[Tristan]

There are many types of people in the world, and our small group of people just happen to be the fantasy readers. The more I observe people's behavior patterns, style of dress and the type of music that we listen to, the more I realize how much we all have in common as fellow fantasy readers/writers. So please, give me your thoughts on this one! :)

[manephelien]

I don't like categorizing people much, I'd rather deal with them as individuals. Sadly my boyfriend is the only person who reads almost as much fantasy in my circle of friends as I do.

I guess being interested in mythology/alternate worlds is more or less a must for any fantasy reader, but beyond that we're individuals just like everyone else.

[bearhat]

The more I observe people's style of dress and the type of music that we listen to, the more I realize how much we all have in common as fellow fantasy readers/writers.

Have to disagree here. While it's true I've met a lot of fantasy readers who love hard rock, metal and prog-rock (the cliche), I've also met my fair share of readers of the genre who listen to 80s hits, and others who follow soulless RNB or Mariah Carey. Myself I love a bit of New Folk.

And style of dress, I'd also have to say that you'll find as much variation among readers of the fantasy genre as you will in the rest of the community at large. Perhaps fantasy and SF fans dress to meet the expected stereotype when they go to fantasy/book events, but personally I don't see that much similarity.

But perhaps Australians do things differently.;)

[Corporal Blues]

I'm gonna have to agree with bearhat on this one.

I'm the only person in my circle of friends who reads fantasy, and admittedly felt like I was not your "typical" fantasy or SF dork. You know, glasses, no girlfriend, hairy palmed, zit faced guy.

Then I went to a George R.R. Martin book discussion and signing when he was touring for AFFC, and was actually quite surprised to realize that there really isn't a "typical" fantasy or SF fan. There was such a diverse group of people there I realized I had to take my own personal assumptions and stereotypes and throw them out the window beacause I was so wrong.

[Mithfânion]

Perhaps fantasy and SF fans dress to meet the expected stereotype when they go to fantasy/book events, but personally I don't see that much similarity

You should subscribe to Locus Magazine. Each month they have an issue and in the middle of it there is usually a two or three page photo collage of some convention that they attented. I'll say flat out that nearly everyone there looks utterly daft, hopelessly out of shape and dresses like we are still in the 70's.

Seriously, browse in one if you get the chance. I've never been to Comic-Con which I understand is more hip and which more young folks attend, so that may be an exception to the rule.

[Physics Knight]

I'm not sure what it is, but I have some internal geekdar when meeting people and so I can guess if they read fantasy like I do. If this is so, then we have lots to talk about. Hasn't let me down yet!

[Tristan]

I don't like categorizing people much, I'd rather deal with them as individuals. Sadly my boyfriend is the only person who reads almost as much fantasy in my circle of friends as I do.

I guess being interested in mythology/alternate worlds is more or less a must for any fantasy reader, but beyond that we're individuals just like everyone else.


What I mean is not what you think it is. I mean when it comes down to how we dress, that wouldn't matter either way, but it is what we look for in fantasy that gives us our identity. :D
Actually, it was my bad that you misunderstood what I meant because I left an entire sentance out of the original thread! hehe

[manephelien]

Oops.

I still think that identity is a lot more complex than that. You can't define it with just one human variable, no matter what that is.

[zorobnice]

From this blog and others I belong to, as well as from my circle of friends, the people I have noticed who read Fantasy the most are people whose work lives seem to deal heavily with "reality", so their reading lives tend to want to escape from that reality. My wife deals in marketing and advertising, now there is a fantasy job for you, she reads ten ways for this, how to be a better this, biogrphies etc. This is just my humble opinion.

[Timster]

I think that many people categorize fantasy readers as dungeons and dragons freaks or WOW/Halo addicts which is really too bad bacause there is nothing further from the truth. Popular movies like LOTR and the Harry Potter stuff is changing peoples outlooks which will only help the genre. It really is a shame that so many lit fic readers are prejudicial towards the fantasy genre, especially since the majority of them have never read fantasy. I guess it's just a matter of being afraid to be seen in the wrong aisle of the bookstore. :)