Ep. 29: Modern Sci-Fi Thrillers (with Mary Robinette Kowal, Sylvain Neuvel, Nia "N. E." Davenport, James Kennedy & Jane Gilmartin)

Join host Adrian M. Gibson and authors Mary Robinette Kowal, Sylvain Neuvel, Nia "N. E." Davenport, James Kennedy and Jane Gilmartin as they unpack the structure and suspense of sci-fi thrillers. During the panel they discuss the essential elements of thrillers, melding thrillers with science fiction, willful transgressions and inciting incidents, pacing and tension, reader expectations, worldbuilding, character decisions and more.

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Mary Robinette's conversation with NASA on Houston We Have Podcast

The Fourth Turning by William Strauss & Neil Howe

Four Lost Cities by Annalee Newitz

SALT AI-generated stories

90-Second Newbery Film Festival

EMAIL US WITH YOUR QUESTIONS & COMMENTS:

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ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

Mary Robinette Kowal is the award-winning author of The Lady Astronaut series, the Glamourist Histories series and more.

Find Mary Robinette on Twitter, her personal website or the Writing Excuses podcast.

Sylvain Neuvel is the author of The Themis Files series and the Take Them to the Stars series.

Find Sylvain on Twitter or his personal website.

Nia "N. E." Davenport is the author of The Blood Trials, her debut novel.

Find Nia on Twitter or her personal website.

James Kennedy is the author of Dare to Know and The Order of Odd-Fish.

Find James on Twitter, his personal website or the Secrets of Story Podcast.

Jane Gilmartin is the author of The Mirror Man, her debut novel.

Find Jane on Twitter or her personal website.

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MUSIC:

Intro: "The Wind" by Astronoz

Interlude 1 & 2: “Crescendo” by Astronoz

Outro: “Cloudy Sunset” by Astronoz

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