The Worldbuilder’s Tavern cover art

The Worldbuilder’s Tavern

The Worldbuilder’s Tavern

By: Emma Maione Allison Alexander and Christiana Jones
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About this listen

Welcome to The Worldbuilder’s Tavern — where great books meet creative minds.

Twice a month, we explore the worlds inside your favourite sci-fi and fantasy novels and build our own right alongside them. Whether you're constructing your next novel, TTRPG setting, or just love speculative fiction, pull up a chair at the Tavern!

The Worldbuilder’s Tavern Art Literary History & Criticism
Episodes
  • 4.7 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

    4.7 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
    Apr 1 2026

    Join us for a chat about the worldbuilding in the comedic sci-fi novel The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams. We discuss political humour, absurdism, aliens, the importance of writing craft, and more.

    • Visit the Tavern: Website | Discord | TikTok | Bookshop
    • Support us and get bonus episodes by joining our Patreon
    • Next month’s novel: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams (Disclosure: we are a Bookshop.org affiliate, so if you purchase through these links, we will earn a small commission AND you will support an indie bookstore!)
    • Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi
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    44 mins
  • 4.6 Building a Superpower-Based Magic System

    4.6 Building a Superpower-Based Magic System
    Mar 18 2026

    Join us for a hands-on worldbuilding exercise as we create a superpower-based magic system by answering these 7 questions:

    1. Are the superpowers based on magic or science or both?
    2. Do the powers have a theme to them?
    3. Do people gain powers randomly, are they born with them, or can they acquire them in some intentional way?
    4. What can people do with their superpowers?
    5. What are the limits, requirements, or costs of having the superpowers?
    6. Are superpowers rare or common?
    7. Can a person only have one power, or is it possible to have many?
    8. How does society view people with superpowers?

    • Visit the Tavern: Website | Discord | TikTok | Bookshop
    • Support us and get bonus episodes by joining our Patreon
    • Next month’s novel: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams (Disclosure: we are a Bookshop.org affiliate, so if you purchase through these links, we will earn a small commission AND you will support an indie bookstore!)
    • Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi
    Show More Show Less
    29 mins
  • 4.5 Voyage of the Damned

    4.5 Voyage of the Damned
    Mar 4 2026

    Join us for a chat about the writing and worldbuilding in the fantasy murder mystery novel Voyage of the Damned by Frances White. We discuss genre blends, how to help readers keep track of multiple characters, what makes a novel voicey, and more.

    • Visit the Tavern: Website | Discord | TikTok | Bookshop
    • Support us and get bonus episodes by joining our Patreon
    • Next month’s novel: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams (Disclosure: we are a Bookshop.org affiliate, so if you purchase through these links, we will earn a small commission AND you will support an indie bookstore!)
    • Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi
    Show More Show Less
    50 mins
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