Fantasy and Money

Written by Jason Koop.

Money and economics: are they really necessary in fantasy?

In my humble opinion… no. 

One complaint I have heard about fantasy, particularly a series like Brian Jacques’ Redwall, is that its lack of money and economics make it automatically aimed at a younger audience.  Lacking in mature subject matter and tones, they might say.  Not relatable to an older audience. 

Now, the subject of what is and isn’t necessary in a fantasy story is incredibly varied by the genre’s diverse nature.  The Redwall series is in the fantasy genre, as is J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter, J.R.R. Tolkein’s The Lord of the Rings and Erin Hunter’s Warriors.  Each have differing types of creatures, cultures, and even tone.  Therefore, each has different elements that are essential to the story that is being told.  What is essential to one might be completely unnecessary in another. 

But there in lies the common denominator that I can’t help but wonder if some readers forget this simple, yet profound, fact.

When reading fantasy, it’s always important to remember that it is fiction.  Fantasy is – by its very nature – comprised of worlds, characters, cultures and situations created and curated by the author. 

Now, it’s perfectly fair to ask that the author is at the very least consistent in these things, but by no means do they have an obligation to anything more.  These are their worlds and their stories, not the reader’s. 

Perhaps they do take from real-world locations, cultures and situations, but the author is also fully within his/her creative rights to be selective in how much (or little) they take from these things.

So, back to the complaints about fantasy books not being “relatable” to a “mature audience” unless they have money…

Hold on a minute:  Are you telling me that themes of honour and bravery are not relatable to “mature audiences”?

If the reader’s main complaint – or praise – of a fantasy story is stringent on real-world things like money, economics and power structures, I can’t help but wonder if they’re reading the wrong genre.  Fantasy stories don’t have to feature specific real-world cultural practices, and I’d even argue that they tend to be a lot more focused when they don’t go out of their way to do so.

So… why does a fictional story, which entails fictional characters, settings, cultures, etc. need those elements again?