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Fantasy stories were conspicuously absent from my college literature courses, the official rubber-stampers of "good" literature. Why is it that fantasy is the Rodney Dangerfield of the literary world? For some reason, it can't get no respect.

The problem, I think, lies in the quality of fantasy writing produced for strictly adult consumption. Kids have it made. Children's bookshelves sag under the weight of all the excellent fantasy written for them. Authors such as C.S. Lewis, Madeline L'Engle, Susan Cooper, Ursula LeGuin, Phillip Pullman and, of course, J.K. "Harry Potter" Rowling, captivate and inspire with their works. These books are more than sparkly wands and talking animalsthey are original, character-driven works of exceptional creativity. They appeal to kids' imaginations, and to many adults as well.

And then we come to adult fantasy. Sure, there are the classic staples like J.R.R. Tolkien. His Lord of the Rings trilogy was brilliant and original. But somehow, after Tolkien bowed out, half the aspiring fantasy writers decided that elf+dwarf+wizard+dragon=succes sful book. Formulaic, yawn-worthy writing ensued.

Hungry for creativity and character development in my post-Tolkien reading, I came across a few truly original fantasy series, such as The Wheel of Time, The Dragon Riders of Pern, and The Mists of Avalon. But most of the time, I walked away from the fantasy section sadly disappointed at the profusion of lackluster Tolkien wannabes.

I was thrilled when we actually read a fantasy short story in one of my college classes. But the professor asked tough questions, demanding to know what made it a good story. Surprisingly, it wasn't the flashy fantastic setting and strange new society - like all respected literature, the quality of the writing was paramount. The writer avoided cliches, chose active verbs, and created complex characters.

The truth is, we need more terrific adult fantasy novels. We need writers who think outside the elf/dwarf box, who value the craft of writing and character above the flashy bells and whistles of magic. We need writers to keep our imaginations alive in fantastical new worlds, and create those worlds with the same sparkling, original prose that traditionally respected writers on college syllabi employ. Powerful fantasy can change our lives and open our minds. The world needs more of it.

Learn more about this author, L T Corda.
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