Stars and Swords: Footnoting Genre Fiction

Stars and Swords is a weekly podcast dedicated to the exploration, analysis and celebration of genre fiction.

Stars and Swords: Footnoting Genre Fiction is a arts podcast hosted by Next Word, with 91 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Next Word hosts Stars and Swords: Footnoting Genre Fiction, a arts show with 91 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #3

  Mort 3: Just Us

  May 8, 20261h 7mS15

  This week, we conclude our discussion of Terry Pratchett's Mort with thoughts on Pratchett's precision as a stylist, tick-tock structure, and how much of the theme is on the page. Is sentimentality a good thing? Is Mort effectively sidelined in the final conflict? How do we embrace subjectivity over objectivity? To see the video version of this week's show, click here ; to see the slides, click here ! Footnotes: Mort Terry Pratchett Audiobooks (including the footnotes!) Follow Stars And Swords on YouTube , Bluesky and Instagram . To join me for the live broadcast, to support the podcast, to join the conversation on Discord and to get access to monthly bonus episodes, please visit Patreon.com/NextWord and pledge your support! ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

  ListenShow Notes
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  Episode #2

  Mort 2: What Should Be Will Be

  Apr 22, 20261h 12mS15

  This week, we return to Terry Pratchett's Mort to discuss perspective, the dualities of life on the Disc, and what is really going on with Death. Do we believe that everything is predestined? Who gets to tell the story? Does Ysabelle sparkle in the sunlight? To see the video version of this week's show, click here ; to see the slides, click here ! Footnotes: Mort Terry Pratchett Audiobooks (including the footnotes!) Follow Stars And Swords on YouTube , Bluesky and Instagram . To join me for the live broadcast, to support the podcast, to join the conversation on Discord and to get access to monthly bonus episodes, please visit Patreon.com/NextWord and pledge your support! ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

  ListenShow Notes
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  Episode #1

  Mort 1: The Uncommon Man

  Apr 2, 20261h 15mS15

  This week, we dive into the Discworld with our first discussion of Terry Pratchett's Mort . Are the rules as unbreakable as they seem to be? Are ideas as dangerous? How does Death blow smoke rings? To see the video version of this week's show, click here ; to see the slides, click here ! Footnotes: Mort Terry Pratchett Rhianna Pratchett Terry Pratchett's Mort (BBC Radio 4) Audiobooks (including the footnotes!) Follow Stars And Swords on YouTube , Bluesky and Instagram . To join me for the live broadcast, to support the podcast, to join the conversation on Discord and to get access to monthly bonus episodes, please visit Patreon.com/NextWord and pledge your support! ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

  ListenShow Notes
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  Episode #3

  Neuromancer 3: It's The Punk

  Mar 19, 202620 minS14

  This week, we return from an extended hiatus to offer a short conclusion to our unit on William Gibson's Neuromancer . How are Zion and Istanbul connected? Is Wintermute right about the power of hate? Is the punk more important than the cyber ? Footnotes: Neuromancer William Gibson William Gibson on Bluesky Follow Stars And Swords on YouTube , Bluesky and Instagram . To join me for the live broadcast, to support the podcast, to join the conversation on Discord and to get access to monthly bonus episodes, please visit Patreon.com/NextWord and pledge your support! ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

  ListenShow Notes
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  Episode #2

  Neuromancer 2: No Imagination

  Dec 7, 20251h 9mS14

  This week, we continue our unit on William Gibson's Neuromancer . Are there only a few pathways to juvenile rebellion? How does the industrial become the post-industrial? How does Gibson's understanding of artificial intelligence hold up in 2025? To see the video version of this week's show, click here ; to see the slides, click here ! Footnotes: Neuromancer William Gibson William Gibson on Bluesky Follow Stars And Swords on YouTube , Bluesky and Instagram . To join me for the live broadcast, to support the podcast, to join the conversation on Discord and to get access to monthly bonus episodes, please visit Patreon.com/NextWord and pledge your support! ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

  ListenShow Notes

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