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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Summary

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
  • 4.9 Skin of the Sea
    May 6 2026

    Join us for a chat about the worldbuilding in the YA mythological fantasy Skin of the Sea by Natasha Bowen. We discuss African and Yoruba mythology, gods, fairy tale retellings, "The Little Mermaid," foreshadowing, and more.

    • Visit the Tavern: Website | Discord | TikTok | Bookshop
    • Support us and get bonus episodes by joining our Patreon
    • Next month’s novel: Leviathan Wakes by James S.A. Corey (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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    47 mins
  • 4.8 Building a Spacecraft
    Apr 15 2026

    Join us for a hands-on worldbuilding exercise as we create a spacecraft by answering these ten questions:

    1. What is the purpose of the craft?
    2. What scale of distance does this craft travel? Does it orbit a single planet? Travel between multiple in the same solar system? Travel vast lightyears across the universe?
    3. How fast does it travel? If it has FTL travel, what is the mechanism for it?
    4. Is this a populated or un-populated craft? If the former, how many crew/passengers does it carry?
    5. Does the craft possess any level of sentience? If so, what is its temperament/personality like?
    6. What does the craft look like? Size, shape, colour, etc.
    7. Is the technology of this craft unique, or widely-used?
    8. What is the craft’s fuel source?
    9. What is the craft’s impact on the world(s) around it?
    10. How do you get from the craft to other places?
    • Visit the Tavern: Website | Discord | TikTok | Bookshop
    • Support us and get bonus episodes by joining our Patreon
    • Next month’s novel: Skin of the Sea by Natasha Bowen (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
    34 mins
  • 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
    Show More Show Less
    44 mins
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