The problem with most genre fantasy is that it's not nearly fantastic enough. It's escapist, but it can't escape.
China MievilleRead
Loads of children read books about dinosaurs, underwater monsters, dragons, witches, aliens, and robots. Essentially, the people who read SF, fantasy and horror haven't grown out of enjoying the strange and weird.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote highlights that a fascination with fantasy and the bizarre persists beyond childhood.
China Mieville emphasizes that the enjoyment of fantastical and strange narratives—such as those involving dinosaurs, monsters, and aliens—does not fade with age. Instead, it suggests that readers of science fiction, fantasy, and horror retain a sense of wonder and imagination, allowing them to appreciate the unusual and creative aspects of storytelling that continue to resonate throughout their lives.
Themes
FantasyCreativityImaginationChildrenReading
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about the importance of creative writing in schools.
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