Edward Willett - Shapers of Worlds Volume II

Edward Willett - Shapers of Worlds Volume II

Author: Alan Warren December 28, 2022 Duration: 47:35

Explore twenty-four imaginative tales crafted by some of today’s best writers of science fiction and fantasy, all guests on Aurora Award-winning podcast The Worldshapers during its second year, including international bestsellers and winners of every major award in the field as well as newer authors just beginning what promise to be stellar careers.


There are brand-new stories from Kelley Armstrong, Marie Brennan, Garth Nix, Candas Jane Dorsey, Jeremy Szal, Edward Willett, Bryan Thomas Schmidt, Lisa Foiles, Susan Forest, Matthew Hughes, Heli Kennedy, Helen Dale, Adria Laycraft, Edward Savio, Lisa Kessler, Ira Nayman, James Alan Gardner, and Tim Pratt, plus fiction by Jeffrey A. Carver, David D. Levine, Carrie Vaughn, Nancy Kress, Barbara Hambly, and S.M. Stirling.


A woman seeking the power to see the evil hiding within others regrets receiving it. Letters written by a wizard in the past threaten a queen’s reign in the present. Competing for Earth, a human wrestler faces an alien shapeshifter in an interstellar tournament. A guide in Tibet must weigh the good of his people when asked to lead a westerner to the fabled realm of Shangri. An activist imprisoned for illegal genetic modification works with the materials at hand and the threads of the multiverse to make the world—a world, at least—a better place. A demonic agent sent to help a human turns the tables on his summoner.


Like the “cabinets of curiosities” created by collectors of the sixteenth century, Shapers of Worlds Volume II displays a varied array of thought-provoking delights: tales of humour and sorrow, darkness and light, and hope and despair that are full of adventure, full of life, and sometimes full of regret. There are stories set in alternate histories, in possible futures, near and far, and in the here-and-now, taking place on Earth, on distant planets, or in fantastic realms. All arise from the innate need of human beings to create, to imagine . . . to shape worlds.


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For over a decade, the House of Mystery radio show opened a door into the minds of the most imaginative authors in literature. What If? Science Fiction/ Fantasy Writers curates the very best of those conversations, hosted by Alan Warren. This isn't just a series of interviews; it's a deep exploration of the creative sparks behind otherworldly civilizations, magical systems, and the fundamental questions that define speculative fiction. Each episode lets you sit in on a genuine discussion, hearing directly from writers about how they build their universes, develop characters who feel real against impossible backdrops, and where they find their most extraordinary ideas. You'll get a sense of the person behind the pages, their influences, and the sometimes surprising paths that led them to craft the stories that shape our dreams of the future and reimaginings of the past. Tune into this podcast for a thoughtful and engaging archive that celebrates the arts of science fiction and fantasy writing, offering listeners a lasting connection to the voices that continue to push the boundaries of fiction and science.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

What If?  Science Fiction/ Fantasy Writers
Podcast Episodes
Chad Dulac - Cogs of Legend Book 1: Awakening Fire [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:45
In a world powered by steam and ruled by corporations, one young woman’s discovery will ignite a revolution.Alice is a gifted but underappreciated tinkerer working the rail lines of Terra. During an unexpected train malf…
C.C. Robinson - Caged Book Two [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:30
The walls are closing in on Rose.But when powerful enemies move her from house arrest to a literal prison, Rose finds herself alone. Caged. And without help.Isolated from her friends and allies, yet stumbling on the trut…
David North-Martino - Year of the Demon [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:02
To his martial arts students, Vance Palladian is more than just a teacher; he is the Paladin, a man of warrior virtue. Now a widower, and with his finances in disarray, Vance feels disillusioned with his once noble life.…
Robert Boris - Dark Sun [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:39
BLACK SUN, our newest and most advanced superplane, is considered the “Ultimate War Weapon,” an aircraft no adversary would dare to confront. Lt. Commander Jack Reese, still haunted by the horrifying murder of his wife a…
Michael C. Bland - The Price of Freedom [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:45
It's 2047. The rebellion has been crushed. The Agency is reestablishing control. Rebel leader Dray Quintero languishes in his cell, struggling against his captors' manipulations. His daughter Raven's cries torment him at…
D.C. Gomez - Cursed by Fur [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:34
Welcome to Texarkana, where Death's Interns are working overtime—and the body count is rising.Meet Death's Interns: part-time grim reapers, full-time troubleshooters for the supernatural community. Usually, their biggest…
Don Sawyer - Tunnels of Buda [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:31
Don Sawyer's THE TUNNELS OF BUDA, the second romantic fantasy thriller in the Soul Catcher series, in which a magical gem maker and an empath struggle against a hideous conspiracy of evil headquartered in a maze of fanta…
Bjorn Leesson - Rune of Whispers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:02
Myrgjol the Dokkrsdottir’s path may be fraught with physical dangers and battle, but some wars are fought with whispered words and deceitful lies. While in Saxon lands, she must learn to maneuver the battlefield as well…
Brad C. Anderson - Ashme's Song [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:02
Violence has an echo, growing louder with each reverberation . . . how do you stop its echo once it starts ringing?Ashme is a New Mesopotamian--a "Meso." She dreams of being a hero, fighting against the brutal Ostarrichi…
Tricia Copeland - Drops of Sunshine [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:04
Her only goal in taking the camp counselor job far from home was to escape everyone who knew anything about her past. So how does a camper know about her brother…Sixteen-year-old Nina hates everyone from her school, her…