tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3690077250072100801.post5740908310515671059..comments2024-02-26T11:04:22.115+13:00Comments on Reid's Reader – A Blog of Book Reviews and Comment.: Something ThoughtfulNicholas Reidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05497366104216216952noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3690077250072100801.post-43523345608906681932011-08-04T08:19:19.312+12:002011-08-04T08:19:19.312+12:00It is unimaginative to place all these stories in ...It is unimaginative to place all these stories in quasi- mediaeval worlds. I am struggling to think of exceptions.k mistryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12543881950922317410noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3690077250072100801.post-2752745930434217882011-08-02T01:15:36.908+12:002011-08-02T01:15:36.908+12:00I like fantasy as a genre. Very much so. I also ...I like fantasy as a genre. Very much so. I also happen to agree in part with what you are saying in your very thoughtful blog. I find the contrast between your blog and the thoughts of Damien Walter at The Guardian very interesting: <br /><br />http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2011/jul/26/george-r-r-martin-fantasy-reality?INTCMP=SRCH<br /><br />In essence, the very differences between fantasy worlds and the present world allow the writer to make comments (be it political, sociological or otherwise) that are directly related to current issues. Through removal of the detail of our current situation, it allows a clearer picture to be seen of the issues that matter. <br /><br />The sort of fiction that irritates me is the "worthy" genre. Unfortunately I find increasing amounts of this genre in the literary fiction section of the bookshop. This is the sort of thing that seeks to somehow morally improve anyone engaging with the work by raising complex and difficult issues in order to enlighten and extend the horizons of the reader. Now that is pretentious and arrogant.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com