Realm, formerly Serial Box, is an American audio entertainment company that creates original fiction podcasts and audiobook series, which include continuations of TV series. Realm's podcasts feature an array of production styles depending on the story, some with full casts, others with single voice narration. NPR described Realm as intending to serve as an "HBO for readers".
History In September 2015, Julian Yap and Molly Barton launched Serial Box. The first production was Bookburners, created by Max Gladstone. The writing process was based on television serials rather than novels. Founder Yap realized that he was reading fewer novels due to time constraints from work. Both Yap and Barton believe that serialized fiction will make reading more accessible and social.
In April 2021, Serial Box changed its name to Realm and released its productions globally as podcasts. The productions can be listened to for free with advertising, or with a subscription.
Process Realm hires a lead author, or showrunner, write a pilot episode and a "show bible" which will outline the plot for each season. After this, Realm brings together a team of writers who will contribute ideas in a manner similar to a television writers' room. At the end of this period, each author is assigned episodes to write. Whereas a novel generally takes 2–3 years to be written and published, a Realm production can be completed 6 months from the start date. Because the first episode is published before the season is completed, the authors can tailor the ending of the season to the audience's reactions. It is the responsibility of the showrunner to ensure that all episodes maintain a consistent writing style despite the involvement of multiple authors.
Awards Molly Barton, Jeff Li, James Stuart, and Julian Yap were nominated for the 2019 World Fantasy Professional Award for their work with Serial Box.
Productions
Title Number of seasons Showrunner Other authors Alternis 1 N/A Maurice Broaddus, Jacqueline Koyanagi, E.C. Myers, and Andrea Phillips Blood & Gold 1 N/A Jeffrey J. Mariotte, Peter Murrieta, and Greg Cox Bookburners 5 Max Gladstone Margaret Dunlap, Amal El-Mohtar, Mur Lafferty, Brian Francis Slattery, and Andrea Phillips Born to the Blade 1 Michael R. Underwood Marie Brennan, Cassandra Khaw, and Malka OlderBullet Catcher3Joaquin LoweNoneDark Heights2CD MillerNoneDead Air 1 Gwenda Bond Rachel Caine and Carrie Ryan Exquisite Corpse 1 N/A (prompts provided by Dread Central) Richard Chizmar, Paul Cornell, Christopher Golden, Brian Keene, Cassandra Khaw, Stephen Kozeniewski, Nick Mamatas, Sisters of Slaughter (Michelle Garza and Melissa Lason), Paul Tremblay, and Alyssa Wong False Idols 1 N/A Lisa Klink, Patrick Lohier, Diana Renn, and Robert K. WittmanFirst Street1Catherine McKenzieCatherine McKenzie, Jasmine Guillory, Elyssa Friedland, Shawn Klomparens, Randy Susan Meyers, Kermit Roosevelt III Geek Actually 1 N/A Cathy Yardley, Melissa Blue, Rachel Stuhler, and Cecilia TanGods and Lies1Elizabeth VailNoneKnox1N/AK Arsenault Rivera, Brooke Bolander, Gabino Iglesias, and Sunny MoraineMachina1Fran WildeFran Wilde, Malka Older, and Curtis C. Chen, with Martha WellsMarvel's Black Panther: Sins of the King1N/ASteven Barnes, Ira Madison III, Tananarive Due, Geoffrey Thorne, and Mohale Mashigo Marvel's Black Widow: Bad Blood1N/ALindsay Smith, Margaret Dunlap, Mikki Kendall, L.L. McKinney, and Taylor StevensMarvel's Jessica Jones: Playing With Fire1N/ALauren Beukes, Vita Ayala, Sam Beckbessinger, Zoe Quinn, and Elsa SjunnesonMarvel's Thor: Metal Gods1N/AAaron Stewart-Ahn, Jay Edidin, Brian Keene, and Yoon Ha Lee A Most Dangerous Woman 1 Brenda Clough None Ninth Step Station 2 Malka Older Curtis C. Chen, Jacqueline Koyanagi, and Fran WildeOrphan Black: The Next Chapter2Malka OlderMadeline Ashby, Mishell Baker, Heli Kennedy, E. C. Myers and Lindsay SmithOutliers1Dave BeazleyCasey Wells. Voiced by Rory Culkin. ReMade 2 Matthew Cody Gwenda Bond, Amy Rose Capetta, Carrie Harris, E.C. Myers, Andrea Phillips, and Kiersten White Silverwood: The Door 1 Brian Keene Brian Keene, Richard Chizmar, Stephen Kozeniewski, Sisters of Slaughter (Michelle Garza and Melissa Lason) Sonic the Hedgehog Presents: The Chaotix Casefiles 1 N/A Ian Jones-Quartey, Dan Jolley, Ian Flynn, Evan Stanley Spider King 1 Justin C. Key None Tremontaine 4 Ellen Kushner Liz Duffy Adams, Patty Bryant, Joel Derfner, Tessa Gratton, Alaya Dawn Johnson, Malinda Lo, Karen Lord, Racheline Maltese, Mary Anne Mohanraj, Delia Sherman, and Pat Witcover. The Triangle 1 Dan Koboldt Mindy McGinnis and Sylvia Spruck Wrigley The Vela 2 Yoon Ha Lee Becky Chambers, SL Huang, and Rivers Solomon Whitehall 2 Liz Duffy Adams Mary Robinette Kowal, Madeleine Robins, Barbara Samuel, and Delia Sherman The Witch Who Came in from the Cold 2 Max Gladstone and Lindsay Smith Cassandra Rose Clarke, Michael Swanwick, Ian Tregillis, and Fran WildeWoodbine2Alex Nursall and Emily KelloggNone
References