Fantasy Reigns Supreme from Middle Earth to our Earth

From 8th grade through my first few years as an undergraduate, I would read The Lord of the Rings trilogy every year. I had old paperback copies that belonged to my father and uncle. Their names were scrawled on the inside cover. I have since passed them to my brother and have replaced them with collectors' editions and some original versions of the stories. I believe in passing on books, not simply lending them. They are still my go-to books when I think of the Fantasy genre. It shouldn’t be surprising. I would watch the Star Wars trilogy on TV each year, a movie marathon I shared with my dad. Then, of course, there was Star Trek, the original series, because I am older than the internet. All these activities were done in conjunction with playing Dungeons & Dragons, cops and robbers in the backyard, and decorating my room with unicorns and Pegasus models. And then there is the deep dive into my love of magic, folklore, myth, and legend. I took up Homer’s works in high school and imagined all sorts of creatures in a world that sought to destroy humans and prevent us from achieving our destiny of greatness. You might think that I am drawn to reading, writing, and playing games because they are fantasy-centric. But it’s only part of the story.

Fantasy landscape

In the storytelling universe, fantasy stands like the beacons of Gondor, breaking past the boundaries of our reality. Books, comics, movies, and games serve as a gateway to exploring the infinite potential of human creativity and revealing the truths of our existence — our very humanity. That is because fantasy is much more than an escape from reality. It is a mirror, reflecting our flaws, virtues, challenges, and strengths. The characters at their core could be any of us, living in a world where societal norms and boundaries are altered or stripped away, allowing authors to represent the most extreme horrors and the most fruitful of victories. Diving into fantasy leads us on a journey of bravery, sacrifice, and redemption with intense clarity. These explorations allow us to experience the depth of human emotion and take stock of our lives from a new perspective, leading to inspiration and a newfound purpose to persevere and thrive.

fantasy world

 Many of the stories I would immerse myself in were successful in their storytelling craft because of the journey the heroine or hero undertook. I would later discover Joseph Campbell and his concept of the monomyth. His idea of a universal quest resonates with many readers personally. Fantasy uses this structure to elevate ordinary characters into extraordinary heroes and heroines. As we read about these beloved characters, we interpret their internal and external battles as self-discovery and growth that we aspire to apply to our reality.

fantasy adventure

Life is unpredictable. We go about our days chasing happiness and fulfillment until something unexpected occurs: birth, death, marriage, divorce, or a loss of some kind. All of our troubles seem so mundane and tiresome. Fantasy writing thrives on the concept of the unconventional. We insert magic or alter physics so that the challenges appear insurmountable, just as our mundane troubles seem bothersome. However, the new, mystical scene empowers us, writers and authors, to address the complexities of justice, human rights, power, corruption, and betrayal. To write it in a real-world setting might be too direct or sensitive to truly encapsulate the insight and reflections that the narrative forces upon the readers.

fantasy world

My admiration for fantasy as a storytelling method stems from its ability to merge the epic with the personal, the human with the mythical. Within fantasy, every narrative is a hero’s journey, every obstacle or trouble a dragon to be slain. And just as our heroes discover their greatness through their tribulations and triumphs, we, too, are inspired to unveil the hero within ourselves. This is the essence of fantasy. It does not simply tell stories with magic; it reveals the grandeur of our lives.