I’ve long viewed fiction as being every bit as important to read as nonfiction, and have certainly been shaped by characters and stories I’ve read over the decades.

–Fiction in general allows us to explore the perspectives of other people, and the novel format lets us get into the minds of characters to a deeper degree than is typically possible with film or television. It’s a great exercise for broadening our understanding of the world while being entertained.

–Speculative fiction in particular (sci fi, fantasy, and horror) lets us explore the boundaries of what is possible, tackle complex themes or “what ifs” in a different setting than our own, and feed our inherent creative needs more broadly.

Pretty good answers to the themes I've wrestled with lately, #1449095, #1452788