Time and Identity in Fantasy Literature

Fantasy For Our Time

Today, in this old recording from 2019, I present an honest look at the concept of time as I reflect on a few pieces of fantasy literature. More specifically, we look at the idea of cyclical time and how it presents a highly depressing worldview where there is little to no way to redeem your own personal journey or that of your society, race, or anything. One where you are doomed to repeat past mistakes and forced to adhere to the pattern woven by the wheel of time. The only way to escape it . . . is to destroy it.

Now let's juxtapose this with, say, a Christian view of time (one which Tolkien espouses beautifully in LOTR, by the way) where time is a helix, a constant progression in a circular motion with an ultimate end in the eschaton. Here free will reigns and redemption is possible.

I've found that most people today view time in the first way - a constricting reality that forces us into certain boxes. Yet, the irony is that we are more fixated on choice than ever before. What is identity? Is it fated or is it chosen?

Perhaps this is why we need to read good fantasy literature more than ever. We don't need mere escapism; we need hope.