Myth, monsters and making sense of a disenchanted world: why everyone is reading fantasy
Fantasy has surged to the forefront of contemporary literature, offering readers a way to confront a disenchanted world through myth and imagination. The article traces the genre's historical roots, its psychological appeal, and its role as a modern form of realism.
Fantasy has moved from the fringes of literary conversation to a position that many consider the most dominant genre in publishing today. From bestselling trilogies to award‑winning debut novels, readers are flocking to stories of dragons, magic, and alternate worlds. The surge is not a fleeting fad; it reflects a deeper cultural need to re‑engage with the imaginative and the mythic in an age that often feels overly rational and disenchanted.
From Myth to Modern Marketplace
Historically, fantasy emerged from oral myths and early epic poetry, but its modern incarnation can be traced to the aftermath of World War I. Scholars such as Adam Roberts argue that the trauma of mechanised warfare pushed writers like J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis to revive ancient mythic structures as a way of processing a world that seemed increasingly soulless. Their works offered a regulated return of the repressed—kings, quests, and chosen heroes that allowed readers to imagine agency in a chaotic era.
Today, that same impulse fuels a market that spans "romantasy" (romance‑infused fantasy) to grimdark, urban fantasy, and fantasy of manners. Publishers have responded with dedicated imprints, and booksellers often joke that the industry now divides into two shelves: one for romantic fantasy and everything else. This categorisation underscores how pervasive the genre has become across demographic lines.
Psychological Pull: The Buffered Self and the Need for Enchantment
Philosopher Charles Taylor describes the modern individual as living within a "buffered self"—a sense of separation between the interior psyche and the external world. This buffering provides safety but also suppresses the wild, imaginative impulses that lie beneath the surface. Fantasy acts as a release valve, allowing readers of all ages to experience the "unruly" aspects of their psyche without jeopardising their everyday stability.
For children and teenagers, the appeal is especially acute. The tension between dependence and the desire for autonomy makes dragons and monsters feel like natural metaphors for internal shadow selves. For adults, the genre offers a structured way to confront existential anxieties that modern, disenchanted narratives often sideline. As Philip Pullman notes in The Book of Dust, imagination is a wind that blows through all worlds, revealing truths that pure rationalism cannot.
Fantasy as a Mirror of Contemporary Issues
Beyond escapism, fantasy increasingly tackles real‑world concerns through metaphorical lenses. Authors such as N.K. Jemisin use world‑building to explore decolonisation, while China Miéville injects political satire into his speculative settings. LGBTQ+ representation has flourished in works by Katherine Addison and Tamsyn Muir, demonstrating that the genre can be both inclusive and subversive.
These stories do more than entertain; they provide a safe space to examine power structures, identity, and moral complexity. By framing contemporary dilemmas as battles between elemental forces or as quests for ancient relics, fantasy makes abstract issues tangible, inviting readers to consider solutions that might feel too risky in a strictly realistic context.
Why Fantasy Works as a Form of Realism
Paradoxically, fantasy can be a more honest form of realism than straightforward literary fiction. When the world feels buffered, the only way to articulate profound emotional or societal shifts is through metaphor. Fantasy’s “regulated return of the repressed” allows writers to depict overwhelming stakes—good versus evil, love versus loss—without the constraints of literal realism. The genre’s flexibility lets authors blend mythic archetypes with modern sensibilities, creating narratives that feel both timeless and urgently relevant.
Moreover, the structure of trilogies and closed series offers readers a sense of narrative completion that mirrors a desire for order in a chaotic age. While the stories may feature unaccountable kings or chaotic magic, they typically resolve within a bounded arc, providing psychological closure that many contemporary readers crave.
Looking Ahead: The Future of Fantasy Reading
The momentum behind fantasy shows no sign of waning. Emerging voices from non‑Western traditions are expanding the genre’s geographic and cultural scope, while established authors continue to push boundaries with hybrid forms that blend science fiction, horror, and literary experimentation. As long as the modern world remains buffered, the demand for stories that breach that buffer—whether through dragons, queer protagonists, or decolonised mythologies—will persist.
For readers, the question is no longer whether fantasy is "serious" literature, but how it can be used to understand themselves and the world around them. The genre’s capacity to translate the ineffable into narrative makes it an essential tool for navigating a reality that often feels both too rational and too overwhelming.
Why it matters
Fantasy provides a culturally resonant way to process modern disillusionment, making it a vital literary form for both personal insight and social commentary.
Key points
- Fantasy has become a dominant genre, reflecting a cultural shift toward mythic storytelling
- The genre satisfies a psychological need to break the modern "buffered self"
- Contemporary fantasy tackles issues like decolonisation, LGBTQ+ representation, and politics
- Fantasy acts as a form of realism, using metaphor to address complex realities
- The market’s growth ensures diverse voices will continue to reshape the genre
Frequently asked questions
Why is fantasy considered more than just escapism?
Fantasy uses mythic structures and metaphor to explore real emotional and societal issues, offering readers a way to process complex feelings that straight realism often cannot.
How did World War I influence the rise of modern fantasy?
The trauma of mechanised warfare left many feeling disenchanted, prompting writers like Tolkien and Lewis to revive ancient myths as a means of reclaiming agency and meaning.
What are some contemporary themes found in modern fantasy?
Themes include decolonisation, LGBTQ+ identity, political satire, environmental concerns, and the critique of power structures, all framed within fantastical settings.
