PODCAST · fiction
Fantasy for the Ages
by Jim Scriven
Jim (Father) and Zach (Son) talk about their ideas and perspectives on fantasy fiction, starting with Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time series but straying in various other directions as well. The generational difference in how they view what they read will become obvious (and entertaining, they hope!). Come enjoy our debates and explorations over what all these books mean, and see who you agree with.
Episodes
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ANGEL DOWN Review | A Pulitzer Prize Winner I Didn't Enjoy?!
A Pulitzer Prize-winning novel that's brilliantly written... but absolutely MISERABLE to read?! Is it possible to recognize a book as a literary masterpiece while not particularly enjoying the experience? That's exactly the dilemma Jim faces in this spoiler-lite review of ANGEL DOWN, the 2025...
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Triangle (2009) – I Thought This Was Just Another Horror Movie...
How did I miss THIS movie for more than 15 years?! There are plenty of horror thrillers out there. Some are fantastic, some are forgettable, and some make you wish you could get those 90 minutes of your life back. But every once in a while, you stumble across a hidden gem that completely blows…
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I FINALLY Read James Islington… Was He Worth the Hype?
James Islington has been on my fantasy TBR for YEARS. I've heard the praise, seen the glowing reviews, and watched his popularity soar. But somehow, I just kept putting him off. Well, NO MORE! I've finally taken the plunge, starting with his debut novel, THE SHADOW OF WHAT WAS LOST, Book 1 of The...
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They Live (1988) Review — Is This Sci-Fi Classic More Relevant Than Ever?
"I have come here to chew bubble gum and kick ass... and I'm all out of bubble gum!" That legendary line might be the most famous thing about John Carpenter's 1988 science fiction cult classic THEY LIVE, starring professional wrestling legend "Rowdy" Roddy Piper. But beneath the cheesy dialogue,...
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Middle Grade Fantasy Just Got Serious: Giffy and the Sea People
THIS IS MIDDLE GRADE?! Eric Haan's Drakenaarde Chronicles Just Got DARK! Dragons! Mysterious Sea People! Dangerous wizards! Shocking revelations! And... DEATH?! Wait a minute, isn't this supposed to be middle-grade fantasy?! In this spoiler-lite review, Jim dives into Giffy and the Sea People…
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The Devil’s Mouth Review — Cave Diving Was Already Terrifying…
Cave diving is terrifying enough. Now add something hungry to the water. In this spoiler-lite review, Jim dives into the 2026 survival-horror thriller The Devil’s Mouth, a movie that combines flooded caves, claustrophobia, questionable decision-making, and a very unwelcome underwater predator.…
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Six Books In… Has the Bobiverse Still Got It?
Six books into the Bobiverse, has Dennis E. Taylor still got it—or is the formula starting to feel stale? In this spoiler-lite review of The Infinite Extent, Jim explores whether Bobiverse book 6 delivers the creativity, humor, mysteries, and cosmic stakes that keep readers coming back. From the...
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Survival, Violence, and Dark Comedy | My Thoughts on SEND HELP
A tropical island. A terrible boss. And absolutely no HR department. 🏝️🥥 In this spoiler-lite review, Jim takes a look at Send Help (2026), Sam Raimi’s darkly comedic survival thriller starring Rachel McAdams and Dylan O’Brien. What starts as a workplace nightmare becomes something far more...
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Empire of Silence: I Finally Read It. You Were Right.
You kept telling me to read Empire of Silence. I finally listened. Were you right—or has the entire reading community developed a collective case of recency bias? In this spoiler-lite review, Jim dives into Christopher Ruocchio’s Empire of Silence, the opening novel of The Sun Eater, to explore…
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I Was NOT Ready For Obsession | Movie Review
What happens when wanting something—or someone—stops being desire and becomes something much darker?In this episode of Fantasy for the Ages, Jim dives into Obsession (2026), a twisted genre film that takes a familiar idea and pushes it into increasingly disturbing territory. What starts out…
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I Still Don’t Understand Why Nobody Reads This Series
Pilgrim’s Storm Brooding by Damien Black is the third book in The Broken Stone Chronicle—and three books in, I’m still asking the same question: Why is nobody talking about this series?! The first book was really good. The second was a huge step forward. So could Damien Black possibly keep that...
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Stephen King’s The Stand: 10 Questions We HAVE to Talk About
Zach has finally read Stephen King’s THE STAND—and now we have some things to talk about. Jim and Zach are joined by Eric Haan for a full-spoiler conversation about one of King’s biggest, most ambitious, and most beloved novels. This isn’t a traditional review. Instead, we’re digging into the...
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The Last House Review: Great Premise, Ridiculous Movie
What happens when your home becomes an inescapable prison—and the thing trapping you appears to be solid water? In this spoiler-lite review, Jim dives into Netflix’s 2026 sci-fi horror thriller The Last House, starring Greta Lee and Wagner Moura. The movie offers an intriguing survival premise,...
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I Thought I Knew Zombie Horror… Then I Read The Rising
You think you know zombie apocalypse stories? The Rising by Brian Keene might have a few surprises waiting for you. In this spoiler-lite review, Jim dives into the 2003 Bram Stoker Award-winning novel that helped kick off the modern zombie-fiction resurgence—and somehow escaped his attention for...
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Before Old Man’s War: John Scalzi’s Forgotten First Novel
John Scalzi has become one of those authors I can count on to deliver a great time—but what happens when you go all the way back to the very beginning? Today on Fantasy for the Ages, Jim dives into Agent to the Stars, the first novel Scalzi ever wrote—years before Old Man’s War launched his...
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Why Supergirl Failed (It's Not What You Think)
Supergirl (2026) has officially landed—and after all the controversy, online backlash, and disappointing box office, I finally sat down to see what went wrong. Was Milly Alcock REALLY the problem? Or did Supergirl have much bigger issues? In this spoiler-lite review, I break down James Gunn’s...
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Coyote vs. ACME Had NO RIGHT to Be This Good?
Coyote vs. ACME had NO RIGHT to be this good. Taking Wile E. Coyote—the perpetually unsuccessful predator who has spent decades ordering catastrophically unreliable products from ACME—and building an entire feature-length movie around him sounds like a recipe for disaster. Instead, Coyote vs.…
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The New He-Man Movie FLOPPED — But Is It Actually Bad?
Hollywood has once again reached into the toy box, grabbed a beloved childhood franchise, and thrown a massive budget at it. But was Masters of the Universe actually worth the power? In this spoiler-lite review, Jim heads back to Eternia to discuss the 2026 Masters of the Universe movie starring...
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Is Gardens of the Moon REALLY the Hardest Start in Fantasy?
Is Gardens of the Moon REALLY the hardest start to a fantasy series? Steven Erikson’s opening novel in Malazan Book of the Fallen has developed an almost legendary reputation. Huge cast. Minimal exposition. Warrens. Ascendants. Gods. Empires. Ancient races. Political conflicts already underway....
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Deadhouse Landing: Malazan Empire Origins You Were Never Told!
Deadhouse Landing feels like the best fan fiction ever written… except the fan writing it is actually one of the creators! In this spoiler-lite review, Jim dives into Ian C. Esslemont’s Deadhouse Landing, Book 2 of the Path to Ascendancy series, and explores how it brings the origins of the…
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I Read the First 5 Necroscope Books: Was the Ending Worth It?
Brian Lumley’s original Necroscope saga has reached its grand finale! After five books filled with vampires, psychic espionage, horrifying body transformations, alternate dimensions, and the increasingly complicated life of Harry Keogh, does Deadspawn actually manage to LAND THE PLANE? In this...
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10 Epic High Fantasy Series Every Fan Must Experience at Least Once
What epic high fantasy series should EVERY fantasy fan experience at least once? In this episode of Fantasy for the Ages, Jim and Zach each bring five completed epic high fantasy series to the table—creating a combined list of 10 series we believe deserve to be part of every serious fantasy...
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L3X1 Review: Don't Let This Cyberpunk Novel's Cover Scare You Off!
Can you really take a cyberpunk novel seriously when it has a cover like THAT? 😆 As it turns out...YES. You absolutely can. In this spoiler-lite Fantasy for the Ages review, Jim dives into L3X1 by R.C. Grabowski, an independently published cyberpunk science-fiction adventure that surprised him...
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Can Harry Keogh Survive Without His Powers? | Deadspeak Analysis
Four books into Brian Lumley’s *Necroscope* series, you might think we’d have a pretty good handle on psychic espionage, conversations with the dead, and some of the nastiest vampires in horror. Apparently Brian Lumley disagrees. 😳 In this spoiler-lite review, Jim dives into *Deadspeak*, Book 4…
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Oath of Gold Review: THIS Is How You Write a Paladin!
Can a fantasy hero be genuinely good—humble, selfless, faithful, and committed to doing what’s right—and still be fascinating? Elizabeth Moon’s Oath of Gold answers that question with a resounding YES. In this spoiler-lite review, I’m wrapping up The Deed of Paksenarrion trilogy, a classic…
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The Gunslinger: Why It’s a Polarizing Start to The Dark Tower
“The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed.” With one of the most iconic opening lines in modern fantasy, Stephen King launched readers into The Dark Tower, a sprawling, strange, genre-defying epic unlike almost anything else he has ever written. In this episode of...
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Why Divided Allegiance Is Such a BRUTAL Fantasy Sequel
Divided Allegiance takes everything Elizabeth Moon established in Sheepfarmer’s Daughter and asks a much harder question: What happens when Paksenarrion leaves behind the life that made her a warrior and begins searching for what she’s truly meant to become? In this spoiler-lite review, Jim...
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Talisman: A Time Travel Mystery – A Hidden Gem or Just Another Paradox?
Time travel stories can be dangerous territory. Paradoxes, alternate timelines, confusing rules—and sometimes enough plot holes to swallow the entire space-time continuum! So what happens when Jim takes a chance on Talisman: A Time Travel Mystery by Tom Catalano?In this spoiler-lite review, Jim...
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⚔️ GODSGRAVE — Does Nevernight Get Even Better? ⚔️
Jay Kristoff certainly didn’t ease off the accelerator.After Nevernight introduced us to Mia Corvere, the deadly Red Church, and one of the bloodiest, snarkiest revenge quests in modern fantasy, Godsgrave takes the Nevernight Chronicle in some VERY different directions.In this episode of Fantasy...
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Everything You Need to Know About Too Like the Lightning (Spoilers)
Jim is joined by Matt from Geaux Read Books and Derek from D&J’s Epic Quest to tackle one of the strangest, smartest, most ambitious—and potentially most frustrating—science fiction novels we’ve discussed on Fantasy for the Ages: Ada Palmer’s Too Like the Lightning.And this time, the spoilers are...
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Is Magic in Fantasy Actually Dangerous? A Christian Perspective
Can Christians love fantasy filled with elaborate magic systems without compromising their faith? Or is there a point where fictional magic crosses a spiritual line? In this episode of Fantasy for the Ages, Jim tackles a question that has followed Christian fantasy fans for decades: Are faith and...
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Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 Review — Not as Good… But CLOSE!
Freddy Fazbear got me once… could he do it AGAIN? 😱🐻 After being genuinely surprised by how much I enjoyed the first Five Nights at Freddy’s movie, I jumped straight into Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 (2025) the very next day. And remember—I’ve never played the games, so I’m experiencing this...
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The Greatest Fantasy, Science Fiction, and Horror Debut Novels of the 2010s
The 2010s introduced an extraordinary generation of fantasy, science-fiction, and horror authors—but which debut novels made the strongest lasting impression? In this episode, Jim travels year by year through the decade, selecting the best debut fantasy novel, science-fiction novel, and horror...
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I Was WRONG About the Five Nights at Freddy’s Movie!
I completely dismissed Five Nights at Freddy’s when it hit theaters in 2023. Killer animatronics at a creepy old pizza restaurant? The trailers did absolutely NOTHING for me. Well… apparently I was wrong. In this spoiler-lite Fantasy for the Ages review, Jim finally checks out Five Nights at...
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Nevernight: This Is Why You Need To Read It Immediately (Zach's Review)
Zach has entered the Church of Nevernight… and apparently he’s ready to evangelize. 😄 In this episode of Fantasy for the Ages, Zach takes the lead as we dive into Nevernight by Jay Kristoff, the first book in the Nevernight Chronicle—and a dark fantasy packed with assassins, revenge, deadly...
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Why You'll Want To Read The Strain | The Night Eternal Review
The vampire apocalypse has reached its end! 🧛♂️🌑 In this spoiler-lite review, Jim dives into The Night Eternal by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan, the third and final book in The Strain Trilogy. After The Strain unleashed one of the most distinctive takes on vampires around—and The Fall...
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Magic Burns Review: A Massive Upgrade for Kate Daniels
🔥 BOOK 2 DELIVERS! 🔥 Jim is continuing his journey through the Kate Daniels series with Magic Burns by Ilona Andrews—and this second installment takes a noticeable step up from Magic Bites! Magic and technology are constantly battling for dominance in this post-apocalyptic version of Atlanta…
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The Sign Said DO NOT ENTER… They Should’ve Listened | Jim’s Movie Review
They were warned. They saw the barriers. They entered anyway. In this spoiler-lite review, Jim takes a look at the 2026 horror thriller Do Not Enter, in which a group of thrill-seeking urban explorers breaks into the abandoned Paragon Hotel—an ominous location tied to mob history, supposed...
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Old Man’s War Book 7: Brilliant Comeback or Cash Grab?
John Scalzi’s Old Man’s War series was finished. Or so we thought. Ten years after The End of All Things, Scalzi unexpectedly returned to the universe with The Shattering Peace, the seventh Old Man’s War novel. But after a decade away, could he recapture what made the series work? Did he actually...
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The Brutal Truth About The Wolf Den: Should You Read It?
What happens when historical fiction takes you into one of the darkest corners of ancient Pompeii—and refuses to look away? In this spoiler-lite Fantasy for the Ages review, Zach takes the lead on Elodie Harper’s The Wolf Den, the first book in her acclaimed trilogy about women struggling to...
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House of the Dragon Season 3: The Rise and Fall of Rhaenyra?
🔥 The Dance of the Dragons is officially a BLOODBATH. House of the Dragon Season 3 has come to an end, and Jim is joined by Derek from D&J’s Epic Quest to break down the entire season—with FULL SPOILERS and absolutely no protection from dragonfire. Did Season 3 finally deliver the war we’ve been...
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The Mummy 2026 Is Good Horror… But a BAD Mummy Movie
Lee Cronin has dug up The Mummy for a whole new generation—and this is DEFINITELY not the mummy movie you remember! 😱 In this spoiler-lite review, Jim takes a look at Lee Cronin’s The Mummy (2026), the dark, twisted new reimagining from Blumhouse and Atomic Monster. With the director of Evil…
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Is The Song of Achilles REALLY Worth ALL The Hype?
What happens when one of Greek mythology’s greatest warriors becomes the center of a deeply personal love story?In this spoiler-lite Fantasy for the Ages review, Zach takes the lead on Madeline Miller’s acclaimed novel The Song of Achilles—a retelling of the story of Achilles and Patroclus set...
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Did John Scalzi Actually Stick the Landing? | The End of All Things Review
The end of a series comes with PRESSURE. After six books of soldiers, aliens, interstellar politics, conspiracies, and John Scalzi’s trademark sarcasm, could The End of All Things actually stick the landing for the original Old Man’s War story arc? In this spoiler-lite Fantasy for the Ages…
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The Best of Kurt Russell: Ranking His Genre Masterpieces & Messes
Kurt Russell has been a staple of science fiction, fantasy, and horror for DECADES—and somehow, whether the movie is a masterpiece or a mess, Kurt Russell is almost always great. But which of his genre movies is the BEST? And how many have you actually seen? In this Fantasy for the Ages Jim solo...
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John Gwynne's Of Blood and Bone: Worth the Hype? | Zach's Review
John Gwynne knows how to go BIG—and his Of Blood and Bone Trilogy takes readers back to the Banished Lands for another sprawling adventure packed with warriors, monsters, massive battles, ancient powers, and plenty of bloodshed! In this spoiler-lite Fantasy for the Ages review, Zach makes the…
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I Wasn't Expecting Alien: Earth to Be THIS Good
Could an Alien TV series actually live up to one of the greatest sci-fi horror franchises of all time? I'll admit it—I was skeptical. I've been an Alien fan for years. I own most of the films, I've even enjoyed the Alien vs. Predator entries for what they are, and I've always believed that Ridley...
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The Solarian Deep Review: A Watery Cyberpunk Masterpiece — or Disaster?
Dive beneath the waves into one of the most imaginative indie science fiction worlds I've explored this year! 🌊🤖 When author David Deane Haskell reached out and asked if I'd read The Solarian Deep and provide an honest review, I had no idea what to expect. What I found was an accessible…
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The Best Fantasy, Sci-Fi & Horror Debuts of the 2000s—Do You Agree?
The 2000s launched some of the most influential fantasy, science-fiction, and horror authors of the modern era—but which debut novels have truly stood the test of time? In this episode of Fantasy for the Ages, Jim selects one fantasy debut, one science-fiction debut, and one horror debut for…
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Ready or Not 2: Here I Come – Does It Live Up to the Original?
Could Ready or Not really have a sequel? After the ending of the first movie, I honestly didn't think there was much story left to tell. So when Ready or Not 2: Here I Come was announced, I was skeptical. I'm happy to report... I was wrong. In this spoiler-lite review, I share why this...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Jim (Father) and Zach (Son) talk about their ideas and perspectives on fantasy fiction, starting with Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time series but straying in various other directions as well. The generational difference in how they view what they read will become obvious (and entertaining, they hope!). Come enjoy our debates and explorations over what all these books mean, and see who you agree with.
HOSTED BY
Jim Scriven
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Fantasy for the Ages have?
Fantasy for the Ages currently has 1000 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Fantasy for the Ages about?
Jim (Father) and Zach (Son) talk about their ideas and perspectives on fantasy fiction, starting with Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time series but straying in various other directions as well. The generational difference in how they view what they read will become obvious (and entertaining, they...
How often does Fantasy for the Ages release new episodes?
Fantasy for the Ages releases new episodes frequently with a large back catalog of 1000 episodes. Check the episode list for recent publication dates.
Where can I listen to Fantasy for the Ages?
You can listen to Fantasy for the Ages on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Fantasy for the Ages?
Fantasy for the Ages is created and hosted by Jim Scriven.
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