We're back with a new episode delving into Scott Lynch's debut novel, ths 2006 historical fantasy The Lies Of Locke Lamora, the first in Lynch's "Gentlemen Bastards" series. Set in the city of Camorr, the book introduces us to the Bastards, a group of elite con men who rob and inveigle the rich, and get tangled up in a new criminal mastermind trying to take over the city's underworld. The novel was nominated for several awards upon its release, winning the SF Site Readers' Choice Award in 2006.

Bean and Peat are joined by Australian fantasy author Davinia Evans, whose Notorious Sorcerer trilogy novels (Notorious Sorcerer, Shadow Baron and Rebel Blade) have seen her become one of the most exciting new voices in fantasy fiction.

Here they talk about how the setting of Camorr - an ersatz, mystical take on Venice - makes LOLL different from more traditional fantasy worlds, the character dynamics crafted by Lynch, and some highly innovative swearing.

Bean and Dan were once more joined by Tade Thompson, who relates to us his experiences of moving into the world of screenwriting, an entirely different beast than novel writing, and which comes with its own trials and networks to navigate.

He discusses the different writing techniques required, the different ways a manuscript works its way through production systems, and how a film or TV show actually gets made. He even has a little scoop for us towards the end of the episode.

Elsewhere, we discuss the perils and opportunities of the use of AI in writing, particularly the threat it poses to creative industries, but also where its limitations lie. As a psychotherapist, Tade also relays strong opinions about how a reliance upon AI can have effects upon human cognitive ability. As we meander through the conversation we cover upon Sith lords, breast-punching, and Dan's recycling.

Elsewhere, Sligo resident Montoolian McD'Gaskell attempts to win big big money but runs up against an unlikely obstacle: Google Gemini AI. Will Montoolian win enough cash to buy himself another beer? Listen on to find out...

Tade Thompson is the author of several modern science fiction hits, including the award-winning Rosewater trilogy, Far From The Light Of Heaven, and other works such as The Murders of Molly Southbourne, and Jackdaw, which has become one of Chronscast's favourite novels of recent years.

Bean and Dan are joined once more by one of our good friends of Chronscast, Tade Thompson, to discuss the great director's towering masterpiece, Mulholland Drive. Lynch is one of our favourte filmmakers, and his films continue to astound and bewilder like no other director's can. We wanted to do an episode to give our own small tribute to the great man, so you can imagine our delight when our old pal Tade told us of his own love for Lynch.

We decided to talk about Mulholand Drive, as it is probably the man's greatest work, arguably his most successful and influential, and often cited as one of the reatest films fo the 21st century. At once a poison-pen letter and a love-letter to Hollywood, the film reflects lynch's own highly complicated relationship with the moviemaking machine in Los Angeles.

It follows the story of Betty, whose own nightmarish descent through the Dante-like hellish circles of Hollywood, encompassing ambition, fame, envy, murder, corruption, glamour, sex, and betrayal is portrayed in an ever-expanding web of intrigue, (self)-deceit and guilt.

The film pulls off some of the greatest sleights-of-hand in cinema during the scene at Club Silencio, and even skirts the fringes of horror. We will be discussing spoilers as usual, but with a film like Mulholland Drive, that arguably doesn't even matter. What matters is that you go and watch it.

Tade Thompson is the author of several modern science fiction hits, including the award-winning Rosewater trilogy, Far From The Light Of Heaven, and other works such as The Murders of Molly Southbourne, and Jackdaw, which itself is a nightmarish descent into madness worthy of Lynch himself.