We’re friends and we talk about fantasy. Books, not sports.
Episodes
50 minutes ago
50 minutes ago
In this special episode, Dylan is joined by Stephen from the Fantology Podcast for an epic deep dive into his favorite fantasy books and authors! Stephen shares his personal tier list, walking us through the writers who have shaped his love for the genre—from all-time legends to underrated gems.
Whether you're new to fantasy or a longtime fan looking for your next great read, you’ll come away with a list of compelling recommendations. Expect some hot takes, thoughtful insights, and plenty of titles to add to your TBR! Check out Stephen and the rest of the crew at Fantology: https://www.youtube.com/@FantologyPodcast
Let us know in the comments: Who are YOUR top-tier fantasy authors?
Monday Jun 02, 2025
Monday Jun 02, 2025
With Charles out on paternity leave (congrats, Charles!), Dylan takes a crack at doing a full solo episode of Friends Talking Fantasy.
Dylan provides some early thoughts on Joe Abercrombie’s The Devils (spoiler: it’s really good), reflects on what it's like to reread Red Seas Under Red Skies by Scott Lynch, and talks to himself about how The Will of the Many helped him break out of a reading slump.
Dylan also talks through some recent fantasy-world news, including the reported cancellation of The Wheel of Time and a very human but somewhat disgruntled blog post from George R.R. Martin about Winds of Winter (sort of)
Monday Apr 21, 2025
Monday Apr 21, 2025
The Friends journey into the brutal heart of Christopher Buehlman’s The Daughter’s War, the grimdark prequel to The Blacktongue Thief. They unpack the stark tonal shift between the two novels—where Buehlman trades snark for sorrow, and swagger for survival. The spotlight falls on Galva, whose stoic presence in The Blacktongue Thief is given heartbreaking depth as her backstory unfolds through war, trauma, and fractured family loyalties. From hive-minded goblins to the emotional cost of legacy, the hosts explore what makes The Daughter’s War such a powerful, if punishing, read—and why some readers might not be ready for just how dark this prequel gets.
Watch on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@friendstalkingfantasy
Monday Apr 14, 2025
Monday Apr 14, 2025
Sink your teeth into the wild world of revived dire wolves—yes, they were real—and the viral tweet that sparked “Dire Wolf Day.” From George R.R. Martin holding a genetically resurrected pup to speculation about military mammoths and Jurassic Park parallels, things get weird fast. The Friends also wade into the fandom frustration over The Winds of Winter and defend authors’ rights to, well, do other stuff. We round out the episode with thoughts on Patrick Rothfuss, a nod to Mark Lawrence’s latest projects, and a grateful look at your YouTube comments—coin flips, interruptions, and all.
Note from Charles: Audio is a bit rough from 2:06-5:20, sorry about that! Thank you for listening!
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@friendstalkingfantasy
Monday Apr 07, 2025
Monday Apr 07, 2025
Join The Friends as they dive into the 2025 r/Fantasy Book Bingo Card! In this episode, we walk through some of the most exciting (and challenging) categories, offering fantasy book recommendations for each square. Whether you’re hunting for a perfect “Knights and Paladins” read or struggling to find a book with “High Fashion,” we’ve got you covered.
Highlights include:
⚔️ Knights and Paladins – Buhlman, Sanderson, and Grossman
💎 Hidden Gems – Angry Robot standouts like The Last Shield
📜 Published in the 1980s – The Black Company and Alanna
📖 Epistolary reads – Piranesi, The Martian, Time War
👨👧 Parent Protagonists – The Witcher, Saga, The Fifth Season
🏳️🌈 LGBTQ+ Leads, Self-Published Hits, Short Story Collections, and more!
We also share our thoughts on the “Last in a Series” square (spoiler-free!), the mysterious “Not a Book” category, and how Severance or playing Catan might just count. Let us help you fill your card with fantastic reads!
Watch on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@friendstalkingfantasy
Visit our Website: https://www.theftfpodcast.com/
Monday Mar 31, 2025
Monday Mar 31, 2025
We’re back and diving deep into the pages! 📚 In this episode of Friends Talking Fantasy, The Friends break down the 25 books Charles read during the podcast hiatus—ranking them from S-tier gems to DNF disasters.
From Brandon Sanderson’s newest standalones to chaotic fun like Dungeon Crawler Carl, poetic necromancy in Sabriel, and the genre-bending brilliance of The Tainted Cup, we cover fantasy, sci-fi, horror, and everything in between. Expect bold takes, bookish banter, and tier list drama.
🔮 Which book made the top?
😤 Which ones did we DNF without remorse?
🎧 Which audiobooks took over our car rides?
Get ready for a whirlwind tour of recent reads, surprising favorites, and a whole lot of hot takes. Don’t forget to like, comment with your top reads, and subscribe for more episodes!
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@friendstalkingfantasy
Visit our Website: https://www.theftfpodcast.com/
Monday Mar 24, 2025
Monday Mar 24, 2025
After a four-month break, The Friends are back with a refreshed Friends Talking Fantasy—complete with a new video format! In this comeback episode, we catch up on life, talk future podcast goals (live episodes, maybe?), and kickoff a new Friends Pitching Fantasy.
Each host brings three fantasy books to the table, pitching them to determine the next reads for the show.
The six books discussed:
📚 The Daughters’ War by Christopher Buehlman
📚 Red Seas Under Red Skies by Scott Lynch
📚 The Fires of Vengeance by Evan Winter
📚 The Ending Fire by Saara El-Arifi
📚 The Will of the Many by James Islington
📚 Dragon Keeper by Robin Hobb
Tune in to hear our thoughts on each pick, the plans for upcoming episodes, and some light fantasy banter along the way.
🎥 YouTube Channel: youtube.com/@FriendsTalkingFantasy
🌐 Visit our website: friendstalkingfantasy.com
Friday Jan 17, 2025
Friday Jan 17, 2025
I (Dylan) provided an update on what's been going on and why we haven't had any episodes in a while. We will be back in due time!
Email us at theftfpodcast@gmail.com to let us know what you'd like to see from the show moving forward!
Monday Nov 18, 2024
Monday Nov 18, 2024
The journey of the Liveship Traders trilogy reaches its breathtaking conclusion in Ship of Destiny, and we’re here to dive deep into Robin Hobb’s masterful storytelling. Join us as we explore the incredible character arcs, unravel the mysteries of the Liveships and dragons, and discuss the powerful themes of freedom, identity, and legacy. Whether you’re a die-hard Hobb fan or a first-time traveler of the Rain Wilds, this spoiler-filled discussion will chart the full course of this unforgettable finale.
Visit our website: https://www.theftfpodcast.com/
Monday Oct 28, 2024
Monday Oct 28, 2024
In this episode of the Friends Talking Fantasy Podcast, we take a spoiler-free journey into the gripping world of Max Brooks’ World War Z. Join us as we explore the unique format of the book, presented as an oral history of the global zombie apocalypse, and discuss the major themes of survival, resilience, and global cooperation. We’ll share our impressions of how this realistic take on a zombie outbreak stands out within the genre and why it’s a must-read for fans of speculative fiction. Whether you’re a veteran zombie enthusiast or new to the apocalypse, this episode will have something for everyone—without spoiling the thrill of discovering World War Z for yourself!
Visit our website: https://www.theftfpodcast.com/