This is a post in the series re: speculative fiction podcasts, and the third interview for “Seven Questions with your favourite SFF podcast editors” (for the others, see this). This week I feature Gary Dowell, editor of Far-Fetched Fables – one of the amazing podcasts of the District of Wonders. Enjoy!
- Describe what your podcast is about. What makes it special / different compared to others?
We’re a weekly podcast that specialises Fantasy fiction in every sense of the word. What makes us different is our focus on a broad array of authors of every race, gender, nationality, religion, and sexual orientation whose professional experience ranges from talented newcomers to legends in the field.
- Why / how did you decide to start it?
Our founder, StarShip Sofa podcast creator Tony C. Smith, decided to spin that podcast’s fantasy content into its own ‘cast in late 2013. (At the time, his District of Wonders network also included Tales to Terrify, Crime City Central, and Protecting Project Pulp.) I’d been interested in getting into podcasting for some time when he put out a call for an assistant editor for FFF. I didn’t immediately respond, figuring he probably wanted someone with experience. He put out the call again two weeks later, and I eventually worked up the nerve to throw my hat into the ring. Tony emailed me 15 minutes later and kicked me into the deep end. I’ve had a blast ever since.
- Which particular brand of speculative fiction do you publish in your podcast?
Far Fetched Fables is devoted to Fantasy fiction in all its myriad forms. Fantasy, like its sisters Horror and Science Fiction, is a diverse genre; to best represent it we keep ourselves open to the entirety of its broad spectrum: high fantasy, low fantasy, science-fantasy, horror-fantasy, sword & sorcery, magical realism, urban fantasy, steampunk, alternate histories, weird westerns, weird easterns, grimdark, YA, adult with a capital “A”, comedy, drama, and anything in between and/or way beyond. The more a story pushes the boundaries and conventions of the genre, the better.
- Tell us something about your target audience.
Our target audience is basically fans of speculative fiction, especially the adventurous ones looking for something besides standard, clichéd, formulaic fare.
- Which qualities / characteristics you are after in the pieces you accept for publication?
They rarely fit into an easily defined area of the genre, and even when they do they usually do it extremely well and/or tweak the listener’s expectations a little.
- Which ones among the pieces you have published you would recommend to people?
Yeesh – that’s like asking a parent to choose their favourite child. If I have to pick, though, then I’d definitely our recording of Michael Moorcock’s “While the Gods Laugh” for our 100th episode, as well as “The Shooter at the Heartrock Waterhole” by Bill Congreve (ep. 20), “Blood and Stardust” by Laid Barron; (ep. 73), “The Jacaranda Wife” by Angela Slatter (ep. 81), and “Against the Encroaching Darkness” by Aliette de Bodard (ep. 102).
- Anything else you would like to say?
Spend some time perusing our story archive. As of this writing, we’ve been at it for two-and-a-half years and some 125 episodes; and we’ve been fortunate enough to feature works by Jay Lake, Sofia Samatar, A.A. Attanasio, Cat Rambo, Jeffrey Ford, Maurice Broaddus, Cherie Priest, L. E. Modessit, Karen Joy Fowler, and scores of other authors. You’re bound to find something you like.
Thanks so much to Gary for this – I can’t wait to get them on my Ipod!