Some books are fun to read…

Others refuse to let you stop talking about them.

In today’s Fantasy for the Ages episode, Jim and Zach tackle a topic every speculative fiction fan understands instinctively: the SFF best books and series we could discuss for HOURS.

These are the stories with unforgettable worlds, endlessly debated characters, and themes that spark conversation long after the final page. They’re the books that inspire rereads, theories, arguments, and passionate defenses—the ones that turn casual readers into lifelong fans.

Each of us brought five picks to the table, then worked together (and occasionally argued) to create a collaboratively ranked Top 10 list. Along the way, we talk about why certain stories demand repeated discussion, how fandom keeps these worlds alive, and what separates a good reading from a truly unforgettable one.

And of course… there was overlap.

📚 In this episode, we discuss:

• What makes a book or series endlessly discussable

• The role of worldbuilding, characters, and theme in long-term fandom

• Which SFF stories reward rereads and deep dives

• Why some books never stop being relevant

Now we want to hear from you.

👉 What books or series can you talk about for hours?

👉 Which ones did we miss?

👉 And which rankings do you passionately disagree with?

Drop your picks in the Comments, and if you want to keep the conversation going, come join us on our Discord server—invite link in the show notes.

Thank-you to our Patreon supporters for keeping Fantasy for the Ages possible. Check out our Patreon page to discover the perks our supporters enjoy!: patreon.com/FantasyForTheAges

#FantasyForTheAges #SpeculativeFiction #FantasyBooks #SciFiBooks #BookDiscussion #SFFCommunity #BookTube #Top10Books #FantasyReaders

Want to purchase books mentioned in this episode?

The Acts of Caine: https://t.ly/TqFnT

The Dark Tower: https://t.ly/0yCfx

Dawnshard: https://t.ly/CdHYU

The Dragonriders of Pern: https://t.ly/lLO5P

The Dresden Files: https://t.ly/mZKXm

Dune Saga: https://t.ly/gb3K1

Dungeon Crawler Carl: https://t.ly/3DxEt

Edgedancer: https://t.ly/4l6R0

The Expanse: https://t.ly/Pq067

The Hobbit: https://t.ly/993A3

Hyperion Cantos: https://t.ly/qhM-b

The Lightbringer Series: https://t.ly/NzrYc

The Locked Tomb Series: https://t.ly/dM-xQ

The Lord of the Rings: https://t.ly/1eEP9

Malazan Book of the Fallen: https://t.ly/6JLnp

Mistborn: Secret History: https://t.ly/y-ZIS

The Murderbot Diaries: https://t.ly/xvnyY

Night Angel Nemesis: https://t.ly/j2S-A

Red Rising Saga: https://t.ly/33acx

Shannara: https://t.ly/X6Mvm

The Silmarillion: https://t.ly/iX9Li

The Stormlight Archive: https://t.ly/x2NkJ

The Wheel of Time: https://t.ly/vmGYt

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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Email us: [email protected]

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Jim’s Camera: Razer Kito Pro https://tinyurl.com/c873tc2n

0:00 - Opening

1:57 - Episode Explanation

5:49 - Our Picks

37:16 - The Final Rankings

39:22 - Concluding Thoughts

40:27 - Wrap-up

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