Fantasy for the Ages

Has modern fantasy lost its sense of wonder… or are we just looking for it in the wrong places?

In this episode of Fantasy for the Ages, Jim is joined by Glenn the Geeky Hippie for a thoughtful, wide-ranging conversation about one of the biggest questions in fantasy today: Does modern fantasy still have wonder?

We dive into what “wonder” even means in the first place — whether it’s awe, mystery, discovery, or something harder to define — and then compare the magic of classic fantasy with the tone and priorities of modern storytelling. From the sweeping worlds of The Lord of the Rings to the grit of The First Law Trilogy and the innovation of The Broken Earth Trilogy, we ask: has something changed — and if so, is it for better or worse?

Along the way, we highlight modern works that absolutely still capture that sense of wonder.

We also tackle some deeper questions:

* Is modern fantasy more focused on realism than magic?
* Has wonder become quieter and more personal?
* Are we the reason it feels different now?

This is one of those conversations that blends nostalgia, critique, and genuine appreciation for how the genre continues to evolve.

It also turns into a rec list, a whole bunch of books you might add to your TBR!

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👍 If you enjoy thoughtful fantasy discussions like this, be sure to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell!

💬 Join the conversation:
Do you think modern fantasy still has wonder? Or do you miss the magic of older stories?

💙 Support the channel on Patreon for exclusive perks and shoutouts!: patreon.com/FantasyForTheAges

#FantasyForTheAges #FantasyDiscussion #ModernFantasy #EpicFantasy #BookTube #SFF #FantasyBooks

Connect Further with Glenn:
Non-Terrestrial Half-Life YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@non-terrestrialhalf-life

Want to purchase books/media mentioned in this episode?
The Anxious Generation: https://t.ly/hJCww
The Books of Babel: https://t.ly/naL2I
Broken Earth: https://t.ly/PPa-7
The Chronicles of Narnia: https://t.ly/AbE34
The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant: https://t.ly/gMP0o
City of Ember: https://t.ly/bERg9
Codex Alera: https://t.ly/mlNwY
The Dark Tower Series: https://t.ly/0yCfx
The Demon Cycle: https://t.ly/lYWms
The Expanse: https://t.ly/20-9Q
The Farseer Trilogy: https://t.ly/9BIPB
First Law: https://t.ly/XpiiK
The Gentleman Bastard Series: https://t.ly/hKrsh
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone: https://t.ly/V4Nuv
Liveship Traders Trilogy: https://t.ly/aaq2P
The Lord of the Rings: https://t.ly/1eEP9
The Magician’s Trilogy: https://t.ly/AjMs1
Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn Trilogy: https://t.ly/zw91m
Mortal Engines: https://t.ly/I1f_b
The Name of the Wind: https://t.ly/ndJbg
Perdido Street Station: https://t.ly/BMosB
The Priory of the Orange Tree: https://t.ly/uBltD
Spinning Silver: https://t.ly/SI3Q7
The Stormlight Archive: https://t.ly/x2NkJ
Uprooted: https://t.ly/08qm3
War of the Flowers: https://t.ly/nw_0D
The Wheel of Time: https://t.ly/vmGYt
The Witcher: https://t.ly/gWbcy

Ways to connect with us:
Follow Jim/Father on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/13848336-jim-scriven
Join us on Discord: https://discord.gg/jMWyVJ6qKk
Follow us on "X": @Fantasy4theAges
Follow us on Blue Sky: @fantasy4theages.bsky.social
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Jim’s Microphone: Blue Yeti https://tinyurl.com/3shpvhb4
Jim’s Camera: Razer Kito Pro https://tinyurl.com/c873tc2n

0:00 - Opening & Episode Explanation
2:23 - Defining “Wonder”
8:55 - Classic Fantasy vs Modern Fantasy
18:15 - Does Modern Fantasy Still Create Wonder?
27:02 - Has the Audience Changed?
38:26 - Final Takes
40:18 - Wrap-up & Conclusion

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Music and video elements licensed under Envato Elements:
https://elements.envato.com/

Some of the most creative, bold, and thought-provoking science fiction and fantasy being written today…

👉 Isn’t coming from the West.

In this episode of Fantasy for the Ages, I’m ranking the Top 10 Asian SFF Authors Published in English—covering authors tied to locations everywhere from the Middle East to the Far East (excluding Russia since we already included that nation with Europe).

This list highlights the authors who are redefining what speculative fiction can be, bringing fresh perspectives, new mythologies, and bold storytelling approaches to the genre.

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🔥 In This Episode:

* The Top 10 Asian SFF Authors (ranked!)
* Why Asian SFF feels different from Western storytelling
* The growing global influence of Chinese and East Asian sci-fi
* How translation is shaping the modern SFF landscape
* A few authors you probably haven’t read yet—but should

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🌎 Why This List Matters

Asian speculative fiction often blends:

* philosophy
* history
* mythology
* and social commentary

in ways that feel distinct from traditional Western fantasy and sci-fi.

If you’re looking to expand your reading horizons…

👉 This is a great place to start. Plenty of book recommendations.

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💬 Join the Conversation:

Who is the greatest Asian SFF author?
And who did I completely miss?

Drop your thoughts in the comments—I read all of them!

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👍 If You Enjoyed This Video:

Like 👍 | Subscribe 🔔 | Share 📚

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🙌 Support the Channel:

Want to support Fantasy for the Ages and get extra content?
Check out the Patreon: patreon.com/FantasyForTheAges

#Fantasy #ScienceFiction #SFF #BookTube #AsianFantasy #AsianSciFi #CixinLiu #ThreeBodyProblem #RFKuang #BookRecommendations

Want to purchase books/media mentioned in this episode?
The City of Brass: https://t.ly/3wbMz
Convenience Store Woman: https://t.ly/C6ocd
Earthlings: https://t.ly/3RUNL
Folding Beijing: https://t.ly/9gtUP
The Grace of Kings: https://t.ly/huoPV
The Green Bone Saga: https://t.ly/q6686
Ninefox Gambit: https://t.ly/7O4ed
The Poppy War: https://t.ly/d6CIF
Sorcerer to the Crown: https://t.ly/eYiaz
Stories of Your Life and Others: https://t.ly/SMF5z
The Three-Body Problem: https://t.ly/3OQVG

Ways to connect with us:
Follow Jim/Father on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/13848336-jim-scriven
Join us on Discord: https://discord.gg/jMWyVJ6qKk
Follow us on "X": @Fantasy4theAges
Follow us on Blue Sky: @fantasy4theages.bsky.social
Follow us on Instagram: fantasy_for_the_ages
Follow us on Mastodon: @[email protected]
Email us: [email protected]

Check out our merch: https://www.newcreationsbyjen.com/collections/fantasyfortheages

Jim’s Microphone: Blue Yeti https://tinyurl.com/3shpvhb4
Jim’s Camera: Razer Kito Pro https://tinyurl.com/c873tc2n

0:00 - Opening
1:19 - Episode Explanation
2:42 - The Top 10
13:06 - Jim’s Take
13:21 - Why This List Looks Different
13:45 - Wrap-up & Conclusion

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Music and video elements licensed under Envato Elements:
https://elements.envato.com/

🔥 What happens when the apocalypse isn’t about saving the world… but surviving your own past?

In this episode of Fantasy for the Ages, Jim is joined once again by Matt from Geaux Read Books and Derek from D&J’s Epic Quest for another deep-dive group discussion — and this time, Jim made the post-apocalyptic pick.

We’re tackling The Reapers Are the Angels by Alden Bell, a haunting, philosophical, and deeply unsettling take on zombie fiction and the zombie apocalypse that’s as much about moral dilemmas, guilt, judgment, and survival as it is about the undead.

⚠️ IMPORTANT: The opening portion of this video is spoiler-lite, but the majority of the discussion is FULL SPOILERS, including the ending, major character arcs, and thematic breakdowns.

This is one of those books that sparks real debate:

* Is Temple a hero… or something else?
* Is this even a zombie story, or something far more allegorical?
* And what does it really mean that “the reapers are the angels”?

We’re breaking it all down.

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📚 Check out Matt and Derek here:

👉 Matt @ Geaux Read Books:
https://www.youtube.com/@GeauxReadBooks

👉 Derek @ D&J’s Epic Quest:
https://www.youtube.com/@DJsEpicQuest

Be sure to subscribe to both — these guys consistently bring awesome SFFH content and are always a blast to collaborate with!

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💬 Join the conversation:
Have you read The Reapers Are the Angels?
What did you think of Temple?
Did the ending work for you?

Drop your thoughts in the comments—we want to hear from you!

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👍 If you enjoyed this discussion of an apocalyptic fiction tale, don’t forget to Like, Subscribe, and hit the notification bell so you don’t miss future episodes and collaborations.

🙏 Special thanks to our Patreon supporters—you make content like this possible!: patreon.com/FantasyForTheAges

#FantasyForTheAges #BookDiscussion #ZombieFiction #HorrorBooks #PostApocalyptic #AldenBell #FullSpoilers #BookTube

Want to purchase books/media mentioned in this episode?
The Reapers are the Angels: https://t.ly/KRTom

Ways to connect with us:
Follow Jim/Father on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/13848336-jim-scriven
Join us on Discord: https://discord.gg/jMWyVJ6qKk
Follow us on "X": @Fantasy4theAges
Follow us on Blue Sky: @fantasy4theages.bsky.social
Follow us on Instagram: fantasy_for_the_ages
Follow us on Mastodon: @[email protected]
Email us: [email protected]

Check out our merch: https://www.newcreationsbyjen.com/collections/fantasyfortheages

Jim’s Microphone: Blue Yeti https://tinyurl.com/3shpvhb4
Jim’s Camera: Razer Kito Pro https://tinyurl.com/c873tc2n

0:00 - Opening
1:15 - Welcome Guests
4:21 - Book Details
5:23 - Spoiler-Lite Summary
7:31 - Full Spoil Transition
8:00 - General Feel for the Book
11:39 - Temple as a Protagonist
13:54 - The Weight of Guilt
19:59 - Moses Todd: Villain, or Mirror?
25:30 - The Role of Religion & Spirituality
31:19 - The World: Backdrop, or a Character?
37:26 - Violence and Morality
44:25 - The Pursuit: Cat and Mouse Element
49:36 - The Ending
56:55 - Final Thoughts
58:50 - Closing & Wrap-Up

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Music and video elements licensed under Envato Elements:
https://elements.envato.com/

Was The Wheel of Time TV series on Amazon Prime Video a failure… or just a missed masterpiece?

In this episode of Fantasy for the Ages, Jim takes an honest look at the wildly divisive adaptation of The Wheel of Time — specifically The Wheel of Time on Prime Video.

Let’s be real… this show made some major adaptation changes that frustrated longtime fans. From altered character arcs to questionable storytelling decisions — and yes, that “another turning of the Wheel” justification — there’s a lot here that simply didn’t land.

But here’s the twist…

Even with all those issues, the series still delivered some incredible moments that captured the spirit, emotion, and epic scale of what Robert Jordan created.

So today, we’re doing something a little different: 🔥 Ranking the Top 10 BEST moments from The Wheel of Time TV show based on faithfulness to the books AND how well they were brought to life on screen, highlighting the scenes that made fans say: “YES… THAT’S Wheel of Time.”

Whether you loved the show, hated it, or are still somewhere in between—this is a celebration of the moments that almost showed us what this adaptation could have been.

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👍 If you enjoy honest fantasy takes, rankings, and deep dives—be sure to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and join the Fantasy for the Ages community!

💬 Let me know in the comments:
What were YOUR favorite moments from the show? Did any scenes redeem it for you—or was it too far off the mark?

💙 Support the channel on Patreon for exclusive perks and shoutouts!: patreon.com/FantasyForTheAges

#WheelOfTime #FantasyForTheAges #RobertJordan #FantasyTV #BookAdaptations #PrimeVideo #FantasyFans #EpicFantasy #WoT #SFF

Ways to connect with us:
Follow Jim/Father on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/13848336-jim-scriven
Join us on Discord: https://discord.gg/jMWyVJ6qKk
Follow us on "X": @Fantasy4theAges
Follow us on Blue Sky: @fantasy4theages.bsky.social
Follow us on Instagram: fantasy_for_the_ages
Follow us on Mastodon: @[email protected]
Email us: [email protected]

Check out our merch: https://www.newcreationsbyjen.com/collections/fantasyfortheages

Jim’s Microphone: Blue Yeti https://tinyurl.com/3shpvhb4
Jim’s Camera: Razer Kito Pro https://tinyurl.com/c873tc2n

0:00 - Opening
1:53 - Setting the Stage (& a Little Rant)
2:43 - Credit Where Credit is Due
3:08 - Top 10 Moments, Ranked
7:46 - Final Thoughts
8:13 - Wrap-up & Conclusion

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Music and video elements licensed under Envato Elements:
https://elements.envato.com/

Did Hollywood get it wrong… or have we just been told the wrong story?

In this episode of Fantasy for the Ages, Jim counts down the Top 20 MOST faithful book adaptations in fantasy, science fiction, and horror — movies and TV shows that proved something powerful:

👉 You don’t need to rewrite great stories to make them work on screen.

From modern hits like Project Hail Mary and Dune to all-time classics like The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring and Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, this countdown highlights adaptations that stayed true to their source material — and were wildly successful because of it.

Along the way, Jim digs into:

* What “faithful adaptation” really means
* Why audiences respond so strongly to it
* And why some modern adaptations (yes… we’re looking at you, The Wheel of Time and later season The Witcher) have missed the mark

If you’ve ever wondered whether Hollywood changes too much, or if staying true to the book is actually the better path, this episode is for you.

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👍 Like, Subscribe, and hit the Notification Bell so you don’t miss future episodes on fantasy, sci-fi, horror, and all things nerdy.

💬 Join the conversation:
What’s the most faithful adaptation YOU’ve ever seen? Does faithfulness matter, or is it overrated?

💙 Support the channel on Patreon for exclusive perks and shoutouts!: patreon.com/FantasyForTheAges

#FantasyForTheAges #BookAdaptations #SciFi #Fantasy #Horror #ProjectHailMary #Dune #HarryPotter #LOTR #TheMartian #GameOfThrones #WheelOfTime #TheWitcher #BookToScreen

Ways to connect with us:
Follow Jim/Father on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/13848336-jim-scriven
Join us on Discord: https://discord.gg/jMWyVJ6qKk
Follow us on "X": @Fantasy4theAges
Follow us on Blue Sky: @fantasy4theages.bsky.social
Follow us on Instagram: fantasy_for_the_ages
Follow us on Mastodon: @[email protected]
Email us: [email protected]

Check out our merch: https://www.newcreationsbyjen.com/collections/fantasyfortheages

Jim’s Microphone: Blue Yeti https://tinyurl.com/3shpvhb4
Jim’s Camera: Razer Kito Pro https://tinyurl.com/c873tc2n

0:00 - Opening & Explanation
1:35 - Honorable Mention
2:32 - The Top 20
13:19 - Final Thoughts (The Rant?)
14:19 - Wrap-up & Conclusion

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Music and video elements licensed under Envato Elements:
https://elements.envato.com/