Matthew Leggatt
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matthewleggatt.bsky.social
Matthew Leggatt
@matthewleggatt.bsky.social
Senior Lecturer English and American Lit @ Winchester Uni: Lit & Film, utopia/dystopia, apocalypse, terror. Co-host Utopian and Dystopian Fictions podcast. D&D. Dog pics. Views own. He/Him
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Liam Knight and I have a podcast! It's called "Utopian and Dystopian Fictions" and features interviews with some fantastic scholars. In the first episode we interview Raffaella Baccolini! More to follow.

open.spotify.com/show/2HWH9BA...
Utopian and Dystopian Fictions
Podcast · Utopian and Dystopian Fictions · Utopian and Dystopian Fictions is a podcast for scholars, thinkers, and anyone with an interest in utopian and dystopian theory, literature, film, and televi...
open.spotify.com
On the way to work I ask Google six times to play an album. Each time it says "sure" then doesn't play it. Seventh time I say... "OK Google, can you actually play the album instead of just saying you're going to..." and it worked! So Google only responds to sass now apparently!
November 10, 2025 at 9:02 AM
Lesson my 9-month old is currently learning... it's quicker to destroy something than to put it together!
November 9, 2025 at 8:51 AM
My teaching this week! Eclectic as usual!
November 4, 2025 at 2:26 PM
I am a slow reader and I tell my students that if they, too, are slow readers then that's good... I think we read too fast these days! Breathe the text in... Live in it!
November 3, 2025 at 2:16 AM
Reposted by Matthew Leggatt
Excellent season finale of @utopiaanddystopia.bsky.social especially for lovers of Shirley Jackson and Ray Bradbury. Have a lovely hiatus. spotify.link/H455l0j3WXb #horror #scifi #dystopia #utopia
Episode 17: Halloween Special (Season 2 Finale) - Dystopia and Horror
spotify.link
November 1, 2025 at 10:13 PM
One of my students brought a guest with them to my class on Goblin Market this morning... it wasn't very chatty though!
October 31, 2025 at 10:06 PM
Reposted by Matthew Leggatt
Here it is! Episode 17. Our Halloween Special. Liam and I discuss the relationship between dystopia and horror. We're taking a short break in preparation for season 3, with exciting things to come. If you enjoyed season 2 let us know in a comment. Rate, Subscribe, blah!
spotify.link/s1McUJfzUXb
Episode 17: Halloween Special (Season 2 Finale) - Dystopia and Horror
spotify.link
October 31, 2025 at 10:16 AM
Reposted by Matthew Leggatt
Happy Halloween! Our Halloween episode goes live today at 10am BST. In it, Liam and I explore the connection between dystopia and horror. We hope you enjoy!
October 31, 2025 at 7:23 AM
I know every word of the three toothbrush adverts I've been bombarded with over the last year. This is the kind of weird quirk of our algorithmatized digital capitalism which promises targeted advertisements but provides only irritating slop that you'd skip every time if only you had a spare hand.
October 29, 2025 at 9:47 AM
Week 5 teaching. Another eclectic set of fabulous texts.
October 28, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Reposted by Matthew Leggatt
Spooky tales incoming... Our Halloween episode is dropping on, you guessed it, Friday 31st at 10am!
two dogs dressed up for halloween are sitting next to each other on a porch .
ALT: two dogs dressed up for halloween are sitting next to each other on a porch .
media.tenor.com
October 28, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Reposted by Matthew Leggatt
Thrilled and delighted to say that my new book, Utopian Variations: Utopia in Literature, Film, and Popular Culture, is now out! Thanks to the University of Essex's open access fund, it's available via open access too. You can download the full book for free here: www.peterlang.com/document/156...
Peter Lang Verlag - Utopian Variations
Utopian Variations is a comparative critical study of a variety of kinds of utopia and utopian discourse. Rather than focusing on more familiar forms ...
www.peterlang.com
October 22, 2025 at 6:57 AM
Reposted by Matthew Leggatt
In case you missed it, I talked about my latest novel - a speculative sci-fi detective story - at the 'Utopian and Dystopian Fictions Podcast.' Check it out! :)
>> youtu.be/eFW_XltfW-k?... <<

@indigitalgames.bsky.social @utopiaanddystopia.bsky.social @matthewleggatt.bsky.social
October 23, 2025 at 7:19 AM
This week's teaching. Three wonderful texts!
October 22, 2025 at 8:59 PM
From Sunday's #DnD session. Left on a cliffhanger!
October 21, 2025 at 6:46 AM
Forgot to do the week in teaching so, belatedly, here it is/was!
October 17, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Reposted by Matthew Leggatt
Just finished some recording. It's spooky season so in the next episode we discuss the overlap between horror and dystopia. We chatted about three texts in particular. Planning to drop this one in time for Halloween.
October 17, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Reposted by Matthew Leggatt
October 17, 2025 at 12:16 PM
I know there were some on here asking for the contents list and chapter titles before when I first posted the book cover. Well, the website for the book now has those details. Full list found here. In short, a lot of wonderful contributors and a range of great topics.
sunypress.edu/Books/W/Wast...
Wastelands and Wonderlands
sunypress.edu
October 15, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Here's this week's teaching.
October 9, 2025 at 5:10 PM
For anyone local(ish) to Winchester and interested, I'll be hosting a book launch event for Play in Utopian and Dystopian Fiction from 4.30 - 5.30pm on Wednesday 22nd October. All are welcome. It's being held in WB 5. I'll be giving a short reading from the book and a Q&A. My dog will not be there.
October 8, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Reposted by Matthew Leggatt
Episode 16 on all things playful in utopian and dystopian fiction is available to stream now via Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube. We had a lot of fun talking to the brilliant Stefano Gualeni. Take a listen and let us know what you think.
open.spotify.com/episode/3Pz0...
October 8, 2025 at 11:17 AM
Reposted by Matthew Leggatt
A year ago we posted the first episode of the podcast, uncertain what to do with it, if anyone would want to be interviewed by us, or if anyone would listen. This afternoon we'll be posting our 16th episode and have met some fabulous scholars along the way! The lesson is... collaboration is awesome!
October 8, 2025 at 6:38 AM
New episode of @utopiaanddystopia.bsky.social landing on Wednesday and given its close connection to my own research on play in utopian and dystopian fiction and the fact it marks a year since we started the podcast it's certainly a special one for me.
October 5, 2025 at 5:48 PM
I've been teaching at Winchester for nearly 13 years and I think this morning I managed to have the best class I've ever taught! Still buzzing from it. The new students really blew me away! Amazing what a good class can do for the mood.
October 3, 2025 at 6:18 PM