Fantasy with Friends is a weekly meme hosted by the good people over at Pages Unbound. Fantasy with Friends poses questions each Monday about fantasy, either as a genre as a whole or individual works.
This week’s prompt is:
Which genre are you eager to jump into more this year, and what draws you to it? Do you think fantasy still isn’t taken “seriously” as literature by some people or in some circles? What response do you have to that?
Oh, I know it isn’t. There are just some snobs that have a hard time recognizing genre fiction at all as “serious.” They’ll glance at something like A Song of Ice and Fire because no one can stop talking about the show—and mostly cover their sneer. What was that hit piece that someone did on Sanderson a year or so ago? Look at the response to Romantasy trend—or think back to responses of Pottermania.
What’s my reaction to that lack of recognition? I ignore it. They’re not going to change—at least by and large. It’s not my job to convince anyone to read a book or a genre they’re not interested in. I have a good friend who wanted to try the Dresden Files, but couldn’t handle the magic—as much as he was enjoying Harry and the other characters. Now, he’s not disdainful of the genre—but the same principle can apply to others, there’s just something about Fantasy that turns them off and for many people that will result in belittling. These people, by and large, are not worth wasting time and ink on (even if the ink is made up of bits on a screen).
I think if I’d decided to try to convince someone to give Fantasy a try, or at the very least, to consider that some works could have literary merit—I wouldn’t try for the genre as a whole. I’d pick a book that I think would appeal to them. And then, an other. And another after that. Take down the prejudice down one brick at a time. Does it work? Well, with my friend and the Dresden Files, nope. But it has with others. And I’m coming up with another way to trick him into giving Fantasy a shot. It’ll just be in a few months after he’s read that I’m planning on tricking him.
I’m sure some of the other posts in response to this prompt will be more thoughtful. I’m looking forward to reading them. Do you have responses to this? (either for the comment section below or from your own post)
Briana | Pages Unbound
Yes, I can totally get if someone people just don’t like fantasy, the way some other genres might not be MY favorite. It’s always interesting when this turns into trash talking the genre, however, instead of just a recognition that people have different tastes!
I also like the idea of finding the “right” fantasy book for someone. I think some people think it’s all pseudo-medieval England epic fantasy (which, ah, I love), but there’s a wide variety of other stuff if people don’t like that!
sarahwittle845
Fantasy is now my go to genre, I don’t know anyone else (apart from bloggers) who like this genre
Krysta
It’s always so interesting to me when the genre snobs appear because genre fiction is actually very popular! Of course, I think that’s precisely why the genre snobs think it’s bad–but I did think we were starting to get to a point where genre fiction is more accepted than it was in the past. I actually think fantasy and sci-fi probably are more acceptable now than ever before. It’s probably romance (a “women’s” genre) that is most sneered at currently. But I don’t pay much attention to all this anymore. I’m going to read what I like to read. It really doesn’t bother me if some random person on social media thinks fantasy isn’t “real” reading because it isn’t realistic or whatever. I’m confident in what I like and I don’t need outsider approval for my hobbies.
Also, I know several people in real life who think reading any fiction at all is “a waste of time” because “it isn’t true.” But those same people watch movies. Fictional movies. So I decided long ago that people aren’t very consistent, and it isn’t worth debating the merits of fiction or fantasy with such people. They’ve chosen their stance and aren’t open to viewing it too closely. But I think storytelling is a very human need and I am not all surprised that even those the most dedicated to non-fiction will enjoy a good film or a tale well told by a friend.
aquavenatus
I’ve written essays about this topic before, but I’m going to share this (paraphrased) quote one of my uncles told me about Fantasy across all 4 posts:
“Fantasy is consumed more whenever society fails and its citizens are miserable.”
Don’t believe me, then look at all of the D.C. and Marvel movies that continue to be made and release. It’s not only a money factor, everyone wants to believe in “heroes” again. Look at “Percy Jackson” and “K-Pop Demon Hunters.”