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PODCAST

Fantasy for the Ages

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.

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All Episodes

00:18:41

Why Divided Allegiance Is Such a BRUTAL Fantasy Sequel

Fantasy for the Ages ·

2026/08/31

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 continues his journey through Elizabeth Moon’s classic The Deed of Paksenarrion trilogy with Book 2, Divided Allegiance. After absolutely loving the classic fantasy charm of the first novel, expectations were

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00:18:04

Talisman: A Time Travel Mystery – A Hidden Gem or...

Fantasy for the Ages ·

2026/08/30

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 looks at Catalano’s accessible blend of mystery, thriller, and science fiction, centered around a mysterious golden artifact with an extraordinary connection to time. After the author reached out and offered

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00:20:10

⚔️ GODSGRAVE — Does Nevernight Get Even Better? ⚔️

Fantasy for the Ages ·

2026/08/29

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 for the Ages, Zach returns to share his spoiler-lite thoughts on Godsgrave, Book 2 of Jay Kristoff’s Nevernight Chronicle. He loved Nevernight — but does the sequel live up to that impressive beginning? Or

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01:13:42

Everything You Need to Know About Too Like the...

Fantasy for the Ages ·

2026/08/28

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 completely unleashed.The first novel in Palmer’s Terra Ignota series throws us into a 25th-century Earth where nations as we know them have largely disappeared, people organize themselves into global

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00:24:20

Is Magic in Fantasy Actually Dangerous? A Christian...

Fantasy for the Ages ·

2026/08/26

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 fantasy truly compatible?We move beyond the old “magic = bad” debate to look at what fantasy stories are actually doing with magic. Along the way, Jim explores Tolkien’s concept of subcreation, the

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00:18:02

Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 Review — Not as Good… But...

Fantasy for the Ages ·

2026/08/24

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 increasingly bizarre mythology completely through the movies!In this spoiler-lite review, I’m digging into what worked, what didn’t, and whether this sequel manages to escape the dreaded horror-sequel curse.We’ll

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00:44:21

The Greatest Fantasy, Science Fiction, and Horror...

Fantasy for the Ages ·

2026/08/23

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 novel published in every year from 2010 through 2019.Thirty winning books — plus thirty runners-up representing some of the decade’s closest decisions.Every eligible book had to meet one strict requirement: it

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00:18:22

I Was WRONG About the Five Nights at Freddy’s Movie!

Fantasy for the Ages ·

2026/08/22

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 Freddy’s, starring Josh Hutcherson, Elizabeth Lail, Piper Rubio, and Matthew Lillard—and discovers a horror movie that’s far more entertaining, creative, and surprisingly heartfelt than expected.We’ll dig into

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00:21:53

Nevernight: This Is Why You Need To Read It...

Fantasy for the Ages ·

2026/08/21

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 training, vicious competition, plenty of blood, and Kristoff’s famously snarky style.Zach recently finished the book and LOVED it, so he breaks down what made Nevernight work so well for him. We talk about Mia

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00:21:06

Why You'll Want To Read The Strain | The Night...

Fantasy for the Ages ·

2026/08/20

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 plunged humanity even deeper into disaster—The Night Eternal brings everything home. The stakes are enormous, the characters are battered and broken, and the mythology expands in some fascinating directions

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00:20:34

Magic Burns Review: A Massive Upgrade for Kate Daniels

Fantasy for the Ages ·

2026/08/19

🔥 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, but now a massive magical flare is approaching. That means stronger magic, increasingly dangerous supernatural threats, ancient mysteries…and, naturally, Kate Daniels finding herself directly in the middle of

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00:20:19

The Sign Said DO NOT ENTER… They Should’ve Listened |...

Fantasy for the Ages ·

2026/08/18

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 hauntings, and rumors of $300 million in hidden money.Does the film deserve its rough critical reception, or is there an entertaining horror experience hiding inside?Jim discusses:• The film’s cast, production,

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00:17:55

Old Man’s War Book 7: Brilliant Comeback or Cash Grab?

Fantasy for the Ages ·

2026/08/17

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 have something new to say—or was this simply one trip back to the well too many?In this spoiler-lite review, Jim dives into The Shattering Peace and explores:🚀 How the book builds on the first six Old Man’s

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00:24:04

The Brutal Truth About The Wolf Den: Should You Read It?

Fantasy for the Ages ·

2026/08/16

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 survive, endure, and reclaim some measure of control over their lives in ancient Rome.Our central character, Amara, is an educated young woman who has been sold into slavery and forced to work in a Pompeian

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00:56:28

House of the Dragon Season 3: The Rise and Fall of...

Fantasy for the Ages ·

2026/08/15

🔥 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 waiting for? Did it improve on Season 2? Who emerged as the season’s MVP? And at this point, is there actually anyone in Westeros we should WANT sitting on the Iron Throne?🐉 In this episode, we dig

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00:22:31

The Mummy 2026 Is Good Horror… But a BAD Mummy Movie

Fantasy for the Ages ·

2026/08/14

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 Dead Rise behind the camera, you can probably guess this isn't exactly Brendan Fraser battling Imhotep while delivering one-liners.We’re talking:⚰️ How this version completely reinvents Mummy mythology😱 The

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00:20:26

Is The Song of Achilles REALLY Worth ALL The Hype?

Fantasy for the Ages ·

2026/08/12

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 against the gathering storm of the Trojan War.Jim hasn’t read this one. In fact, it isn’t even on his mountainous TBR! So Zach has a challenge: explain what makes this award-winning novel so beloved—and

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00:19:51

Did John Scalzi Actually Stick the Landing? | The End...

Fantasy for the Ages ·

2026/08/11

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 review, Jim dives into the sixth Old Man’s War novel and looks at how well Scalzi brings together the pieces established throughout the series—especially those set up in The Human Division. We’ll talk characters,

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00:31:39

The Best of Kurt Russell: Ranking His Genre...

Fantasy for the Ages ·

2026/08/10

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 episode, I’m ranking EVERY Kurt Russell SFF & horror movie from worst to best! Along the way, I’m also giving Kurt a separate letter grade for his individual performance—because sometimes Kurt Russell is

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00:19:41

John Gwynne's Of Blood and Bone: Worth the Hype? |...

Fantasy for the Ages ·

2026/08/09

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 case for why epic fantasy fans should read A Time of Dread, A Time of Blood, and A Time of Courage. What does this trilogy do especially well? How does it build on the world Gwynne created in The Faithful and

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1,053 results

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