Guest Post: High Fantasy and Reality by Aron Joice

“If I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense. Nothing would be what it is, because everything would be what it isn't. And contrary wise, what is, it wouldn't be. And what it wouldn't be, it would. You see?” 
― Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking-Glass

What, if anything, does high fantasy and reality have in common? Everything!

High Fantasy is defined as fantasy set in other worlds involving some-or all-non-human characters and creatures, such as elves, dwarves, dragons and such. If I mention ‘The Lord of the Rings, what comes to mind? Middle earth, Elven realms, Mordor and some pretty amazing non-humans. I chose TLOTR simply because anyone who loves high fantasy more than likely has seen the movie adaptation?

It isn’t hard to visualize and put us along side of our heroes and heroines battling the dark forces. Our imagination is one of the greatest gifts bestowed upon us. We can pretend, we can escape; we can be the heroes. Think for a minute, if you will, that in our world today, amazing and fantastical creatures are all around us. Reality blends with fantasy and all we merely have to do is look in our backyard for the adventure. Shangri-La is said to be very real, yet a world different from our own, one of mystery, beauty, and magic.

Religion is a reality. Did Lucifer rebel against God? Where the immortals that took neither side actually banished to earth to become the Fey? Some people believe this to be true. Do you? Giants are very real, living amongst us for centuries. Johan Aasen lived in North Dakota in 1890; he was 8 feet 9 inches tall [Note from Hypervorean to readers who do not use Imperial measurements: he was over 2,5 meters tall]. By any standards he was a giant. The average height of man centuries ago was along the lines of five feet six [a little over 1,5 meters].

My favorite fantasy creature is the Unicorn. The Unicorn did exist and does today, however it isn’t a horse, simply a deer. A deer recently found in Italy sports a single horn as seen on Unicorn images; and albinos are common. Think back centuries ago when man actually rode deer. How easy for this animal to become legend and thought of as a horse with its singular horn. It is still among us.

Centaurs, and creatures were half human, half animal; don’t we just love it when one of these fellows (or ladies) pops up in a high fantasy? But they are as real today as yesteryear. Chimeras, half human, half beast are a genetic mess. I am frightened at the sight of these poor beings, but nevertheless this fantasy is a reality. The mixture of human and animal traits gives us reason to believe where many legends and myths began.

Dwarves or little people are a part of our human race; did you ever take notice? In Mirror Mirror, little people were cast as dwarves. So here we are in our world with the Fey(if you believe), giants, unicorns, half human-half beasts, and dwarves. Imagine what else we can find, maybe Middle Earth. Oh by the way, don’t forget the Kraken!

 About Aron Joice

Aron Joice is a published songwriter and an Indie author of The Lost Children of Managrail series. The Rising, book one in the Ya Fantasy, is currently available, and book two Vanished is soon to be released. Her novella The Land of Beautiful follows close on the heels of Vanished. An adult historical fiction is also in the works. Aron is passionate about the arts and rescuing animals. You can learn more about Aron on her blog and FB Fanpage.
Go to her blog.


On a final note it can be announced that The Rising is on the way (or soon will be anyway) to Hypervorean to be reviewed on Numinous Publications. So you may check back to read an assessment of her work, should this article have caught your interest!