If a book is termed as medieval fiction, soft sci-fi or dystopian epic and not a “fantasy”, I hate when the fantasy element interferes a lot in the story.
This fantasy element drags the story too much to a point where it compels me to drop the book.
For example: ASOIAF is fantastic as long as the narrative doesn’t touch the fantasy part, which is the long night, Azor Ahai, the Others and stuff. I find such plots extremely boring.
Secondly, I will nominate The Stand by Stephen King.
It is great as long as the story remains in the earthly dimension. The flu, the journey east, the committees were all interesting to read and the narrative was appropriately sinuous. But once the supernatural arc begins, it starts to get utterly pointless.
The reading gets stupendously catatonic and you will soon long for the book to get over.
On top of that, everything that happens in the book culminates to one colossally mindless climax which makes us question what was it all for? Why did King spend years writing and rewriting the book and why did you spend reading it?
And finally, DUNE. Love the world building, the politics and the action. But here comes the Bene Gessirit faction, the Kwisatz Haderach, the drinking of the water of life from the mekah and other bullshit.
by flubbergrubbery
2 Comments
>But here comes the Bene Gessirit faction, the Kwisatz Haderach
To be fair, the book is meant to be a reflection of religion as something you shouldn’t blindly trust. You could say the Bene Gessirit’s whole purpose is to spread fake religions on to as many planets as possible so that eventually they can have control over the whole universe.
Also, I think you would feel more comfortable reading historical fiction.
So what I am hearing is that you don’t like fantasy or science fiction. You like magical realism or where the speculative elements are so minor they might as well not be there.
Magical realism is going to be a better search term for you. Also, maybe just stick to historical fiction where at most you will get a holy vision.