As for me, fantasy is creation, dream, escape; a canvas for the impossible. Just the creativity. Everything is possible. No limit.
Imho, any kind of fiction is imagination, dream, escape, and is without limit. The setting and the ‘reality’ it’s based upon may change in one form of fiction compared to another but that doesn’t make them different (or less daring) anymore than, say, me changing clothe.
So to answer your question, I think fantasy like most other literary labels is mostly a term coined to allow a few people to shine a little more than they would otherwise do, and maybe to help publishers create/manage more niche markets. And since it works quite well, it started being used by readers to feel assured that they would get the kind of ‘imagination’ they’re used too.
I love reading fiction a lot more than I care about reading any genre… despite having my own favorite genres too, don’t get me wrong. My bookshelves are a mess of various type of books and genres and the only semblance of order one will find in it is how much I appreciate one author compared to the others ;)
I dont know, if the genre helps to shine. At least, I dont see that way. If someone says I write historical or non fiction. For me it is the same level. It is just a preference. Or maybe I am biased… dont know…
For me, it is mostly the battle of how many words? It reminds me my KPIs loool (maybe, that is why.). If someone wants to write 100k fine, but even a piece of work of 1k can make a difference. Anyway. That would be a debate in another community…
Interesting question! I think if you go to the core ideas, escape and imagination.
Never really thought about it, but I guess it takes me to the time when I played as a kid, thinking up these worlds and stuff.
So, imagination, I would say (to put it more…simple). Making up worlds thanks to some readings, or TV shows (for kids). I think when we were kids we were allowed to imagine anything. When you are an adult… well… I think we know 🫠
