Tragedy and Comedy
A panel topic for Norwescon caught my eye:
Should all fantasy be escapist and always end in ‘happily ever after?’ Of
course not. But how does a writer balance ‘happily ever after’ with ‘the
heroes paid a price for their triumph?’ How much reality do readers want in
fantasy, and when do real life consequences become a bummer at the end of
the story? The best told tales balance dark and light. What is the current
recipe for a book that both writers and readers enjoy?
I don't think there is going to be a single recipe, but I'd love to know what other readers think.
Should all fantasy be escapist and always end in ‘happily ever after?’ Of
course not. But how does a writer balance ‘happily ever after’ with ‘the
heroes paid a price for their triumph?’ How much reality do readers want in
fantasy, and when do real life consequences become a bummer at the end of
the story? The best told tales balance dark and light. What is the current
recipe for a book that both writers and readers enjoy?
I don't think there is going to be a single recipe, but I'd love to know what other readers think.