Timewaster's Guide Archive

I've never understood the literary elite.  Sure,  I had to read the "classics" while in High School. We tackled Harper Lee's "To Kill A Mockinbird" and then moved on to Poe in my Freshman year, then we had the Shakespearian tragedies the next year. My Junior year brought around Arthur Miller's "The Crucible" and more Poe, and my Senior year gave us Mary Shelley, Jules Verne, and HG Welles.

It was having to read all those that gave me my love of books. I'm in my junior year of college and I've tackled such things as Chaucer in his original middle-English, Dante, and more Shakespeare than I ever wanted to see in my life. I'm no stranger to "elite literature" as some call it.

But what do I love? Look over my shoulder at the bookcase behind me:

Stephen King
Dean Koontz
David Baldacci
Christopher Priest
China Mieville

And the fantasy?

John Ronald Reul Tolkien
Robert Jordan
George R. R. Martin
Terry Goodkind
Scott Lynch
R. Scott Bakker
Patrick Rothfuss

And the most recent edition, Mr. Sanderson.

Sure, speculative fiction, the larger genre in which fantasy is contained, is looked down upon by the literary elite. Does anyone remember the uproar in 2003 when Stephen King was awarded the Book Awards lifetime achievement award? Why was that? He's a beloved author with a 30 year career. Even if someone hasn't read any of his books they know who he is. They've probably seen the movie adaptations of his works. He entertains us.

I read fantasy books because they're my favorite genre. Reading about the adventures of these characters in their lands, the struggles the face, the things they experience, and the growth they undertake as a result...it lets me experience things I can't in my life.

Take Elantris for example: the city of the fallen gods intrigues me. I'm still early in the book but I'm enjoying spending my time with Raoden and watching him adapt to his new environment and trying to better himself and the others.

As for what Matthew was saying; I accepted myself as a nerd a long time ago. I never had time to read in High School but in my three years of college I've always carried with me whatever book I'm reading at the time. I've lugged 900 page fantasy books around with my and sat around my campus' library or cafe, just reading it. If anyone did sneer or give me a funny stare I didn't notice. Why? Because I was too enthralled with what was happening in my story to care!