Thankful for the Geeks, Dreamers, and Story-Builders Who Came Before Me

Books of Influence

As the first full-powered nerd in my family, the job of crafting a Thanksgiving list with a sci-fi and fantasy twist falls naturally to me. Sure, my dad had a partial geek streak—he was tinkering with the internet before the rest of the world knew what a “browser” was. He engineered networks, fixed every car in the family, cheered for football games like a pro, and built things around the house with a skill most nerds could only dream of. Pops had this engineer-meets-construction edge to him, the kind that didn't quite fit the stereotypical mold of a nerd, but somehow made him even cooler.

Me? I fell into nerdom from an early age… and never climbed out. Comics from the 70s, working on electronics, diving into D&D in the 80s—it all shaped who I became. And honestly? I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

So this year, I’m thankful for the pioneers—the dreamers whose imaginations became the foundation of my own. The storytellers who carved out the worlds I escaped into. The legends who not only shaped the genres of sci-fi and fantasy, but also shaped me.

The Giants Whose Shoulders We Stand On

Some names need no explanation. They’re the pillars of our nerd upbringing:

• Gene Roddenberry, who dared to imagine a future worth fighting for.

• Stan Lee, whose heroes taught us responsibility, courage, and heart.

• Bob Kane, who gave us a vigilante with no powers but endless willpower.

• J.R.R. Tolkien, who transported us to Middle-earth and forever changed fantasy storytelling.

These were the creators who lit the spark—the bread and butter of my love for sci-fi and fantasy.

But it wasn’t just the big names who shaped me.

Some of the smaller, less mainstream authors fed my imagination in ways I’ll forever be grateful for. These were the writers who knew how to craft characters so rich, so alive, that when one book ended, it felt like saying goodbye to old friends. And luckily, there was always another book waiting—another visit with people I missed the moment I turned the last page.

The Authors Who Built Worlds I Still Carry With Me

Jennifer Roberson — Tiger and Del (Sword-Dancer Series)

A fiery desert duelist and the woman who challenges everything he stands for, forced together on a journey neither expected. These books taught me to love series with evolving relationships—where characters grow not just in skill, but in heart.

Christopher Rowley — The Bazil Broketail Series

Dragon cavalry? Yes, please. Rowley’s world of war, loyalty, humor, and hardship kept me hunting for every new release. His characters didn’t just grow—they grew with you.

Gordon R. Dickson — The Dragon and the George

A tale that ignites the imagination from page one, transporting you into a medieval world where dragons aren’t just monsters—they’re mentors, foes, and sometimes reflections of ourselves.

Robert Lynn Asprin — The MythAdventures Series

Funny, fast, and full of heart. Asprin proved that fantasy doesn’t have to be grim to be meaningful. His characters stumbled, struggled, learned—and kept us laughing the whole way.

Peter V. Brett — The Demon Cycle & The Nightfall Saga

More recent, but no less impactful. Brett’s world of demons, wards, and humanity’s last stand has had me eagerly awaiting each release—especially the final Demon King book. His stories remind me how high stakes and deep lore can blend into something unforgettable.

Why I’m Thankful

I’m thankful for all of them: The well-known icons, the cult-classic writers, and the quiet geniuses who built niche worlds that still live in my head decades later.

These creators didn’t just write books. They drew maps in my imagination. They taught me how characters should grow, how worlds should feel alive, and how magic and danger should balance on the edge of a blade. They made young-me believe anything was possible—not just in stories, but in life.

And now, as I work on my own little corner of the fantasy world with War of the Umanomagi, I feel like I’m walking on a path they paved long before I took my first step. I’m not trying to replace them. I’m simply trying to follow in their footsteps with gratitude, respect, and a whole lot of nerd pride.

In the End…

I’m thankful for the geeks before me. The ones who dreamed loudly and wrote boldly. The ones who built worlds so immersive that kids like me could lose ourselves—and find ourselves—in their pages.

So here’s to them. And here’s to all of us who grew up with dice in our hands, comics stacked on our desks, and starships and dragons sharing equal space in our hearts.

May we keep imagining boldly. May we keep creating. And may the next generation look back and say, “I’m thankful for the nerds who came before me.”