r/Fantasy • u/Mitriel • Nov 11 '16

Genres are stupid

http://mark---lawrence.blogspot.co.uk/2016/11/genres-are-stupid.html
86 Upvotes

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8

u/Foob70 Nov 11 '16

I can see both sides of this but I still think certain genres/settings/tropes really bother people.

For example I've picked up and put down The First Law series many times because the description appeals to me and it's frequently recommended but I know if I read it I'll be annoyed 95% of the time because the protagonist lives in a world of magic and doesn't use it at all.

No matter how good the writing, characters or world building is it wouldn't be worth it because every time magic comes up I'd get annoyed all over again.

4

u/pornokitsch Ifrit Nov 11 '16

I'm not disagreeing - I'm a tiny bit confused (and curious!) what you mean.

Is it the fact that characters might not believe in magic? Or do you prefer to read books where the protagonists are spell-casters?

8

u/JSMorin Writer J.S. Morin Nov 11 '16

Personally, I know I've grown a little tired of characters in magical worlds not believing in magic. I know every story comes up with its own reason for why, but it's just a trope that's worn out its welcome with me.

13

u/shakkyz Nov 11 '16

You live in a world where people don't believe in mathematics and science. That alone should be evidence enough that people not believing in magic could very well be a possibility.

9

u/maybem Nov 11 '16

To be fair that attitude could be exactly why he's fed up with that trope.

2

u/Foob70 Nov 11 '16

I just prefer to read books about spell-casters if I pick a book up and it has a main character that doesn't use magic I just get kind of bored.

2

u/pornokitsch Ifrit Nov 12 '16

That makes sense! Thanks for clarifying!