Welcome to our regular friday feature where we discuss an aspect of the fantasy genre. I’ve brought along your favorite beverage in that stunning mug up there. Help yourself!
Today I’d like your thoughts on what elements you think make a fantasy story captivating.
Is it rich worldbuilding that immerses you in new cultures or settings? Is it complex, multi-dimensional characters? Or perhaps unpredictable and unexpected plot twists, epic quests, or unique flora & fauna? Or is it emotional depth and relatable themes that grab you?
Tell me what keeps you reading fantasy stories!
Good characters, a believable setting, and an author who knows how to use their words are what matter most to me. It's hard for me to buy into any type of fantasy otherwise.
It's hard to say it's one thing and one thing only, but if forced to choose it would have to be magic, the way the story reflects the numinous, the mythic, the liminal, those elements of existence that harder to grasp in realistic fiction. Not magic systems mind you, which are often an excuse to avoid doing exactly what fantasy is best at.