Episodes

Let's celebrate the contribution to fantasy of our favourite illustrators. Today we start with the grandaddy of Oxford Fantasy Illustration, Sir John Tenniel, the illustrator behind the Alice in Wonderland images. Find out about the unfortunate accident in his youth that he hid from his father, his extraordinary memory and his artistic influences. Guess who was at his retirement dinner? It is quite a fantasy dinner party moment! 00:00 Introduction: Welcome to Mythmakers and Celebrating Illustra...

There are many experts on the Inklings but there are still lots you might not know about how they lived in their home of Oxford. Julia Golding challenges some myths and makes some new ones about Tolkien and Lewis, and their experiences here. Was the Eagle and Child Pub where Narnia and The Lord of the Rings was first read aloud - or was that somewhere else? What's the mental geography of Oxford for someone who lives here long-term? Find out about Oxford as a place for military training for both ...

Since April of 2022 Andy Serkis has been working his way through Tolkien's books, producing audio versions of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit- he has now turned his attention to The Silmarillion. Our expert on audiobooks, Andrew Head, who as a blind consumer often turns to audio versions to access stories, talks with Julia Golding about this latest version of The Silmarillion and the Martin Shaw reading that came before it. Which would you buy now? How does Andy cope with a book that has fa...

We are going on an adventure! Love The Lord of the Rings? Why not read along with us as we consider the books from the writer's point of view! Taking it chapter by chapter, novelist Julia Golding will reveal new details that you might not have noticed and techniques that will only go to increase your pleasure in future re-readings of our favourite novel. Julia also brings her expert knowledge of life in Oxford and English culture to explain some points that might have passed you by. 00:00 Intro...

As Mythmakers takes a short summer break, Julia Golding looks back at some of the standout conversations from Season 8, gathering five memorable pieces of writing wisdom from the season’s top-performing author interviews. Join us as we revisit Darren Simpson’s reflections on the long road to publication, and hear from Peadar Ó Guilín on how history and myth shape fantasy worlds. Marisa Linton shares her journey and advice for finding your publishing path, while Naomi Ishiguro dives into worldbu...

Having completed our journey through The Two Towers, in today's Sidecast episode Julia Golding pauses to reflect on the top five lessons she has taken from Tolkien’s craft as an author. From the interlacing of multiple storylines and the careful maintenance of suspense, to the creation of epic, living landscapes, Julia explores how Tolkien handles the challenges of a middle volume with remarkable skill. She also reflects on the poetry of his prose and the depth of his themes, amongst the wealth...

We are going on an adventure! Love The Lord of the Rings? Why not read along with us as we consider the books from the writer's point of view! Taking it chapter by chapter, novelist Julia Golding will reveal new details that you might not have noticed and techniques that will only go to increase your pleasure in future re-readings of our favourite novel. Julia also brings her expert knowledge of life in Oxford and English culture to explain some points that might have passed you by. 00:00 Intro...

We are going on an adventure! Love The Lord of the Rings? Why not read along with us as we consider the books from the writer's point of view! Taking it chapter by chapter, novelist Julia Golding will reveal new details that you might not have noticed and techniques that will only go to increase your pleasure in future re-readings of our favourite novel. Julia also brings her expert knowledge of life in Oxford and English culture to explain some points that might have passed you by. 00:00 Intro...

We are going on an adventure! Love The Lord of the Rings? Why not read along with us as we consider the books from the writer's point of view! Taking it chapter by chapter, novelist Julia Golding will reveal new details that you might not have noticed and techniques that will only go to increase your pleasure in future re-readings of our favourite novel. Julia also brings her expert knowledge of life in Oxford and English culture to explain some points that might have passed you by. 00:00 Intro...

We are going on an adventure! Love The Lord of the Rings? Why not read along with us as we consider the books from the writer's point of view! Taking it chapter by chapter, novelist Julia Golding will reveal new details that you might not have noticed and techniques that will only go to increase your pleasure in future re-readings of our favourite novel. Julia also brings her expert knowledge of life in Oxford and English culture to explain some points that might have passed you by. 00:00 Intro...

The rumour mill is turning! Early screenings of the upcoming Narnia film suggest that the soundtrack may be dipping into 70s and 80s rock. Nothing is certain yet—it could all be a red herring—but could it work, and if so, how? Join Jacob Rennaker and Julia Golding in today’s Mythmakers episode as they discuss the possibilities before turning their attention to the fantasy books of the 1980s, each sharing some of their favourite reads from one of the genre’s most influential decades. For more i...

We are going on an adventure! Love The Lord of the Rings? Why not read along with us as we consider the books from the writer's point of view! Taking it chapter by chapter, novelist Julia Golding will reveal new details that you might not have noticed and techniques that will only go to increase your pleasure in future re-readings of our favourite novel. Julia also brings her expert knowledge of life in Oxford and English culture to explain some points that might have passed you by. 00:00 Intro...

Where in all the fantasy worlds is the best place to fly on dragonback?

A Sidecast Episode

What an extraordinary decade for fantasy! In the first instalment of a decade by decade look at fantasy publishing, in this episode Julia Golding and Jacob Rennaker begin with a period that gave us countless instant classics. Each shares their top three picks—will you agree with their choices? Tune in to find out! (00:04) Revisiting the Fantasy Reads of the 1990s (02:31) Major Fantasy Titles of the Decade (05:28) Adding Game of Thrones and Good Omens to the List (07:51) Defining “Best” as Books...

Where in all the fantasy worlds is the best place to seek the Grail?

With the King and Queen of the United Kingdom heading to the US this week, Julia Golding and Jacob Rennaker begin today’s episode of Mythmakers with a playful look at soft toy diplomacy and the source of many fantasy stories in nursery toys—including a bonus Tolkien connection. From there, the conversation turns to the thorny question of which cinematic universe is the best? Expect strong opinions as Julia and Jacob weigh the merits of Marvel, DC, Star Trek, Star Wars, and amongst others… (00:...

In today’s episode of Mythmakers, we cover three lively topics of discussion. Join Julia Golding and friend of the podcast, Jacob Rennaker, as they begin with the latest casting news for the upcoming prequel film The Hunt for Gollum—hits or misses? Next, they turn to the content challenges surrounding Stephen Colbert’s script for the second Lord of the Rings film currently in development—which we’re calling “the interval.” Rather than focusing on canon, Julia and Jacob explore the storytelling ...

Where in all the fantasy worlds is the best place to take part in a magical contest?

Where in all the fantasy worlds is the best place to go to a stylish party?

What is the best mythical species to introduce into our world?

Saddle up and join the Round Table as Mythmakers embarks on a journey through some of the most famous retellings of King Arthur in celebration of Tolkien Reading Day. Which author started the ball rolling, and who poetically kicked it on into the 19th century? Where do the traces of these tales become most apparent in the works of Tolkien and C.S. Lewis? And who has continued the Arthurian tradition into modern times? Finally, we turn to the screen—what is the most successful adaptation of them...

A Sidecast Episode

A Sidecast Episode