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Not so long ago, realism was king. Fantasy was an obscure sub-genre, even further removed from "real" literature than science fiction. Over the past decade or so, fantasy shelves have moved to the front of the bookstore, and more and more hit movies, TV shows, and video games are on fantasy themes. I have to ask: what's wrong with reality?

Reality sucks. It is complex, unstable, and threatening. Somebody could push the big button and blow up the planet. Climate change is pushing us into unexplored territory. We worry about global pandemics, wars, economic collapse, food shortages, floods, and changes in morality. We feel helpless and want to escape.

What abused or unhappy child can fail to identify with Harry Potter? An owl drops off a message promising a new life. He is rescued from oppression and spends his school semester in a magical world where anything can happen, and character counts. The nasty are humiliated, and the evil are ultimately destroyed. Character counts.

Lara Croft has all the outward appearance of a shallow socialite, but she does martial arts training in her spare time, and saves the universe on a regular basis. Someone else looks after all the messy details, like meal preparation, yard work, and cleaning the bathroom. Given the chance, she could probably find a way to patch the ozone layer. When she has overcome the forces of chaos and evil, she takes a shower and sallies forth in a designer dress, knowing that she has it all. Her life is so full that she has no need to kiss frogs in the hope that one of them will turn into a prince.

Spiderman, Superman, and Batman all struggle to maintain their dual identities. How can they chose between two equally urgent demands? How can they protect the people they love? Which persona is real, and which is imaginary? All this soul-searching touches our own fragmented identities, but when it gets too much for them, they can defuse their frustrations by kicking some serious butt. The good guys and bad guys are clearly marked. Rescue the former and punish the latter. Clean, simple, uncomplicated.

As our fear and helplessness spiral out of control, we are more and more tempted to hide. A visit to an imaginary world gives us a welcome respite. However, if we try to live there, disconnected from the principles of cause and effect, we will soon discover that reality will not leave us alone.

Learn more about this author, Christine G..
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