Bookstores Quote by Michael Cisco
“Poetry restores language by breaking it, and I think that much contemporary writing restores fantasy, as a genre of writing in contrast to a genre of commodity or a section in a bookstore, by breaking it. Michael Moorcock revived fantasy by prying it loose from morality; writers like Jeff VanderMeer, Stepan Chapman, Lucius Shepard, Jeffrey Ford, Nathan Ballingrud are doing the same by prying fantasy away from pedestrian writing, with more vibrant and daring styles, more reflective thinking, and a more widely broadcast spectrum of themes.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Fantasy and the Breaking of Language, The New York Review of Books, 2018
Contemporary fantasy revitalizes imagination by breaking conventional narrative constraints, moving beyond commercial expectations toward daring, reflective storytelling.
In simple terms: Fantasy can free imagination from ordinary limits.
Key Takeaway
Read experimental fantasy to expand creative horizons.
Themes
imagination
genre evolution
literary rebellion
creativity
Mood
curious
inspired
critical
Type
analysis
inspirational
literary
When to use this quote
- book clubs
- creative writing courses
- literary festivals
- academic curricula
Key Concepts
narrative form
genre theory
cultural critique
Questions to Reflect On
- What does fantasy mean to you beyond entertainment?
- How can you support unconventional writers?
A Different Perspective
Breaking norms may alienate mainstream readers and limit marketability.
