The LL&L Rumpus Room

For me, the reason I read fantasy/scifi is pure escapism. I barely read anything else. Although I definitely care about the world and its various problems, when I read a work of fiction I just want to be somewhere else entirely. The speculation side of things is for me an added element of depth that makes the world more or less believable, depending on the world-building skills of the writer in question. Write a book that makes me want to literally enter your universe and I will be your slave forever.

This is not to say I like my fiction to be fluffy or happy. I don't. A well-created dystopia is more enthralling than anything else (Neuromancer, anyone...). The escape factor comes from complete immersion, but primarily from enthralling characters and their interaction.

I used to feel ashamed of this escapist tendency. Now, I just don't care. I read fantasy and allow myself the denial of reality for however long I choose.

Why do you read/write this genre?

Also?

I apologise if this topic has been thrashed to death 1000x already. Just curious.