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Quinn's Ideas ·Oct 9, 2026 ·14 min

The Lie Behind the Star | Quinn's Graphic Novel

Evaluation and Summary

6.3/10

Quinn's Ideas presents 'The Lie Behind the Star,' a 14-minute episode introducing a graphic novel concept centered on the Waanzilishi, an underground civilization that discovers bioluminescent mushrooms responding to a distant cosmic signal called the Kimora. The episode describes how this civilization evolves from initial discovery through religious and technological advancement, eventually creating three genetically modified beings—The Three Who Are One—who can directly interface with the fungal network and hear the Kimora continuously. These hybrid entities guide the Waanzilishi toward building a vast bio-engineered city and eventually launching a mission to find the source of the signal, believed by many to be a goddess. The narrative blends hard sci-fi concepts (alien signals, biological engineering, space exploration) with mysticism and religious fervor, exploring themes of chosen peoples, technological transcendence, and the search for cosmic meaning. The episode functions primarily as a worldbuilding pitch for Quinn's upcoming graphic novel, with show notes providing extensive supplementary links to artwork, music credits, crowdfunding campaigns (Indiegogo), and related content playlists covering sci-fi classics like Three-Body Problem, Dune, and Hyperion. Quinn appears to be a creator/artist rather than a guest-hosted discussion, positioning this as a creative announcement and call for support rather than analytical commentary on existing work.

Verdict: A well-crafted sci-fi worldbuilding pitch with imaginative concepts that sparks curiosity, but limited by its brief format and lack of critical depth or guest discussion to elevate it beyond a creative announcement.

Arts rubric

  • Insight into the work 3/5 20%

    The episode provides detailed worldbuilding and narrative setup but reads more as creative pitch than critical analysis or craft discussion about the graphic novel medium itself.

  • Expertise and access 4/5 20%

    Quinn is the creator presenting original work with evident artistic vision, demonstrating clear authority as the author/artist, though the format doesn't showcase deep critical expertise.

  • Sparks curiosity 4/5 15%

    The cosmic horror-meets-mysticism premise with bioluminescent fungi and alien signals is imaginative and compelling; the crowdfunding link suggests genuine opportunity to engage further.

  • Substance 3/5 15%

    The show notes deliver rich narrative content and worldbuilding detail, but the 14-minute format and pitch-focused structure suggest limited depth beyond the concept itself; no guest discussion or thematic exploration evident.

  • Delivers on its title 4/5 15%

    The title 'The Lie Behind the Star' is somewhat cryptic but the episode clearly delivers the core concept and mythology; the 'lie' likely refers to the Kimora's true nature versus religious interpretation, though this remains implicit.

  • Value for time 3/5 15%

    At 14 minutes, the episode efficiently conveys the concept, though the format as a creative pitch rather than discussion means limited conversational depth or analysis to justify extended engagement.

How we score Arts

Worth it if you enjoy cosmic horror, speculative fiction worldbuilding, or want to support independent graphic novel creators with ambitious sci-fi premises.

Content flags

  • Sponsored Episode functions as a crowdfunding pitch with multiple links to Indiegogo campaign, Patreon, and merchandise; primarily promotional for Quinn's graphic novel project.

Based on the episode description. AI-generated; it can be wrong.

Show notes

The universe is incomprehensibly vast. Earth is an unprotected bubble surrounded in infinite cosmic emptiness. Within that darkness, that eternal blackness who knows what might wait, and what eventually might call out to us. The Lie Behind The Star, follows the Waanzilishi, a civilization who deep within caverns of the earth discovered strange pulsating mushrooms, mushrooms which they grew to understand were actually reacting to something remote, very remote. The bioluminescent mushrooms were somehow responding to a distant signal from outer space, undetectable through normal means. The consumption of the Mushrooms brought visions of the cosmos, a wealth of outside knowledge. At night under the influence of the mushrooms they would dance wildly beneath the earth illuminated by the thousands upon thousands of pulsating fungi, filled with the music of the universe. Uploaded 11-11-23 As time went on the attachment between the Waanzilishi and the mushrooms grew stronger. Some among them claimed that they could themselves hear the call of the signal, which they named the Kimora. In time three children would be born, The Waanzilishi, using what they have learned, changed the children somehow, made them a part of the fungal network, they became, The Three Who Are One. By directly linking into the fungal network they could manipulate it, initiate its growth, use it to produce chemicals, and biological substances of all kinds. The Three Who are One were granted by the fungus near unending life, around them eventually grew an immense city all formed from the biological matter of the fungus. It was said that the Three Who are One could hear the Kimora at all times, that their purpose was guided by the Kimora and the Kimora alone. The Waanzilishi prospered and grew, advancing themselves, technologically, philosophically, and intellectually whilst simultaneously the Kimora took on heavily mystical and religious significance. Many believe that the Kimora, was the voice of a Goddess, that the Waanzilishi were her chosen people. To the Waanzilishi, the Adjeki, the outsiders played no role, they were not chosen by Kimora. Eventually it became the mission of the Waanzilishi to find their goddess. The Three who are one declared that those who heard the Kimora most strongly would be taken as children and trained for a mission, a mission they may never return from, aboard a biological vessel they would leave the earth, and seek her out. BACK THIS CAMPAIGN: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/the-lie-behind-the-star-graphic-novel/coming_soon/x/22779913 👽 Please consider supporting this channel on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ideasoficeandfire or PAYPAL - https://paypal.me/QuinnsIdeas?locale.x=en_US 🎨 Art: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jDDLk_sdSzZsn8vlXz_7-6XLmY9Go6Z1ap9f1K8R6hk/edit?usp=sharing 🎵 Music: https://www.youtube.com/@JamezDahlMusic 📚 Get These Books! https://amzn.to/3AQ0aSs Quinn's Discord: https://discord.gg/uGx4WsjVCZ FOLLOW QUINN ON TWITTER: Twitter: https://twitter.com/IDEASOFICE_FIRE I NOW HAVE A SUBREDDIT: https://www.reddit.com/r/IdeasofIceandFire/ Quinn's New Graphic Novel: https://www.quinnhoward.net/theliebehindthestar Buy Quinn's Comic Books: https://www.quinnhoward.net/shop Quinn's Website: https://www.quinnhoward.net Like me on Facebook!: https://www.facebook.com/IOIAF 🎥 Mentioned Videos 🎬 Other Playlist Three-Body Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRXGGVBzHLUfIzEhovpQJ2ENiNvJoOD2A H.P. Lovecraft Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRXGGVBzHLUcMoc_ZljrDbgrRi3x_CLYD Hyperion Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRXGGVBzHLUfgKLf-CBr5VCC2xM0qX8Xh Dune Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRXGGVBzHLUdsgN_vFaZmfjc6bXxPqajV Foundation Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRXGGVBzHLUeQMsBkZJ72aIIG8nR-No6J Feel free to leave a comment like and subscrib Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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