Episode 61 - The Homeward Bounders, by Diana Wynne Jones

Grace and Madeleine continue on in their quest to become the preeminent Diana Wynne Jones podcast by diving into the warped, nihilistic worlds within The Homeward Bounders. We discuss why this may be Diana Wynne Jones' best book, Helen's unparalleled Look, and the joys of Jamie's first person narration. Whether you've found Home again or you're still out searching for the next Bound, hopeless or still with a kernel of optimism somewhere in your soul, this incredible book has something to offer.

This episode was a listener request - thanks, Ramsey! If you'd like to make a listener request, email us at dragonbabiespodcast@gmail.com.

EPISODE MEDIA

Some of our favorite covers for different The Homeward Bounders editions:

Check out our other Diana Wynne Jones episodes if you’re new around here!

• Fire and Hemlock

• Dark Lord of Derkholm

• Witch Week

• A Tale of Time City

• Howl’s Moving Castle

The Left / Right Game (note - this is a scary and often violent story so if you’re not into horror skip it!)

Episode 60 - Wolf Tower, by Tanith Lee

Ready to leave the House behind and head off on an endless journey with an obnoxious prince? Wolf Tower by Tanith Lee gives us access to the thoughts of relatable, tenacious Claidi through her journal entries. She travels across the not-so-horrible-after-all Waste while ruminating on young love, the pointlessness of human rituals and her true identity. Madeleine and Grace get into just why Claidi is so appealing, and why the CLOCK is now their personal religion. Join us!

Note: this book is titled Law of the Wolf Tower outside the U.S.

Episode 59 - Over Sea, Under Stone by Susan Cooper

We’re traveling to Trewissick to embark on the best summer holiday of our young lives! Over Sea, Under Stone by Susan Cooper brings the battle between the forces of Arthurian good and evil to the sunny Cornwall coastline. We dive headlong into our own summer reminiscences, recalling childhood conspiracy plots and wishing we’d had some real-life Withers rogues to battle along the way. Plus, some particularly robust Pretend Food and discussion of fantasy on the fringes of a good ol’ mystery adventure. Parting words of wisdom: if you’re going to need to search a seaside cave for a grail, bring along a small child to do the dirty work for you.

This episode was a listener request - thank you, Dan, Jenny and Aileen! If you’d like to request a book for us to cover, leave a comment or email us at dragonbabiespodcast@gmail.com.

EPISODE MEDIA

The Magic Tree House series by Mary Pope Osborne

The Dear America series and The Royal Diaries

The Witness

3 rum babas for your enjoyment:

Episode 58 - Into the Land of the Unicorns, by Bruce Coville

Madeleine and Grace travel to Luster and encounter plenty of childhood memories along the way! Into the Land of the Unicorns by Bruce Coville kicks off the Unicorn Chronicles, introducing us to friends like Lightfoot, the Dimblethum, Thomas the Tinker and the inimitable Squijum. While discussing the warm embrace of Coville’s unicorn world, we reminisce about our bizarre childhood writing and harken back to Madeleine’s opus, “The Adventures of Stupid Turtle.”

EPISODE MEDIA

The partially censored “Tasia N. Book”

Other Dragon Babies episodes we mentioned that you may enjoy:

• The Black Cauldron, by Lloyd Alexander

• The Last Unicorn, by Peter S. Beagle

• ….all our Tamora Pierce episodes, too many to list but you can find them wherever you listen to podcasts!

Here There Be Unicorns, by Jane Yolen

Magic Man aka Thomas the Tinker

Episode 57 - The Queen of Attolia, by Megan Whalen Turner

The Queen of Attolia has it all - back and forth kidnapping, multi-kingdom wars, spies, queasy love stories, and that scamp Eugenides continuing to fool us all. We’re continuing our exploration of the The Queen’s Thief series by Meghan Whalen Turner, and while we have a few issues with a romance that begins with amputation, we’re dazzled by Turner’s tricky plot filled with winking secrets. Listen in and experience Madeleine railing against the gods, Grace wondering at fantasy nihilism, and both sisters engaging in some illness-fueled squabbling. It’s the Dragon Babies way!

EPISODE MEDIA

Other episodes mentioned during this episode:

• The Thief, by Megan Whalen Turner

• Crown Duel, by Sherwood Smith

Nemesis comics from Hark! A Vagrant, by Kate Beaton

Alternate cover: