What is so intriguing about fantasy?

Question: What is so intriguing about fantasy!?

Wizards, dragons, magic, fairies, elves, vampires, goblins, etc!.!.!.

What is it about fantastical literature that has fascinated human beings for centuries!?

Is it the fact that we will never witness any of them in real life!?

Do we use it as a portal to escape from our boring, mundane lives!?

Are their lives and stories really more interesting than ours!?Www@QuestionHome@Com

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:

The what if is, in my opinion, a big factor!. What if these fantastical creatures really existed in the past or even in the present!.

Escapism is certainly a huge factor!. Many readers don't want to read about the mundane or ordinary, they find that in their daily lives, they find that just by watching t!.v!. They want to truly get lost in an alternate reality where anything is possible!.

It isn't a matter of their stories being more interesting than ours, it is more a matter of engaging the imagination more actively!. A reader has to completely suspend disbelief in order to read this type of story, which certainly is not something that appeals to all readers!.

Personally speaking, as a reader, I am a lot tougher and unforgiving with a contemporary set story (it better be well written, it better be realistic) than with a fantasy or paranormal story in which it's mostly a matter of good character development and a well paced, interesting plot!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Fantasy is probably more interesting to some people because it has no limits!. Anything can happen, even the unpredictable!. Realistic fiction is always somewhat predictable because everything that happens in it can also happen in the world we live in!. In fantasy, there is usually more adventure and excitement, the stakes are higher which makes you want to find out how the story turns out!. It's true, you can only imagine fantasy and you can live reality, but everyone has their own views on the subject!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Fantasy is a logical outgrowth of religion and of philosophy, except it takes the opposite route!. While religion and philosophy attempt to explain the mysteries that have always puzzled humanity, fantasy accepts mysteries for what they are and creates stories based on them!.

Legends are what humans create when they want to be captivated rather than to understand, and I really think fantasy as a genre--when it's good--hits something in the reptilian hindbrain of any human that opens humans up to the possibility of mysteries and magic!.

It's less escapism and more knowledge of what _could_ be out there--here there be monsters, after all, and good fantasy works with those monsters to create a story with resonance!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

well books take you to a whole new world!. it makes you experience things that you have never experienced before!. and you get to see it from someone else's point on view not just yours!. and when you read about fantasy it feels like your their with the character when they are fighting the dragon or the goblins!. it just creates this whole new place where you can let your imagination run around a little!. when you read a book you experience everything that the characters in the book feel!. i mean you laugh and cry for them!. in fantasy although you know its never going to happen in real life but you can almost see it!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Fantasy is great because you can read certain plots that refer to mysteries as well as myths that transorm a rather mundane or inane day into one of mystical surprise!. I read all genres, but with fantasy your own eyes and world are opened up to new and facinating scenarios!. Enjoy and be prepared to be amazed!Www@QuestionHome@Com

Good fantasy makes the impossible possible, and yet within its setting, believable!.

Love of fantasy goes back to our childhood, fairy tales, myths, legends all play a part of growing up!. Some of us, especially those who believe in remaining forever young, take that love right on up into adulthood!.

Me personally, I can think of no greater joy then riding on the back of a dragon, or cleaning my house with a flick of my wand!.

The other aspect of fantasy that appeals is adventure and discovery!. How many of us will ever travel on horseback to a new land, fight in an epic battle, discover fantastic creatures, cultures or religions!? In fantasy books we can do all that and more!. The possibilities are endless!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

I understand your feeling!!!!!!
I guess it makes people feel like they are in a whole new world that because it is not real and they know, they think if they enter that world it makes them invincible and happy!!!
it takes them far away from everything and nothing could go wrong and they figure if something goes wrong, they still can't get hurt because they know it is fake!!!!!!Www@QuestionHome@Com

There is something completely captivating about having your imgination fully engaged!. Especially today when so many things are so autopilot!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

It doesn't happen in real life so it is captivating and you wish you were in the story!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

It's the fact that it will never really happen!.
Speaking of which, I'm about to get off of here for some major Twilight therapy!. :)Www@QuestionHome@Com

Our imaginations allow us to do whatever, whenever!. Some people love to explore different worlds in their minds- something more exciting and colorful, if life is being a bit too slow lately!. Or somewhere where love is everywhere!. It makes people happy and it is great fun!.

A lot of people love the fantasy genre, I think, because it's filled with new worlds to explore, learn about, and live in!. New things to see and discover that you may have never thought about before!.

Yay for imagination!. Just don't wander too far away!.Www@QuestionHome@Com