Why choose fantasy?

Fantasy releases the imagination

 When one is trying to decide on a genre to read, they are overwhelmed by the vast number of choices. Some are predictable, such as any romance, and some throw curve balls where you least expect them, like mystery and dystopian. There are genres that are celebrated, as in the case of classics and poetry, and others that are looked down upon. One such genre is fantasy. There is no other genre that is as condemned by the literature elite as fantasy. For decades, it has been categorized as inconsequential literature, not to be taken seriously. It can be classified as the “genre of the impossible”, introducing ideas that are foreign to us today, even if they were well known in our history. This is part of what makes it so appealing to us, and why it has seen a rise in popularity in recent years. There have been numerous essays and papers written on why fantasy is so appealing to readers, and to young readers in particular. One of my favorite authors has stated many reasons why he believes young people choose fantasy so often. For girls, it is not always the longing to see a brave knight rescuing a damsel in distress. Rather, they want to see a heroine who is willing to come to her knight’s aid if he falls in battle. This heroine is often the girl they see within themselves, who they want to be. For the boys, it is a little more complicated. It is hardwired in them to be heroes, to be warriors that will protect those who cannot protect themselves. Reading fantasy inspires them to greatness and gives them heroes to look up to as an example. They want to be the heroes that they see in the mirror. Boys and girls, especially young children, want to see love portrayed in its purest form, as many are not shown that emotion at home. There is a lack of chivalry and nobility in our world today, and fantasy fills that gap for many. In fact, some of the best fantasy works that I have read involve a pure romance, battles between good evil, and warriors rescuing those who can’t help themselves. Not only is fantasy attractive to children and teens, it is also a favorite among adults. Like the younger generations, adults want to see the good that has been forgotten and seems to be nonexistent. In addition, it is almost always written to deal with issues that are looming at the time in which the book is written. For example, T. H. White’s The Once and Future King was written in the years preceding the Second World War. The author stated that the overall theme of his book was to explore alternatives to war.

Fantasy offers an escape from everyday life and the harsh realities of our own worlds, and places us in the middle of a new, completely different realm. In this new world, the author can choose to use places in our own history that we seem to have forgotten or take us to new lands  that can only be seen in our imaginations, in times that we do not know or have yet to know. We find unusual creatures, some based on the familiar, while there are others that our minds have never even imagined in any form. Among these creatures, there are wizards and elves, dwarves and fairies, and dragons and shape shifters. Within these different species there are those who possess magic, while the majority does not and are at the mercy of the powerful. Sometimes, the whole world has a sense of magic about it. Even though this genre has only been widely popular for a few decades, it has actually been in existence for centuries, with its roots in ancient mythology. In fact, many fears and stories within works of fantasy are based on old European superstitions. Some of the first pieces of fantastical literature include the Epic of Gilgamesh and Homer’s Odyssey. Obviously, our perception of what could be included in fantasy has changed over the past few centuries. Now, we see works like Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, C. S. Lewis’ The Chronicles of Narnia, and the many works of Roald Dahl. One of the best known authors in the world of fantasy is J. R. R. Tolkien. He set the tone for modern fantasy in his famous work The Lord of the Rings. Many other authors have followed in his footsteps, creating other worlds and complex story lines.

I have read three out of the many books within this genre to explore the differences within this genre and to compare them to one another. My titles of choice were Inkdeath, the conclusion to the magical Inkspell trilogy, Stardust, the novel inspiration for the movie of the same name, and The Hobbit, which requires no explanation. Out of these three Inkdeath and Stardust are most alike, while The Hobbit stands by itself. In Inkdeath and Stardust, the greatest similarity is the relative ease of traveling between worlds. Granted the modes of travel are different, and one is more difficult than the other, but they are generally the same. All three books are similar in the variety of species that inhabit their pages. Each book has its own unique population, that’s for sure, but all three have only a few characters that possess some sort of magic while the remaining characters lack this gift. Inkdeath differs from the other two books by not having a quest as the main storyline. While its characters have a definite goal that they hope to accomplish, they do not have to travel great distances in order to do so; they simply must try to outsmart their adversaries. In both The Hobbit and Stardust, the main characters take a journey in order to complete a quest, whether that quest be helping to reclaim a mountain or bringing back a star. The prose used to write these two books is also remarkably different from Inkdeath. The first two use an older, more formal style of text, which is reminiscent of late 19^th century and early 20^th century writings, while the latter has a modern, more casual style. Depending on your personal preference, that can be an attractant or a deterrent. Since fantasy has such a wide range of characteristics and sub-genres, it is difficult to read two books back to back within this genre that are as similar as these are to each other. Of the three, I would most recommend The Hobbit. Not only is this book a classic, it takes readers on an incomparable journey. Simply put, it teaches readers priceless lessons, and can be read by a child or adult, making it the ideal choice for anyone wanting to venture into a fantastical world.

All these reasons, and more, are why I choose to read fantasy more than any other genre. Yes, I enjoy a good old fashioned historical romance or a mystery, but put a fantasy novel in my hands and you have made me a happy girl! I would love to hear your thoughts on this genre. Any other reasons why fantasy is a great genre to read? Or, if you don't prefer it, what are the cons to reading fantasy? Let me know in the comments!

Happy reading!