Fantasy for the Ages

What happens when a college mistake unleashes a dragon… and the consequences last for decades? In today’s episode of Fantasy for the Ages, Jim reviews one of the most talked-about horror novels of 2025 — King Sorrow by Joe Hill. This massive supernatural thriller blends occult horror, folklore, and modern mythology into a sweeping story that stretches across decades. Featuring unforgettable charac...

Do different generations look for different things in their fantasy and science fiction stories? Today on Fantasy for the Ages, Jim and Zach explore that question by sharing SFF books and series they love… but suspect the other probably wouldn’t enjoy. With nearly 30 years between their reading experiences, Jim and Zach grew up in different storytelling eras. That means different pacing expectatio...

Could Kings of the Wyld really be as good as people say? In this Fantasy for the Ages review, Jim finally dives into Nicholas Eames’ wildly popular 2017 fantasy novel — a story about a legendary band of mercenaries getting back together for one last adventure. With monsters roaming the land, ancient dangers lurking beyond the frontier, and a desperate mission to rescue a friend’s daughter from a b...

Some trilogies hook us immediately with an amazing first book, expand the world and raise the stakes in book two… and then everything depends on the finale. Stick the landing and readers close the book with that perfect “ahhh, yes!” feeling. Miss the landing and suddenly the entire trilogy feels a little shaky. In this episode of Fantasy for the Ages, Jim takes a look at speculative fiction trilog...

When you finish Book 1 of a brand-new fantasy series, there’s always that moment of hesitation… You loved the characters. You enjoyed the world. The story hooked you. But then comes Book 2 — and that’s where a series either levels up… or lets you down. In today’s episode of Fantasy for the Ages, Jim reviews The Way of Stones by Ryan Lanz, the second installment in the Red Kingdom series, following...

Would today’s biggest fantasy hits have survived the 1980s? In this episode of Fantasy for the Ages, we flip the script. Last time we talked about classic fantasy that might not get published today. Now we’re asking the reverse question: Which modern fantasy novels would’ve bombed in the 80s market? This isn’t about quality. Every book discussed here is outstanding. This is about publishing climat...

Are some of the greatest fantasy books ever written… “unpublishable” today? In this episode of Fantasy for the Ages, I explore 20 classic fantasy novels and series that might struggle to get traditionally published in today’s market — despite being absolutely brilliant. We’re talking about sprawling epics. Earnest heroism. Clear moral frameworks. Slow-burn mythic storytelling. Yes… even farm boys...

Some sci-fi and fantasy films explode into franchises… and others quietly become cult classics. In today’s episode of Fantasy for the Ages, I’m diving into my personal Top 10 Underrated SFF Movies Since 2000 — the films that were misunderstood, under-marketed, overshadowed, or simply never given the lasting cultural appreciation they deserve. We’re talking bold sci-fi, divisive twists, box office...

🚀 Is the Bobiverse magic back? In this spoiler-lite review, I dive into Not Till We Are Lost, Book 5 of the Bobiverse series by Dennis E. Taylor — and ask the big question: does this installment recapture the multi-threaded, galaxy-spanning fun of the original trilogy? After the more focused narrative of Heaven’s River, this latest entry feels like a return to classic Bobiverse form: multiple Bob...

How does an author earn double-digit commitment from a reader? In this episode of Fantasy for the Ages, Jim reveals the only 23 SFF authors he has read more than 10 novels from — ranked from the ones who just sneak in at 11 books… all the way to the author he’s read a staggering 61 novels by. No novellas. No short stories. Just full-length novels. From epic fantasy cornerstones to zombie apocalyps...

What happens when three sci-fi-loving BookTubers sit down for a no-holds-barred, full-spoiler deep dive into one of the most ambitious indie breakouts of recent years? In this special Fantasy for the Ages roundtable, Jim is joined by Matt from Geaux Read Books and Derek from D&J’s Epic Quest for a full spoiler discussion of Mushroom Blues: The Hofmann Report, Book 1 by Adrian M. Gibson. If you...

Looking for great fantasy & historical fiction for Middle Grades and YA readers that won’t constantly clash with Christian beliefs and values? After several recent episodes focused on adult readers, many of you asked for something specifically for kids and teens — books that are imaginative, adventurous, beautifully written… and either explicitly Christian or comfortably aligned with a Christi...

What if I told you the zombie apocalypse could be… beautiful? In this Jim solo episode of Fantasy for the Ages, I review The Reapers Are the Angels by Alden Bell — a short, haunting, Southern Gothic take on post-apocalyptic horror that absolutely stunned me. At just 225 pages, this novel delivers more depth, character development, and thematic weight than many books three times its size. Going int...

Do you miss classic epic fantasy? The kind with quests, looming kingdoms, mysterious artifacts, and heroes you can actually root for — without falling into tired tropes or endless grimdark? In this episode of Fantasy for the Ages, I review The Silver Crystal by Ryan Lanz — a self-published epic fantasy that aims squarely at the heart of traditional adventure storytelling. Ryan reached out and offe...

What if The Lord of the Rings had been published as one giant book? What if The Stand had stayed permanently cut down? What if Ender’s Game had never expanded beyond a short story? For our 600th Tiny Talk, we’re diving into the fascinating (and sometimes dramatic) moments when publishers pushed authors to make changes — and how that tension shaped some of the greatest fantasy, sci-fi, and horror n...

🚀 What makes Bob… Bob? After loving the original We Are Bob trilogy, I had one big question: could Dennis E. Taylor actually push the Bobiverse somewhere new — or was this going to feel like more of the same? In this spoiler-lite review of Heaven’s River, Book 4 of the Bobiverse series, I dive into the megastructure mystery, the tighter narrative focus, and the surprisingly deep identity question...

As Christians, we don’t have to be afraid of books that don’t match our faith. But sometimes? It’s really nice to read stories we can enjoy without compromise. After the huge response to my recent episode on SFF Books That Don’t Hate Christianity, you all flooded the comments with recommendations. So today I’m back with FIVE ranked sections of Christian-friendly fantasy and sci-fi — from lesser-kn...

Are you a Christian who loves fantasy and science fiction, but is tired of stories that mock, dismiss, or outright attack faith? You’re not alone. In this episode of Fantasy for the Ages, Jim shares 10 outstanding fantasy and sci-fi reading recommendations for Christians who want great storytelling that aligns with, explores, or is deeply informed by a Christian worldview. These aren’t sermons in...

Some characters are great on their own. But put the right two together, and magic happens. In this episode of Fantasy for the Ages, Jim & Zach dive into the Best Duos in Fantasy & Sci-Fi — across books, movies, and television — focusing on the pairs whose chemistry, banter, loyalty, and conflict make their stories better. These are the duos who: • Steal scenes every time they’re together •...

Is The Running Man (2025) the rare remake that’s actually better than the original? I went into this one as a fan of the 1987 Schwarzenegger classic—campy, quotable, and unmistakably of its era. But this new adaptation takes a very different approach: darker, smarter, more faithful to Stephen King’s novel, and far more interested in making a point than cracking jokes. In this spoiler-lite review,...

What makes a Fantasy or Sci-Fi movie endlessly rewatchable? In this episode of Fantasy for the Ages, Jim & Zach counts down the Top 10 Most Rewatchable Fantasy & Sci-Fi Movies of All Time. These are the films you can drop into at any moment, watch for five minutes or two hours, and still have a great time. We’re talking about movies that: • Get better on repeat viewings • Reward familiarit...

Do you enjoy your science fiction with humor, while still delivering big ideas, hard-SF concepts, action, and genuine heart? In this episode, I (Jim) dive into We Are Legion (We Are Bob) by Dennis E. Taylor, the first book in the wildly popular Bobiverse series. This is smart, funny, binge-worthy science fiction that asks huge questions about identity, AI, and what it really means to be human… eve...

What makes an opening scene truly unforgettable? In this episode of Fantasy for the Ages, Jim and Zach count down their Top 10 Opening Scenes in Fantasy & Sci-Fi — across books, movies, and television. These are the moments that hooked us instantly, set the tone for everything that followed, and made us say, “Oh… I’m in.” We’re talking about opening scenes that: • Instantly establish tone, sta...

What happens when a past wrong refuses to stay buried? In this episode, I dive into The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones, a modern horror novel that twists familiar haunting and revenge tropes into something deeply unsettling, emotionally sharp, and completely its own. After falling in love with The Indian Lake Trilogy, I spent about a year working my way up to this book, where many reade...

Science fiction isn’t one-size-fits-all. Some readers love big ideas and long-term strategy. Others want emotional depth, character-driven stories, or fast, cinematic action. And here’s the thing: your personality plays a huge role in the kind of sci-fi you love. In this episode of Fantasy for the Ages, I’m matching science fiction reading recommendations to common Myers-Briggs personality types....