Why I Read (and Write) Fantasy

Ah, fantasy. It’s been my favorite genre since I was a kid, and my interest in reading it has only grown as the years have gone by. Ninety percent of the books I’ve read this year have had some sort of speculative element in them.

There are Many Flavors

While “fantasy” may conjure wizards and dragons for you, the genre is impossibly broad.

Add magic to any story, and it becomes fantasy. If you’re not into magic? Then what about a portal, or time-travel? Like fairytale retellings? Stories featuring witches or angels? How about tales of mythological creatures or monsters? What about superheros? Vampires? Maybe you’re into stories about sky pirates, or Norse gods, or talking animals.

Still fantasy.

Because we can make any kind of story fantastic, you can probably find a fantastic version of your favorite genre!

Fantasy Can be Inclusive

While all fantasy stories have an element of the fantastic, the genre is not limited to a specific era, location, or culture. Although there are thousands of fantasies set in a setting or world that feels like medieval Europe, there has been an explosion of stories inspired by, or incorporating, diverse cultures.

Similarly, while writers still crank out stories featuring able-bodied, white male heroes, the genre’s protagonists now come in all ages, shapes, genders, colors, and abilities.

Like a thought experiment, fantasy provides an opportunity to explore unfamiliar worlds and cultures. And because the genre already requires the reader to suspend their disbelief, perhaps it’s easier to step outside our comfort zones and relate with characters unlike us. I mean, if you’re already traveling with a talking butterfly, why not explore politics unlike your own?

Fantasy Encourages Imagination

Because these stories celebrate the impossible, there are really no restrictions with what you can do in fantasy. The genre spans a wide spectrum between an event or situation which *could* happen all the way to the purely fantastic.

Many of my favorite stories involve a character living in the “real world” but to whom something fantastical happens. I love watching these characters encounter and deal with a situation they previously believed was impossible.

As a writer, I find the limitlessness of the genre exciting. It’s fun to think about creating a magical person, situation, or world. Moreover, writing these stories allows me to create worlds where anything is possible.

From escape to wish-fulfilment, there’s a fantasy novel out there that can appeal to everyone. And yes, as a child, I *may* have plastered a unicorn poster or two on my bedroom walls. Why do you read fantasy?

Header Photo by Johannes Plenio on Unsplash