18.37: Mandatory Failure

Published: Sept. 10, 2023, 9 a.m.

We talk with Howard Tayler about the story structure of a story with a BIG disaster in the middle - one which we don't recover from until the next book. We also talk about the weight of world-building, how to write for your ideal reader. And Howard considers the question, what is the cost of death if immortality exists?\xa0


For reference, Mandatory Failure is the 18th Schlock Mercenary Book; 1st in the 3-book finale to the 20 book mega-arc. We highly recommend you read this first, because this episode contains spoilers and in-depth conversations about the book.\xa0


Homework:\xa0

Writing prompt: a major disaster has just occurred, write a scene in the aftermath.\xa0


Thing of the Week:\xa0

Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi\xa0


Liner Notes:\xa0

Book 18 Schlock Mercenary: Mandatory Failure\xa0

Sandra Tayler


\ufeffCredits: Your hosts for this episode were Mary Robinette Kowal, DongWon Song, Erin Roberts, Dan Wells, and Howard Tayler. It was produced by Emma Reynolds, recorded by Marshall Carr, Jr., and mastered by Alex Jackson.

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