“We need metaphors of magic and monsters in order to understand the human condition.”

― Stephen R. Donaldson (author of The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, among many others)

If you’ve been reading this newsletter for any length of time, you know I’m on a mission to explore how novels classified as fantasies can nonetheless have real world implications. Well, Mr. Donaldson hits the nail on the head here.

There are many things in life that are both difficult to understand and challenging to discuss. Most humans are predisposed to avoiding such topics because they can lead to conflict, and our animal brains tell us that conflict is dangerous.

That’s where stories come in. Want to examine the evils of prejudice? It may be tough to face that your very own society has issues, but less so when confronted with the cruelty of a scar-faced colonel toward the blue-skinned inhabitants of another planet.*

How about the importance of friendship and love? For some, it may be too emotional to tackle directly. And yet, we can all relate to the story of a girl with a magic compass and problematic parents who nonetheless uses the power of friendship (including that of a giant, armored polar bear!) to save the world.^

What about mental illness? That’s surely a tough subject for most. Still, many of us gladly explore it through the eyes of a physician’s son who is drafted into the army, loses his brother, and is then enslaved, only to discovery he has an invisible faerie friend and innate powers that allow him to summon blades from midair.~

Perhaps the most beautiful thing about fantasy is that, often when we begin a new story, we don’t even realize the lessons we’re taking away from the book. We’re just looking for a good time! But the lessons imbedded in these tales become part of us, and as we read more and more, we’re exposed to a greater diversity of circumstances than our own experiences could ever produce, and with such knowledge comes empathy and understanding for others. It’s a wonderful benefit to this genre that so many of us have grown to love.

Note to readers: Each week, I share a fantasy quote and indulge my inner philosopher with a brief essay based on said quote. Share your favorite quote with me and I might feature it in a future newsletter! Email: dtkane@dtkane.com.

* Avatar (movie) by James Cameron
^ His Dark Materials by Phillip Pullman
~ The Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson