Welcome to our Fun Friday Roundup!
This roundup comes from a July Fun Friday Book Recommendations on the LitJoy Podcast, where Brandon Mull, author of the Fablehaven series, shares some of his favorite fantasy and sci-fi books and series. Take a look at the books he mentions to Alix and Kelly as having greatly impacted his life and his writing, and let us know in the comments which is your favorite—or which one you're most excited to read!
Brandon Mull's Favorite Books Roundup
The Chronicles of Narnia
C.S. Lewis
Synopsis Sneak Peek
With the fantastical worlds we find in Brandon Mull's writing, it's no surprise that one of his favorites takes us through the wardrobe and into the land of Aslan! The Chronicles of Narnia has become part of the canon of classic literature, drawing readers of all ages into magical lands with unforgettable characters for over sixty years. Epic battles between good and evil, fantastic creatures, betrayals, heroic deeds, and friendships won and lost all come together in this unforgettable world.
The Lord of the Rings trilogy
J.R.R. Tolkien
Synopsis Sneak Peek
One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them.
J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic fantasy has accumulated worldwide acclaim as the greatest adventure tale ever written. It is largely acknowledged that no other writer has created a world as distinct as Middle-earth, complete with its own geography, history, languages, and legends. And one would be hard-pressed to find characters as endearing as Tolkien’s large-hearted, hairy-footed hobbits. So of course The Lord of the Rings series made Brandon Mull's list of faves, opening his mind to a grander and more authentic style of fantasy!
The Harry Potter series
J.K. Rowling
Synopsis Sneak Peek
Turning the envelope over, his hand trembling, Harry saw a purple wax seal bearing a coat of arms; a lion, an eagle, a badger and a snake surrounding a large letter 'H'.
The Harry Potter series was the phenomenon of the last generation. Millions were welcomed to the magical school of Hogwarts, and immersed themselves in the wizarding world. It's easy to see the parallels between the world of Harry Potter and Brandon Mull's own Fablehaven, both drawing young people and old who long for a spark of magic in the mundane world!
Ender's Game
Orson Scott Card
Synopsis Sneak Peek
In Ender's Game, government agencies breed child geniuses and train them as soldiers to defend against a hostile alien race. A brilliant young boy, Andrew "Ender" Wiggin lives with his kind but distant parents, his sadistic brother Peter, and the person he loves more than anyone else, his sister Valentine. Until Ender is drafted to the orbiting Battle School for rigorous military training. Ender's two older siblings are every bit as unusual as he is, but in very different ways. Between the three of them lie the abilities to remake a world. If, that is, the world survives. Ender's Game is the winner of the 1985 Nebula Award for Best Novel and the 1986 Hugo Award for Best Novel—and made Brandon Mull's list of all-time favorites, marked for being the book he read in the least number of sittings.
Dune
Frank Herbert
Synopsis Sneak Peek
Set on the desert planet Arrakis, Dune is the story of the boy Paul Atreides, who would become the mysterious man known as Muad'dib. He would avenge the traitorous plot against his noble family—and would bring to fruition humankind's most ancient and unattainable dream. A stunning blend of adventure and mysticism, environmentalism and politics, Dune won the first Nebula Award, shared the Hugo Award, and formed the basis of what is undoubtedly the grandest epic in science fiction. It's no wonder it's a source of inspiration for Brandon Mull!
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Have you checked out our Fun Friday Book Recommendations on The LitJoy Podcast yet? They're great for when you're short on time and in need of something new to read, and we'll be sharing more throughout the summer as The LitJoy Podcast takes a summer vacation! Kelly and Alix, along with a slew of fascinating guests, talk everything from fantasy to romance to nonfiction books. Need details on the books they mention? Hop back over here, because we'll be sharing roundups of all their book recommendations right here on the LitJoy Lounge each month!
Have you seen our gorgeous LitJoy + Brandon Mull Fablehaven Special Editions yet? LitJoy invites you to "drink the milk" and step into the world of Brandon Mull's Fablehaven to experience magic like never before. Secrets will unfold and creatures emerge throughout this magical series with all new covers and magically playful endpapers. The first two have been released and are available to preorder, with the third coming out later this month, and the final two coming every other month thereafter. With stunning leatherette covers, breathtaking artwork, and more, these special editions are a must-have for all fans of Brandon Mull, Fablehaven, or middle-grade fantasy. You'll want to collect them all!
Missed this Fun Friday interview with Brandon Mull? Want to hear what he had to say about his favorites, as well as a few bonus books that he loves? Check it out below!
Topics Discussed
[0:45] The Chronicles of Narnia series by C.S. Lewis
[1:15] The Lord of the Rings series by J.R.R. Tolkien
[2:47] The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
[4:03] Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
[4:52] Dune by Frank Herbert
[6:47] Bonus Books
Author Bio
Brandon Mull is the #1 New York Times best-selling author of the Fablehaven, Dragonwatch, Beyonders, and Five Kingdoms series. A kinetic thinker, Brandon enjoys bouncy balls, squeezable stress toys, and popping bubble wrap. He lives in Utah in a happy little valley near the mouth of a canyon with his wife, Erlyn, their eleven children, and three mischievous cats. Brandon loves meeting his readers and hearing about their experiences with his books.
