How can so many people all be talking on the same thread, and all sound so right?
I love fantasy. If you give it to me, I'll gobble it up. If its boring, I'll discard it. If its interesting, I'll read it a couple of times. If I love it, I'll memorize it.
But there are so many spin-offs and such! I used to stare across the classroom in wonder at a Gollum-look-alike who was obsessed with a certain awful book series, supposedly some sort of spin-off from Star Wars, and just wonder how he could read it with out falling asleep or throwing it out!
quote:
"What do we have to do to complete the integration of fantasy into the mainstream?"
unquote.
I don't think fantasy should be integrated into the maintream, for me that would make it obsolete.I just want it to be accepted and respected as a genre, and not belittled as childish and juvenile. My friend, though only a year younger than me, has given up on the "Redwall" series while I still continue to like it. It makes me uncomfortable when she mentions her dislike of it, because i don't see what she sees. I know its the same plotline every time, but I read it for the characters (very believable) and the songs.
I hate stereotypes too, having had them directed at me once too many! I cringe to see "just another fairy tale", and unfortuantely my library is full of them. Its sad, really.
I like Tolkien (and Lewis and L'Engle and Jacqes and so few others), because, like so many others have stated, they makes me feel. Do you know anything else that does that? If you do, recommend it to me. I don't have much to read these days.
And what's all this about people disliking and boycotting fantasy because it doesn't "mean anything"?!? Of course it means something! We have these intense threads all devoted to the deeper inner meanings of Tolkien's works. How can those critics, and the general, TV-obsessed public sit there and tell us our beloved Tolkien doesn't mean anything? I recommend to anyone who says this to one of you: Go and actually*read* a fantasy or sci-fi novel. I dare them.
And a note to Kalessin: you should have rants more often! They're so hilarious, and inspire others to be hilarious too! I think I'll need stiches [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]
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