Thus aligns with where I have arrived in my own fiction writing. I am particularly enjoying magical realism as the genre that brings me closest to creating a world which allows for faith and spirituality to become tangible.
I can certainly see your love for myth-making in 'The Raising Up of Niccólo' -- one of the reasons I enjoyed it so much! I'll need to explore the genre of magical realism further ...
Tolkien's views, which you explored very well here, mirror my own.
Every time I visit a bookstore, I follow the same silly pattern: I spend about an hour, maybe 90 minutes in the fantasy and sci-fi literature sections, and then leave disgruntled. I give it a go each time, though, because I love fantasy stories. But I find it very difficult to reconcile with myself the fact that I have come to greatly dislike Fantasy as a genre.
It's the difference in perspective that I think is the problem. I see fantasy stories as portals into enchantment, mythopoeia and the human imagination. But in my view, Fantasy as a genre has been hijacked by reductivist thinking. The great fantasy stories are less seen today as triumphs of discovery and enlivening the heroic spirit—most of the talk is about magic systems, world-building, hard vs soft, high vs low, and basically treating myth like you might a kitchen pantry that needs organizing.
I don't know if Tolkien's view of fantasy as sub-creation is somehow the better perspective, but it is my own, and I don't often find that perspective on the shelves today. However, it is something I very much appreciate about much of the writing here. I love to see so many people giving it a go.
Very well said, James. I'm familiar with the bookstore pattern you describe; the gems are rare in the Fantasy and Sci-Fi section, and reductivism abounds. I do think Tolkien's view of sub-creation from a religious standpoint is a significantly more helpful way of thinking about Speculative Fiction but his essay 'On Fairy-Stories' was written quite early in his career and I often wonder about how his thoughts on the subject may have developed as he worked on 'The Lord of the Rings' and tried to complete 'The Book of Lost Tales'. It seems like there was certainly more to be said about his theory and methods of mythopoeia ... Thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts!
You expressed so much of what I have been thinking with regard to storytelling and myth. Mathieu P.'s book is a perfect framework (very broadly, but also specifically in this case).
Indeed, Matthieu's book is incredibly insightful, and the macro- and microcosmic implications are probably nearly endless. Thanks for reading, Sam; I'm glad these ideas are coming across well in this form.
Thus aligns with where I have arrived in my own fiction writing. I am particularly enjoying magical realism as the genre that brings me closest to creating a world which allows for faith and spirituality to become tangible.
I can certainly see your love for myth-making in 'The Raising Up of Niccólo' -- one of the reasons I enjoyed it so much! I'll need to explore the genre of magical realism further ...
Thanks Peter! Tbh sometimes a life of faith feels like living in a magical realism story...
Tolkien's views, which you explored very well here, mirror my own.
Every time I visit a bookstore, I follow the same silly pattern: I spend about an hour, maybe 90 minutes in the fantasy and sci-fi literature sections, and then leave disgruntled. I give it a go each time, though, because I love fantasy stories. But I find it very difficult to reconcile with myself the fact that I have come to greatly dislike Fantasy as a genre.
It's the difference in perspective that I think is the problem. I see fantasy stories as portals into enchantment, mythopoeia and the human imagination. But in my view, Fantasy as a genre has been hijacked by reductivist thinking. The great fantasy stories are less seen today as triumphs of discovery and enlivening the heroic spirit—most of the talk is about magic systems, world-building, hard vs soft, high vs low, and basically treating myth like you might a kitchen pantry that needs organizing.
I don't know if Tolkien's view of fantasy as sub-creation is somehow the better perspective, but it is my own, and I don't often find that perspective on the shelves today. However, it is something I very much appreciate about much of the writing here. I love to see so many people giving it a go.
Very well said, James. I'm familiar with the bookstore pattern you describe; the gems are rare in the Fantasy and Sci-Fi section, and reductivism abounds. I do think Tolkien's view of sub-creation from a religious standpoint is a significantly more helpful way of thinking about Speculative Fiction but his essay 'On Fairy-Stories' was written quite early in his career and I often wonder about how his thoughts on the subject may have developed as he worked on 'The Lord of the Rings' and tried to complete 'The Book of Lost Tales'. It seems like there was certainly more to be said about his theory and methods of mythopoeia ... Thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts!
You expressed so much of what I have been thinking with regard to storytelling and myth. Mathieu P.'s book is a perfect framework (very broadly, but also specifically in this case).
Indeed, Matthieu's book is incredibly insightful, and the macro- and microcosmic implications are probably nearly endless. Thanks for reading, Sam; I'm glad these ideas are coming across well in this form.
Fascinating connections. The stuff about bone and blood and wine is fascinating.
Thanks for reading, Katie! Matthieu Pageau has some incredible insights in his book, applicable across so many parts of life.
I guess I’d better start reading it! It’s on my shelf! Thanks for showing what he does in the book.