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“Fantasies are more than substitutes for unpleasant reality; they are also dress rehearsals, plans. All acts performed in the world begin in the imagination.”--Barbara Grizzuti Harrison
When I examine myself and my methods of thought, I come to the conclusion that the gift of fantasy has meant more to me than any talent for abstract, positive thinking.--Albert Einstein
When I examine myself and my methods of thought, I come to the conclusion that the gift of fantasy has meant more to me than any talent for abstract, positive thinking.--Albert Einstein
If one is lucky, a solitary fantasy can totally transform one million realities.--Maya Angelou
Fantasy mirrors desire. Imagination reshapes it.--Mason Cooley
I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living, it's a way of looking at life through the wrong end of a telescope. Which is what I do, and that enables you to laugh at life's realities.--Theodor Geisel
I am fyn and I am guest editing the Fantasy Newsletter again this week and musing on the role fantasy plays in all forms of creative fiction. |
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Fantasy--as defined by Dictionary.com Unabridged
1. imagination, esp. when extravagant and unrestrained.
2. the forming of mental images, esp. wondrous or strange fancies; imaginative conceptualizing.
3. a mental image, esp. when unreal or fantastic; vision: a nightmare fantasy.
4. Psychology. an imagined or conjured up sequence fulfilling a psychological need; daydream.
5. a hallucination.
6. a supposition based on no solid foundation; visionary idea; illusion: dreams of Utopias and similar fantasies.
7. caprice; whim.
I've been thinking a lot about fantasy of late. Not as in the specific genre (so to speak) but about the part that fantasy plays in all creative writing, be it short story, novel, science fiction, fairy tale or script.
Fiction readers may enjoy a specific genre, but when indulging themselves in the reading, they are simultaneously reading for enjoyment and escape. Thus, there is the element of fantasy in all works of fiction.
I stumbled across a site the other day, and on it I found this quote by Neil Gaiman:
"You wish to see the distant realms? Very well.
But know this first,the places you will visit, the
places you will see, do not exist. For there are
only two worlds - your world, which is the real
world, and other worlds, the fantasy. Worlds like
this one, worlds of the human imagination. Their
reality, or lack of reality is not important. What is
important is that they are there. These worlds
provide an alternative. Provide an escape. Provide
a threat. Provide a dream, and power, provide refuge
and pain. They give your world meaning. They do not
exist; and thus they are all that matters. Do you understand?"
Regardless of whether a reader choses an historical romance with a setting in the highlands of Scotland, a crime/murder mystery, a high flying dragon saga or a time travel science fiction novel, the reader is is escaping into an imaginary world. For a space of time, the reader can indulge in the fantasy of solving the 'who done it' or being swept off their feet by the dashing hero. For those moments the 'real world' with all its accompanying problems and woes is left behind as we seek adventures, thrills, escape, or simply the knowledge that, at least between the front and back cover, that all will be right with the world.
When we write, this is the gift we are giving our readers. We hand them a first class ticket to the Illusionary Express and whisk them off into the world of our novel or short story. It matters not the genre: the illusion/reality of that different world, time, space, era, country becomes a temporary reality.
How well we communicate the reality of our story is often in direct proportion to the amount of pleasure our mad world escapee derives from the reading. During my divorce years back, I discovered Anne McCaffrey's Dragonriders of Pern. For me, this was the ultimate world. Fire raining from the skies occasionally? I could handle that! Piece of cake--find me a deep cave and I'm good. Far simpler than dealing with the lawyers, upset children, disgruntled ex and the realities of keeping a roof over our heads. Pern. Find a cave. Move in. Life is good!
Haven't you read something where when you put down the book at its end, it almost seemed to take a few moments for you to completely ooze out of the world of the book? As a child, I remember reading a tale of swashbuckling pirates on the high seas. For weeks afterwards, the fort high in my maple tree became the crows nest as I single handedly was the scourge of the seven seas. I couldn't ever really become a pirate, but this was the next best thing. Treasure Island was my ticket on the Illusionary Express.
While 'fantasy' is its own genre, there is an overlapping of this genre more than any other into every creative genre. It is fantasy that propels us into the world of the novel's 'now' and lets us see it, breathe it, dream it and live it--all while curled up in our favorite chair by the fire. |
Board! Now boarding for the Illusionary Express! Stopping at the following stations....
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 I love Madeline L'Engle's books! I'm so sorry to hear that she passed away. But the great thing about being an author is that your books keep your memory alive. Hers certainly will for years to come. -- Ariella 
How very, very true and a testiment to an awesome author!
I read "A Wrinkle in Time" by Madeleine L’Engle
as a child. It was one of the very first books I read to my children. Then, to our great delight, we found she had written more. We bought them used and treasured them. A few short years later, her books were out in reprint, sets of four and I was so very happy. We still have our treasured, used volumes. Your newsletter featuring Madeleine L’Engle pleased me very, very much. It is good to know others treasure the same authors.
I did not know her book had been rejected 26 times. Now I am more motivated than ever! Thank You very much for that inspiration. -- collins96
Now just imagine reading them to your grandchildren one day! Motivation is a glorious thing! Remember triumph is just umph added to try!
A lovely tribute to a fantastic fantasy author.
I loved L'Engle's works as a child and only grew to appreciate more her writing as I moved through her young adult books to her adult books and through the cycle again and again. She was an amazing, thoughtful person and a writer who could take you anywhere through her words.
Thanks for sharing more about her through your NL article. -- Tehanu
I'm so glad you enjoyed, both the article, but the writer and her work as well!
Darn you. Now I want to read the Wrinkle in Time series again, but I'm already almost in negative free time here! (College+Other Projects) -- Izkata
Audio books? *grin* Truth be told, I want to go read them all again as well!
I am trying to write a fantasy and i have the characters named, but i don't have much background info on any of them because i can't think of anything. Any tips that can help? -- snakeson4568
Check out the For Authors newsletter from the 29th of August! There some suggestions there that might get you started!
This is a great newsletter and I am saddened to know that Ms L'Engle has passed away. Reading your news letter brought back memories of curled in a chair listening to the rain and becoming a part of Meg and Charles Wallace's world as they searched for their father. Thank you for the inspiration.--Sweet Musings
Ahhh and 'the star watching rock!' Thank you!
Hmmm. . . . I may have to go reread "a wrinkle in time" I read it in fifth grade and didn't like it, mostly because I didn't understand it, which was unusual for me at the time. (I read the "Lord of the Rings" in first grade and understood it, almost perfectly.) I will go back and reread sometime. . .-- SamScrewtape
It is an awesome read regardless of age and perhaps now you may well enjoy it more!
Another wonderful newsletter - thanks for introducing me to Ms. L'Engle! -- Ladyoz
You are quite welcome....
Oh my...such a sad time for fantasy lovers. For both Robert Jordan and Madeleine L'Engle to pass away in the same month, that is a terrible loss. But they live on in their stories, and in our hearts. -- dareng
How very true...their legacy will live on throughout the generations!
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Fantasy: October 10, 2007 Issue [#2003]
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