Harry Potter
Worldbuilding
Magic school stories are incredibly popular – and also really hard to get right. To this day, Harry Potter is still the best example of the genre I’ve seen, despite its many problems. So what’s up with this seeming contradiction? Why do both storytellers and … read more »
Podcast
This week, we’re discussing how technology functions, or doesn’t function, in a fantasy setting. Of course, we get into Harry Potter first, because it’s absolutely critical to know what kind of water-management system Hogwarts has. But it’s not all about the Wizarding World, we promise! … read more »
Podcast
Where does Evocation end and Abjuration begin? Should a fireball require Prime magic? What even are Charms? This week we’re talking about how different settings classify magic, from novels to RPGs to video games. We discuss the purpose behind dividing magic … Read more »
Analysis
While not all antagonists are full villains, they all provide opposition to the protagonists. It’s their job to drive the story’s conflict, and to do that job well, it must feel like they can defeat the heroes. One reason we remember the likes of Darth Vader and … read more »
Analysis
Critiquing Harry Potter is a popular pastime among speculative fiction fans, and we’ve done our fair share here at Mythcreants. There’s a lot to critique: a house system that seems designed to churn out evil wizards, potions that grant god-like powers, a sport where only … read more »
Podcast
What’s this? The Mythcreants Podcast is joined by a new guest host, and he just appeared out of nowhere! This week, Wes joins Oren and Chris to discuss works with strong foreshadowing — or at least that was the plan. Our hosts manage to get … read more »
Podcast
Everyone loves a good protagonist, but what about the unsung side characters who faithfully serve their role without any thanks? What if they were the main character? How would that change the story, and would the story be better for it? We consider the changes … read more »
Storytelling
Prequel stories have a reputation for being terrible, and it’s well deserved. The Star Wars prequels, which are awful in almost every way, come to mind of course. Not to be left out, the Harry Potter franchise now has Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find … read more »
Podcast
We did this topic once before, but it turns out there are a LOT of scifi movies out there, and most of them have something to say about something. Joined once again by special guest Graham, we learn firsthand just why Chris thinks life will … read more »
Podcast
Since we’re discussing heroes with dark counterparts, we brought on a new guest host: Graham, who is basically evil Oren. With our evil new co-host, we discuss all the ways in which a villain can be used to show us the darker side of a hero, and … read more »
