To love, or not to love fantasy

[Bill Ferny]

Often what we like is what does NOT challenge us, what reassures us, and what is couched in the language (literal and symbolic) that we are familiar with.

That would be it! I think that explains why I like Tolkien so much, but could take or leave the rest of the fantasy genre (or at least what the nearest bookstore considers the fantasy genre): same religion, similar interests in myth and history, shared concern about the encroachment of industry (possibly even a shared fear of technology); though I’m hardly the linguist that he was, I’ve tried my hand at “fantasy Latin.” That makes a lot of sense, except for one essential fact: I read Tolkien in the seventh grade, well before any of these similarities took shape (except, maybe, the same religion thing). So what came first, the chicken or the egg?

When you say “chips” are you referring to what we yanks would call “french fries”? If so, I only like ketchup. That whole mayo thing seems a bit strange to me. All in all, though, it is a cop out, but its also entertainment, and we all are entitled to a bit of cop out for entertainment’s sake. For example, I just watched the movie Unfaithful last night, and it was pretty damn disturbing (at least to us happily married people, and especially to us happily married men). Despite the excellent acting, script, cinematography, etc… I just could not bring myself to like the movie. Why? Because it challenged me, and it challenged my marriage. I just didn't want that kind of thing to ruin my perfectly good weekend. I think that National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation would have been a better choice for a more peaceful night’s sleep.