Fantology

March was a great month for bad news, but there were a few nuggets of good news in the fantasy community! Josh, Ryan & Stephen recap and discuss recent tv, movie & book news in this episode. Beware, moderate spoilers if you aren't already current! Plus, Covid-19 bets that have aged poorly and moments one Fantology member doesn't want his wife to hear! Topic tags: Stranger things 2:22, The Witcher...

The second book of His Dark Materials keeps the momentum that started The Golden Compass going strong. This series has strong, unique character voices, engaging action, and meaningful symbolism. Although it suffers a bit from the classic second "bridge" book phenomenon, that by no means takes away from the quality of the series. Plus, looking to say fantasy books aren't of literary note? Bring it...

Ryan breaks down Michael J. Sullivan's first trilogy and does his best to convince Stephen to try reading it again. Sullivan pumps out a lot of content and is without a doubt the most prolific self-published fantasy author out there, but is the prose quality up to everyone's standards? Plus, comparisons to Wheel of Time, discussion on audiobooks vs physical books and several rash promises that one...

Blast from the past here! Artemis Fowl is going to be released as a movie soon so we thought we'd dust off our old copies and review it. This book (and series) was a huge hit in the early 2000's and still holds up well today. The characters are fun and the plot moves quickly. There's even some nicely executed twists at the end! If you never read this as a child, check it out now. Plus, look for Be...

A steampunk, young adult & alternative universe setting is not our usual cup of tea in a book. But here it works, and works well. The His Dark Materials series is as enticing as it is controversial, and we discuss the nature of that controversy and how it should be handled as you read. There is some deep symbolism here with meanings which may be unsettling to some readers. Plus, looking for the be...

The Wheel of Time begins turning for us in our review of the first book of the series. These books are foundational in every sense of the word! Jordan built from Tolkien and then in turn has influenced the popular authors of today. Speaking of, how well does the series stand up when read 30 years after its initial publication? Plus, check out our Power Rankings of characters from the first book! C...

No sophomore slump for Golden Son, the second book in the Red Rising trilogy! The middle entry continues to astound us with its unique formula of unforgettable non-stop action intermixed with poignant character moments. We discuss our favorite characters & scenes and speculate how Pierce Brown was able to keep the plot twisting and turning so effectively. Plus, yet another spelling error shames Fa...

In this episode we review the entirety of The Witcher saga - video games, books & TV show. After the release of the Netflix show the books have had a huge surge in popularity and fans have been calling for another video game. Why has this series been so successful and what's the best medium for this story to be told in anyway? Plus, we apologize for knowing nothing about the noble country of Polan...

If you like werewolves, you'll like the second book of the Dresden Files by Jim Butcher. This one is still a little slow with a simple plot, but it continues to build up towards the brilliance of the series that's manifest later on. Plus, some of us are unaware that werewolf is a real word with a canonized spelling. You learn something new every day! Chat with us more! Tell us why we're wrong! Dis...

This new dark fantasy book is the best urban fantasy we've read since Dresden Files. And that's high praise coming from Josh! The setting, characters and prose combine to form the beginning of a promising series that captivates the reader's attention from beginning to end. Plus, how come we missed out on joining a secret society in college? Chat with us more! Tell us why we're wrong! Discord: http...

The First Law Trilogy is the hallmark of grimdark fantasy. Gritty and hyper-realistic, this series is not for the faint of heart or weak of stomach. However, for those that have the fortitude there is a lot to love in the raw connection to characters & superb prose craft. This series is a new favorite - we're excited to read more Abercrombie! Plus, who is Louis XIV and where is France anyways? Cha...

We're looking ahead to a big 2020 of fantasy books, movies and TV shows. As always there are new offerings from Marvel, plus Amazon's Wheel of Time & Lord of the Rings adaptations. Sanderson's new Stormlight Archive entry headlines 2020's book releases, but there are a few others we'll be reading as well! Plus, when can we expect more Song of Ice & Fire & Kingkiller Chronicles and are the authors...

Red Rising is a classic mashup of The Hunger Games, Percy Jackson, Lord of the Flies & Ender's Game. However, this fast moving book is more than the sum of its parts. There are plenty of rough edges here as Red Rising sets up for the rest of the series, but overall we enjoyed the book and look forward to reading more Darrow! Also, who has time for camelCase during a podcast? Chat with us more! Tel...

Our first segment of Fantasy News is a recap of a momentous 2019. Game of Thrones went out with a whimper and The Witcher came in with a bang. The Boys, The Umbrella Academy, Watchmen and several Marvel offerings commanded our viewing attention. Our literary eyeballs saw Lightbringer & Licanius come to an end. Plus, we mix up heroine Starlight with Sanderson's newest YA offering and can't wait for...

The first book of Jim Butcher's Dresden Files is a slow start to what will eventually blossom into one of our favorite series. This is urban fantasy done right! Dresden doesn't take itself too seriously and neither do we, with comparisons to Harry Potter and trashy romance novels. Plus, is male gaze a thing in this series, and how much of an issue is it? Chat with us more! Tell us why we're wrong!...

Gardens of the Moon by Steven Erikson is the entrance into the epically long and complex Malazan universe. Our resident expert Ryan is on hand to guide Ben & Stephen through the book and chuckle about their misguided theories. We also discuss favorite scenes and characters and how the series compares to Sanderson's cosmere. Plus our Worst of the Best segment and the dangers of audiobooks and high...

What is it exactly about The Stormlight Archive that so thoroughly captures our imaginations? We try to answer this question as we tackle the IT series of the fantasy book world. Our favorite moments & characters receive full coverage, but no series is perfect! Our new "worst of the best segment" at the end of the episode talks about a few not-so-favorite moments. Plus, what would it be like to do...

The Remembrance of Earth's Past series by Cixin Liu is a breakthrough sci-fi series that took our collective breath away. Translated from its original Chinese, the prose is sharp and perfectly displays Liu's imaginative yet haunting vision of a future after contact with an alien race. We discuss cultural differences, ethical dilemmas, and questions of what it means to be human. Also, a callback to...

The machine that is Brandon Sanderson can write pretty high quality YA books as well. How does this series compare to his more prolific epic fantasy series? The guys have some positive comparisons, and deep cosmere lore. We liked the humor (mostly), but across the board struggled with the cheesy romance. Also, a deep dive into the psychology of 11 year-old Stephen's terror of basilisks.  Chat with...

The conclusion to the Licanius Trilogy was a mixed bag for us. Worth reading, but somewhat disappointing after the success of the first two books. Also, Stephen is a prose snob!  Chat with us more! Tell us why we're wrong! Discord: https://discord.gg/9AMJqj2 Support the show on Patreon and access additional perks: https://www.patreon.com/fantology_books Check out our exclusive Merch in our Spreads...

No spoilers in our breakdown of the first book in a new and unique critically-acclaimed speculative fiction series from R.F. Kuang. We're excited to read more of this one!  Chat with us more! Tell us why we're wrong! Discord: https://discord.gg/9AMJqj2 Support the show on Patreon and access additional perks: https://www.patreon.com/fantology_books Check out our exclusive Merch in our Spreadshirt s...

Hot takes abound in our review of Book 1 of Brandon Sanderson's Stormlight Archive. Apparently it isn't that hard to be a critic of THE landmark series of the past decade!  Chat with us more! Tell us why we're wrong! Discord: https://discord.gg/9AMJqj2 Support the show on Patreon and access additional perks: https://www.patreon.com/fantology_books Check out our exclusive Merch in our Spreadshirt s...

We recap the many, many plot threads of Book 2 of The Licanius Trilogy by James Islington. Give us a listen to catch up before reading Book 3 - The Light of All That Falls - which was just released! Chat with us more! Tell us why we're wrong! Discord: https://discord.gg/9AMJqj2 Support the show on Patreon and access additional perks: https://www.patreon.com/fantology_books Check out our exclusive...

Need to remember the details of Licanius Book 1? We have you covered with a full book recap, hitting on all the big moments. Plus play along at home with trivia! Chat with us more! Tell us why we're wrong! Discord: https://discord.gg/9AMJqj2 Support the show on Patreon and access additional perks: https://www.patreon.com/fantology_books Check out our exclusive Merch in our Spreadshirt shop: https:...

The guys break down and review the first book in the Licanius Trilogy by James Islington. No spoilers here, just an overview of the exciting and promising debut novel in what we expect to be a landmark series. Chat with us more! Tell us why we're wrong! Discord: https://discord.gg/9AMJqj2 Support the show on Patreon and access additional perks: https://www.patreon.com/fantology_books Check out our...