Why Read (and Write) Fantasy

[dawtheminstrel]

I wrote a guest blog post for Unleashing Readers today. It tries to explain what a great genre fantasy is, something that seems to puzzle a lot of people I run into who want to know why I don't read something "real."

http://www.unleashingreaders.com/?p=8080

Comments

[dot_o_choillmor]

Great piece. I'm absolutely horrified that people say "at least they're reading" when it's Rick Riordan or JK Rowling. I've never, ever come across that for those writers. I only encounter it when kids are reading trashier stuff like whatever the current equivalent of Sweet Valley is.

[dawtheminstrel]

I've been surprised when I stumble on that attitude too. At a SCWBI gathering, I once voiced the opinion that all good stories were true, and another writer said, "Except for fantasy. Those aren't true." She probably meant something different by "true" than I did, though it couldn't have been much different since we were both talking about fiction, which by some folks' definition is always other than true.

[curiouswombat]

In effect all fiction is fantasy - if it wasn't someone's fantasy it would be non-fiction :)

I absolutely agree with your article - well said.

[dawtheminstrel]

Fantasy, like all fiction, has to be plausible. Someone I read said you're allowed one big lie (the imaginary world of LOTR, say), but within that "lie" everything has to fit. For me, the characters are what has to feel real. The story has to be about real human needs and pain and joy.

[lindahoyland]

Well said.

[dawtheminstrel]

Thanks, LH.

[fafojoy]

Very well said! You even made me think about it in new ways LOL.

[dawtheminstrel]

Thank you.