I welcome a panel of fantasy authors—David and Michael (writing as Paragon Exordium/Mikel Melwassul), Caroline Ailanthus, and Jay Requard—to discuss why fantasy remains culturally relevant amid technology, AI, and shifting reader tastes. Panelists share current projects and favorite fantasy IPs (A Song of Ice and Fire/Game of Thrones, One Piece, Tolkien, and R.A. Salvatore) and argue fantasy’s durability comes from escapism, safely exploring difficult topics, and a renewed hunger for hopeful heroes after years of grimdark. They debate how fantasy blends with other genres, what defines fantasy versus science fiction, and the importance of grounded worldbuilding, research, and avoiding anachronisms. The conversation closes with how authors’ worldviews seep into their work, plus where to find them and which fantasy objects they’d want.

00:00 Fantasy Panel Kickoff

00:40 David Introduces Paragon

02:01 Michael Updates Projects

03:08 Caroline Tolkien Response

06:25 Jay Salvatore Influence

07:37 Host Favorites And Question

09:10 Fantasy Relevance Today

14:56 Escapism And Social Themes

16:56 Caroline On Fantasy Functions

20:17 Yellowstone As Modern Fantasy

23:08 Why Fantasy Blends Genres

26:52 Defining Fantasy Rules

32:08 Magic Versus Sci Fi

35:39 Bright And Veneer Critique

39:08 Author Mission And Tropes

41:58 Mythic Beasts as Memory

43:28 Paragon Collective Amnesia

44:08 Genre Lines and Examples

46:21 Fantasy Without Shortcuts

49:14 Publishing and Subgenres

51:33 Technology Dates Urban Fantasy

55:15 Research and Anachronisms

59:09 Modernizing Dragon Warfare

01:04:44 Worldview and Allegory

01:11:28 Timelessness Versus Politics

01:13:50 Coauthor Perspectives and Goals

01:17:53 Fantasy Objects and Farewell