Against Hopepunk ft. Nick Mamatas

Sci-fi and fantasy has always had an optimistic current, whether it’s utopian space-age cities or noble chosen ones vanquishing a dark lord. In recent years, with the popularity of romantasy and cozy fantasy, it’s easier than ever to immerse yourself in a more hopeful world. But what if instead we made you feel bad? In this wide-ranging conversation with multitalented author and editor Nick Mamatas, we talk about crushing your joy, corporate greed in the publishing and music production industries, and why the 80s and 90s were objectively the best time for music. Show notes:

• • Alex Rowland’s original hopepunk post.

• • Buy 120 Murders

• • Nick’s Bluesky

• • Perfect Crime Party

• • Dark Yonder Issue 1

• • Nick’s website that never gets updated

• • That Slayer meme

Have you bought Blight yet? If you like dark things, you should!

• • Buy it from your favourite online retailer

• • Buy direct from the publisher

“Do You Love the Colour Of the Sky?” in Trollbreath Magazine