Fantasy for the Ages

What happens when an average guy suddenly inherits a global villain empire?

Not metaphorically.
Not “my boss is evil.”
Actual secret lairs, corporate espionage, assassination attempts… and sentient cats who absolutely know more than they’re telling.

Today, I’m giving a spoiler-lite review of Starter Villain, a fast, hilarious, and surprisingly sharp novel from John Scalzi that blends spy-craft, corporate satire, and absurdist humor into one wildly entertaining package.

In this episode, I cover:
• Why the premise works far better than it has any right to
• How Scalzi turns villainy into a workplace comedy
• Why the cats are a genuine highlight (and mildly terrifying)
• What kind of reader will love this book—and who might not
• Why this was the perfect read right before the new Dresden Files novel dropped

I was laughing out loud again and again, and this one instantly pushed more Scalzi books higher up my TBR.

Have you read Starter Villain yet?
Are you team “Never Trust the Cats”?
Let me know your thoughts in the comments!

👍 If you enjoyed the video, please like, subscribe, and share
💬 Join the conversation in the comments
💙 Support the channel on Patreon and help Fantasy for the Ages keep growing: patreon.com/FantasyForTheAges

#StarterVillain #JohnScalzi #BookReview #FantasyForTheAges
#SciFiBooks #SpoilerLite #BookTube #SpeculativeFiction #Satire #HumorousSciFi #CatBooks #FFTA

Want to purchase books/media mentioned in this episode?
Kaiju Preservation Society: https://t.ly/BGopw
Redshirts: https://t.ly/_ZPHk
Starter Villain: https://t.ly/CGxLm
Twelve Months: https://t.ly/vZRA2

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
1:36 - Book Details
2:47 - Why Jim Read This
3:40 - Spoiler-Lite Summary
4:29 - Jim’s Take
5:59 - 10 Reasons You Might Enjoy Starter Villain
9:51 - Five Reasons It Might Not Be for You
11:33 - Final Thoughts
12:45 - Closing & Wrap-Up

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

What if the most ordinary creatures in your home… weren’t ordinary at all?

In this episode of Fantasy for the Ages, Jim dives into the graphic novel retelling of The Cats of Ulthar, written by Bruce Brown—an atmospheric, beautifully crafted adaptation of H.P. Lovecraft’s classic short story.

Lovecraft was famous for twisting everyday reality into something cosmically unsettling, and The Cats of Ulthar may be one of his most quietly disturbing tales. This graphic novel breathes new life into that century-old story, pairing eerie moral justice with striking artwork and a tone that feels both timeless and fresh.

We’ll talk about:
• How this adaptation honors Lovecraft while making the story accessible
• Why the artwork, lettering, and overall production quality stand out
• The unsettling idea that cats may be more aware—and more powerful—than we give them credit for
• Who this graphic novel is perfect for… and who might want to pass

⚠️ Spoiler-lite discussion only ⚠️

If you enjoy horror-tinged fantasy, Lovecraftian vibes, and graphic novels that linger in your mind after you’ve closed the cover, this one’s worth your time.

👉 Like, subscribe, and comment: Have you read The Cats of Ulthar—or do you now look at your cat a little differently?
👉 Support the channel on Patreon and help keep Fantasy for the Ages growing—plus my continued appeasement of the feline overlords.: patreon.com/FantasyForTheAges

#FantasyForTheAges #TheCatsOfUlthar #Lovecraft #GraphicNovelReview #CosmicHorror #HorrorFantasy #IndieComics #Lovecraftian #BookTube #GraphicNovel #CatsAreWatching 🐾

Want to purchase books/media mentioned in this episode?
The Cats of Ulthar: A Tale Reimagined: https://t.ly/py_Cc
The Cats of Ulthar (Original Short Story): https://t.ly/3IDx0

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
2:06 - Book Details
3:11 - Why Jim Read This
3:41 - Spoiler-Lite Summary
5:01 - Jim’s Take
6:06 - Six Reasons You May Enjoy This Graphic Novel
7:28 - Two Reasons It Might Not Be for You
8:32 - Final Thoughts
8:54 - Closing & Wrap-Up

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

Every fantasy fan knows the moment.“Well… in the book…”Adaptations always change things. Sometimes those changes elevate the story. Sometimes they make it more accessible. And sometimes they completely miss the point of what made the book special in the first place.In this episode of Fantasy for the Ages, Jim and Zach dive into fantasy adaptations that significantly changed their source material—and whether those changes worked for better or for worse.This isn’t a “the book is always better” rant.It’s a thoughtful conversation about translation, intent, character, tone, and why some changes succeed while others fail.👇 Now we want to hear from youWhich fantasy adaptation do you think improved the book?Which one broke your heart?And which changes are you still arguing about years later?Drop your thoughts in the comments.👍 Like the video if you enjoy thoughtful fantasy discussion📺 Subscribe for regular fantasy, sci-fi, and horror content🔔 Hit the bell so you don’t miss future episodesSupport us on Patreon for exclusive content, varied perks, and early access: patreon.com/FantasyForTheAges#FantasyAdaptations #BookToScreen #FantasyForTheAges #BookTube #FantasyMovies #FantasyTV #SFF #AdaptationDiscussionWays 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.socialFollow 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/fantasyfortheagesJim’s Microphone: Blue Yeti https://tinyurl.com/3shpvhb4 Jim’s Camera: Razer Kito Pro https://tinyurl.com/c873tc2n 0:00 - Opening1:37 - Episode Explanation2:32 - Eight Examples22:44 - What This Tells Us About Adaptations23:36 - Wrap-up & Conclusion————————————————————————————Music and video elements licensed under Envato Elements:https://elements.envato.com/

What if the end of the world didn’t come from zombies, nukes, or aliens—but from nanotechnology doing exactly what it was designed to do?

In this episode, Jim reviews the Plague Year Trilogy by Jeff Carlson, an underrated dystopian science-fiction series that imagines a frighteningly plausible nanotech apocalypse. We dig into what works, what doesn’t, and who this fast-paced, bleak trilogy is really for.

📚 In this spoiler-lite review, we cover:
• The trilogy’s hard-science approach to runaway nanotechnology
• Why the pacing makes these books hard to put down
• Themes of unintended consequences and moral gray survival choices
• Where the characters work—and where they fall short
• Five reasons you might enjoy this series
• Three reasons it may not be for you

If you’re a fan of dystopian, apocalyptic, or hard sci-fi, especially stories that feel uncomfortably realistic, this might be a series worth checking out.

👍 Like the video if you enjoy thoughtful sci-fi reviews
📺 Subscribe for more fantasy, sci-fi, and horror content
💬 Comment below if you’ve read the Plague Year Trilogy—or if it just landed on your TBR

❤️ Support Fantasy for the Ages on Patreon and help keep the channel going (and the book buying habit justified!): patreon.com/FantasyForTheAges

#PlagueYearTrilogy #JeffCarlson #SciFiBooks #DystopianSciFi #Nanotechnology #HardSciFi #BookReview #FantasyForTheAges #ApocalypticFiction

Want to purchase books/media mentioned in this episode?
Plague Year: https://t.ly/fj7QE
Plague War: https://t.ly/Q6YSK
Plague Zone: https://t.ly/R1F2E

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
1:49 - Book Details
3:05 - Why Jim Read This
3:48 - Spoiler-Lite Summary
4:40 - Jim’s Take
6:47 - Five Reasons You May Enjoy This Novel
9:53 - Three Reasons You Might Not Care for This Book
11:30 - Final Thoughts
11:47 - Closing & Wrap-Up

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

Some books are incredible experiences.

They challenge us.
They wreck us emotionally.
They leave a permanent mark.

And then… once is enough.

In this episode of Fantasy for the Ages, Jim and Zach talk about fantasy, science fiction, and horror books they’re genuinely glad they read, but have absolutely no desire to ever revisit. Not because they’re bad. Not because they failed. But because they succeeded too well.

We discuss:
• Emotionally devastating reads
• Intellectually exhausting masterpieces
• Surprise heavyweights that hit harder than expected
• Horror novels that did their job too well
• Why rereadability is NOT the same thing as quality

This is a reflective, conversation-driven episode about how we read, why we read, and how our relationship with books changes over time.

👇 Now we want to hear from you
What’s a book you admire, respect, or even love, but will never re-read?
Tell us why in the comments.

👍 Like the video if you enjoy thoughtful SFFH discussions
📺 Subscribe for weekly fantasy, sci-fi, and horror content
🔔 Hit the bell so you don’t miss future episodes

Support us on Patreon for exclusive content, varied perks, and early access: patreon.com/FantasyForTheAges

#FantasyBooks #SciFiBooks #HorrorBooks #BookTube #FantasyForTheAges #ReadingLife #SFF #BooksThatChangedMe #BookDiscussion

Want to purchase books/media mentioned in this episode?
The Book of the New Sun: https://t.ly/klihi
Deadhouse Gates: https://t.ly/BfX88
Dune Messiah: https://t.ly/kVEGu
Finnegan’s Wake: https://t.ly/WzKTP
Flowers for Algernon: https://t.ly/cOenO
The Long Walk: https://t.ly/WhQHw
A Monster Calls: https://t.ly/TlWpf
Pet Sematary: https://t.ly/O35B7
The Silmarillion: https://t.ly/iX9Li
The Wheel of Time: https://t.ly/vmGYt
When Breath Becomes Air: https://t.ly/sCe_C

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
1:49 - Episode Explanation
4:50 - The Emotionally Devastating Read
8:19 - Intellectually Exhausting Masterpieces
13:41 - Perfectly Stuck in a Season of Life
16:22 - The Surprise Heavyweight
21:30 - Horror That Did Its Job TOO Well
25:41 - What This Says About Us as Readers
26:50 - Wrap-up & Conclusion

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