Why I Love Fantasy (And Not Just That Dragons Are Cool)

Hey everyone!!

Today I have a post where I am talking about why I love the fantasy genre so much and I can’t wait to share it with you and hopefully hear all your thoughts on the topic. So without further ado let’s begin….

I love many books and the more I read, the more I am learning that I can fall in love with any genre (see my sister’s incredible post here about favourite genres changing) but fantasy is an old favourite and as much as I love and have devoured all sorts of books I still deeply believe in my soul that there is something special about fantasy. So today you are going to hear me gushing about fantasy because truly it is FANTASTIC. I put the fan in fantasy.

So when I say fantasy, what immediately jumps to your attention? I am thinking along the lines of dragons, witches, cloaks and bearded men. And the more I think about it and jump free of the stereotypes I see war, royals, magic, conflict and fighting. I see beasts and heroes shouting at the head of an army and dealing with all kinds of hardship. Fantasy can include a lot of different things and here is why I think it is extraordinary….

 

REASON ONE: It is the Complete Opposite to Our Society*

*(BASICALLY I LIKE MAGIC)

Our society is well… our society. I don’t think I could capture the complexity and nor I am going to try to today but I can say it contains no magic in the ‘Disney’ way (that I know of but I am open to being proven wrong if you want to reveal Hogwarts to me) so the ability to fall into a world of riveting beauty and experience this level of escapism is something I am very fond of. I like to lie down among my pillows (double chin, neck ache and all) and read about a world that my imagination couldn’t dream of alone. I like to build up this image in my head using the words for bricks until I can see this extraordinary place which feels older and newer. I like to imagine the magic and the people. The landscapes and the buildings. The paths and the sky. It is a joy to fall into and it all started with a writer imaging something that might have seemed insane at the start but brought such life and magic to someone else. It is its own brand of magic and I love being a part of it. Plus we all need that escape from our own live at times.

REASON TWO: The Heroes of Fantasy Stories

Fantasy books don’t always have the happiest plot. It is based on conflict, trying to solve an issue and politics. It is very often an action packed plot involving a terrible leader that is horrible to everyone *cue the protagonist* until a blazing hero comes to save the day *swoon*. As I said the heroes are one of my favourite parts of fantasies but not for the fact that they hold a sword. But for the fact that they understand the burden of a sword. If you think of epic fantasy you see giant battlefields and it would be fair to jump to the conclusion that fantasy lovers are drawn to action and bloodshed but I am here to tell you I like the dark scenes for the light can shine all the brighter there. I think there is something to be admired that a hero can persevere through so much pain but still hold so much hope within them that I can’t help but fall completely in love with them and the story.

These are some quotes from ‘The Lords of The Rings’ (I don’t know if you’ve ever heard of it, it’s a very small franchise) but I thought they captured what I meant about not loving the war but the overall message the heroes give in these situations…

“I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I love only that which they defend” – The Lord of the Rings, J. R. R. Tolkien

“If more people valued home, above gold, this world would be a merrier place”- The Lord of the Rings, J. R. R. Tolkien

REASON THREE: The Mix of Characters

I know characters were my previous point but I am a character driven kind of girl and you can’t change that. I will be the first to say that there needs to be more diversity in the fantasy genre because it really does but fantasy allows for many types of personality that normally have no place. You can have the morally grey, the ancient one, the adorable murderous one and they can all be treated with a unique care. Fantasy worlds are built with different norms and values compared to present society and granted fantasy can be worse with all the war and pain but it allows for characters to exist that otherwise would be highly different in say a contemporary book. It’s intriguing to see the characters push the good areas, see how missions can change them, see how magic has changed them and to play with new rules. It is rarely black and white and I find it very interesting as I like different traits from character in fantasy compared to a contemporary as it is an entirely different climate. I’m not saying these characters can’t exist in different genres but there is something about fantasy that allows them to be explored in a unique way.

REASON FOUR: How it Mirrors Real Life

Fantasy can be far away from current society but it can also mirror society and show patterns with human behaviour and certain situations. It is intriguing to read about and see how the characters react and to put yourselves in their shoes and see how you would act. With a wide cast of character you also get to experience many different sides to a situation which can open you up to new views. I think by being a nonparticipating observer it makes you think about things differently and can make you see things more clearly compared to being in the middle of everything. It is interesting and I think you can learn a lot from fantasy novels and use it to better yourself as a human being which I love and cherish every opportunity to do so. I think it is also clever to reflect society in books as it really adds to the story and gets the audience engaging with it as well.

Those are just some of the reasons why I love fantasy and why I’m always reaching for them. I love the wonder they can spark in me and the places they can take me. The people in the stories make my heart burst for all they can teach me and how they inspire me. Fantasy will always hold a special place in my heart and I know I can always escape into an extraordinary world and let my problems disappear for a while. I feel very lucky for the opportunity that fantasy books provide and I love them for teaching me I can slay a dragon and I love them all the more for saying I can befriend a dragon. Fantasy contains infinite amounts of magic and I am not even talking about the spells and powers yet.

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Do you like fantasy? Why do you love fantasy? What are your favourite fantasy books?

What is your favourite genre? Why is it your favourite?

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