Publication of the Edited Book "The Literary Fantastic in the 21st Century"

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Date: 29.01.2025

Balkan University Press is delighted to announce the publication of the book "The Literary Fantastic in the 21st Century," edited by Prof. Dr. Ana Kechan.

This edited volume explores fantastic literature and art from diverse perspectives, highlighting its deep connection to reality despite its imaginative nature. The fantastic—whether in science fiction, fantasy, fairy tales, or supernatural horror—creates impossible worlds, yet these narratives are always shaped by real-world experiences and concerns. The collected essays analyze how fantastic literature reflects and interprets reality, revealing its role in exploring moral, political, and philosophical themes.

Christina Benicchi discusses Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norell, analyzing the moral ambiguity of its characters and how it mirrors human ethical dilemmas.

Bilal Bouzidi explores the video game Elden Ring, demonstrating how it challenges human-centric power structures and decision-making, resonating with contemporary ecological and political concerns.

Richard Hasnip investigates how fantasy literature, including works by Susanna Clarke, C.S. Lewis, and Samuel Coleridge, redefines the boundaries of reality and possibility.

Sezen Ismail's essay on Ken Liu’s short story delves into magical realism, emphasizing its role in exploring emotional depth, alienation, and cultural heritage.

Laura Iseut Lafrance St-Martin examines video games' ability to create immersive secondary worlds that shape players' perceptions and social interactions.

Finally, Aleksandr Tesic provides a rare perspective from a fantastic literature author, offering insights into the Slavic tradition and the universal themes of escapism and human existence.

The foreword is written by Frank Weinreich where he points out that fantastic literature serves as a unique, distorted mirror of reality, offering profound metaphors and perspectives that illuminate real-world issues more vividly than conventional narratives. 

This book is part of the "Education, Linguistics, and Literature" book series published by BUP.

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