Fantasy literature gets a bad rap. The reasons elude me. My degree is in English with a Creative Writing Emphasis from the University of Arkansas—a highly rated program nationally. Several of my professors told me that they would grant me low grades should I turn in genre pieces. I have learned that I am not the only one to have experienced this. Writer Diane Callahan also experienced this prejudice: “If you’ve ever taken a college-level course in creative writing, your professors might’ve said genre stories wouldn’t be accepted, as was the case in my undergraduate years.” https://medium.com/swlh/literary-vs-genre-fiction-9173e11e77df
I have heard it labeled as garbage. I have heard people saying it has no heart. I have heard people say with all seriousness that it held no importance or meaning. None of this could not be further from the truth. In my opinion, fantasy often presents the most important topics we deal with in our daily lives but does so in a manner that entertains.
Following is my list of the top-5 fantasy books (or series) I’ve had the privilege of reading.
- The Fellowship of the Ring
The first book in The Lord of the Rings trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien has a large following of loyal fans. I have read the trilogy at least 30 times in my lifetime. What puts it on par with more literary or serious works?
It deals with loyalty and perseverance. Passion and love of land and people and others is paramount to the story. It represents the little guy. Sam Gamgee holds down a job as Frodo Baggins’ gardener. He doesn’t seek glory or riches. He only wants to make sure his trusted employer survives. He goes through hell to make sure this happens.
He is beaten. He faces untold enemies. Hunger and cold hound his every step as he wanders through Moria towing a helpless Frodo toward their destination. Tolkien was on Oxford English professor—of course his work possesses core principles associated with literary fiction.
- The Dragonbone Chair
Tad Williams wrote in the Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn trilogy a tale about betrayal, scholarship, determination, and never accepting fate. The story starts off with Simon being a kitchen scullion who is constantly harangued and belittled by nearly everyone in his life. One of the few reprieves he has is Doctor Morgenes and the League of the Scroll. A little unknown boy dares to dream beyond his station.
His beloved land and castle are threatened by an ancient evil—representing the darkest aspects like familial betrayal, murder, and the lust for power—but Simon does not accept that he can do nothing.
- Mordant’s Need
Terisa Morgan leads a humdrum existence in our modern world. Her apartment is filled with mirrors just to prove to herself she exists. If that isn’t a literary metaphor, I wasted my money when I earned my degree. Geraden enters our (her) world from one of her mirrors—because what we see in the mirror is not the same as our existence.
This series by Stephen R. Donaldson deals with the understanding of power and how inaction leads to dire consequences. It addresses what constitutes reality and about the strength love gives characters.
- Song of Ice and Fire
Though it has been over 25 years since the first book came out, this series by George R.R. Martin has not approached completion. In fact, the fifth and most recent book came out over 12 years ago. If you don’t think this series handles themes commonly found in the most literary of books, then “You know nothing,” as Ygritte tells Jon Snow repeatedly. Five books have been released: A Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings, A Storm of Swords, A Feast for Crows, and A Dance with Dragons.
It concerns such things as pride, loyalty, and morality in a world possessing too much of the first and nowhere near enough of the second two. Politics run rampant throughout the series as differing factions and families vie for power and authority, all while trying to prepare for some unrealized danger from far beyond their lands. I imagine that most readers have a terrible time determining whom they need to root for. Personally, I am pulling for Jon Snow (if he survives the treachery of the Night’s Watch) and Tyrion Lannister.
- The Reckoners
Brandon Sanderson wrote a trilogy of books that took me back to my younger years when I read for the sheer enjoyment of adventure. However, he imbues it with enough themes of the corruption of power to make it quite enjoyable for an old codger like me even though the publisher markets it to a young adult audience. In a bookstore recently, I had an impassioned conversation about the series with a father and his daughter.
It seems, at first, a simple revenge story. But when you look deeper, it is about relationships. It is about sacrifice. It is about coming to terms with one’s power or lack thereof. By the end of the series, I found myself rooting for many of the characters to overcome their weaknesses of succumbing to great power for selfish ends with the greater power of selflessness and generosity and sacrifice. The trilogy consists of three novels and a novella: Steelheart, Mitosis, Firefight, and Calamity.
Conclusion
Ultimately, fantasy should not be considered throw-away fiction. It encompasses all the passions and ideas that literary fiction does: sacrifice, love, the corruption of power, and betrayal. The settings through which the stories find voice happen to be elaborately designed worlds instead of cliché coffee houses set in urban settings where the characters (as well as the authors) look down on everything outside their narrow vision.
Fantasy has bigger-than-life heroes. Dastardly and evil beings populate the pages. The characters wrestle with the same day-to-day problems you and I do. Fantasy deserves its spot on the shelf and in our hearts. It has a place of honor on the shelves of my own study where I can take down a book and escape into a story told with passion and beauty,
