Modern Good Reads discussion

Say someone has never read fantasy before but they're looking for something new. What would you say to them? Why read fantasy? What do you love about it?

I think fantasy may give writers more freedom to express themselves, & a well thought-out, original fantasy setting has aesthetic value in itself. Fantastic narrative in mythology, folklore or urban myths has always been an important part in our culture so maybe there is something powerful in it.

Fantasy isn't bound by modern convention, from social norms to the laws of physics. A fantasy can be as otherworldly or as familiar as the author wants it to be--and for the reader, there are a dozen sub-genres to choose from (as well as all the combinations thereof). If you want to explore impossible creatures like dragons or werewolves, they're easy to find. Magic adds new layers to the plot that you can't find in conventional fiction. An author can build an entire culture around sorcery and mythical beasts. If a reader wants to go out on a limb and experience a story that's wholly new, fantasy is the genre to explore.

It's a genre that is often sneered at, but in my view, it's far superior to another genres as it's difficult to do right. When it's done well, it seems effortless. When it's done badly, you notice.

Every waking moment, of every day of my life, I am bombarded with reality. Reading is simply my escape from said reality. Some people do drugs. I like to read a little fantasy-

Haha! I hear you, A.R. Fantasy represents the epitome of escapism. Perhaps that's why I love it so much!

Completely agree on the other points as well. Fantasy isn't as bound by rules as other genres, so as a reader, you can never be sure which direction the story is going to take. That definitely adds interest.

So, what do you say to a reader that scoffs at the idea of fantasy, saying that they have better things to do than read about dragons (yet they have never read any fantasy themselves, so don't really know what the experience entails)?

It has magic and fantastical creatures.

Just been re-visiting Jordan's wheel of time series, and all I can say is if there's a mind wipe programme that people know about, please let me know! I'll say no more, because my review pretty much summed up my feelings on the subject!

R.M.F wrote: "Just been re-visiting Jordan's wheel of time series, and all I can say is if there's a mind wipe programme that people know about, please let me know! I'll say no more, because my review pretty muc..."

I don't think I ever finished the first book. It lost my interest close to the end.

So much of reality is either grim or tedious - who wouldn't want to slip into a fantasy book and let their sense of wonder run riot?
I've never understood people who want to read or watch yet more reality.

I'm with you 100%, Deborah. I'm all about fantasy and alternate realities. I read to escape real life, not relive it. :) I feel the same way about reality shows. Why explore tedium when I can be entertained and enthralled instead?

D.H. wrote: "I'm with you 100%, Deborah. I'm all about fantasy and alternate realities. I read to escape real life, not relive it. :) I feel the same way about reality shows. Why explore tedium when I can be en..."

Total agreement there - what is it with reality shows, and soaps too? Why would you? Give me a great fantasy or SF any day - I have to deal with enough reality, I don't want it in my spare time too!

I think I read fantasy for the same reason I played Dungeons & Dragons back in the day, I wanted the escape, but also to be a part of it. I read a lot less Fantasy now though... I don't think I grew out of it, but my escapes are different.

Deborah wrote: "D.H. wrote: "I'm with you 100%, Deborah. I'm all about fantasy and alternate realities. I read to escape real life, not relive it. :) I feel the same way about reality shows. Why explore tedium whe..."

Deborah and D.H.

Me too. I hate reality tv shows. I,m bored enough with real life anyway. I'd rather have dragons, vampires, and magic.

I can understand why people look to fantasy for an escape from the mundane (Lord knows, my life would be right up there in the ordinary stakes), and I guess at one level I'm guilty of that too. Actually, I shouldn't say guilty, because that suggests that pure escapism isn't a valid excuse to read fantasy; I'll withdraw that remark.

I find that "good" fantasy will offer more than just a diverting story. Any narrative with believable characters and a strong storyline can't help but bring to the equation a way of looking at people and relationships in a way that the reader may not have come across before. The same goes for other genres as well, but I think there's more freedom in a fantasy setting to explore different ways that the characters might react to different (often radically different) situations.

I bang on in posts about the importance of of a strong story, but the characters are the story; what they think and how they interact with each other and how they respond to the world around them., all of that is the story. And what you get in fantasy is invariably a more interesting set of characters, with their own quirks and surprises. Sometimes that troll will remind you of your cranky uncle Joe, or the elf princess will bring to mind your fourth grade teacher (I once noted several similarities between Smaug and and old boss; greedy, spiteful, offensive breath), but so often they'll flash a tempting glimpse of hidden depths or motives that just make you want to spend more time with them (even the nasty ones). That's certainly what brings me back to writers like Elizabeth Moon, Mercedes Lackey, Jack Vance, Robin Hobb or Gene Wolfe.

Jonathon wrote: "I can understand why people look to fantasy for an escape from the mundane (Lord knows, my life would be right up there in the ordinary stakes), and I guess at one level I'm guilty of that too. Act..."

Yeah, Gene Wolfe is a good read. It's hard to explain, but yeah, they suck you in.

I read fantasy to take much-needed breaks from reality. Some people scoff at hiding in a land of pretend. Better than drugs and such any day. Besides, everyone loves dragons. I've never met anyone who doesn't like dragons :)

S.M. wrote: "I read fantasy to take much-needed breaks from reality. Some people scoff at hiding in a land of pretend. Better than drugs and such any day. Besides, everyone loves dragons. I've never met anyone ..."

Hear, hear!

I'm with you S.M. and Deborah...I love to escape to a world of unreality.

Lauren wrote: "fantasy writers are the most creative people in the world-they create amazing characters through supernatural surroundings and abilities"

Agree 200% That means I can backtrack 100% and I'd still agree with you :)

LOL

haha

Although some folks say they don't like reading fantasy, they sure do enjoy watching it on TV or movies. Perhaps some of the over 50 set think of dragons when they hear "fantasy." However, with each new scientific breakthrough the blurrier the line becomes between "fantasy" and "reality"

Yep - I'm definitely a fantasy addict! I enjoy reading a very wide range of sub genres, and just love what new things authors come up with from time to time. My favourite read is when a writer comes up with a totally new twist on an absolutely done to death theme, and I find myself thinking: wow-wouldn't have thought of that one! I couldn't agree more that fantasy gives the author much more scope to get ideas across, and to mold reality to just the right shape! In real life I'm way too bound by the laws of physics - its nice to escape that sometimes!

People look down on fantasy as escapism, but they forget that most forms of reading and entertainment are escapism as well.

My dad read The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings to me when I was a wee lad, sitting on his lap. He'd use different voices, and he'd blow smoke rings from his pipe just like Gandalf (well, except for the magic part). He was very busy, he didn't have lots and lots of time with us, but he made time for that. Aside from the wonderful worlds we get to visit, magic we can witness, and characters we can inhabit, fantasy is also a connection to my father on a very basic, sentimental level. I'll always love it!

That's wonderful Gregory!

R.M.F wrote: "It's a genre that is often sneered at, but in my view, it's far superior to another genres as it's difficult to do right. When it's done well, it seems effortless. When it's done badly, you notice."

I agree. When it's good, it's very, very good. But when it's bad, it's horrid.

A.R. wrote: "Every waking moment, of every day of my life, I am bombarded with reality. Reading is simply my escape from said reality. Some people do drugs. I like to read a little fantasy-"

I agrree with A.R. I like to read to escape, to be taken to different worlds and into situations I will never experience otherwise.

Good fantasy is like living in your dreams. (as opposed to your nightmares like horror.) We loved "The Wizard Of Oz," when I a kid. I think we watched the movie 12 times at least and read all the OZ books in the series. There were over a dozen I believe. Good funny fantasy is my favorite. "Another Fine Myth" by (the late) Robert Asprin is a hoot.

Ellen: concur with Asprin comment--big LOL.
Good fantasy uses an imaginary world to better show us ours. For example, Game of Thrones. We can make war for what we might call honor but it's really about power.

Fantasy ain't just like Lord of the Rings, and people often sneered at fantasy, because they thought fantasy is only dragons, elves and stuff like that.
Look at the A Song Of Ice And Fire series, it's not the same, all fantasy novels differs to each others, some fill with simplicity, and it's not only escapism.

Sometimes I found philosophical values in them.

Many readers, who have never tried reading a fantasy novel, assume that they are all about ancient cultures and mythical places.

There are many fantasies that take place in modern times in today's world.

A prime example: 'The Stolen Child' by Keith Donohue; narrated in the first-person by the main character, Henry Day - a human child who is destined to become Ainiday - a changeling.

A side-note for all the aspiring authors out there; this was Mr. Donohue's first book and it became a national bestseller.

Seems to me that we live in a world where humans are nothing but meat machines, where the drawbacks of technology are beginning to outweigh the benefits, where God is dead and triumphant science tells us that we don't count for a fig in this universe. I read fantasy because it reminds me that our depressing way of looking at the world isn't the only way, that other people have thought other things, where mysticism abounds and the gods live next door, where my garden of rutabagas is a portal to the sublime, and my crabby neighbor may very well be an orc.

Sometimes, I want to be in an other dimension but my own.

Like everyone else, I read fantasy because it opens the door to a place without the restrictions of my everyday life. Imaginations are elastic and need to be stretched to grow. Thankfully, there are hundreds of authors out there to work out my mind.

I'm ready to get my feet wet in the genre of Fantasy. You have all sold me on it. I need. break from "women returns home to discover family secrets and find herself"

I feel like every book I've read lately has been along those lines. Don't get me wrong, I've read some great books lately but I want to escape not relate. I want to stretch my imagination and have fun.

SO... WHERE DO I START? What fantasy book is good to start with? Suggestions please...

I've always been drawn to fantasy/sci-fi. I think it's something about the way it leaves the real world behind and sometimes even takes people from our ordinary, hum-drum world and puts them in fantastic places. These have always been my favourite books, which is probably why I used that theme in my own books! :-)

Lauren wrote: "fantasy writers are the most creative people in the world-they create amazing characters through supernatural surroundings and abilities"

I've read Fantasy and I've also read Historical Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Horror, Sci-Fi, Literary, etc. etc.

I hate to burst your bubble, but fantasy writers are not the most creative people in the world. There are great authors in every genre who also create amazing characters, along with wonderful stories and meaningful conflicts and deep emotions.

If someone has a boring, hum-drum, depressing, and totally negative life, you all seem to feel that the only true escape in reading fantasy novels. That's really sad - there is so much more out there to enjoy and entice your imagination.

While I can't speak for everyone, Christine, I was merely pointing out why fantasy/sci-fi appeals to me. I am fully aware that other people might not share that view and might have different reasons for liking this genre or any genre. All our motivations should be valued.

Lynne wrote: "While I can't speak for everyone, Christine, I was merely pointing out why fantasy/sci-fi appeals to me. I am fully aware that other people might not share that view and might have different reason..."
As simply a die hard book reader who appreciates the art of creativity and expression, especially in the literary form, I couldn't agree with you more about respecting and if not valuing the opinions of others, even if differing from our own.

I really like fantasy, but i think that if you don't want to read fantasy is totally all right but here are some ponints about why to read fantasy:
-Fantasy helps your memory; it really helps to imagine things that are no real
-You can imagine all and NO ONE will tell you that is wrong
-Normal people dosent like to read fantasy so you can be different

Lynne wrote: "...I was merely pointing out why fantasy/sci-fi appeals to me. I am fully aware that other people might not share that view and might have different reasons for liking this genre or any genre. All our motivations should be valued."

I agree completely that everyone is entitled to their own personal opinions and preferences. I certainly respect/value those "motivations".

Carmen, I've just finished the series Outlander, it's by Diana Gabaldon and now made into a TV series, the story is fabulous and I would recommend this story to anyone who is looking at romantic fantasy, to read these books first is also recommended, also Nora Roberts writes romantic fantasy as well, I started off reading "Time Was" and "Times Change", now I read as much of this author as I can...her fantasy is sublime....

To remind me that humanity has a beautiful soul (OK, that one was after too many depressing news articles but still....)

I should add this is why I don't like gritty fantasy.

"To remind me that humanity has a beautiful soul"
Well said Ciara. Reading fantasy is an escape for me, and perhaps you. It's why I both read it and write it. I love the sense of wonder I get from good fantasy. There'e my definition of Cozy Fantasy, again.

Magic realism is another area that I find relaxing. Humans in real situations where magic is an added seamlessly. Think Sarah Addison Allen.

I enjoy reading several genres of books but my absolute favourite is Fantasy. Why? Well, I like to break rules within the known universe I live in, push the boundaries of 'real' until they explode, create alternate realities that maybe, just maybe, somewhere out there in the cosmos, there may be fantasies that are possibly magical realities.

I'm physically bound by my body to live out my days on planet Earth, but my mind can explore, create, wish for, believe, that there is more to us and everything else than we can ever imagine.

There is no other genre where you can challenge everything we think we know, like you can with Fantasy. It's the Yin to my Yang, the clotted cream to my strawberries and the stardust to my dreams.

Beautifully written, Turhan. I agree wholeheartedly.