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In 2013, Alex Shaw published a small novel called The Cartographer’s Handbook, the first in a series called The New Century Multiverse. The premise is alt history, where post-Civil War America is suddenly overcome with a plague of dangerous monsters that overwhelm the Reconstruction, and bring the nation to its knees. The series is not about its fall, however, but about the heroes that help bring it back from the brink, and step into a wider world that is not the one they knew. New mysteries to unlock, magics to discover, and worlds to explore. Ten years later, the New Century Multiverse is now thirteen books strong, with more on the way. It has had 2 major story arcs, an Avengers style coming together of the heroes of its various books, and multiple worlds and genres to explore. This is its first fan podcast. Through The Wind Door is a deep dive exploration of the novels and their corresponding audiodramas, along with interviews of the cast and creators. Accessible to new readers and long time fans, join Greg and Toby as they share thoughts about this engaging series.
Episodes

Wednesday Aug 26, 2020
Whitescarves Team-Up! #3, Pt. 2 - Laureta Sela
Wednesday Aug 26, 2020
Wednesday Aug 26, 2020
"I get to be Lucius Malfoy cut with Judi Dench, let's do this!" - Laureta
As promised, we get fucking weird up in this joint. In addition to serious discussions of Viola, Captain Beatrix, Abuelita, and even quiet young Shall, we bring a whole lot of other silly voices to the mix.
We discuss personal and media influences on these compelling New Century characters, potential future side projects for your Wind Door podcasters, and speculate on bringing back old characters in future installments of Phase 2 and beyond.
After the banger of an outro, stick around for 11 minutes of extracted outtakes.
Spoilers for all of New Century, up to Chapter 9 of Uncivil Outlaw.
The New Century Multiverse books and audio dramas can be found on:
https://www.newcenturymultiverse.com
Intro is "Catchy Song" by Dillon Francis
Outro is "Woman" by Kesha (NSFW)

Sunday Aug 23, 2020
Whitescarves Team-Up! #3, Pt. 1 - Laureta Sela
Sunday Aug 23, 2020
Sunday Aug 23, 2020
"How do I put this? You start doing it before you know you're doing i-Georgie what the hell? Sorry, my cat." - Laureta
Are you ready for this one? Because it's about to get weird up in this joint.
Well. Okay, not that weird. This is actually very serious business. Yes, most serious. Today we have the first part of our interview with Laureta Sela, the voice of Annie Oakley, Harry Arlington, Viola Heartstone, and many other mainstays of the New Century cannon canon. She brings a lot of fun energy to the table, but for the most part we get deep into complex character motivations for Annie, Harry, and Aunt Cleo this time around.
There's only hints of what eventually comes down the pike in part 2. Brace yourselves, folks.
Spoilers for all of New Century, up to Chapter 9 of Uncivil Outlaw.
The New Century Multiverse books and audio dramas can be found on:
https://www.newcenturymultiverse.com
Intro is "Catchy Song" by Dillon Francis
Outro is "Legends Never Die" by Against the Current

Sunday Aug 16, 2020
Setting Out - Part 3 (Secret Rooms)
Sunday Aug 16, 2020
Sunday Aug 16, 2020
"Complexity isn't a vice."
Part 1 of Episode 9, hot off the presses. Today we start covering Chapters 10-12 of Secret Rooms, where we uncover some of those secrets from past and present. We talk about propaganda, the importance of always questioning, and what it means to have a father that is willing to treat you like you're an adult.
We end up going deep on these subjects, so a bunch of the other interesting things are saved for part 2. Also you may notice that we left out chapter 13... it's not because of superstition. Chapter 13 gets its own episode all to itself, and given we talked close to two hours about that, you'll get to see why in due course.
#BlackLivesMatter
#ProtestEverywhere
No Such Thing As An Alpha Male:
https://www.businessinsider.com/no-such-thing-alpha-male-2016-10
The New Century Multiverse Website:
https://www.newcenturymultiverse.com
The New Century Multiverse Podcast Feed:
https://newcenturyshow.podbean.com/
Fireside Alliance: https://firesidealliance.squarespace.com/
Intro is "The Talons of Adventure, The Antlers of Romance" by Doctor Turtle of the Free Music Archive
Outro is "Believer" by Imagine Dragons

Sunday Aug 09, 2020
Setting Out - Part 2 (Secret Rooms)
Sunday Aug 09, 2020
Sunday Aug 09, 2020
"A well crafted chapter title can prepare the reader for what comes next, while not giving too much away, instead inspiring curiosity."
The second half of our diving into chapters 6-9 of Secret Rooms. Discussion includes further exploration of our primary subjects, the introduction of Tabitha Chorley to our narrative and what that entails, as well as a deeper discussion about some more of the themes of New Century touched on in these early chapters. And there's a hell of a collection of bloopers and outtakes at the end.
#BlackLivesMatter
#PortlandProtest
The New Century Multiverse Website:
https://www.newcenturymultiverse.com
The New Century Multiverse Podcast Feed:
https://newcenturyshow.podbean.com/
Fireside Alliance: https://firesidealliance.squarespace.com/
Intro is "The Talons of Adventure, The Antlers of Romance" by Doctor Turtle of the Free Music Archive
Outro is "Set Me In Motion" by Bruce Hornsby and the Range

Sunday Aug 02, 2020
Setting Out - Part 1 (Secret Rooms)
Sunday Aug 02, 2020
Sunday Aug 02, 2020
"It's the facial expression equivalent of kicking someone's leg from underneath the dinner table."
Now we finally take our first steps into the new world of these Reunified States, and meet some more of our growing cast of characters in New Century. Today's podcast is the first half of Episode 8, where we start to cover chapters 6-9 of Secret Rooms: The Definitive Edition. (as well as a brief dip back into Chapter 5)
While a full analysis on the differences between the first and second publication of this novel is going to be saved till our final episode on this book, it's here that we start to see how the story originally began, before the flashback chapters were added. We talk about the alternate history genre, and influences both historical and fictional. We try to keep it light on real world correlations, but it's hard not to look at our collection of protagonnists and wish we were there, in a world of heroes.
#BlackLivesMatter
#TrumpHasNoPlan
The New Century Multiverse Website:
https://www.newcenturymultiverse.com
The New Century Multiverse Podcast Feed:
https://newcenturyshow.podbean.com/
Fireside Alliance: https://firesidealliance.squarespace.com/
Intro is "The Talons of Adventure, The Antlers of Romance" by Doctor Turtle of the Free Music Archive
Outro is "Hazy Shade of Winter" by The Bangles

Saturday Aug 01, 2020
Whitescarves Team-Up! #2, Pt. 2 - Theo Leigh
Saturday Aug 01, 2020
Saturday Aug 01, 2020
"Oh, it gon' be gay."
More fun times with Theo, the Mighty Magician. We just completely go off the rails this go around. Sure, we keep talking about New Century, but we also get into America Chavez, Miss Congeniality, She-Ra... look, we're geeks. This is what we do. And you're geeks too, so stop judging us. (Also, even more clips from other media. Blame Alex.)
We also get into hopes and speculation for the future of New Century, reflections on what it means to us (particularly now), and how LGBTQ works behind the scenes and the role it will play in the future (We're Queer and we're here.)
This bonus episode contains spoilers for all of New Century, including Uncivil Outlaw (sort of).
Etinu Sevracsetihw!
#BlackLivesMatter
The New Century Multiverse books and audio dramas can be found on:
https://www.newcenturymultiverse.com
Intro is "The Avengers" by Alan Sylvestri
Outro is "Cuckoo" by Lissie

Sunday Jul 26, 2020
Whitescarves Team-Up! #2, Pt. 1 - Theo Leigh
Sunday Jul 26, 2020
Sunday Jul 26, 2020
"You named your fucking wizard Taco?" - us getting off topic and discussing The Adventure Zone
Here's another first for the podcast. Because apparently our little fan teamup has done so well, someone who is an ascended fan and a member of the New Century cast has answered the call to speak on all things fannish.
Best known for playing Princess Gwendolyne in The Princess Thieves, we also start delving into her feelings about some of her other roles, including Truth Arlington, Amanda Culver, and Lucy Weatherfield. We learn about her humble origins, where she pulls inspiration for her various voices, and gab garralously regarding the infamous Gibbet goof.
This bonus episode contains spoilers for all of New Century, including Uncivil Outlaw (sort of).
Etinu Sevracsetihw!
#BlackLivesMatter
#WrathMonth
Oh Long Johnson cat:
https://youtu.be/kkwiQmGWK4c
The full QI bit with John Sessions:
https://youtu.be/Pc3OyvbJkj4
The New Century Multiverse books and audio dramas can be found on:
https://www.newcenturymultiverse.com
Intro is "The Avengers" by Alan Sylvestri
Outro is "King of Anything" by Sara Bareilles

Sunday Jul 19, 2020
Beginnings - Part 2 (Secret Rooms)
Sunday Jul 19, 2020
Sunday Jul 19, 2020
"... and what Lucy says in response to this isn't a solution. She doesn't say it is. But... it is something small. Achievable, and helpful. And it's that little glimpse of hope in the darkness that I not only like to hold onto... I need it."
The second half of Episode 7 ended up being much shorter than expected. Once more I used my editing shears liberally, and Toby contributed in a major way to say things more concisely, emotionally, honestly. But I think this one ends on the hope that Alex invests in his works, and moreover, we've got another batch of outtakes at the end for some laughs.
We talk about Doris Cooper, Katherine Holloway, and Joanna Grey. We've got some more surprise Elton John, discussion about why combining elements to create new stories is always helpful when done well, and narrative voice. Most of all, we talk about why a hat can be so important and hard hitting. As always, we bring the feels.
#BlackLivesMatter
#WrathMonth
"World on Fire" - Sarah McLahlan
"My Father's Gun - Elton John
The New Century Multiverse Website:
https://www.newcenturymultiverse.com
The New Century Multiverse Podcast Feed:
https://newcenturyshow.podbean.com/
Fireside Alliance: https://firesidealliance.squarespace.com/
Intro is "The Talons of Adventure, The Antlers of Romance" by Doctor Turtle of the Free Music Archive
Outro is "Satellite Call" by Sara Bareilles

Monday Jul 13, 2020
Beginnings - Part 1 (Secret Rooms)
Monday Jul 13, 2020
Monday Jul 13, 2020
"They want to keep us chasing/their money and greed/but happiness/oh, I know is free/don't curse the darkness/just be a light/let it shine for the heartless/let it shine through the night." - Tash Neal
Welcome to a brand new episode for a brand new story! The next two episodes cover chapters 1 through 5 of Secret Rooms: Definitive Edition. Like Episode 6, I cut this one into two halves because of length, and also due to additional editing time. Between changing things due to sound issues, cleaning up some wordy asides or removing parts due to feeling like they were insensitive, this is likely the most editing I have done thus far. I hope you'll agree the end product is worth it.
Today we get into some of the fundamental themes that show up in both this book and New Century as a whole: the importance of names, familial relationships both good and bad, and the metaphor of how flawed systems crack more readily when faced with something it's not able to fight easily. We also talk about the role of distaster fiction as a form of escapism during a time of very real disaster.
Be prepared: there's more politics in the pipeline. It's hard not to talk about the real world stuff that comes up when discussing New Century. The topic is baked in, especially because of the way things were getting worse around us due to the election of Trump, and what has come about as a result. But we'll try to keep it light.
#BlackLivesMatter
#WrathMonth
Recommended links for fun and profit learning:
Ian Danskin - "The Artist is Absent:Davey Wreden and The Beginners Guide"
https://youtu.be/4N6y6LEwsKc
"Where Once Poe Walked" - by H.P. Lovecraft
https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Where_Once_Poe_Walked
Lindsey Ellis - "Death of the Author"
https://youtu.be/MGn9x4-Y_7A
The New Century Multiverse Website:
https://www.newcenturymultiverse.com
The New Century Multiverse Podcast Feed:
https://newcenturyshow.podbean.com/
Fireside Alliance: https://firesidealliance.squarespace.com/
Intro is "The Talons of Adventure, The Antlers of Romance" by Doctor Turtle of the Free Music Archive
Outro is "Can't Hold Me Down" by GriZ feat. Tash Neal

Monday Jul 06, 2020
Gods and Monsters (Let Them Go)
Monday Jul 06, 2020
Monday Jul 06, 2020
"I have faced my ghosts like Rebecca has faced hers, and I am no longer afraid of this story and the emotions it brings out for me."
Part 2 of our final discussion on Let Them Go focuses on the mythological, where were come back to the Maiden, Mother, Crone archetype, but also delve into ancient Fertile Crescent myths that have a special significance to one of our show hosts.
Our story has monsters and ghosts, but what happens if we consider the story as an allegory for apotheosis? Is Rebecca regaining her life and agency not unlike a goddess coming into her own? One thing is for certain: even after the conversation is done and recorded, sometimes new insights can be found afterwards, while editing a podcast all pretty for others to enjoy.
Make sure to listen to the end, as I included some hilarious outtakes that I decided didn't fit in with the conversation, but were too much fun to throw away! (I also apologize for any background noise that sounds like I keep bumping my microphone, I don't know what the noise comes from since it's a headset, and I haven't yet figured out if there is a way to remove it, since it doesn't show up as background noise.)
#BlackLivesMatter
#WrathMonth
Recommended links for fun and profit learning:
Dan Olsen - "Annihilation and Decoding Metaphor"
The courtship of Inanna and Dumuzi
http://jewishchristianlit.com/Texts/ANEmrg/Inanna&Dumuzi.html
The Mesopotamian Underworld
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Mesopotamian_underworld
Inanna's Descent
https://www.ancient.eu/article/215/inannas-descent-a-sumerian-tale-of-injustice/
Lindsey Ellis - "Is Titanic Good, Actually?"
The New Century Multiverse Website:
https://www.newcenturymultiverse.com
The New Century Multiverse Podcast Feed:
https://newcenturyshow.podbean.com/
Fireside Alliance: https://firesidealliance.squarespace.com/
Intro is "Moonrise" by Chad Crouch of the Free Music Archive
Outro is "Fumbling Towards Ecstasy" by Sarah Mclahlan