By Jocelyn Davidson
Brave warriors, powerful magic and fantastical worlds are just some of the elements that draw readers to the genre of fantasy. The fact that many of the authors of these novels choose to develop their characters and the world they live in over more than one book, makes them even more appealing to readers. If one is looking for the best fantasy series, it is possible to find many suggestions by going online. Fans share on online forums, reviews are written and there are also lists of the ones readers have enjoyed most.
Wizards, witches, dwarfs, elves, dragons, angels and chimeras all appear in these novels. Epic battles of good against evil commence with good eventually triumphing over evil. In the process, the characters go on a journey of self discovery and grow in courage and wisdom as they overcome adversities along the way.
Some series, however, have more complex characters and plots. The characters cannot simply be classified as good or evil as those who appear good may be revealed to have serious character flaws and those who appear evil start to gain some sympathy as the layers are peeled back and readers start to see why they act the way they do.
Readers of series love the idea that the world they have been immersed in does not just abruptly end when the last page of the first novel has been turned. They can continue reading about the exploits of the same characters and with each book, there is further development of these characters and the settings. The fictional worlds created by these authors are so intricately detailed that it is hard to believe they do not really exist.
The current popularity of this genre has caused much speculation. Why are readers so drawn to it? Is it pure escapism or does it go further than that? There are those who feel that it offers us a way of subconsciously dealing with our fears. There are others who see it as allowing us to see truths about the human condition more clearly because it comes cloaked in a fictional form.
The fact that magical events abound in many of these novels would seem to indicate that readers are looking for something beyond the mere scientific with all its rational explanations. This is a realm where the imagination of the author can take flight. It is not bound by what is realistically possible and the boundaries are stretched as far as they can go.
C. S. Lewis and Tolkien both wrote series many years ago that have been brought into the spotlight once again with movies that have been box office successes. They are the godfathers of the genre and many others have followed their example. Game of Thrones has also found its way onto the big screen, enthralling viewers with its interweaving plot lines, diabolical characters and violent civil wars.
There are a wide variety of these novels found at online stores today. Finding good ones to read is not difficult due to this vast selection. It is simply a matter of reading suggestions made by fans or selecting from lists of those which are most popular. Reading online reviews is also helpful when trying to make a decision.
Wizards, witches, dwarfs, elves, dragons, angels and chimeras all appear in these novels. Epic battles of good against evil commence with good eventually triumphing over evil. In the process, the characters go on a journey of self discovery and grow in courage and wisdom as they overcome adversities along the way.
Some series, however, have more complex characters and plots. The characters cannot simply be classified as good or evil as those who appear good may be revealed to have serious character flaws and those who appear evil start to gain some sympathy as the layers are peeled back and readers start to see why they act the way they do.
Readers of series love the idea that the world they have been immersed in does not just abruptly end when the last page of the first novel has been turned. They can continue reading about the exploits of the same characters and with each book, there is further development of these characters and the settings. The fictional worlds created by these authors are so intricately detailed that it is hard to believe they do not really exist.
The current popularity of this genre has caused much speculation. Why are readers so drawn to it? Is it pure escapism or does it go further than that? There are those who feel that it offers us a way of subconsciously dealing with our fears. There are others who see it as allowing us to see truths about the human condition more clearly because it comes cloaked in a fictional form.
The fact that magical events abound in many of these novels would seem to indicate that readers are looking for something beyond the mere scientific with all its rational explanations. This is a realm where the imagination of the author can take flight. It is not bound by what is realistically possible and the boundaries are stretched as far as they can go.
C. S. Lewis and Tolkien both wrote series many years ago that have been brought into the spotlight once again with movies that have been box office successes. They are the godfathers of the genre and many others have followed their example. Game of Thrones has also found its way onto the big screen, enthralling viewers with its interweaving plot lines, diabolical characters and violent civil wars.
There are a wide variety of these novels found at online stores today. Finding good ones to read is not difficult due to this vast selection. It is simply a matter of reading suggestions made by fans or selecting from lists of those which are most popular. Reading online reviews is also helpful when trying to make a decision.