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Philip's retrospective through the works of Anne Rice continues, and at this point even Anne Rice herself seems to be getting a little tired of things, as she snarks at the audience via Lestat and starts to twist the formula out of shape. Apparently things get REALLY weird in the last few books, but we'll get there, we'll get there... Support us on Patreon and listen to the show a week early! [Adams Patreon](https://patreon.com/phantasmictales) [Phils Patreon](https://www.patreon.com/Spearhafoc) [What Mad Universe?!? on Bluesky](https://bsky.app/profile/whatmaduniverse.bsky.social) [Philips Bluesky](https://bsky.app/profile/spearhafoc.bsky.social) [Adams Bluesky](https://bsky.app/profile/prankster36.bsky.social) [What Mad Universe on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/WhatMadUniverse) [What Mad Universe on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/universewhatmad/) [What Mad Universe RSS Feed](https://pinecast.com/feed/what-mad-universe) Engineer/Producer: Alex Ross Theme song by Jack Feerick (c) 2026 Adam Prosser and Philip Rice. Music (c) its respective creators. Used under a [Creative Commons Non-Commercial Attribution 3.0 International License.](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/)

Superheroes have their origins in a dozen different places and eras, some well known, some less so (at least here in North America). Pre-WWI French pulp has actually been a surprisingly fertile ground for early proto-superheroes--or what some might call full-blown superheroes, long before the era they're usually associated with. L'Oiselle (The Bird), an early pulp story about a female daredevil with a flying suit, is certainly a strong contender for one of the first superheroes, so let's dig in and take a look! Support us on Patreon and listen to the show a week early! [Adams Patreon](https://patreon.com/phantasmictales) [Phils Patreon](https://www.patreon.com/Spearhafoc) [What Mad Universe?!? on Bluesky](https://bsky.app/profile/whatmaduniverse.bsky.social) [Philips Bluesky](https://bsky.app/profile/spearhafoc.bsky.social) [Adams Bluesky](https://bsky.app/profile/prankster36.bsky.social) [What Mad Universe on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/WhatMadUniverse) [What Mad Universe on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/universewhatmad/) [What Mad Universe RSS Feed](https://pinecast.com/feed/what-mad-universe) Engineer/Producer: Alex Ross Theme song by Jack Feerick Additional Music: "Blue Danube Waltz" by Johann Strauss (c) 2026 Adam Prosser and Philip Rice. Music (c) its respective creators. Used under a [Creative Commons Non-Commercial Attribution 3.0 International License.](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/)

There's a world going on underground, but the nature of its inhabitants has been hotly debated since humans started telling stories around the campfire. One of the first modern writers to portray the world of goblins as we know them today is George MacDonald, author of The Princess and the Goblin, which we look at with this latest episode. Beware of long-limbed cats... [Adams Patreon](https://patreon.com/phantasmictales) [Phils Patreon](https://www.patreon.com/Spearhafoc) [What Mad Universe?!? on Bluesky](https://bsky.app/profile/whatmaduniverse.bsky.social) [Philips Bluesky](https://bsky.app/profile/spearhafoc.bsky.social) [Adams Bluesky](https://bsky.app/profile/prankster36.bsky.social) [What Mad Universe on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/WhatMadUniverse) [What Mad Universe on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/universewhatmad/) [What Mad Universe RSS Feed](https://pinecast.com/feed/what-mad-universe) Engineer/Producer: Alex Ross Theme song by Jack Feerick Additional music: "The March of the Dwarves" by Edvard Grieg (c) 2026 Adam Prosser and Philip Rice. Music (c) its respective creators. Used under a [Creative Commons Non-Commercial Attribution 3.0 International License.](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/)

In this episode, Philip looks at the Dr. Satan stories by Paul Ernst, which in many ways typify pulp of its era by hitting as many of the tropes as possible (including the idea of a villain taking center stage) while still being imaginative and fun. I never cared for that Doctor Satan... Support us on Patreon and listen to the show a week early! [Adams Patreon](https://patreon.com/phantasmictales) [Phils Patreon](https://www.patreon.com/Spearhafoc) [What Mad Universe?!? on Bluesky](https://bsky.app/profile/whatmaduniverse.bsky.social) [Philips Bluesky](https://bsky.app/profile/spearhafoc.bsky.social) [Adams Bluesky](https://bsky.app/profile/prankster36.bsky.social) [What Mad Universe on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/WhatMadUniverse) [What Mad Universe on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/universewhatmad/) [What Mad Universe RSS Feed](https://pinecast.com/feed/what-mad-universe) Engineer/Producer: Alex Ross Theme song by Jack Feerick (c) 2026 Adam Prosser and Philip Rice. Music (c) its respective creators. Used under a [Creative Commons Non-Commercial Attribution 3.0 International License.](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/)

We return once more to the dark and soulful world of Anne Rice with a look at another grouping of her novels including The Vampire Armand, which seems to be the last stretch of her classical vampire "continuity" before things get REALLY weird. Stay tuned, creatures of the night! Support us on Patreon and listen to the show a week early! [Adams Patreon](https://patreon.com/phantasmictales) [Phils Patreon](https://www.patreon.com/Spearhafoc) [What Mad Universe?!? on Bluesky](https://bsky.app/profile/whatmaduniverse.bsky.social) [Philips Bluesky](https://bsky.app/profile/spearhafoc.bsky.social) [Adams Bluesky](https://bsky.app/profile/prankster36.bsky.social) [What Mad Universe on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/WhatMadUniverse) [What Mad Universe on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/universewhatmad/) [What Mad Universe RSS Feed](https://pinecast.com/feed/what-mad-universe) Engineer/Producer: Alex Ross Theme song by Jack Feerick (c) 2026 Adam Prosser and Philip Rice. Music (c) its respective creators. Used under a [Creative Commons Non-Commercial Attribution 3.0 International License.](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/)

Roll for initiative, listeners, because you're about to have an encounter with adventure! Yes, it's time to talk about the intersection of role-playing games, specifically the classic model Dungeons and Dragons, and literature, in the form of TSR's first big experiment in prose publishing, the Dragonlance trilogy. We're joined by guest Filbi Pott to talk about these surprisingly pivotal anchors of nerd culture. Support us on Patreon and listen to the show a week early! [Adams Patreon](https://patreon.com/phantasmictales) [Phils Patreon](https://www.patreon.com/Spearhafoc) [What Mad Universe?!? on Bluesky](https://bsky.app/profile/whatmaduniverse.bsky.social) [Philips Bluesky](https://bsky.app/profile/spearhafoc.bsky.social) [Adams Bluesky](https://bsky.app/profile/prankster36.bsky.social) [What Mad Universe on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/WhatMadUniverse) [What Mad Universe on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/universewhatmad/) [What Mad Universe RSS Feed](https://pinecast.com/feed/what-mad-universe) Engineer/Producer: Alex Ross Theme song by Jack Feerick Additional music: ["Call to Adventure" by Kevin MacLeod](https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1300022\&Search=Search) (c) 2026 Adam Prosser and Philip Rice. Music (c) its respective creators. Used under a [Creative Commons Non-Commercial Attribution 3.0 International License.](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/)

The Cthulhu Mythos, a concept that outlived (and was born after) the death of HP Lovecraft, is the subject of our latest episode--specifically Strange Eons, a loving tribute to Lovecraft's work by Robert Bloch, author of psycho and actual personal friend of Lovecraft's in his youth. Bloch's love for Lovecraft's work is beyond dispute, but at what point does playing in a deceased author's sandbox become self-indulgent? Support us on Patreon and listen to the show a week early! [Adams Patreon](https://patreon.com/phantasmictales) [Phils Patreon](https://www.patreon.com/Spearhafoc) [What Mad Universe?!? on Bluesky](https://bsky.app/profile/whatmaduniverse.bsky.social) [Philips Bluesky](https://bsky.app/profile/spearhafoc.bsky.social) [Adams Bluesky](https://bsky.app/profile/prankster36.bsky.social) [What Mad Universe on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/WhatMadUniverse) [What Mad Universe on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/universewhatmad/) [What Mad Universe RSS Feed](https://pinecast.com/feed/what-mad-universe) Engineer/Producer: Alex Ross Theme song by Jack Feerick (c) 2026 Adam Prosser and Philip Rice. Music (c) its respective creators. Used under a [Creative Commons Non-Commercial Attribution 3.0 International License.](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/)

As a wise man once said, we are all concerned about the future, because that is where we are going to spend the rest of our lives. Kim Stanley Robinson certainly is, and his magnum opus The Ministry For The Future tackles the biggest threat to the future: looming climate change, and the things that prevent us from tackling it (spoiler: it's capitalism). This near-future hard SF book takes a look at what might be done, at least in Robinson's mind; is it plausible or practical, or does he have the wrong idea? Either way, it's certain: future events such as these will affect you in the future. [Adams Patreon](https://patreon.com/phantasmictales) [Phils Patreon](https://www.patreon.com/Spearhafoc) [What Mad Universe?!? on Bluesky](https://bsky.app/profile/whatmaduniverse.bsky.social) [Philips Bluesky](https://bsky.app/profile/spearhafoc.bsky.social) [Adams Bluesky](https://bsky.app/profile/prankster36.bsky.social) [What Mad Universe on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/WhatMadUniverse) [What Mad Universe on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/universewhatmad/) [What Mad Universe RSS Feed](https://pinecast.com/feed/what-mad-universe) Engineer/Producer: Alex Ross Theme song by Jack Feerick Additional Music: ["War and Peace" by Jamie Evans](https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Jamie_Evans/Opening_Doors/War_and_Peace_320) (c) 2026 Adam Prosser and Philip Rice. Music (c) its respective creators. Used under a [Creative Commons Non-Commercial Attribution 3.0 International License.](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/)

When times are dark and evil stalks the land, it means it's time for a knight in shining armour to ride to the rescue! What what happens when it's the 20th century and knights in armour are hard to come by? You build one, of course! The 1970s kid's adventure Sir MacHinery has a robot taking on the role of gallant saviour on a noble quest against the forces of darkness through a wacky misunderstanding, in a breezy romp that reflects where pop culture was at at the time. Support us on Patreon and listen to the show a week early! [Adams Patreon](https://patreon.com/phantasmictales) [Phils Patreon](https://www.patreon.com/Spearhafoc) [What Mad Universe?!? on Bluesky](https://bsky.app/profile/whatmaduniverse.bsky.social) [Philips Bluesky](https://bsky.app/profile/spearhafoc.bsky.social) [Adams Bluesky](https://bsky.app/profile/prankster36.bsky.social) [What Mad Universe on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/WhatMadUniverse) [What Mad Universe on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/universewhatmad/) [What Mad Universe RSS Feed](https://pinecast.com/feed/what-mad-universe) Engineer/Producer: Alex Ross Theme song by Jack Feerick Additional Music: "The Sorceror's Apprentice" by Paul Dukas (c) 2026 Adam Prosser and Philip Rice. Music (c) its respective creators. Used under a [Creative Commons Non-Commercial Attribution 3.0 International License.](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/)

In which we bring our look at the works of Terry Pratchett to a close... *you see because Terry Pratchett famously utilizes footnotes for both jokes and to expand upon the lore. Support us on Patreon and listen to the show a week early! [Adams Patreon](https://patreon.com/phantasmictales) [Phils Patreon](https://www.patreon.com/Spearhafoc) [What Mad Universe?!? on Bluesky](https://bsky.app/profile/whatmaduniverse.bsky.social) [Philips Bluesky](https://bsky.app/profile/spearhafoc.bsky.social) [Adams Bluesky](https://bsky.app/profile/prankster36.bsky.social) [What Mad Universe on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/WhatMadUniverse) [What Mad Universe on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/universewhatmad/) [What Mad Universe RSS Feed](https://pinecast.com/feed/what-mad-universe) Engineer/Producer: Alex Ross Theme song by Jack Feerick (c) 2025 Adam Prosser and Philip Rice. Music (c) its respective creators. Used under a [Creative Commons Non-Commercial Attribution 3.0 International License.](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/)

Halloween is spooky season, and what's spookier than...THE DEVIL?!? Yes, Phil continues his journey through the interconnected universe of Anne Rice with a look at two of her most cosmic books, ones that eventually delve into theology and the problem of evil. A must-listen entry for Demon Lovers everywhere! Support us on Patreon and listen to the show a week early! Adams Patreon Phils Patreon What Mad Universe?!? on Bluesky Philips Bluesky Adams Bluesky What Mad Universe on Facebook What Mad Universe on Instagram What Mad Universe RSS Feed Engineer/Producer: Alex Ross Theme song by Jack Feerick Additional Music: "Toccata and Fugue in D Minor" by Johann Sebastian Bach (c) 2025 Adam Prosser and Philip Rice. Music (c) its respective creators. Used under a Creative Commons Non-Commercial Attribution 3.0 International License.

The towering names of Weird Pulp Fiction: HP Lovecraft, Robert E Howard and...Clark Ashton Smith, the perpetual Larry to their Curly and Moe, ever overshadowed by his two contemporaries a century later. But Smith, of course, deserves a look on his own merits. In this episode we're joined by our friend Will "Filbi" Staples to talk about Smith's cycle of medieval fantasy stories set in the "witch-haunted" country of Averoigne. Support us on Patreon and listen to the show a week early! Adams Patreon Phils Patreon What Mad Universe?!? on Bluesky Philips Bluesky Adams Bluesky What Mad Universe on Facebook What Mad Universe on Instagram What Mad Universe RSS Feed Engineer/Producer: Alex Ross Theme song by Jack Feerick Additional Music: ["The Medieval Banquet" by Shane Ivers] (https://www.silvermansound.com/free-music/the-medieval-banquet) (c) 2025 Adam Prosser and Philip Rice. Music (c) its respective creators. Used under a Creative Commons Non-Commercial Attribution 3.0 International License.

Support us on Patreon and listen to the show a week early! Adams Patreon Phils Patreon What Mad Universe?!? on Bluesky Philips Bluesky Adams Bluesky What Mad Universe on Facebook What Mad Universe on Instagram What Mad Universe RSS Feed Engineer/Producer: Alex Ross Theme song by Jack Feerick (c) 2025 Adam Prosser and Philip Rice. Music (c) its respective creators. Used under a Creative Commons Non-Commercial Attribution 3.0 International License.

Well that's a grim title for a goofy episode...but it is part of our Discworld series, after all, and in particular it's our episode on the books Pratchett wrote about Death, the Grim Reaper, the End of Things. He's a nice guy when you get to know him, really! We're once again joined by James "Ing" English (Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/c/u3109397 ) to talk about the briiiiight siiiide of death (whistles) Support us on Patreon and listen to the show a week early! Adams Patreon Phils Patreon What Mad Universe?!? on Bluesky Philips Bluesky Adams Bluesky What Mad Universe on Facebook What Mad Universe on Instagram What Mad Universe RSS Feed Engineer/Producer: Alex Ross Theme song by Jack Feerick Additional Music: "Danse Macabre" by Camille Saint-Saens (c) 2025 Adam Prosser and Philip Rice. Music (c) its respective creators. Used under a Creative Commons Non-Commercial Attribution 3.0 International License.

Sometimes a bear is just a bear. And sometimes the bear is the avatar of the ineffable divine, serving as a sign that it's time to reconquer your lost empire. The trick is knowing which is which. We attempt to solve this conundrum in the latest WMU?!? on Richard Adams' Shardik, a fantasy novel--or is it? About a bear who is a god--or is he? So many questions. Can we at least know if he pees in the woods? Support us on Patreon and listen to the show a week early! Adams Patreon Phils Patreon What Mad Universe?!? on Bluesky Philips Bluesky Adams Bluesky What Mad Universe on Facebook What Mad Universe on Instagram What Mad Universe RSS Feed Engineer/Producer: Alex Ross Theme song by Jack Feerick Additional Music: "The Pines of Rome" by Arturo Toscanini (c) 2025 Adam Prosser and Philip Rice. Music (c) its respective creators. Used under a Creative Commons Non-Commercial Attribution 3.0 International License.