What’s hot in the awesome worlds of sci-fi and fantasy?
I asked ChatGPT what was hot and trending in SFF. It turns out I’m out of touch – or it is wrong.
I have taken the ‘What is hot?” bit of the title a little literally with that picture, I’ll admit. But let’s pretend it is making a point about AI not being all that great. At least right now. After all, in the image there are two R2D2s and one is missing its head. But it does show hot SFF characters, so the clumsy visual metaphor will do.
I don’t use AI to write, as I think it sounds bland. Apologies to artists for using an AI image, but I seriously doubt I will be getting any complaints that the above plagiarised their work.
But I do ask AI a lot of questions. So I asked it what is hot and trending in the realms of science fiction and fantasy fandom. It turns out I am way out of the zeitgeist.
What’s hot in SFF right now, according to AI
I used the ChatGPT scheduled tasks function to send me a message every day at 9 am to let me know what the trending topics in SFF are. Here is the first one:
Magic: The Gathering’s ‘Edge of Eternities’ Expansion
Wizards of the Coast announced the upcoming Magic: The Gathering expansion, “Edge of Eternities,” set to release on August 1, 2025. This set introduces a space opera theme, integrating iconic creature types into a cosmic setting.
‘Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree’ Receives Nebula Nomination
FromSoftware’s DLC “Shadow of the Erdtree” for Elden Ring has been nominated for the Nebula Awards in the game writing category, following Hidetaka Miyazaki’s previous win for the original game.
Rise of the ‘Romantasy’ Genre
The romantasy genre, blending romance and fantasy, is gaining popularity. Rebecca Yarros‘s Empyrean series, particularly the third installment, “Onyx Storm,” has become a bestseller, heavily promoted through social media platforms like BookTok.
Evolution of AO3 and Fandom Dynamics
The fanfiction platform AO3 has seen shifts in user demographics and fandom trends, with discussions around shipping preferences and representation. The rise of anime, manga, video games, and K-pop fans has diversified the platform’s content.
‘The Habits’ Play Blends D&D with Real-Life Struggles
“The Habits,” a play about friends navigating personal challenges through Dungeons & Dragons sessions, is currently running at London’s Hampstead Theatre. The narrative intertwines fantasy gaming with real-life issues, offering a unique theatrical experience.
None of these apply to me, but I can see why the AI thought they would – kinda
These are all interesting and seemingly hot trends right now. But either I am out of touch, or each topic missed for me for various reasons.
1/ Magic: The Gathering is huge, so I can see why it is trending. I have never played it though, and I doubt I ever will. The packs look pretty cool but seem pricey to me.
2/ Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree. I can see why it thought I might like this, as it is immensely popular. I have also played Elden Ring, although the AI probably doesn’t know that. (However, it does seem to know a spooky amount about me.) Either way, I am not going to play the expansion, as while the first one was fun, I got a bit bored near the end, and this one is supposed to be even harder. I’m playing Mass Effect Legendary edition right now, and it is more fun.
3/ Romantasy. I have nothing against romantasy but it is not the genre for me. If I am in a bookshop or scrolling Amazon checking out new books to read and the blurb so much as mentions ‘romantasy’ – it is immediately ruled out. I don’t mind characters getting together and falling in love – it can be amazingly done – but if the romance is so integral to the story it is labelled ‘romantasy’ then I am out. I don’t read romance books either, as the plot always feels the same to me. Each to their own though, and if it floats your boat, you are living in something of a golden age right now.
4/ Evolution of AO3. I don’t know what this is, so I googled it. Here is a link to it. It is about fan fiction or something. Again, it’s not my cup of tea.
5/ ‘The Habits’ a play in Hampstead theatre in London. This is a bit spooky, as I used to live in Belsize Park in London – next to Hampstead – and Hamstead theatre was about 5 minutes walk from my house. It’s a nice little theatre but I don’t think it is a hot topic under discussion globally. Maybe the AI somehow knew I used to live there 15 years ago (and have since moved country) but I don’t see how.
What should be trending?
There are four things I am loving right now and think should be talked about more. They are all streaming-based.
The first is Severance series two. This is a superb show, and I am shocked when people aren’t talking about it. At the time of writing, I just have the finale of the second season to go, and I’m very excited.
The second is Mythic Quest, which is also on Apple TV. This isn’t science fiction or fantasy, but it is about the developers of an MMORPG set in a fantasy world. It is funny as shit and I highly recommend it.
The third is Wheel of Time, season 3. I am currently reading Lord of Chaos, book six of WoT, so I know what happens. There are a few changes in the show, some of which I disagree with, but so far, I have enjoyed the three episodes released of s3 more than the previous series. It is a lot of fun, is incredibly well made, and I can’t wait to see some of the events I know are coming.
Finally, I am just starting Daredevil: Born Again. I devoured the original series when it was on Netflix and the reviews make it seem like this might be better. It is great they have the original cast and didn’t try to reimagine anything.
So, I am ending my experiment asking ChatGPT to send me what’s hot in SFF. I will have to rely on tried and tested methods like browsing book shops, reading magazines, and see what the YouTube algorithm thinks I will like.
Like an idiot, I am signed up to most of the major streamers, and they are pumping out a lot of good stuff these days. There is so much on offer that I don’t need an AI to help me decide. My next entry will be back to my usual enthusiastic babble about what I think is hot. Hopefully, see you there.
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