, Guts, Glory.[27][28]

Fantasy podcasts have been adapted into books, comics, and film. For instance, Sword and Laser has been adapted into a book[29] and The Adventure Zone has been adapted into both books and comics.[30][31] The Two Princes has been adapted into film.[32] Fantasy magazines have been adapted into podcasts or vice versa. For instance, the Clarkesworld Magazine podcast and The BCS Audio Vault produced by Beneath Ceaseless Skies Online Magazine.[14][15]

Fantasy podcasts have been used by businesses as marketing campaigns to increase brand visibility. For instance, the German software company, SAP, produced a podcast entitled Searching for Salaì.[33]

See also

References

  1. ^ SFEley (July 5, 2007). "Welcome!". PodCastle. Escape Artists. Archived from the original on November 27, 2020. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e Manente, Kristina (April 21, 2019). "12 High Fantasy Podcasts That'll Take You on an Adventure During Your Commute". SyFy Wire. SyFy. Archived from the original on January 6, 2021. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
  3. ^ a b Williams, Wil (August 3, 2018). "7 Fantasy Podcasts Beyond "The Adventure Zone"". Discover Pods. Archived from the original on January 24, 2020. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
  4. ^ Pulliam-Moore, Charles (April 10, 2020). "10 Sci-FI and Fantasy Podcasts That Will Give Your Ears and Mind a Treat". Gizmodo Australia. Pedestrian Group. Archived from the original on February 19, 2021. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
  5. ^ Krishna, Swapna (September 14, 2017). "6 Narrative Sci-FI Fantasy Podcasts to Put in Your Ears". SyFy Wire. SyFy. Archived from the original on September 28, 2020. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
  6. ^ a b Martin, Emily (May 11, 2020). "Science Fiction Podcasts: 15 You Can Listen to Right Now". Book Riot. Riot News Media Group. Archived from the original on February 9, 2021. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  7. ^ Belmont, Veronica (February 4, 2008). "The Sword and Laser Podcast". Sword & Laser. Frogpants Studios. Archived from the original on January 11, 2020. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
  8. ^ "Issue 21". Clarkesworld Magazine. Wyrm Publishing. June 2008. ISSN 1937-7843. Archived from the original on November 12, 2020. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
  9. ^ Lambe, Stacy (October 15, 2020). "Listen to Noah Galvin and Ari'El Stachel's Duet for 'The Two Princes'". Entertainment Tonight. CBS Studios. Archived from the original on February 3, 2021. Retrieved January 29, 2021. Noah Galvin of Booksmart and Tony Award winner Ari'el Stachel portray two princes, Rupert and Amir, eager to settle down into their happily ever after in season 3 of the fantasy podcast,
  10. ^ Bullard, Benjamin (February 13, 2020). "Wire Buzz: Goonies Reenactment Drama in the Works; HBO Max Circles The Two Princes". SyFy Wire. SyFy. Archived from the original on February 9, 2021. Retrieved January 29, 2021. The Two Princes, an LGBQT fantasy podcast that's gained a loyal fan following
  11. ^ "Fictional Fantasy Podcast Carcerem Debuts September 22 With Exclusive Ad Sales Representation From Cabana". Medium. Cabana. September 16, 2020. Archived from the original on February 28, 2021. Retrieved January 29, 2021. Carcerem is an original audio fantasy series from Shane Salk Productions that features a star-studded cast, original music, and immersive sound design.
  12. ^ Sharpe, Levi (May 28, 2019). "I'm Levi Sharpe, Lifehacker Podcast Producer, and This Is How I Work". Lifehacker Australia. Pedestrian Group. Archived from the original on October 29, 2020. Retrieved January 29, 2021. a scripted fictional sci-fi/fantasy podcast called Roommate From Hell
  13. ^ Romano, Aja (October 31, 2019). "Witches and Monsters and Ghosts, Oh, My! Seven Audio Dramas With a Touch of Magic". Vox. Vox Media. Archived from the original on November 5, 2019. Retrieved January 28, 2021. These fantasy podcast recs let you indulge your witchy side.
  14. ^ a b Liptak, Andrew (May 20, 2018). "Listen to One of the Best Short Science Fiction Podcasts Right Now". The Verge. Vox Media. Archived from the original on November 9, 2020. Retrieved January 29, 2021. Clarkesworld Magazine Is One of the Most Acclaimed Outlets for Short Science Fiction and Fantasy Stories
  15. ^ a b Morris, Tee; Tomasi, Chuck (October 13, 2020). Podcasting For Dummies (4 ed.). John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 978-1-119-71182-7. Archived from the original on April 9, 2022. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  16. ^ Potter, Janet (March 17, 2016). "Behold! the off-the-Wall, Always-Growing World of Hello From the Magic Tavern". Chicago Reader. Archived from the original on January 6, 2021. Retrieved January 29, 2021. Gather around and read the tale of how three improv comedians created the most insane fake-fantasy podcast to hit the airwaves.
  17. ^ Doctorow, Cory (May 29, 2017). "My Guest-Appearance on Hello From the Magic Tavern". Boing Boing. Archived from the original on February 3, 2021. Retrieved January 29, 2021. I'm a huge fan of the ... fantasy podcast Hello From the Magic Tavern
  18. ^ "Mission to Zyxx Is the Best Scifi Podcast You're Probably Not Listening to... Yet". io9. March 20, 2018. Archived from the original on April 30, 2021. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  19. ^ "Part 'Spaceballs, part UCB improv, Audioboom podcasters are on a 'Mission to Zyxx'". Newsweek. August 29, 2017. Archived from the original on January 24, 2021. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  20. ^ "Sci Fi Fidelity Podcast: Felicia Day Previews Voyage to the Stars". Den of Geek. February 11, 2019. Archived from the original on March 18, 2022. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  21. ^ Frayna, Marion (May 30, 2020). "Geek's Guide to Dungeons & Dragons". AsiaOne. mm2 Entertainment and Singapore Press Holdings. Archived from the original on June 8, 2020. Retrieved February 14, 2021. There are also podcasts that players can tune into if they want something to listen to, such as The Adventure Zone, a game which is run by comedian Griffin McElroy for his two sons and father in a really lighthearted and comical campaign. The aforementioned Critical Role also comes in podcast format, too.
  22. ^ McMillan, Graeme (June 15, 2020). "Dark Horse to Release 'Critical Role' Hardcover Omnibus". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on February 2, 2021. Retrieved January 28, 2021. A 320-page hardcover, the Origins Library Edition Vol. 1 tells the backstories of the Vox Machina crew – the characters in the first campaign of the popular fantasy podcast
  23. ^ Ahlin, Charlotte (May 2, 2018). "The One Podcast You're Guaranteed to Love, Based on Your Favorite Kind of Book: If You Like Fantasy, Try 'the Adventure Zone'". Bustle. Bustle Digital Group. Archived from the original on February 2, 2021. Retrieved January 28, 2021. Three brothers and their dad play Dungeons & Dragons together on this comedic fantasy podcast.
  24. ^ Williams, Wil (September 26, 2018). "15 tabletop gaming podcasts you should be listening to". Polygon. Archived from the original on April 21, 2021. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  25. ^ Rudulph, Heather Wood (January 12, 2015). "Get That Life: How I Became a Successful Podcaster, TV Host, and Tech Expert". Cosmopolitan. Hearst Digital Media. Archived from the original on November 8, 2020. Retrieved January 29, 2021. Tuesday is production day for "Sword & Laser," the sci-fi/fantasy podcast I started eight years ago.
  26. ^ Liptak, Andrew (February 18, 2018). "Imaginary Worlds Is the Slick, Deep-Dive Podcast Sci-FI and Fantasy Fans Need to Hear". The Verge. Vox Media. Archived from the original on November 9, 2020. Retrieved January 28, 2021. There's a lot of science fiction and fantasy podcasts out there, but what makes Imaginary Worlds stand out is its slick production.
  27. ^ Hayes, Danielle (April 2, 2021). "Best D&D podcasts and web series, from Critical Role to High Rollers". TechRadar. Archived from the original on April 30, 2021. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  28. ^ "Which Critical Role Episodes Are Best To Start With (& Why)". ScreenRant. October 31, 2020. Archived from the original on October 8, 2021. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  29. ^ Belmont, Veronica; Merritt, Tom (April 7, 2014). Sword and Laser Anthology. Lulu. ISBN 978-1-312-07335-7. Archived from the original on April 9, 2022. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  30. ^ Sava, Oliver (May 7, 2018). "This The Adventure Zone Exclusive Brings the Zany Fantasy Podcast to Comics". The A.V. Club. G/O Media. Archived from the original on February 8, 2021. Retrieved January 28, 2021. The Adventure Zone podcast has been delighting listeners for years with its blend of exciting fantasy storytelling and sharp comedy, and it's moving into a new dimension with the release of a new graphic novel from First Second.
  31. ^ Goldberg, Lesley (January 16, 2020). "Peacock Sets Expansive Scripted Development Slate Ahead of Formal Unveiling". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on February 2, 2021. Retrieved February 14, 2021. The Adventure Zone is a side-splitting and heart-filled fantasy animated comedy series
  32. ^ Riley, David (February 12, 2020). "Gimlet's LGBTQ Podcast 'The Two Princes' Nearing Film Adaptation Deal From Spotify and HBO Max". TV Movie Fix. Coffee & Tea Media. Archived from the original on February 28, 2021. Retrieved January 28, 2021. After all, it's rare that you get to hear a fantasy podcast with revolving LGBTQ themes.
  33. ^ "Smash Marketing Helps SAP With 'Searching for Salaì' Online Campaign With Content That Grounds Podcast Fantasy". GlobeNewswire. Smash Marketing. February 5, 2019. Archived from the original on January 31, 2021. Retrieved January 29, 2021. That's why SAP (NYSE: SAP) recently launched a nine-part fantasy podcast series, co-produced by Column Five Media.


Further reading

Look up fantasy in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
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