Fantasy for the Ages

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/

🎬 First dates are awkward.

But what if your first date also involved blackmail, surveillance, home invasion, and the threat of murder?

In this episode of Fantasy for the Ages, Jim reviews Drop, a tense, under-the-radar thriller that completely flew beneath his radar… until it landed on a Best Movies of 2025 list.

And wow, this one surprised him.

With strong performances, razor-tight pacing, and escalating psychological tension, Drop proves you don’t need explosions or spectacle to deliver a gripping experience. It’s uncomfortable, smart, modern, and — against all expectations — an excellent “cuddle and watch” movie if you and your significant other enjoy high-stakes suspense.

In this spoiler-lite review, Jim breaks down:
• Why the title is awful but the movie is great
• What makes the tension work so well
• Why the performances elevate the entire film
• Who will love it, and who should probably skip it

If you’re looking for a thriller that respects your intelligence and keeps you locked in from start to finish, this might be the one you missed.

👇 Let us know in the comments: Have you seen Drop? Was it on your radar—or is it now?

👍 Like the video
🔔 Subscribe for more fantasy, sci-fi, horror, and thriller content
💙 Support the channel on Patreon and help keep Fantasy for the Ages going strong: https://www.patreon.com/FantasyForTheAges

#Drop2025 #MovieReview #ThrillerMovies #BestMovies2025 #PsychologicalThriller #Blumhouse #FantasyForTheAges #JimReviews #UnderTheRadarMovies #NoSpoilers

Ways to connect with us:
Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/FantasyForTheAges
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 - Film Details
2:47 - Spoiler-Lite Summary
3:29 - Jim’s Take
6:32 - Six Reasons You May Enjoy This Movie
8:38 - Three Reasons You Might Not
9:53 - Final Thoughts
10:21 - Conclusion & Wrap-up

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

Every day on Fantasy for the Ages, we throw a poll out to you. Today, it’s time to see just how well Zach actually understands our audience. 👀

In this episode, Zach and Jim break down the questions and the results from our daily poll, with Zach attempting to guess how the community voted before the answers are revealed. Sometimes he nails it… and sometimes he’s spectacularly, gloriously wrong.

Along the way, we:
• Reveal how you actually voted
• Share our own personal takes (wise, questionable, or downright heretical)
• Lightly (and occasionally not-so-lightly) ridicule each other’s opinions
• Argue about fantasy, sci-fi, horror, and nerd culture the way only family can

If you enjoy friendly rivalry, hot takes, community engagement, and watching a son confidently guess wrong while his dad enjoys it far too much, this one’s for you.

👇 Join the conversation!
Did the poll results surprise you? Who had the better take, Zach or Jim? Drop your thoughts in the comments, vote in the next daily poll, and let us know what questions we should ask next.

👍 Like the video
💬 Comment with your hot takes
🔔 Subscribe for more fantasy, sci-fi, horror, and nerdy debates
📣 Share with someone who definitely would’ve guessed wrong too

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

#FantasyForTheAges #FFTA #FantasyYouTube #BookTube #GeekCulture #DailyPoll #YouTubePoll #CommunityPoll #AudienceVotes #FanOpinions #Fantasy #ScienceFiction #Horror #SpeculativeFiction #NerdDebate

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 & Episode Explanation
1:26 - Poll Questions
23:13- Wrap-up & Conclusion

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

Did we really need another Jurassic Park sequel in 2025?
That’s the question I walked into Jurassic World: Rebirth asking… and honestly? I got exactly the movie I expected.

This isn’t a film that’s trying to shock you, move you, or redefine blockbuster cinema. It’s here to put massive dinosaurs on the screen, create some loud, chaotic set pieces, and give you a couple hours of popcorn entertainment — and for better or worse, that’s what it delivers.

In this spoiler-lite review, I talk about:
• Whether franchise fatigue has finally caught up with Jurassic World
• Scarlett Johansson’s role and whether she adds anything new
• Why I missed Chris Pratt
• The visuals, the spectacle, and the very familiar storytelling
• Who this movie is actually for — and who should probably skip it

If you’re looking for the next great cinematic event, this probably isn’t it. But if you’ve enjoyed previous Jurassic movies and just want another somewhat silly adventure with enormous dinosaurs causing chaos? This might be a perfectly fine way to spend an evening.

Let me know in the comments:
🦕 Are you still enjoying Jurassic movies?
🦖 Or has this franchise officially run out of fossil fuel?

👍 Like the video if you enjoyed the review
📺 Subscribe for more Fantasy, Sci-Fi, and Horror content
💬 Join the conversation below
💙 And huge thanks to our Patreon supporters for making Fantasy for the Ages possible!: https://www.patreon.com/FantasyForTheAges

#JurassicWorldRebirth #JurassicWorld #JurassicPark #MovieReview #SpoilerFreeReview #BlockbusterMovies #FantasyForTheAges #SummerMovies #DinosaurMovies #PopcornFlick

Ways to connect with us:
Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/FantasyForTheAges
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
1:10 - Film Details
2:01 - Spoiler-Lite Summary
2:35 - Jim’s Experience & Thoughts
4:14 - Five Reasons You May Enjoy This Movie
6:21 - Three Reasons You Might Not
7:49 - Final Thoughts
8:14 - Conclusion & Wrap-up

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

🐉 Fantasy is packed with dragons, elves, and orcs… but what about the creatures that don’t get the spotlight?

In today’s episode of Fantasy for the Ages, Jim & Zach are counting down the Top 10 Most Underrated Fantasy Creatures—the monsters, beings, and entities that quietly elevate their stories without ever becoming household names.

These are the creatures that:
• Add rich worldbuilding and atmosphere
• Bring unexpected terror, wonder, or moral complexity
• Stick in your memory long after the book is closed
• Deserve way more recognition than they usually get

From subtle horrors to strange companions and mythic beings that never headline the cover, this list celebrates the unsung legends of fantasy fiction.

⚠️ Spoiler-aware, but spoiler-light — I’ll explain why each creature matters without ruining the experience.

👇 Now it’s your turn:
Which fantasy creature do you think is criminally underrated? Drop your picks in the comments and let’s build the ultimate extended list together.

If you enjoy deep-cut fantasy discussions, thoughtful rankings, and a love for the genre that goes beyond the obvious choices:
👉 Like the video
👉 Subscribe for more fantasy, sci-fi, and horror content
👉 Join the conversation in the comments
👉 Check out the links below for Discord and Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/FantasyForTheAges

#FantasyForTheAges #FantasyCreatures #UnderratedFantasy #FantasyBooks #EpicFantasy #FantasyWorldbuilding #BookTube #SpeculativeFiction #FantasyRankings #SFF #FFTA

Want to purchase books/media mentioned in this episode?
The Amazing Adventures of Cavalier & Clay: https://t.ly/PV1hL
The Black Company: https://t.ly/Z8c82
The Dresden Files: https://t.ly/mZKXm
Dungeon Crawler Carl: https://t.ly/8Azjn
The Lord of the Rings: https://t.ly/1eEP9
Malazan Book of the Fallen: https://t.ly/mJrmu
A Song of Ice and Fire: https://t.ly/ZZNbw
The Stormlight Archive: https://t.ly/x2NkJ
The Three-Body Problem: https://t.ly/3OQVG
Twelve Months: https://t.ly/vZRA2
Uprooted: https://t.ly/08qm3
The Wheel of Time: https://t.ly/vmGYt
The Witcher: https://t.ly/mMT_o

Ways to connect with us:
Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/FantasyForTheAges
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
1:31 - Episode Explanation
2:30 - The Top 10
23:19 - Honorable Mentions & Zach’s Thoughts
25:53 - Conclusion & Wrap-up

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