Ancient Geeks, episode 5: Other classic fantasy writers

We talked about Tolkien last episode, and now we're on a fantasy roll! We discuss the classic fantasy writers we discovered in our youth: The Arthurian legends, Roger Zelazny, Michael Moorcock, Robert E. Howard, Fritz Leiber, Piers Anthony, Poul Anderson, Ursula Leguin, and many more. It was a time when sword and sorcery dominated the genre, but there were lots of other good fantasy stories to be read, too. Fantasy fiction in the 60s, 70s, and 80s was diverse, exciting, and fun – not just Tolkien imitators, but there were those, too. You'll hear about the best and worst from this time when fantasy laid down deep roots in geek culture. Plus, we talk about the differences between fantasy and science fiction, and whether those differences even matter. Look for future episodes that discuss these writers in greater depth. For feedback, contact [email protected]. You can also find us on Facebook, Reddit, and Bluesky. And if you like what you hear, please tell a friend. © 2025 Tom Grant and Steven Taylor