Dear Dr. Fantasy: episode 59, with Jared Henderson

In the fifty-ninth fabulous episode of Dear Dr. Fantasy, I get to chat with Jared Henderson (‪@_jared‬) about living from creativity, philosophy, writing, fantasy (of course), science fiction, and other scintillating topics!

[@Ultimate_Ace]

"Waiting for the eggheads to catch up." Meanwhile we are waiting for you to catch up to the Egghead arc XD

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Ha ha ha ha! I’m looking forward to getting there!

[@perrywakefield1698]

Great discussion. Lathe of Heaven is one of my favorites of Le guin.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@perrywakefield1698 Thank you for watching, Perry!

[@isaiahsanchevy9252]

Always a good morning when Dr. Chase drops a new beat.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Cheers, Isaiah! 😊

[@arthurnoglak6386]

Great conversation ! For what it’s worth, regarding KZbin content, I almost never “watch” the video. Instead I listen, almost like a pod cast. I’m curious if others give the same feedback.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

I think listening only is actually very common, and probably even the norm, for videos like this. Cheers!

[@petereverett2525]

Great discussion guys, 2toRamble could be a good guest for a future episode of this - they are both great people

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

An excellent suggestion! Cheers!

[@IbbyMelbourne]

Love those guys!

[@billyalarie929]

“Authors don’t understand their own works” is an INCREDIBLE statement.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Authors have an understanding of their own works that people ought to listen to, I think. But sometimes people can bring an understanding to an author’s work that the author hadn’t previously seen. I think it’s cool how a text can live and breathe like that.

[@ZOMGfantasy]

A great chat as always, Philip! Jared is a smart guy, thanks for hosting!

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Thank you so much for watching, Zammar!

[@esmayrosalyne]

When you put two of the most relaxing people on youtube in one video, you have pure gold, hahah. This was such a wonderful and comforting chat, I really loved all the surprising deep dives here! Also, Jared definitely needs to make that Tolkien video, that sounds so fascinating. Thanks for sharing 🤩

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

I have a feeling he’ll make that video and many more hits here on KZbin. I’m so glad you enjoyed the conversation, Esmay! Thank you so much for watching and commenting!

[@BrianBell7]

This was such a great conversation to listen to while I worked all morning. Thanks guys. I also appreciated the Beowulf alarm going off at around the 42 minute mark. See, sometimes I even pay attention!

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Ha ha! I try to sneak in the Beowulf reference when people are least likely to be listening. Cheers, Brian!

[@verosnotebook]

Great conversation! Thank you to both of you

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Thank you for watching, Vero!

[@thefantasythinker]

Fascinating conversation with a lot of great points brought up about the expectations of publishing. Really enjoyed this one!

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

I'm so glad you enjoyed it, Jarrod! Thank you for watching -- your support means the world to me!

[@margarethaines9310]

Great conversation. You caught my attention when Jared said, early on, that he was thinking of a video/series about Thoreau. American philosopher that has much to say about our current cultural and political circumstances. Hope that comes to fruition!

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Thoreau is a voice from the past who has become more relevant with the passage of time. We really should be heeding him. Cheers, Margaret!

[@Johanna_reads]

Fabulous discussion! Very interesting what you two brought up about “defaults” and effort. I love those kinds of topics in addition to all the bookish stuff! 😊

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Thank you, Johanna! I think we all struggle to find meaning in life at times, but I’ve felt real fulfillment in the creative processes of writing, reading, discussing, and connecting with other people while doing those things. The conversation we recorded for your channel earlier today is a particularly enjoyable example for me!

[@DoUnicornsRead]

Hopefully there is no limit on how many times I can leave the same comment. Because I have to say again that DDF is my favourite thing on BookTube!😊 Thank you, for another episode, Philip!

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@DoUnicornsRead Unicorns get a special “unlimited comments” pass around here! 😊 Thanks so much, Angela!

[@DoUnicornsRead]

@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy 😊

[@Nasser851000]

The Discussion Saga Continues!

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Long may it continue! Cheers!

[@MatthewLikesToRead]

I read Moby Dick because of Jared. I ended up really liking it after getting used to the writing. 😊

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

I also enjoyed Moby Dick when I read it back in high school!

[@hellobrawler1356]

When your talking about One Piece you say "they are just waiting for the eggheads to catch up" which is a bit ironic because the current ark is called egghead.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Ha ha! Accidental puns are the best!

[@laurablakeauthor]

Another perfect thumbnail

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

It just seemed right somehow . . . 😁

[@ReinReads]

Great discourse. With the discussion of of Book of the New Sun’s influence on Sun Eater, I’m curious if either of you have read the Terra Ignota series. Ada Palmer was certainly influenced by Gene Wolfe. She even wrote the intro for latest edition of Shadow & Claw.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

I read her introduction for that edition of BOTNS and found it helpful. I haven’t read anything else by her yet, though. Thank you for watching!

[@Gusbusbus]

I came here after enjoying The Week That Was 😊

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Cool! Thanks so much for watching both! 😊

[@heidi6281]

Like, Dr. Chase, Jared is another booktuber who has GRAVITAS! When Jared defends the WOT, people listen!👂 One day I hope he does a series on all the fantastic themes of the WOT. How fitting your thumbnail has him as Rand.

[@thatsci-firogue]

I have been feeling like picking the WoT back up again lately.

[@heidi6281]

@@thatsci-firogue Did you finish it? Or is it a re-read?

[@thatsci-firogue]

​@@heidi6281I initially gave up after Fires of Heaven but I've changed a lot as a reader since then. I re-read EotW last year and still enjoyed it, so hopefully get to Great Hunt again soon. I remember loving it.

[@heidi6281]

@@thatsci-firogue You can get very long summaries on Dragonmount or listen to the first three books on audio with Rosamund Pike which is pure magic. I did not feel any sort of slog, book 10 just introduces all new characters but I think Malazan does that too? I also binged all of them too.😀 I always put the Gathering Storm on my top 10 but it is really the full immersion into the world, it is a case of the sum being better than the parts!!

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

People have told me over the years that I have gravitas, and I always wonder about it because I essentially feel like I'm still twelve years old. 😁Cheers, Heidi!

[@ericF-17]

You should definitely put Tennis in one of your books.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@ericF-17 I actually did a little research after I made that comment. I was not entirely wrong, but the sport was originally more like handball, and rackets were introduced a bit later. It would be fun to find a reason to include it in a novel!

[@DoUnicornsRead]

​@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy How interesting! That sounds like Gaelic handball, which is a bit like squash without a racket. We know from Welsh records that it has been around at least since the ninth century. I agree it would be very cool if you include it in a book, Philip!

[@fredaman14]

I would love to get you and the Drawk show together, they have also mentioned you in their videos. You should reach out they won't spoil anything they will honor your experience of reading it would just be a really fun conversation

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Cool! They are on my list, for sure!

[@whalesequence]

So I'll say this about the order of the Chronicles of Narnia. Lewis never said he preferred the order of the series to be chronological. In a letter that a boy wrote to him with a question about whether he should start with the Magician's Nephew or The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, Lewis responded by telling the boy whichever order he preferred is just fine. For some reason, when the series got picked up in the 90's by its current publisher, for some reason, they took that letter as Lewis saying he preferred the chronological order. It's a real shame because the series reads infinitely better in publication order, at least in my opinion.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

That’s some interesting context - thank you! I actually think - much like Lewis, apparently - that the reading order in this case doesn’t matter all that much. Thank you for watching and clearing that up!

[@ziggystardust8235]

48:30 I couldn't say if I conform to the normal standard but in my case I also enjoy channels, like @PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy , that look at One Piece with an outside perspective. Most reviewers don't recognize that anime/manga is a medium or method of storytelling, and instead treat it like a genre they focus on, which really narrows their field of view.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@ziggystardust8235 I think you’re absolutely right about that, and it’s unfortunate that snobbery/prejudice is preventing many people from experiencing some beautiful storytelling. Cheers!

[@thatsci-firogue]

I find your lack of tweed disturbing.

[@Scotty-BK]

I was about to write something concerning the jacket, but you topped any attempt I had, hahaha!

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

It was very hot the day we recorded! Even Dr. Fantasy must bow to Nature.

[@Thecatladybooknook_PennyD]

That's Tennis Philip 😅

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@Thecatladybooknook_PennyD Exactly!

[@ericF-17]

I still haven't read a decent amount of leGuin's stuff so I'm not really qualified to say this but personally I like The Eye of the Heron the most of her Sci-Fi that I've read so far and I'd recommend you start with that. I think you would love it. (although there's no reason to listen to me, and Earthsea is of course still my favorite of hers).

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@ericF-17 Thanks, Eric! I’ll add it to my list!

[@ec_me]

Phillip, Jared is wrong 😡 you need to read the Dispossessed first. Why? Because it's the only one I have read and I loved it 😅 In all seriousness, Dispossessed is incredible, and I vehemently recommend it. Instantly you will be grappling with some of Le Guins most meaningful and piercing questions about humanity and society. It is hard to read and not let it affect your outlook on the world but also the self.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@ec_me Ha ha! I’m looking forward to The Dispossessed very much!

[@bigaldoesbooktube1097]

Jared is grinding 😮

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

He’s working hard! Fortunately, it’s creative and fulfilling work - the best sort. Cheers, Al!

[@PantsBobSpongeSquare22]

what is this???? prof. in a t-shirt? I am shocked

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

At least it wasn't a muscle shirt! I wouldn't want to shock people too badly.

[@PantsBobSpongeSquare22]

@@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy well now you have to do it. It's a self-fulfilling prophecy. I don't make the rules, sorry.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@@PantsBobSpongeSquare22 Ha ha! I actually did do it once. It was for one of the Bauchelain and Korbal Broach novella discussions I did with Ruthan Badd and A Critical Dragon.