This person was clearly bullied by a gang of elves and not believed by a wizard.

"Fantasy is great because you can tell any kind of story that you can find in any other genre, PLUS you can have dragons." --Brandon Sanderosn

Short version: I don't like fantasy novels because they're all the same. I know this for a fact because I've never read any of them. Makes sense.

Reading books that you enjoy no matter what genre it is: NOT a waste of time Writing a pretentious article about how a whole genre is inferior and a waste of time: ACTUALLY a waste of time

This is clearly written by someone who has no working knowledge of fantasy, and is going off more with what they think fantasy is. And the smug tone really doesn't do anything to shatter that illusion.

I like the article’s assumption that fantasy readers only read fantasy and are too narrow-minded to read other genres or atypical fantasy. That’s like assuming orchestras only play marches.

Life is infinitely better with Fantasy, honestly fantasy has carried me through some tough times.

“All fantasy is the same.” Hundreds of fantasy subgenres: Are we a joke to you?

How can you say something is poorly written when you haven't read the book?

It is one of my biggest pet peeves of mine when people say that there is nothing to gain from fantasy, or stories in general, other than escapism. Here's a great quote from C. S. Lewis on that: "The value of the myth is that it takes all the things we know and restores to them the rich significance which has been hidden by 'the veil of familiarity.' The child enjoys his cold meat, otherwise dull to him, by pretending it is buffalo, just killed with his own bow and arrow. And the child is wise. The real meat comes back to him more savory for having been dipped in a story... By putting bread, gold, horse, apple, or the very roads into a myth, we do not retreat from reality: we rediscover it."

“Fantasy books are too long!” *writes a long article for no reason*

Imagine not having the attention span to complete one Fantasy book before writing an article about why you don’t like Fantasy in general.

Point at this doll and show me where fantasy books hurt you

Living in a non-English-speaking country, so most of the fantasy I own is translated Lucky me, no need to sell off my collection. For a moment there I was worried I'd have to

Pretty sure I’m dumber after hearing the reasoning in this article

He makes a great point . Life is too short for enjoyment, so don't pursue activities that you like. Thanks for sharing this article, Elliot! :P

They must be fun at parties

That sounds like a person that has a seriously inflated ego, that can't really get their heads around large worlds, with a huge casts of characters, with multiple political, relgious ideologies and prefers simplistic self indulgent books, mainly with characters and plots that reflect their personalities. I love the way this person trys to be objective but fails miserably.....This person sounds like they are trying to find weakness in the genre to reinforce some kind of fragile sense of superiority... I personally came into the genre with an open mind and fell in love with it and for the purpose of escapism, its literally my favorite thing in the world, that no other genre has had such a profound effect on me!

“We don’t create a fantasy world to escape reality, we create it to be able to stay.” ― Lynda Barry

Who hurt that person to have such hate on book preferences? 🤯

I got the impression that the author was a jilted self publisher who tried to break the mould with an epically different fantasy novel and was rejected. I just want to be like "who hurt you child?" Lol

*sigh* Every genre has its formulas. Most of us Fantasy lovers read other genres. Not all Fantasy books are thousands of pages long or badly written. Why do people have to generalize things like this? That article is insanely pretentious and I know the writer thought they were making a point, but I just pity them. They need to lighten up and read a Harry Potter book or something.

You definitaly should do this more often because its hilarious

The author took the time, to write about not reading fantasy! Hypocrite! I could've read like 10 chapters in the time it took to write that article

"Robots and aliens > wizards and elves" = depth apparently

Life is too short to do anything.. Dont waste your life by doing something.

For a second I got scared, because I am writing a fantasy book. Phew, nice video. Fantasy is a good way to address real life issues and teach people in a very subtle way. That's why I like them.

as a fantasy enthusiast who's whole childhood (and most of adulthood) revolved around reading fantasy books, playing fantasy games, watching fantasy movies, writing fantasy stories, cosplaying fantasy characters, making friends with other fantasy lovers etc.. this made my blood boil

As if Sci-Fi doesn't have a ton of stories that boil down to "Wow, cool technology! Humanity good, Aliens bad"

"I don't read fantasy." Proceeds to try to explain everything about the "wizardy elfy stuff" with the confidence of an expert. 🤣 There's always that one guy. Seriously, though, this idea that SF is intellectually superior to fantasy isn't new. Fantasy, springing from myths and fairy tales, was for a while relegated to children and women, while science fiction was (supposedly) by and for people schooled in the sciences, especially those seen as looking to the future. So apparently we still have this snobbery that implies, "You must not be very educated, or you're childish and looking for escapism, if you waste time reading about magic instead of science that acts like magic but tries to be credible." I mean, I like both. I respect authors who can write SF knowledgeably, but plenty don't. Saying a whole genre is superior by its nature is just lazy. It's more in what the reader gets out of it, imo. Sometimes people read SF for the space battles, and sometimes they read fantasy for the dwarves. And elves, and wizards, of course. 😂

Life is shott, read what you enjoy. That's all that really needs to be said.

RIP fantasy, you were awesome while you lasted 😂

Elle is so wholesome that when she drops the F Bomb on camera legend has it a magical baby unicorn is born.

Someone asked me the other day if I watched a series and I said "no" and they said why and I said "it's just not for me" and then the conversation was over. No article necessary. Shocking, I know.

Wait, I'm confused as to what I'm supposed to read. lol Poetry and books written in other languages? Maybe sci-fi? The author even says that their argument that the fantasy genre is boring and repetitive could be applied to a lot of other genres. I'm really curious as to what this person actually reads.

Article should be called "how to sound like a grandpa from the 1930s"

I love how the writer used "many a fantasy fan" (that's, like, the most conceited way to word something) but couldn't be bothered to use proper punctuation.

Fantasy is the only genre where you can take a metaphor and make it real. -someone much more smarter than me. God I LOVE fantasy! There's so much you can say with the genre. The possibilities are endless. I think the person who wrote this article is myopic. Love the sarcasm at the end.

I love how he complains about how fantasy is too detailed. He must hate Steinbeck. He took several pages to describe the dust on the road in the grapes of wrath.

Elliot I love your swear word substitutes😂 It makes me feel so much better✨ Also this article has me CACKLING. Your narration is much appreciated✨

I know I'm very late on this, but it is deeply funny to me that the fantasy series that kicked this whole article off, The Game Of Thrones, doesn't have wizards or elves or heroes or anything else that they bothered to specifically call out.

Such a helpful article, especially for physicists! I have wasted so much of my life up until this point reading heavy, pointless elf-y and wizard-y yarns. Some probably weighed as much as 1400 pages! Life-changing information here! (Thanks for the giggles, Elliot!)

FANTASY IS LIIIIIIIIFFFFEEEEEEE

"Read translated books" *looks at Dante's Inferno, Beowulf, and an Anthology of Greek legends on my bookshelf*

if the length is a major issue.....why not read the pulps?

As one of the few people in my family who loves reading fantasy, I've had this discussion SO many times 😫 Jealous of your shelf of Vagabond! 😍

I Just found your channel in my recommended list today. I know I'm late to the party here, but I had to say Thanks for your videos. I'm a longtime reader, especially of fantasy, and It's always so nice to be able to hear from others who love what I do. That being said, the title of the article you're covering, well, the title alone got my hackles up and got me going. it made me want to palm hit the author upside the head, italian style, and hand whoever was unfortunate enough to think that way a copy of LeGuin's essay "Why Americans are Afraid of Dragons" and sit with a stern glare as I made sure they read it. My thoughts, especially as a kid, teenager, and college student about fantasy was that I had little enough time to sit down and read something because I wanted to read it. Why would I waste that time reading about something that I could step out of my own home and witness any day of the week. Give me Dragons and Unicorns and Elves, Oh my! Thanks again for your videos!

It's the first video of yours that I watch, but I really enjoyed it. Keep up the good work. Btw, your voice is lovely.

Hated the fantasy genre(was more a sci fi and horror fan) before Neil Gaiman opened my eyes,I'm still an amateur for Sanderson or George RR Martin as their books are super long and complicated but I'm hoping in the future I can gather the will power to tear through their books.

"life is too short to read fantasy, read the similar--but totally different--science fiction" I'll stick with both, thank you very much XD (although my book collection is biased on the fantasy side...wait, does Star Wars count as scifi? I've heard it categorized as "space fantasy" because of the Force)

"I have claimed that escape is one of the main functions of fairy stories and since I do not disapprove of them it is plain that I do not accept the tone of scorn or pity that escape is so often used...in what the the misuses of Escape are fond of calling Real Life, escape is evident as a rule very practical and may even be heroic. Why should a man be scorn if finding himself in prison he tries to get out and go home? Or failing that, he thinks and talks about other topics that jailer, and prison walls? Here is consolation in fairy tales of ancient desires, the Contsolation of the Happy Ending....I will call it Eucastoastrope. A fleeing glismp of Joy, Joy beyond the walls of the world, poignant as grief." (JRR Tolkien, On Fairy Stories) "To one who said myths are lies though breathed through silver....you look at trees and label them just so, for trees are 'trees' and growing is to 'grow' ....Blessed are the legend makers with their rythme of things not found within record time....I bow not yet before the iron crown, nor cast my own small gold scepture down... (JRR Tolkien, Mythopiea) I think the Father of Fanasty saids it all.

First of all thank you for reading this article to us because my " Life is too short to read this article."

I think has been my favorite video of yours I’ve watched so far (pretty new to your channel so haven’t watch a lot of your older ones yet). I loved hearing your commentary as you were reading the article!

This is why the phrase 'ok boomer' was invented.

Thanks for this cool and unusual content Elliot!

Did Terry Goodkind secretly write this "article"?

Finally KZfaq didn’t disappoint on my recommendations, I’m subscribing, this video was funny 🖤👌❤️

I feel like they only tried like two fantasy books and gave up lol

Why would I read this article when I could be reading the Way of Kings?

Your little text inserts are the best!

I spent a year reading Tolkien's works. I'm happy I did. BUT I've always been more of a Robert Howard fan. Love those short stories. I also liked Book of the New sun. Four books in total. The Prince of Thorns is another short 3 part read. I'm gearing up for Wheel of time, got 10 books here ready to eat another year. BUT I'll break it up with other reads. I just read whatever is interesting. Time spent doing what you enjoy is never time wasted.

While many might not like your avoidance of saying certain words, I appreciate it.

Thanks for cleaning the swearing:) Love your channel, this was funny!

"I definitely plan to sell all my fantasy novels" Biggest laugh of the week to that!

"Whatever you've reduced it too" Someone needs an editor. Some grammar lessons perhaps.

"Try picking up a translated book" *Excuse me while I get my Witcher books*

I checked out your instagram page. Amazing paintings! Are they digital paintings or oil / acrylics on canvas? Sorry for the silly question, but I can't really tell. Anyways, you are very talented. And very beautiful. And you make a lot of good points about fantasy literature in this video.

Life is too short, which is why I have been reading Fantasy as well as Science-Fiction since I was around 13

Well, I think I'm going to continue reading The Way of Kings now. Or continue writing my wizrdy-elfy stuff.

that was hilarious, you made my day!

I love ur edits ahaha

Fantasy allows you to do so much with literature...it can teach and allude to sooo much. It is amazing. They seem to not like the genre for other reasons, not because it's bad..

😂🤣😂 Hi-larious! My job deals with serious subject matter and I was really needing something funny 😆 day made! Thank you!

Ell, is about to get ALOT of store credit for dem fantasy books 😂

Thank you so much for inspiring the villain to my next fantasy novel. This one will be hated more than Jeoffrey.

Guess I'm gonna go toss out my library and stock up in Jonathan Franzen novels.

😂 Your face when reading it was so funny. Thanks for sharing.

They seem to have missed the point of fantasy. That it can be anything you want. D&D is a great outlet for collaborative writing.

Not gonna lie I saw the title and the first thought that popped into my head was "I need to fine El's husband, something must be wrong." lol Glad to see you're fine and you're just reading the thoughts of a crazy person.

I'm going to start reading The Way of Kings just to spite this person.

"Novels aren’t just happy escapes; they are slivers of people’s souls, nailed to the pages, dripping ink from veins of wood pulp. Reading the right one at the right time can make all the difference." -Brandon Sanderson

I just want to say, as someone that just recently found and read Tigana, I LOVE to see that book behind you! What an absolute gem and rare one-volume fantasy novel. Also one I find a lot of fans of the genre haven't read and should immediately.

the video made me subscribe.. you are hilarious and so gorgeous. i just loved your attitude the whole time and your very well made points on all of the errors of this article. a point i would like to make to anyone who doesn't like fantasy and think it's a waste of time is to just *not* read fantasy. how hard is that?

Ha this persons mind would be boggled by my book collection! I have fantasy, sci fi, romance, horror, thriller, historical, non fiction. Do you think I branched out enough from fantasy to give other genres a go!

I was already mentally composing the angry rant i would comment about the article when i started watching, but you have so clearly put out what my reaction would have been.

LOL!! I dig your snark-back, Elle! :^D

You know what word i a reffering to, the letter after L and before N on the keyboard is not working

Omfg this was so hilarious, you're comedic gold 😂😂

I noticed the sanderson books on your shelf and subscribed.

also the point you made with game of thrones was so important. i started off not sure who to love or hate the first couple of seasons just because of how morally grey they were, some of them really aren't just good or bad. seeing that in books is so exciting for me plus character development. evil turns good or good turns evil. it's not always black and white.

I wished to be a fae so I could finish all the fantasy books ever written

When the article mentioned Tolkien my first thought was."DONT YOU BE DISSING MY HEAD CANNON GRANDPA!!" I'm not afraid to take my replica of anduril, flame of the west and defend that sweet man's honor!

This is absolutely hilarious and I loved your reactions to it! I have my own problems with fantasy (mostly just YA fantasy) but I love the genre very much and this whole article was so unnecessary lmfao

Fantasy saved my life, made me live for just one more book, until i was well enough to live without. Had some pretty though years there. Still read, but now its solely to "waste my time" :D

So I am super close to finishing The Last Empire , the first book from Mistborn and I was kinda concluding that I didn't really wanted to read fantasy anymore and then stumbel on this video, haha. I think it doesn't matter what you read. Except Don Quixote, every body should read Don Quixote.

i love the escapism that fantasy offers, true. but whats wrong with that? i read other stuff too, for the insight, for the beautiful prose, i read poetry from time to time, but fantasy is the only genre that transports me far enough away and shows me cool shit i could never see irl when im fed up with reality and all its struggles.

What is consired long series in fantasy genre? Thank you for answering 😊

7:00 can't stop laughing... you made my day honestly!

hey anyone can tell me what are these books in the bottom right corner with numbers? thanks to the hero of this quest

Hey Elliot so... I am autistic and sometimes I have trouble knowing when someone is kidding or serious or being sarcastic. When you said you've been convinced and are going to sell your fantasy book were you being serious or no?