Christopher Ruocchio’s Top Ten Fantasy

Hello Friends!
One of my very favorite authors joins the channel today to share his top ten fantasy stories! Thank you so much for joining ‪@SunEaterBooks‬ !
A few notes:
1) The initial video that gave me the idea for this video was Moid over on ‪@MediaDeathCult‬ asking for Christopher's top ten sci-fi series. That is a fantastic video, and you can find it here: • Video
2) My audio stinks in this video, and I apologize for that. I'm looking for a better set up that will correct this issue.
3) Thank you to those who joined live. I wasn't expecting an audience, but I appreciate your support. I was so surprised that I forgot to display your comments, and it made me look like a psychopath talking to myself. I'll do better.
4) Christopher had a fantastic list, but forgot to mention one of his favorites - Gormenghast by Mervyn Peake. He and I chatted a bit afterword, and he was bummed about this omission.
5) I attempted to edit the movie afterword, throwing in graphics and such, but was having all kinds of technical problems. As such, I'm just going to have this up as-is.
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[@Ciiran]

Christopher Ruocchio's heartfelt defence of Tolkien and LotR made him rise even more in my eyes. I whole-heartedly agree. Silmarillion is my #1 book of all time.

[@asdfasdf5695]

Agreed. The Silmarillion is probably my favorite work of fantasy literature.

[@samm8190]

Hells yeah man!!! His defense of Tolkien is second to none!! He’s so good!!!!

[@Raechill92]

This was such a treat! I wish I could have caught it live. Thank you for taking the time to record this discussion!

[@BaldBookTuber]

Thanks Rach! Fortunately Streamyard did all the work for me - I think I’ll be doing more of these live discussions in the future, so let me know if you have ideas of who or what you’d like to see!

[@Hotmenudo]

This was great, love hearing Christopher's take on things

[@BaldBookTuber]

It was a great conversation. Thanks for watching!

[@TallGuyReads]

This was such an excellent conversation, Scot! Really enjoyed hearing Ruocchio talk about his top 10 fantasy series!

[@BaldBookTuber]

Such a great guy! I’m so humbled and greatful he chose to spend some time with me discussing books he loves.

[@72mje]

Didn't manage to catch this stream live, but am having fun watching it now. Ruocchio seems to be an awesome guy to talk to!

[@BaldBookTuber]

Thanks! He’s awesome! Exciting to see his fanbase growing as you and others pick up this fantastic series!

[@72mje]

@@BaldBookTuber Started reading The Lesser Devil today - just 3 chapters in and I'm enjoying myself immensely! Our readalong isn't obeying your decree of "publication order, always"... LOL!

[@BaldBookTuber]

All good! I read The Lesser Devil and Queen Amid Ashes after Demon In White, but this order definitely works!

[@jctmanu]

Great convo! I plan to read many on his list now.

[@BaldBookTuber]

Awesome! Thanks for watching!

[@alkrimiy]

This was amazing, I am sad that I found this video only now. I really like how Christopher compares Witcher with Arthurian canons, it's exaclty how I see this, based on Sapkowski essays on the Arthurian mythology.

[@BaldBookTuber]

Thank you for checking it out! If you aren’t already a Sun Eater mega fan like me, I suggest you jump on Christopher’s awesome series - he’s the best!

[@alkrimiy]

@@BaldBookTuber already in my TBR list for this year

[@ColinsCornerYT]

This was so awesome! Just caught it now. Thank you both for taking the time to chat for us!

[@BaldBookTuber]

Thanks for catching it! Ruocchio has been very gracious to me and visited my channel a few times, but this was my personal favorite.

[@cantankerusgoat5918]

Mention of both T.A.Barron’s Lost years of Merlin, and one of my favorites Gene Wolfe’s Book of the New Sun. So good.

[@tovx76]

This was a great discussion Scott and Christopher! I really enjoyed the time spent talking about each favorite. My Sun Eater books just got here over the weekend, and I am super excited to start reading them! Have a good day!

[@BaldBookTuber]

That’s awesome Drew! If you love these books even half as much as I do, you’re in for a wild ride!

[@Paromita_M]

Occasional lurker and first comment here. Great discussion. So nice to hear fantasy recommendations from an author enthusiastic about the genre. I actually quit Malazan, WOT, Stormlight and haven't read Locke Lamora so I can relate quite a bit. Only author Ruocchio mentioned he hasn't read and I've read quite a bit of is Robin Hobb. I was a Harry Potter kid too! Taking notes! Edit: Saw your description notes. I have seen Ruocchio's SF recommendations video. Your audio was totally fine imo. Point 4) made me so happy. LOTR and Gormenghast are 2 of my top 3 fantasy works of all time. Great works of literature, imo, not just SFF literature.

[@BaldBookTuber]

Awesome - thanks for the comment. I’ve read and loved everything on your list except for Harry Potter, so I’m an outlier when it comes to fantady readers. Always good to see a fellow Hobb fan!

[@cactcab]

Great video. Between this and the Moid video I have a lot of stuff to add to my TBR.

[@BaldBookTuber]

I know, right? So much fantastic stuff to get to! Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@afantasybabble6222]

Great Video. Always enjoy hearing people talk about their favorite books

[@BaldBookTuber]

It’s some of my favorite content to watch from other creators. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@marcweber8509]

I feel like you two could really love Janny Wurts' Wars of Light and Shadow. Overall and especially in terms of sophisticated and beautiful prose, thematic depth and worldbuilding, it's in the upper echelon of Fantasy. Janny Wurts deserves a lot more credit and attention.

[@BaldBookTuber]

Hey Marc - thanks for the watch and detailed comment. I did actually try to get into L&S back in ‘22 and got about 250 pages into Mistwraith before putting it down. I do want to get back into it at some point, but lack of audio was really hurting my experience, as I love to immersively read such big series.

[@marcweber8509]

Yeah, that's sad, but the series needs more hype in order to get audio books. I hope you get back into it in spite of that. I recently finished book 10 and am now waiting on the final novel. She makes you work, though, and face yourself relentlessly. But I love it and find it immensely rewarding!

[@jakebishop7822]

11/5 is an accurate score for The Sarantine Mosaic

[@BaldBookTuber]

I’m excited to read it! Maybe 2023 will be the year of GGK for me!

[@jakebishop7822]

@@BaldBookTuber That sounds good to me!

[@AsfandyarSheikh]

This was awesome! Really looking forward to get into Sun Eater hopefully next year.

[@BaldBookTuber]

Thanks man! I would be shocked (and apalled) if you don’t absolutely love it.

[@AsfandyarSheikh]

@@BaldBookTuber I don't think you've led me astray yet, so I definitely expect I will love it. Ruocchio being sich a fun dude is a huge plus as well.

[@mikaelmarklund7908]

Great, Did any one catch all the names on the list? would be great to have it writen down. if any one does, please post :) Thanks

[@Dwish305]

This was great, shout out to Berserk being on the list

[@mix-jk3ys]

Wow I thought he read for Brandon Sanderson I heard somewhere that Christopher is planning to do something like the cosmere multiple series’s in the same universe is that true because it would be awesome

[@BaldBookTuber]

@@mix-jk3ys I’m not sure what you mean about reading for Sanderson. As to the question, after he finishes and publishes book 7, he has talked about writing other works within the Sun Eater universe, but no concrete plans yet.

[@mix-jk3ys]

@BaldBookTuber sounds amazing. Will they be their own series with their individuality with long serieses like the cosmere long serieses in the same universe without interacting with each other or will it be something like knight of the seven kingdom from asoiaf dunken a knight from westros with interacting with the main lore and world of asoiaf honestly i will eat anything he writes but i wish for the series to be it's own thing

[@BaldBookTuber]

@@mix-jk3ys I’m not sure even CR knows 100% at this point what the next book/series will be. Stay tuned and be sure you are subscribed to his channel and newsletter for updates.

[@mix-jk3ys]

@@BaldBookTuber already did 🔥🔥🔥

[@eldonmacwood]

lol, I'm Polish just in name. But I agree about Witcher, I feel the same way. I love all three different canons. Each has it's own feel. I love the games because they do bring some interesting stories, even their witch hunts, haha. But, I like a story that can be less fairy tale in ending. I need to read Berserk. I only saw the trilogy on Netflix of the prequel story. Which left so much out. This is a great video. Really love to seeing how other writers/readers view the genre and sub-genres of fantasy.

[@BaldBookTuber]

Thanks for the watch and comment! It was a lot of fun gaining insight into a cherished author’s influences and favored series. I learned a ton and expanded my tbr in the process!

[@praetorxyn]

These picks were not as weird as I expected them to be.

[@BaldBookTuber]

It was fun seeing what Ruocchio enjoys in his fantasy fiction.

[@nancywolf1467]

How did I miss this!! This was the best! I love adding to my TBR!! I own some of the books! Did you guys talk about the audiobooks for LotR? There’s two sets now 😈 I own them both … I’ve never read LotR! Loved the movies. Recommendations on which audiobook narrator? I could listen to you two talk about books all day long. I’ve read A LOT but I feel I’ve missed the classics (horror, sci-fi, fantasy) & I’m leery about jumping in randomly as some haven’t aged well.

[@BaldBookTuber]

Thanks for the watch and comment Nancy! I knoe Christopher prefers the Rob Inglis narrations from a nastalagia perspective. I love those recordings too, but personally prefer the Andy Serkis versions - just so good. I understand the aging well concerns, but typically go into older books knowing they are a product of their time.

[@johntencate4781]

If you love the movies, try out the Phil Dragash narration. They are free, and they use the music and sound effects from the movies. Truly the best way to experience the story imo.

[@BaldBookTuber]

I’ll try them - thanks!

[@HotTakesDiscussion]

I haven't read most of these books lol. And I also disagree with the GRRM criticism 😝 very interesting to listen to

[@BaldBookTuber]

Thanks for watching my dude! It was a lot of fun. Guy Gavriel Kay, in particular, is probably the author I am most looking forward to reading, and it starts in 2023!

[@MattsFantasyBookReviews]

I've watched a little of this so far and it's great content, can't wait to binge the rest soon. What application are you using for the video chat here?

[@BaldBookTuber]

Hey Matt! Went with Streamyard! Thanks for watching and the gracious comment! I’m working on editing a version with graphics to toss up as well.

[@jakebishop7822]

Wait, GGK is 3. I am forgetting someone for 2.

[@BaldBookTuber]

Haha - he pulled a fast one on us! Thanks for the watch and comment my dude!

[@jakebishop7822]

Wait, Tim Powers is in 4 I am legitimately shocked

[@BaldBookTuber]

You thought it would be higher?

[@jakebishop7822]

@@BaldBookTuber I thought it would be 3 or 2. I kinda was expecting Sarantine 2, Tim Powers vampire book 3. If you told me at the start it wasn't 3, I would have assumed he had it above Sarantine, but he pulled a fast one on me. I am kinda sad he didn't pull a Durfee and put himself on his own list. Whatever, he can be on my top fantasy, and my top sci fi list

[@pau5781]

Tolkien, Catholic, Gene Wolfe, Catholic, Lovecraft, Catholic, Robert E Howard, Catholic, Sapkovsky, Catholic...I sense a pattern here...

[@BaldBookTuber]

If any of those things are dealbreakers for you, I’ll understand if my channel isn’t for you.

[@pau5781]

I am catholic myself, but I don't let that color my taste in fantasy is all I'm saying.

[@samm8190]

I can’t find any evidence of Howard, Lovecraft, and Sapkowski being Catholic……. Also Scott, based on your response I’m curious, are you a person of faith yourself?

[@BaldBookTuber]

@samm8190 I am, but it’s personal to me and I don’t really talk about it. My response was based perhaps on a misunderstanding of the original poster’s point; I was saying if they consider the list invalid because of the religious beliefs of Christopher and/or this collection of authors, that type of close-minded thinking is gonna be tough for me to get on board with.

[@ahill6858]

Wait.....Sun eater is not ending at book 5?!

[@BaldBookTuber]

That was the initial plan, until Kingdoms of Death was split due to the paper shortage. Thanks for watching.

[@ahill6858]

​@@BaldBookTuber So, Kingdoms of Death and Ashes of Man are supposed to be one book? Now split onto books 4 and 5 with the conclusion coming with a 6th book?

[@BaldBookTuber]

It was originally planned to be five books, yes, Book six is the expected conclusion, unless the publisher also asks for it to be split.

[@andreiiancu2501]

Gratest youtube video?

[@jakebishop7822]

Alright, let's do this. I am 100% sure about what #1 is. 100% sure about which authors make up 2 and 3, and 100% sure what series will be 2 or 3. Past the top 3, I have no idea what will be on here. Obviously KKC is #1. Thats why he copied it for his series

[@jakebishop7822]

Ok, so I was wrong. But Ruocchio cheated

[@BaldBookTuber]

😂