In defense of Fantasy

Today my grandmother *ahem* implied that she doesn't understand why people read fantasy.

WELL. As an avid reader of fantasy, I intend to explain to her and any other doubters why fantasy is just as legitimate as any other genre.

Reason #1: It takes the whole 'suspension of disbelief' thing to another level. You're not just in a different city, behind the eyes of another person, you could be in another world, behind the eyes of another species.

Reason #2: A good fantasy has just as many plot turns and just as amazing adventure as any novel. Quite frankly, any book that's well written will have plot twists, suspense, good characters, etc. The genre is just a category.

Reason #3: If you're like me, and you sometimes don't want to think about difficulties in dealing with politics, pollution, or other worldly things, fantasy is a welcome escape. Sometimes you need to visit another world with different problems and say "Whew, at least that's not happening here." In mysteries or romances or other things that take place in the here-and-now US, something always manages to creep in. (Historical fiction works for this too; I personally prefer Steven Saylor's Rosa Sub Rosa series, set in ancient Rome.)

Reason #4: Magic etc. Sometimes you just gotta believe in it, even for the few hours it takes to read the book.

I'm sure there are plenty of other reasons, but those are the four I could think of for now....

Cheers!