Fantasy et al

Getting lost in reading at the moment - but nothing heavy.  So much for my plan to report on deep Philosphical readings. 

I enjoyed finishing another Graham Hurley book - No Lovelier Death - and am now quite a fan of Winter and Faraday - even if Winter now works for the dark side so to speak.  But I have taken a break from Hurley and started a paper (!) book series - as opposed to a kindle copy - to read The Farseer Trilogy by Robin Hobb.  These were her first novels!!! And how excellent are they?!!!  I had read a later series set in the same location called The Liveship Traders which quite captivated me.  And now I am half way through this first series.

Good writers have always amazed me with how the paint their books.  The decisions about plots, sub-plots and characters...time lines....level of detail.  So someone comes into a room - what level of detail do we need as a reader?  do we need to know the size, height of the room?  the type and size of windows?  the lighting?  the floor cover?  the furniture? the smell?  Do we need to know everone in the room and what they are wearing...what they are doing... their reactions - words?  Does a room entry take a sentence, a paragraph or a chapter?  The skill in weaving in this detail to hold a reader captivated is immense!  and Robin Hobb has certainly done it for me.

In this series, we follow the life of Fitz - a bastard son of a Prince - who ends up in the Royal Court struggling to find his place amongst all the intrigue.  Raiders are hitting the land turning people into zombies and half brother princes are compteing for succession to the throne.  There is a skill that allows people to converse with each other from a distance (the mobile phone effect!!!!) and influence actions (advertising!!?) and one that allows links with animals.  There is forbidden love and adventure, loyalty and betrayal.  And we know we are reading the genre of fantasy!

My father was taken with book heros like Tarzan and the Saint.  Not fantasy as we know it since Tolkien - but many of the same elements.  What is the fantasy formula and attraction?  It is often someone born with humble beginnings, being chosen for a great task and helped by some wizard, wise man, great warrior.  Against the odds and against beasts, demons and great oppoistion, they rescue/save a woman, town or country and achieve some sort of hero status.  It is an age old message - that life is an adventure and we can start on it regardless of our circumstances.  That there are old books or creeds and gurus/priests/srong people who can help us.  That our role is to sacrifice ourself for others - and in so doing, we find ourselves. 

Standard religion seems to offer a framework for people which follows this road.  A way of lifting people to envisage a destiny rather than a hard practical road until age and death takes us.  It offers a way of making up for our failures and shame and turns it into a spiritual battle for our souls and the world itself.  We are warned of unseen demons and wonderful angels to help us - and wise leaders to explain the holy books.  We are given the skill to project our thoughts through prayer to God and influence outcomes in people and the physical world.

I do so enjoy my fantasy reading - and find it had to begrudge those who take it as their life framework.  Just maybe, however, they can miss the truly great adventure.