At 2023, the top 10 most selling movies of all time are made up of mostly fantasy stories. In addition to that, the top 10 best selling books of all time, internationally, are all fantasy books of a sorts.
As a consequence, the fantasy genre has become a juggernaut. Most people may feel this is fair. Although I have covered what elements make a good fantasy book, it does not explain why the fantasy genre is so well received.
Which begs the question. What does the fantasy genre do better than every other genre?
Fantasy is a unique genre, because it is the only genre in which the central conflict and themes of the story are physically exhibited. This is because fantasy has magic systems, which are the physical manifestations of not only the central conflict of the story, but also of the progression of the character. In addition, fantasy uses this to build a world that is internal consistent, allowing for a more immersive reading experience.
Another reason why fantasy is unique is because it resonates with the Carl Jungian subconscious of all human beings in the world. These factors allow people of all ages, and lands to be able to connect to fantasy, and thus, it allows people to get the benefits of reading more easily from fantasy.
A mouthful no doubt. But when you understand the first bit, the rest follow naturally. So, for you to understand exactly what we are saying, let’s start with point number 1 out of 9 reasons why fantasy kicks butts.
1. Fantasy Expresses the Themes In The Most Tangible Way
Fantasy is the best equipped to show the more metaphysical aspects of the story through its magic systems. Thus it can portray things like themes, character progression through just the magic system.
All stories have 5 main elements; characters, plot, POV, setting, and finally, themes. Most of these can be seen physically, such as characters, and setting. Even plot is observed as unfolding before us. POV is mostly just the character we see the story from. The one thing that is hardest to distinguish is the themes. It takes thinking, and observation to piece together the possible themes of a story.
Unless of course you are dealing with fantasy.
In fantasy stories, the themes are shown to us through the magic system itself. Characterization, and flaws are shown through the magic system.
If the theme of the story is forgiveness, and our main character is an angry unforgiving person (flaw), then their powers could be something like fire powers. Fire is also fiery (angry) and unforgiving (burns indiscriminately).
Then it could end with our hero finding a way to use their fire to create something new, to clean something, and to fix what was broken. At that stage, they are not angry anymore. But even more, observe how this is the process of forgiveness.
It is all shown physically, which is just amazing to consider.
2. Fantasy Has The Deepest World Building
The fantasy genre is unique in how deep its world building tends to be.
Another extension of the fantasy genres magic system is the world building. Usually, there needs to be some sort of explanation why all these people are leaping mountains in a hop.
So, the world is crafted in a way that describes this. And let me tell you, writers go nuts.
Fantasies have their own history, their own environments, ecology, buildings, cultures, politics, and even their own religions. Point being, fantasies become truly massive things.
The best part of this is that the fantasies are often an extension of the magic system.
This means the world is usually an extension of the themes of the story, of the character’s flaw, and of the character’s progression.
Also, this leads to consistency. Consistency good. Consistency necessary. Hail Consistency!
3. Fantasy Has The Most Psychologically Resonant Stories
Fantasy is unique because it’s stories resonate with a great unconscious mind in all human beings, connecting us to our non-thinking ancestors, adn each other.
The best part about fantasy is something that has been observed by Swiss-Psychologist, Carl Jung.
Carl Jung was a student of Freud, and he’d learned about the unconscious mind, which was a revolutionary idea at the time. Most people did not realize there were powers beyond our control in our mind that dictate out actions.
Carl Jung studied this deeper, to the point where his studies started to diverge from Freud. Jung noticed that in a lot of stories, there were certain figures that kept reappearing. For example, the wise wizard, who appears in African stories, European stories, and Asian stories.
Jung surmised that these stories represented a further deeper subconscious mind that was shared by all human beings. This was considered pseudoscience by others, while others considered it the holy grail.
One of the later was Joseph Campbell, who went out of his way to write ‘A Hero With A Thousand faces’. This book observes stories from all over the world, and proves that there is some sort of connection between these stories.
The only genre that corresponds with these findings is the fantasy genre. Fantasy adopts all the archetypes and creates stories that not only resonate with people of that culture, but with people from all over the world.
So fantasy creates stories that connects with all human beings.
4. Fantasy Is The Best At Teaching Morals
Also, fantasy is a unique genre because it helps teach children and people morals in the most direct way.
There was a study conducted that found fiction literature assists people to develop a deeper EQ. Emotional intelligence.
The reason for this was theory of mind, but sometimes, it can be a phenomenon known as cognitive closure. When people see something that they do not understand, or it does not fit into the things they know, they will either see it as a threat, or prematurely assume it is something else.
This is because something that is unknown makes people anxious, and to alleviate that anxiety, they try to enact some cognitive closure.
However, people who read fiction are found to have more tolerance of living with no cognitive closure.
These people are more comfortable dealing with the anxiety of the unknown, and as a result, are more likely to try and find answers for their questions. This means when they see people they do not know, or behaviors they do not understand, they are more likely to not prematurely subscribe intentions to that behavior or person. Instead, they will try to inquire and learn the truth of the behavior.
Fantasy allows people to exercises this trait the best.
5. Fantasy Is The Best At Getting People Into Reading
Fantasy is unique in that it gets people into reading better than any other genre.
Now, this may be surprising to hear. Fantasy books are notorious for their size. Most can go past 1000 pages. How could a 1000 page book get someone more interested in reading? Especially someone who has never read before?
Well that’s easy my friend. Adaptation.
Fantasy genres are amongst the most adopted book genres of recent years. The earliest Disney movies were mostly adaptations of stories with princesses. Fantasy stories, one might add.
With the recent release of shows like a Wheel Of Time, and the popularity of A Game of Thrones, we saw a corresponding rise in books being bought from these respective series.
The truth of the matter is that after seeing a film or TV show adaptation, it is easier to get into a 1000 page book. At that point, the reader is not traversing unmarked territory. Instead, they are trying to read a movie they’ve already seen.
They are trying to see characters they know, plot points they know, and locations they know. Then, they are pleasantly surprised to find more things. Even more, they will be happier to see that they enjoy reading. Before you know it, they’ve picked up other series.
6. Fantasy Is The Most Re-readable Genre
Fantasy genre is unique because it is one of the most re-readable genres out there.
Additionally, fantasy books tend to be some of the biggest books written, and we have already gone over the world building. The point is, all that size is not for nothing.
People read fantasy books not merely because they want to know what happens next, or the story. Instead, people read the fantasy stories because they want to get another chance to experience the world all over again.
The fantasy world is a fun place to get to live in, but there is more to the re-readability of fantasy. The deep world building of the stories tends to mean that there are elements left in the story that do not make sense when you read the first time around.
But when you read the story again, suddenly, everything falls into place. You may begin noticing things you did not. When you re-read it again, you will find even more elements that you missed the first 2 reads.
This pattern goes on, and on. Soon you will find that you just can’t stop reading the work. The next thing you know, you just have to find yourself a new book because yours now has rabbit ears, coffee stains, and a ruined cover from how often you’ve been reading the thing.
7. Fantasy Is The Most Culturally Impactful Genre In The World
The fantasy genre is the best at being the most culturally impactful genre internationally.
Of all genres that exist, fantasy is probably the most culturally impactful genre that there is. The Greek’s favorite piece of literature was the Iliad. It was so impactful in their culture, that they called themselves the Helenists.
The Iliad is a story about the trojan war that took place because of Helen going to Troy, and leaving her husband. So the Greeks saw themselves as having descended from those of the war. Today, we do not believe that the Greek gods were real, so we see that mythology as a… myth.
However, this does not mean it is any less impactful.
From sculptures, to paintings, the most covered works tend to be Greek fantastical themes. This is maintained till our modern day era.
Though we are shifted away from the Greek culture, we only adopted other fantastical stories. Things like Star Wars, Harry Potter, the MCU, and anime have become a staple of world culture. When this generation grows to adults, we will bring those elements into the mainstream culture.
No other genre can claim this high of a feat.
8. Fantasy Has The Most Memorable Supporting Characters
The Fantasy genre is the best with its iconic, and memorable supporting characters.
Again, this is a strength that fantasy has over other genres. The fantasy genre’s supporting cast members tend to be so memorable they even risk out shadowing with heroes.
From Samwise Gamgee in the West, to Sun Wukong the Monkey King in the East, fantasy genre is full of fantastic supporting leads that seem to take the spot light from the lead characters.
9. Fantasy Is The Most Therapeutic Reading Experience
The fantasy genre offers the most thereaputiic reading experience.
This one is based on how immersive fantasy is. A study found that reading is more relaxing than even drinking coffee. Because of how immersive, re-readable, and accessible fantasy is, it is far more likely to get you to read it more.
Meaning, if ever you need a relaxing read, then fantasy is the best genre to provide you with that experience.
Of course, this is just before the epic, climactic scenes which will grip your souls in their claws until it’s over. Then of course, there is the final most important part about what makes fantasy genre special, which is the one that you have to discover yourself. Once you have, you will be that much closer to mastering mastery.
