Looks like Team Genre is blasting off again! This season kicks off with an examination of hope, from a magical circus between the World Wars to a conversion camp in Montana to a globe-trotting optimist. No matter how down you might feel about the world these days, this episode will give you a little more pep in your step. ITINERARY: J.R. Dawson (The First Bright Thing) talks writing about performance, the root of her Sparks, and having hope even in the face of a move out of a beloved home. Chuck Tingle (Camp Damascus) discusses the Trinity of Maligned Genres, what he means when he says 'love is real', and rooting demons in reality. Durreen Shahnaz (The Defiant Optimist) explains what it means to be a 'defiant optimist' and how we can take oppressive systems and make them instead work for the good of us all. For a full episode transcript, click here. Tor Presents: Voyage into Genre is a co-production with Lit Hub Radio Hosted by Drew Broussard Audio engineering + production by Stardust House Creative Music by Dani Lencioni of Evelyn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices