Why do you read Fantasy novels?

J

jbcohen

Wildrunner
Joined
Nov 13, 2001
Messages
713
Thought that this question derves its own thread:

Me I read to get away from the real world and visit people with far worse problems than I.
 
I read fantasy because: Most books are easy to get into and interested in. Also its nice escapist stuff about interesting things which are far more exciting to read than anyhting set in the real world.
And I'm not very interested in 'normal' novels.
 
I quite agree SirRob, that name must come from one of GRRM's books. Anyone else care to take a stab at this one?
 
Because,when I read fantasy, I feel free. Because I like sorcery,swors. And because the novels are intersting and they are many good authors, some of them great,others-just good and nice.
And, like SirRob,I'm not interested in "normal" novels.
 
I'm into fantasy because I love imagination. Creativity amazes me, and you can usually find a lot more of it in fantasy (though, definitely not all fantasy. There's a lot of poo in this genre as well). I like to read about worlds and characters that I would never have thought of myself. I like to read about places of someone's imagination, where fantasy can become a reality for a short while. For these reasons, fantasy really appeals to me.
 
I think it is the imagination factor as well. When someone sets out to write within the real and reconizable world, they immediately hamper themselves with implicit rules and regulations. If the author writes about Rome, then they have to stick to what is real and right about Rome, inserting their own fabric of imagination within the fabric that those of us who know Rome won't find wrong or disconcerting. It can work, but it detracts in many author's works. And many authors do not take the time to deal with this at all. They think they know or that their readers will not care. In many cases this can be overlooked if the prose and plot are well done. Too bad those are few and far between.

Fantasy is about risks in some ways as well. The author has to take chances, they have to do the unexpected. Not in terms of plots (though this can help), but rather by introducing a new aspect that comes directly from their own imagination (or cribbed from someone else's though that is another thread entirely!). Fantasy is more personal and good and great fantasy works because that person clearly shared their inner vision with the reader. Writing this vision in a readable and approachable manner is of course essential as well.

Fantasy takes leaps where regular fiction takes steps. If you want to take a nice walk, read regular fiction. If you want to fly and sweep and soar then read fantasy.
 
Couldn't have articulated it any better myself, JohnH.

One thing I love about the fantasy genre is the sense of grandeur and discovery. The readers are comparable to explorers of the imaginary worlds created by the authors. Perhaps it's this sense of discovery and being a traveller in a strange, new land that brings us back to fantasy tales again and again. We all want, no, need, adventure in our lives and I guess we'll take it in any fiorm it comes in, be it in the wilderness or in the written word.
 
I would like to hear from some of the female fantasy readers. My wife says that she does not read fantasy literature because she would rather read about people and places that she is likely to encounter. How do you ladies feel about the matter?
 
Not being a lady I will try to give my juice to it anyway.

My wife says the same. I have another look at what she reads and find among others

The Pillars of the earth
Henning Mankel books ( Schwedish crime)
Exodus

Now , do you really feel that what you are erading there is by any chance not an escape into an other world or story?

Excodus might be very historical ,but it still gives the story of 3 ( ik think it was) people, you wil never meet in your life, of which I doubt any realy excisted. Where does lie the boundries of fantasy.

Is anything which is not biographical really fantasy. Then why not read something of which you know , it really is all imagination
 
Actually, "fantasia" (=fantasy) is the Greek word for imagination!
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[The "i" is bold, for there is where the tone goes.]
 
You and I, polgara, read the books for similar reasons, you are just a bit more definite about your reason for your selection.

We all like the books, but there is usally a more major reason for it.
 
I read to get away from class and work. I need the escape. I would commit suicide if it weren't for books getting me out of the mundane repetition that I go through.
 
I read fantasy because reality disapoints me.

I think less women read fantasy becuase they think it's unfeminine. They say its because its unrealistic and silly, that arguement kinda falls flat when you watch a soap opera.

[This message has been edited by Songwind (edited November 20, 2001).]
 
That's an interesting poin't. Is this the only reason why women don't usually read fantasy novels? My wife does not read the novels becasue she would rather read about people and places that she is likely to go to and, I seriously doubt that she could travel to the Midlands.
 
jbcohen, tell your wife that that is the reason to read fantasy: she can't go there. If she could go there, then why read about it and not go?
wink.gif
 
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