In this episode of the Friends Talking Fantasy Podcast, we take a spoiler-free journey into the gripping world of Max Brooks’ World War Z. Join us as we explore the unique format of the book, presented as an oral history of the global zombie apocalypse, and discuss the major themes of survival, resilience, and global cooperation. We’ll share our impressions of how this realistic take on a zombie outbreak stands out within the genre and why it’s a must-read for fans of speculative fiction. Whether you’re a veteran zombie enthusiast or new to the apocalypse, this episode will have something for everyone—without spoiling the thrill of discovering World War Z for yourself!

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In this autumnal episode of Friends Talking Fantasy, Charles and Dylan dive into the perfect books to get you into those fall vibes. From spooky horrors to cozy fantasies, they explore the themes, settings, and characters that best capture the essence of the season. Whether you’re looking for eerie tales like Christopher Buehlman’s The Black Tongue Thief, a chilling Dracula retelling in A Dowry of Blood by S.T. Gibson, or heartwarming reads like A Long Way to a Small Angry Planet by Becky Chambers, this episode has a recommendation for every fall mood. Tune in for a celebration of all things fall, with fantasy books that pair perfectly with the crisp air and changing leaves.

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Books mentioned in this episode:

1. World War Z by Max Brooks

2. The Black Tongue Thief by Christopher Buehlman

3. Between Two Fires by Christopher Buehlman

4. A Dowry of Blood by S.T. Gibson

5. Evocation by S.T. Gibson

6. Fairytale by Stephen King

7. Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir

8. Monstrous by Marjorie Liu (illustrated by Sana Takeda)

9. The Bone Roots by Gabriela Houston

10. The Witcher series by Andrzej Sapkowski

11. Fury of the Gods by John Gwynne

12. The Shadow of the Gods by John Gwynne

13. The Autumn Republic by Brian McClellan

14. The Fall of Dragons by Miles Cameron

15. The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss

16. Babel by R.F. Kuang

17. The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang

18. The Magicians by Lev Grossman

19. A Long Way to a Small Angry Planet by Becky Chambers

20. Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree

21. The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman

22. Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay

We chat with Adam Bassett, UX/UI designer for Campfire and author of the recently released cyberpunk short story collection, Digital Extremities. Adam shares his insights into crafting compelling maps for fantasy worlds, the art of writing cyberpunk stories set in vivid, small-town settings, and how Campfire’s suite of writing tools can enhance any writer’s creative process.

Support Adam Bassett

Read Digital Extremities: https://www.campfirewriting.com/explore/digital-extremities

Website: https://www.adamcbassett.com/