Facts in Fantasy Part Two

So because in my earlier post I somehow (heh.) managed to get completely off topic and stay that way. So now I'm basically going to try again. So, we were talking about fantasy.

Fantasy. I think the first thing that comes to mind for me are reasons why it's fantasy. Maybe that's just me. I think that I've always been a bit edgy when it came to categorizing books into certain genres. Anyway, I get so worked up about that, that I read the entire novel doing that. Then I go back and read it again. You know, to actually know what I had read. And that's when the magic happens.

Words seem peel off of the crisp white pages, and characters simply dance out of the paragraphs. A setting is painted out, and so is the idea and tension of what's happening. The more I read fantasy, the more I relate to the characters.

There has always been a major misconception about fantasy. Yes, sometimes it is about mythological creatures sometimes, but so what? Truthfully, it doesn't affect the book that much. Why? Because those words were sown together by a human being. A human being with feelings just like the rest of us. Those feelings? Well, they affect the story. For example, if the author happens to be having a particularly bad day, she/he might right a really depressing scene, adding more details then she/he might have if they were happy, or annoyed.

So even if the story is.. is about some kind of cheerful fairy, know that there's more to it. Turmoil, self-conflict, something's going on. Maybe that innocent little fairy is truly being forced act as if nothing is wrong, just protect her loved ones. And you'll never hear her brave tale because you couldn't see past the cover.

So I guess what I'm saying is, that every character and every conflict are more similar to us than you think. Everyone's fighting their own battle, right? So, what's so wrong about reading about a battle written on paper. So it's just a figment of someone's imagination? Well, we're basically figments of life, dolls played with by the child of fate. What's so wrong about fantasy?

This is why, after someone says fantasy immature or lame around me, they usually end up dumbfounded or fuming. Fantasy is one of my favorite genres to both read and write, and it inspires. And it should.

Fantasy, I think, is unique because anything can happen. I mean, Happily Ever After started in fantasy, after all. Fantasy is sort of like a gateway out of this world, into another mysterious, beautiful one. Not to escape from your own world, but to experience a new one.

So, in a way, fantasy sort of like an airplane. It goes everywhere, is ridden by just about everyone, and always feels like it's a world all it's own.

When it comes to fantasy, hands down, it is awesome. I feel kind of stupid going through all that to end with "It's awesome.", but it's true. Fantasy is awesomely unique in a way that.. Literally anything can happen.

Comment your thoughts about anything, and tell me exactly what you think, about basically anything mentioned in this post.

I'll (Probably) remember to post later!

Anjali