Episode 766: Echoes of Antiquity, Ancient Cultures in Speculative Fiction

The Blasters & Blades PodcastFrom the soaring epics of modern fantasy to the distant, alien ruins of far-future sci-fi, creators have always looked backward to build worlds moving forward. But how do you successfully translate the majesty, mythos, and complexity of ancient human civilizations into speculative worlds? In this panel discussion, our guests explore how real-world history—from Mesopotamian city-states to Mesoamerican astronomy—inspires the politics, magic systems, and technologies of our favorite fictional universes. Join us as we discuss the fine line between creative inspiration and lazy stereotypes, and how the deep past continues to shape the future of storytelling. This was a fun interview, so go check it out. Lend us your eyes and ears, you won’t be sorry!! Co-Hosts:JR Handley (Author) (Grunt)Jana S Brown (Author) (Chief Shenanigator)We work for free, so if you wanna throw a few pennies our way there is a linked Buy Me A Coffee site where you can do so. Just mention the podcast in the comments when you donate, and I'll keep the sacred bean water boiling!Support the Show: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/AuthorJRHandleyOur LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/blastersandbladespodcast Today's SponsorFreedom's Vow: Shepherd Trilogy by B.K. Gibson: https://a.co/d/08HYjYaq Follow B.K. Gibson on social mediaGibson’s Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/bkgibsonwriter Gibson’s Website: https://www.bkgibson.com/ Gibson’s Twitter: https://x.com/bkgibsonwrites Gibson’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61589323534470 Gibson’s Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@DirtbaggeryBookReviews/streams Coldlight Press: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/publisher/11446/Coldlight-PressFollow Jacob Sharp on social mediaJacob’s Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Jacob-Sharp/author/B0F3WHJXBW Jacob’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jacob.sharp.writes/ Follow Jana S Brown on social mediaJana’s Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Jana-S.-Brown/author/B015VJV7JW Jana’s Website: www.opalkingdompress.com Jana’s Facebook: www.facebook.com/janasbrownwrites Jana’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/janasbrownwrites/ Jana’s LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/opalkingdompress Follow Jena Rey on social mediaJena’s Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Jena-Rey/author/B08XSCHXYXFollow Jesse James Fain on social mediaJesse’s Amazon: http://amazon.com/author/jessejamesfain Jesse’s Website: https://outlawauthor.com/ Jesse’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/JesseJamesFain Jesse’s Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/user/OutlawAuthor/ Jesse’s Substack: https://jessejamesfain.substack.com/ Follow Melissa McShane on social mediaMelissa’s Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Melissa-McShane/author/B00TON8E1Q Melissa’s Website: www.melissamcshanewrites.com Melissa’s Twitter: www.twitter.com/melissamcshanewrites Melissa’s Facebook: www.facebook.com/melissamcshanewrites Melissa’s Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/mcshaneminions Melissa’s Discord: https://discord.gg/wKXUe89Kh7 Melissa's Store: http://www.nightharborpress.com/ Dan Davis History Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@DanDavisHistory/videos #scifishenanigans #scifishenaniganspodcast #bbp #blastersandblades #blastersandbladespodcast #podcast #scifipodcast #fantasypodcast #scifi #fantasy #books #rpg #comics #fandom #literature #comedy #veteran #army #armyranger #ranger #scififan #redshirts #scifiworld #sciencefiction #scifidaily #scificoncept #podcastersofinstagram #scificons #podcastlife #podcastsofinstagram #scifibooks #awardwinningscifi #newepisode #podcastersofinstagram #podcastaddict #podcast #scifigeek #scifibook #sfv #scifivisionaries #firesidechat #chat #panel #fireside #religionquestion #coffee #tea #coffeeortea #CoffeeBrandCoffee #JRHandley #NickGarber #MadamStabby #JanaSBrown #JenaRey #OpalKingdomPress #AncientCultures #BKGibson #JacobSharp #JesseJamesFain #OutlawAuthor #MelissaMcShane