I mean, at the end of the day, how much sense does it really make to suspend disbelief on the one point but not the other?
Well, because that is how fantasy works - you suspend disbelief on the mechanics of the universe, but the realities of human relationships and feelings still have to be the same otherwise it all becomes pointless. Those are the unspoken rules that we accept when we read/watch/write fantasy.
If you want a set of stories where the relationship rules are different as well that would be a different genre (and not one I personally would care to read).
To some extent I think all fiction is following those rules - the situation is made up, but we need to recognise the characters as real people (even if they happen to be rabbits or moles). The only difference between a fantasy fan and a non-fantasy fan is that we fantasy fans aren't interested unless there is a strong element of make-believe in the situation. And no, I don't know why I have that preference, I just know that I have it very strongly.
So I'm not sure if it makes 'sense' any more than any other convention or preference makes sense, but I know it is a strong one.
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Date: 2009-03-08 09:04 am (UTC)Well, because that is how fantasy works - you suspend disbelief on the mechanics of the universe, but the realities of human relationships and feelings still have to be the same otherwise it all becomes pointless. Those are the unspoken rules that we accept when we read/watch/write fantasy.
If you want a set of stories where the relationship rules are different as well that would be a different genre (and not one I personally would care to read).
To some extent I think all fiction is following those rules - the situation is made up, but we need to recognise the characters as real people (even if they happen to be rabbits or moles). The only difference between a fantasy fan and a non-fantasy fan is that we fantasy fans aren't interested unless there is a strong element of make-believe in the situation. And no, I don't know why I have that preference, I just know that I have it very strongly.
So I'm not sure if it makes 'sense' any more than any other convention or preference makes sense, but I know it is a strong one.