Episode 63 - The Witches of Worm, by Zilpha Keatley Snyder

Has a kitten recently approached you and demanded that you perform increasingly dangerous pranks? Get everything you need to handle the situation (including a step by step exorcism!) with The Witches of Worm, by Zilpha Keatley Snyder. Grace and Madeleine explore Snyder’s subtle blurring of the line between fantasy and reality, indulge in a TV dinner reverie and even return to Madeleine’s Law Corner.

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Original cover:

Some of Alton Raible’s killer illustrations:

Episode 62 - The Green Man: Tales from the Mythic Forest, Edited By Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling

Just in time for quarantine: a super-sized Dragon Babies special! We’re covering the anthology The Green Man: Tales from the Mythic Forest, edited by Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling. Ease yourself into the soothing power of the wood and leave your troubles behind.

Unfortunately, this episode does have a few sound issues - our apologies! Guess the wood sprites weren’t into us discussing their secrets.

Works included in this anthology:

• Going Wodwo by Neil Gaiman

• Grand Central Park by Delia Sherman

• Daphne by Michael Cadnum

• Somewhere in My Mind There is a Painting Box by Charles de Lint

• Among the Leaves So Green by Tanith Lee

• Song of the Cailleach Bheur by Jane Yolen

• Hunter’s Moon by Patricia McKillip

• Charlie’s Away by Midori Snyder

• A World Painted By Birds by Katherine Vaz

• Grounded by Nina Kiriki Hoffman

• Overlooking by Carol Emshwiller

• Fee, Fie, Foe, et Cetera by Gregory Maguire

• Joshua Tree by Emma Bull

• Ali Anugne O Chash (The Boy Who Was) by Carolyn Dunn

• Remnants by Kathe Koja

• The Pagodas of Ciboure by M. Shayne Bell

• Green Men by Bill Lewis

• The Green Word by Jeffrey Ford

Places to get a copy:

Ebook coming soon from Barnes and Noble

Or from your local bookstore or library! ISBN is 9780670035267

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A selection of our favorite Charles Vess illustrations featured in the anthology -

Night in the Woods on Steam

Red as Blood, or Tales from the Sisters Grimmer by Tanith Lee

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.

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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.

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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: