Truth in Fiction

Hi Guys,

Bit of an odd post this time.

I just watched the new series of Good Omens - and it's fantastic by the way! David Tennant is a revelation as the demon Crowley and the humour is spot on. But as I was watching it reminded me of something someone wrote on Philosophy Forums before it died - that fairy tales are true. Not because they tell you that dragons are real, but because they tell you that dragons can be fought.

That thought has been resonating with me lately. Mostly because we live in a world where people - politicians though I won't mention names - are constantly lying and trying to tell the world that the news is fake and that what they say which is clearly self serving lies is in fact true. That annoys me on a level I can't even describe. But at the same time it made me think that much of the reason people like fiction of any sort is that there's truth in it. Certainly more than you'll get from a politician!

Consider Moby Dick. What's the heart of this tale? Because it isn't great white whales and amputee captains waging war on one another. At its core its actually a tale about obsession and its truth is simply that obsession will destroy you if you let it.

Lord of the Rings has a different truth - nothing to do with wizards and evil. Ultimately it's a tale about good conquering evil, and a statement that if you're small and humble you can still do extraordinary things if you have friends and love in your heart. That courage comes from the heart. And friendship is the most amazing thing.

I know. It sounds melodramatic. Romantic twaddle. But my point is this. If you want to tell a good story, whether you write it as a book, make it into a movie or simply amuse children with it, you really want to find the truth within it and shape your story around it. Be true to that truth.

Enough said I think.

Cheers, Greg.