What fantasy fiction tells us about reality
WHAT is it about stories of magic, adventure, and imaginary worlds that has turned fantasy fiction into one of the world’s most popular forms of storytelling, entrancing adults and children alike?
In the second episode of his examination of popular fiction, Andrew explores the hallowed conventions of the fantasy genre – its intricate imaginary worlds, its portals bridging one universe to another, and its common settings within societies on the brink of destruction.
As well as meeting distinguished current exponents of the genre such as Neil Gaiman, Alan Garner and Frances Hardinge, he also profiles pioneering figures such as CS Lewis, Sir Terry Pratchett, Lewis Carroll, Philip Pullman and JRR Tolkien.
Andrew argues that although these stories are sometimes the object of ridicule, they are frequently filled with genuinely thought-provoking ideas.
There may be wizards with pointy hats, as well as the odd dragon, but what fantasy novels are really good at, Andrew argues, is allowing us to see our own world in a fresh and surprising way.
One of the current leading exponents of fantasy fiction is American writer George RR Martin, whose novel A Game Of Thrones launched a bookshelfbuckling series of novels, and spawned a vast TV franchise.
However, Andrew reminds us that this is a genre whose origins are British – and at its heart is a radical quest to reconnect readers with ancient pre-Enlightenment ideas and folk-beliefs.