--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: With epic fantasy, there is a tendency…" description: "\"With epic fantasy, there is a tendency for it to be quintessentially conservative in that its job is to restore what is perceived to be out of whack.\" ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed1/n-k-jemisin-2-15368_conservative_with-epic-fantasy-there-is-a-tendency-fo_2692069.jpg" --- # With epic fantasy, there is a tendency for it to be… ![“With epic fantasy, there is a tendency for it to be quintessentially conservative in that its job is to restore what is perceived to be out of whack.” quote by N. K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed1/n-k-jemisin-2-15368_conservative_with-epic-fantasy-there-is-a-tendency-fo_2692069.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed1/n-k-jemisin-2-15368_conservative_with-epic-fantasy-there-is-a-tendency-fo_2692069.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed1/n-k-jemisin-2-15368_conservative_with-epic-fantasy-there-is-a-tendency-fo_2692069.jpg) > “With epic fantasy, there is a tendency for it to be quintessentially conservative in that its job is to restore what is perceived to be out of whack.” [N. K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin-2/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Epic fantasy often reinforces conservative norms by restoring imagined order. **In simple terms:** Fantasy can be conservative. Key Takeaway Question genre assumptions. Themes literature politics genre critique Mood critical inquisitive Type literary analytical When to use this quote - book clubs - academic courses - writing workshops Key Concepts conservatism worldbuilding norm restoration Questions to Reflect On - How can fantasy subvert norms? - What examples challenge this view? A Different Perspective Not all fantasy is conservative. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Conservative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conservative/) [Epic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/epic/) [Epic Fantasy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/epic-fantasy-2/) [Fantasy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fantasy/) [Job](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/job/) [Whack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whack/) ## Related quotes > [Fantasy is the tendency of Americans, going back to colonial times, to look at the Middle East as a type of fractured mirror of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-oren/fantasy-is-the-tendency-of-americans-going-back-to-colonial-times-to/) [Michael Oren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-oren/) > [whether they'll write the story of my life as a tragedy or an epic fantasy... I was wondering if it was going to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/whether-they-ll-write-the-story-of-my-life-as-a-tragedy-or-an-epic/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [My first three manuscripts were epic fantasy - like high fantasy - and then the fourth one was a historical fantasy about Mozart as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-lu/my-first-three-manuscripts-were-epic-fantasy-like-high-fantasy-and/) [Marie Lu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-lu/) > [If Robert Benchley and Dorothy Parker had teamed up to write epic fantasy, something like Split Heirs might have resulted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dechancie/if-robert-benchley-and-dorothy-parker-had-teamed-up-to-write-epic/) John DeChancie > [“We live in the most epic of fantasy worlds.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-l-rese/we-live-in-the-most-epic-of-fantasy-worlds/) [T.L. Rese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-l-rese/) > [When I was thirteen years old, I didn't exactly discover epic fantasy on my own. I acquired it as a social defence mechanism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tansy-rayner-roberts/when-i-was-thirteen-years-old-i-didn-t-exactly-discover-epic-fantasy/) [Tansy Rayner Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tansy-rayner-roberts/) > [In the 'Dreamblood' books, I'm focusing more on what I like about epic fantasy: the layering and depth of tension; the chance to really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin-2/in-the-dreamblood-books-i-m-focusing-more-on-what-i-like-about-epic/) [N. K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin-2/) > [“As I stated earlier, I do not believe there is anything inherently wrong with even the most overused elements of epic fantasy. Magic swords,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alec-austin/as-i-stated-earlier-i-do-not-believe-there-is-anything-inherently/) Alec Austin > [I think authors are just realizing there's no real reason to feel limited to a narrow set of genre rules in their writing. There's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/i-think-authors-are-just-realizing-there-s-no-real-reason-to-feel/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [“And once upon a time I wondered: Is writing epic fantasy not somehow a betrayal? Did I not somehow do a disservice to my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin/and-once-upon-a-time-i-wondered-is-writing-epic-fantasy-not-somehow-a/) [N.K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin/) > [I wanted the feel in these books to be like an epic fantasy, with kings, queens, dukes and court politics, but of course like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-j-anderson/i-wanted-the-feel-in-these-books-to-be-like-an-epic-fantasy-with/) [Kevin J. Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-j-anderson/) > [“What are you thinking about?" "Whether they'll write my life story as a tragedy or an epic fantasy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/what-are-you-thinking-about-whether-they-ll-write-my-life-story-as-a/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [“While I have the floor, here's a question that's been bothering me for some time. Why do so few writers of heroic or epic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brin/while-i-have-the-floor-here-s-a-question-that-s-been-bothering-me-for/) [David Brin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brin/) > [I was not trying to write some sort of serious meditation on war and peace. 'The Grace of Kings' is meant to be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-liu/i-was-not-trying-to-write-some-sort-of-serious-meditation-on-war-and/) [Ken Liu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-liu/) > [“...while epic fantasy is based on the fairy tale of the just war, that’s not one you’ll find in Grimm or Disney, and most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/while-epic-fantasy-is-based-on-the-fairy-tale-of-the-just-war-that-s/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) ## More by N. K. Jemisin > [I write for myself - but it is nice when other people like it, too!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin-2/i-write-for-myself-but-it-is-nice-when-other-people-like-it-too/) [N. K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin-2/) > [In the 'Dreamblood' books, I'm focusing more on what I like about epic fantasy: the layering and depth of tension; the chance to really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin-2/in-the-dreamblood-books-i-m-focusing-more-on-what-i-like-about-epic/) [N. K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin-2/) > [Actual Victorian mores and politics were a reaction to a specific series of historical events, technological and scientific developments, and ethical trends in which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin-2/actual-victorian-mores-and-politics-were-a-reaction-to-a-specific/) [N. K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin-2/) > [I don't really understand why so many fantasy writers choose to focus on worlds that just seem strangely denuded. But to them, I guess…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin-2/i-don-t-really-understand-why-so-many-fantasy-writers-choose-to-focus/) [N. K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin-2/) > [To some degree, as I move outside of the exclusive genre audience, the exclusive genre issues don't bother me as much. Maybe that's just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin-2/to-some-degree-as-i-move-outside-of-the-exclusive-genre-audience-the/) [N. K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin-2/) > [I would love to just write and not have everything I say or do turn into a political battle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin-2/i-would-love-to-just-write-and-not-have-everything-i-say-or-do-turn/) [N. K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin-2/) > [As a black woman, I have no particular interest in maintaining the status quo. Why would I? The status quo is harmful; the status…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin-2/as-a-black-woman-i-have-no-particular-interest-in-maintaining-the/) [N. K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin-2/) > [I've been very happy with Orbit and am thrilled that they're giving me more chances to explore my creative visions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin-2/i-ve-been-very-happy-with-orbit-and-am-thrilled-that-they-re-giving/) [N. K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin-2/) > [It's the way the human brain works: when enough events occur in a pattern, we stop thinking and go into macro mode.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin-2/it-s-the-way-the-human-brain-works-when-enough-events-occur-in-a/) [N. K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin-2/) > [A fantasy novel set in something other than medieval Europe, featuring an almost entirely black cast, is considered risky.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin-2/a-fantasy-novel-set-in-something-other-than-medieval-europe-featuring/) [N. K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin-2/) > [I think the people who believe that works can and always should be divorced from the context are people who have the privilege to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin-2/i-think-the-people-who-believe-that-works-can-and-always-should-be/) [N. K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin-2/) > [It's human nature that we come in our own flavours, and it doesn't make any sense to write a monochromatic or monocultural story unless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin-2/it-s-human-nature-that-we-come-in-our-own-flavours-and-it-doesn-t/) [N. K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin-2/) > [Magic is the mysteries into which not everyone is so lucky, or unlucky, as to be initiated. It can be affected by belief, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin-2/magic-is-the-mysteries-into-which-not-everyone-is-so-lucky-or-unlucky/) [N. K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin-2/) > [It takes practice to do anything unique within this field, period, in writing, practice doing anything unique in writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin-2/it-takes-practice-to-do-anything-unique-within-this-field-period-in/) [N. K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin-2/) > [I was raised to be very wary of the police. I was raised to stay away from them unless you absolutely have to. Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin-2/i-was-raised-to-be-very-wary-of-the-police-i-was-raised-to-stay-away/) [N. K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin-2/) [Explore all 43 N. K. Jemisin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin-2/) ## More Conservative quotes > [The house has to serve comfort. The work of art is revolutionary; the house is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-house-has-to-serve-comfort-the-work-of-art-is-revolutionary-the/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [There's no authoritarian structure at Reed College, but the education is conservative. 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I would say that you need to be a conservative, but you need to maintain your independent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-tantaros/play-small-ball-get-back-to-basics-i-would-say-that-you-need-to-be-a/) [Andrea Tantaros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-tantaros/) > [I am a conservative type of person, so sometimes when I'm chilling with myself, people always come ask me, 'What's wrong with you? What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-wonder/i-am-a-conservative-type-of-person-so-sometimes-when-i-m-chilling/) [Wayne Wonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-wonder/) > [In the Tea Party era, it is the restless conservative Republican who has become passion's plaything, the toy of impetuous romance, an erotomania only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-wolcott/in-the-tea-party-era-it-is-the-restless-conservative-republican-who/) [James Wolcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-wolcott/) > [I'm a principle liberty, rule-of-law Conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-o-toole/i-m-a-principle-liberty-rule-of-law-conservative/) [Erin O'Toole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-o-toole/) > [I would say I'm a fiscal conservative and a social liberal, if that contradiction can make sense, because in Bolivia, we have a great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gonzalo-sanchez-de-lozada/i-would-say-i-m-a-fiscal-conservative-and-a-social-liberal-if-that/) [Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gonzalo-sanchez-de-lozada/) > [My dad's quite a conservative person, and he brought me up to be very questioning of the commercial world. 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