top of page

The Dragon Blog
Updates Weekly or Whenever the Planets Align
The blog and the podcast are basically going to run as one. Each podcast will cover 2-ish fantasy works; each blog will cover the same works, with maybe a bit more detail, footnotes, and any jokes I think didn't land verbally.

Episode 8.5: The Dwarves, The Dragon, and the Welsh
Welcome back to Something About Dragons! Here's my sincere hope that none of you have been magically transformed into animals since our...
James Hedrick
Jul 712 min read


Episode 8: The Virgin, the Swine, and the Hobbit
"There is no glory in pitting oneself against any but a worthy foe." – Gwydion, from Evangeline Walton’s The Virgin and the Swine , aka...
James Hedrick
Jun 3011 min read


Episode 7.5: Fairy Stories, Folklore, and the Fantastic
In the last post, we discussed Tolkien's "Beowulf: The Monsters and the Critics." In this episode, we'll be focusing on quotes and...
James Hedrick
Jun 239 min read


Episode 7: Monsters, Myths, and Fairy Stories
The analytic study of fairy-stories is as bad a preparation for the enjoying or the writing of them as would be the historical study of...
James Hedrick
Jun 1611 min read


Episode 6.5: By This Blog Post, I Rule
Welcome back everyone, to Episode 6.5 of Something About Dragons . I feel like I should explain why I keep splitting these episodes. And...
James Hedrick
Jun 911 min read


Episode 6: The Black God's Barbarian
I just want to crush my enemies See them driven before me And hear the lamentations of their partners Who are probably also my enemies...
James Hedrick
Jun 216 min read


Episode 5.5: At the Corner of Weird Avenue and Fantastical Boulevard
A Venn Diagram. For those who might be confused. Welcome back everyone, to Episode 5.5 of Something About Dragons. Since we established...
James Hedrick
May 2612 min read


Episode 5: Pulp-in-the-Mist
“The sand of the desert of Yondo is not as the sand of other deserts; for Yondo lies nearest of all to the world's rim; and strange...
James Hedrick
May 1913 min read


Episode 4.5: Beyond the Fields We Know
From the Ballantine Adult Fantasy Series, published in 1972. Why is a there a skeletal pterodactyl and a Jesus lizard with the dragons...
James Hedrick
May 1611 min read


Episode 4: The King of Elfland’s Worm or The Fields We Know
Such stunning covers make you wonder why the pulps felt the need to focus on scantily clad women (from the first edition of The King of...
James Hedrick
May 1212 min read


Episode 3.5: Of Body Horror and Back Rays
At least don't judge this book by this cover. Welcome back to Something About Dragons, gentle readers. My rant about the frankly...
James Hedrick
May 59 min read


Episode 3: Tarzan the Incel or Beaten to a Pulp
Welcome to Episode 3 of Something About Dragons , with this week’s episode entitled “Tarzan the Incel” or “Beaten to A Pulp.” I couldn’t...
James Hedrick
Apr 3012 min read


Episode 2: The Wind in the Borderlands
The house on the borderlands. RIP Pepper. Welcome back to Something About Dragons . Today we’re going to discuss two more landmarks in...
James Hedrick
Apr 2315 min read


Episode 1: The Wonderful Wizard of Pegana
Neither yellow, nor brick, but at least a road. Welcome everyone to the first proper installment of Something About Dragons . I’m your...
James Hedrick
Apr 1815 min read


Prologue: Something About Dragons
Roughly the number of books I'm planning on reading for this project. Welcome, everyone to Something About Dragons , a blog/podcast about...
James Hedrick
Apr 1813 min read


bottom of page