Toastmasters speech #3

THE MAGIC OF FANTASY

Witches and wizards riding on broomsticks and casting spells.

Hobbits on heroic quests.
Dragons that fly and breathe fire.
Trees that can walk and talk.
Werewolves fighting  vampires.
Trolls and goblins and elves and dwarves and fairies and munchkins.

This is the stuff of the fantasy novel. And I confess that this is the stuff I been enthralled with for the past five years. I’d like to tell you why.

But first, what is fantasy? Fantasy is fiction that partakes of the supernatural, and the magical, usually in a pre-modern or medieval or historical setting. Think of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. But the magic sometimes takes place in a contemporary setting. Think of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series and Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight series.

Science Fiction, however, is similar to fantasy, but science fiction tends toward a futuristic world where what is imagined is more plausible or realistic than in fantasy novels. There is an emphasis on science and technology whereas fantasy relies more on magic. Think of the Star Wars epic.

Both fantasy and science fiction are sub-genres of what is called speculative fiction, which also includes horror and utopian fiction, and superhero fiction, among other genres.

Speculative fiction is easy to find in popular culture in TV, movies, role-playing board games, computer games, comic books, and in the form of a vast fandom.

I may not attend sci-fi conferences or play fantasy computer games, but I love to read fantasy novels.

Let me give you some reasons why I like to read fantasy novels:

1. I get to escape into another reality, another world.
2. I love the authors’ imagination, how they can create such fantastical worlds.
3. I get to experience adventure and excitement vicariously through the characters.
4. There is something so appealing about following the heroes and heroines as they conquer evil.
5. I love the magical elements, such as wizards, elves, dragons, and trolls.
6. I especially enjoy the epic series, where the volume of writing allows the reader to follow the development of the characters and the plot over an extended period of time. A great example of this is Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time series, which consists of fourteen books, each over 1000 pages in length.

What I don’t like about fantasy is the tendency to include violence and warfare as well as occasional sexism among the characters.

So, it may be true that I’m channeling a thirteen-year-old boy, but I don’t mind – as long as I get to escape into that wonderful world of magic.