Fantasy for the Ages

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 of the original five-book *Necroscope* arc—and the larger story is becoming clearer, stranger, and considerably more dangerous.

Harry Keogh has a BIG problem: what happens when the Necroscope loses the very powers that made him the Necroscope?

...

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 fantasy series that has thoroughly won me over. After everything Paks endured in Divided Allegiance, Oath of Gold brings her journey to a powerful conclusion—and delivers one of the most compelling portrayals of a paladin I’ve encountered in fantasy.

“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 Fantasy for the Ages, Zach and Jim take a spoiler-lite look at The Gunslinger, the first book in King’s legendary Dark Tower series.

Jim comes to this one as a longtime Dark Tower fan who has jo...

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 high—and there was no chance Jim was waiting long to continue!

We’ll look at...

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 a review copy, Jim decided to venture a little outside his usual reading territory—and see whether this time-travel mystery was worth the risk.W...

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 does it do something even better?Jim hasn’t read the trilogy yet, so he’s coming at this one from the p...

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 “Hives,” religion is intensely private, gendered language has become taboo…and our narrator, Mycroft Canner, may not ex...

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 difference between fictional magic that functions almost like physic...

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 talk about:

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 must have been the author’s first published novel of any kind—not...

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 what makes the movie work, includ...

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 Corvere and her quest for v...

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 involving ancient evil, faith, prophecy, and even Biblical connections.

But...

🔥 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 ALL of it.

In this spoiler-lite review, Jim breaks down:

⚔️ Why M...

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, reception, and unusual releas...

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:

🚀 H...

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 brothel. Her circ...

🔥 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?

🐉...

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 seriously disturbing horror Cronin brings to the st...

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 determine whether there’s any chance of convincing his dad to add yet ano...

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, pacing, humor, the interconnected novella structure, the resolution of the mas...

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 MUCH better than the movie he...

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 the Fallen? And are there re...

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 Scott's original Alien remains the gold standard because it embraced horror first and science fiction second.

So when Alien: Earth was announced, I wasn't convinced a television series co...

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 cyberpunk adventure set in a future where humanity has abandoned the surface, built self-healing cities beneath the ocean, and even transformed some people into technologically enhanced mermaids and mermen.

Did the story completely win me over?

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 every year from 2000 through 2009—thirty winning novels in all.

Every selection follows one strict rule: the book must be the author’s first complete novel ever made publicly available, including earlier self-published or online releases. Original worldwide publication dates also govern, rather than later American editions.

W...

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 horror-comedy sequel won me over, what makes it different from the original, who will enjoy it most, and whether it's worth your time. I'll also cover the cast, performances, action...

The 1990s were one of the greatest decades in the history of speculative fiction—but which debut novels have stood the test of time?

In this episode of Fantasy for the Ages, Jim explores the entire decade, selecting one fantasy debut, one science fiction debut, and one horror debut for every year from 1990 through 1999. These are the books that introduced some of the biggest names in the genres, launched beloved series, won major awards, and, in some cases, changed fantasy, science fiction, and horror forever.

Every selection follows one st...

The vampire apocalypse is spreading... and somehow The Fall is even better than The Strain.

In this spoiler-lite review, I dive into Book 2 of The Strain Trilogy by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan, exploring why this sequel raises the stakes in every possible way. From ancient vampire conspiracies and unforgettable character arcs to relentless pacing and cinematic storytelling, this was everything I hoped for—and more.

If you enjoyed The Strain, are curious about the trilogy, or are looking for one of the best modern horror series featuring va...

The 1980s introduced an incredible generation of fantasy, science fiction, and horror authors—but which debut novels have truly stood the test of time?

In this episode of Fantasy for the Ages, Jim takes a year-by-year journey through the entire decade, selecting one fantasy debut, one science fiction debut, and one horror debut for every year from 1980 through 1989. Some of these books launched legendary careers. Others changed the direction of their genres. And a few deserve far more recognition than they’ve ever received.

Every selection follows one strict rule...

What do you get when you combine a horror movie, a dark comedy, a survival thriller, and one of the most memorable final acts in modern horror?

Ready or Not.

In this spoiler-lite review, I dive into why this 2019 horror hit completely won me over. From Samara Weaving’s outstanding lead performance to the film’s brilliantly twisted premise, relentless pacing, outrageous practical effects, and perfectly balanced humor, Ready or Not delivers one wildly entertaining ride from beginning to end.

If you’re wondering whethe...

Ever stick with a science fiction series because you’re invested… only to feel like it’s starting to lose a little momentum?

That was exactly where I found myself after Zoe’s Tale. Then I picked up The Human Division by John Scalzi—and it completely reignited my enthusiasm for the Old Man’s War series.

In this spoiler-lite review, I discuss why this fresh perspective, new cast of characters, larger galactic scope, and Scalzi’s trademark humor made this not only a return to form, but quite possibly my fa...

What is the greatest superhero movie of all time?

In this episode of Fantasy for the Ages, Jim counts down his Top 20 superhero movies ever made—from groundbreaking classics to animated masterpieces and generation-defining blockbusters.

Marvel, DC, Pixar, the X-Men and more are all competing for the top spot. Each movie is ranked according to its filmmaking quality, characters, emotional impact, cultural influence, historical importance and staying power.

Before Avengers: Doomsday potentially disrupts the entire order, find out which movie claims number one!

...

An unstoppable killer. A missing body. A teenage survivor who thought she had ended the nightmare.

In this spoiler-lite review, Jim takes a look at an advance copy of He Always Comes Back, the debut horror novel from Elle Engel. With the familiar DNA of classic slasher franchises—and a premise reminiscent of the unstoppable evil found in Halloween—does this upcoming release carve out an identity of its own?

We’ll discuss its central mystery, intense action, handling of trauma, LGBTQIA+ themes, and the reasons this promising premise didn’t...

What happens when you blend a classic noir detective mystery with an alien world filled with deadly wilderness, two moons — and a monster lurking in the lake?

You get The Dead Don’t Lie by Stephen Aryan, book two of The Blackstone Files!

After the events of New York Minute, private investigator Cole Blackstone and his longtime friend Bracken Hart must leave New York City behind. Their destination is the isolated lakeside town of Byron, where three young people have vanished and the local authorities have run out of answ...

Would you rather command a starship with a questionable AI — or ride a dragon with serious trust issues?

In this episode of FFTA, Zach and Jim challenge each other with a series of fantasy “Would You Rather” dilemmas (with science fiction elements creeping in). From magical powers with inconvenient side effects to impossible choices involving time travel, alien worlds, legendary weapons, and apocalyptic survival, they debate every option, exploit every loophole, and occasionally question each other’s judgment.

Play along and share your answers in the comments! Which choice was the...

Have you been longing for a return to classic fantasy—where the hero isn't morally gray, but genuinely strives to do what's right?

In this spoiler-lite review, I finally dive into Sheepfarmer's Daughter by Elizabeth Moon, the opening novel in The Deed of Paksenarrion trilogy. This has been one of the biggest gaps in my fantasy reading for years, and after Glenn (The Geeky Hippie) strongly encouraged me to move it to the top of my TBR, I finally gave it a shot.

Was he right?

Are you craving the sweeping adventure and heroic spirit of classic fantasy, but written with modern pacing and style? Look no further than The Lionheart: Icon of Justice by John A. Douglas—an actual superhero story set in an epic fantasy world!

In this spoiler-lite review, Jim explores the second book in the Age of Adventures series, including its compelling character development, creative magic, slowly unfolding mysteries, excellent pacing, enormous climactic action sequence, and one remarkably memorable pangolin.

Does this unusual blend of superheroes and traditional fantasy work? Is th...

Can seeing the same story through different eyes change everything?

In this spoiler-lite review, Jim takes a closer look at Zoe’s Tale by John Scalzi, the fourth book in the Old Man’s War series. This companion novel revisits the events of The Last Colony from Zoe Boutin Perry’s perspective, revealing new pieces of the conflict involving the Colonial Union, the Conclave, and humanity’s increasingly precarious place in the galaxy.

We’ll discuss Zoe’s transformation from the kid along for the ride into a protagonist with genuine...

Can Zach guess the fantasy book in just five clues? 📚✨

In this episode, Jim reveals one clue at a time while Zach tries to identify the mystery fantasy books before all five clues are used. Play along and see how many times you can beat him to the answer!

Comment below:

🔮 Which clue gave it away?

🏆 How many clues did you need?

Warning: This episode may contain spoilers for the mystery books.

If you enjoyed the challen...