Nerd Alert!

Winter has arrived. The view from our balcony has changed drastically in the last few weeks. Not long ago I was looking at beautiful yellow leaves against a bright blue sky, now everything I see is covered by a healthy layer of snow!

Waking up this morning to the bright white snow sparkling outside my window inspired me to bundle up with my winter coat and new fur scarf and head outside for a little fresh air.

As I walked through the snow I was reminded of Winterfell (from the George Martin series 'A Song of Ice and Fire' as seen in this post), and started thinking about my favourite character. What is Jon Snow up to these days? How did he ever survive the bitter cold on the Wall? I definitely would never survive up there... Even with my sweet new fur scarf. 

Well I've been outside almost five minutes, time to head back in.

When I returned, I was still thinking about my favourite fantasy book series and was inspired to write about it in this blog.  I sat down with Ryan to bring you an exclusive interview on his passion for the fantasy genre.

Domi: Ryan, you are looking very cozy on the couch wrapped up in that blanket, what are you checking out on your iphone?

Ryan: Ummmm, just looking at some sport scores. And checking out a few stats for next Friday night.

Domi: What are you planning next Friday night?

Ryan: I'm planning on playing cards with my good friend Chris.

Domi: You seem to really enjoy card games. I know you like the fantasy genre and have recently read the book 'A Game of Thrones'. Who is your favourite character and why?

Ryan: My favourite character is Robb Stark. The Stark family stands for honour and loyalty above all else, and Robb is the oldest in the family just like me. He pretty much runs show.

Domi: Not everyone has read this series because of its fantasy genre. How did you get into fantasy books?

Ryan: As a child I read JRR Tolkien's 'The Hobbit' and I have been hooked on fantasy and science fiction ever since.

Domi: Do you have any other recommendations for fantasy series?

Ryan: My favourite fantasy series to date is 'The Prince of Nothing' by Scott Bakker. I really enjoy Bakker's writing because it is so multi-dimensional. When you read this book you are left thinking not only about the characters and the plot, but also about other philosophical issues.

Domi: You mentioned you also enjoy sci-fi. I believe a common question is what is the difference between the two genres? Why do you feel they are different? What are the similarities?

Ryan: In my opinion, the most obvious difference between the two genres is that fantasy typically deals with magic, and supernatural creatures and phenomenon, while science fiction deals with futuristic societies and technology. Both deal with situations and themes that you wouldn't encounter in the real world.

Domi: What is your favourite science fiction series?

Ryan: I would probably have to say 'Dune' by Frank Herbert. The story line spans for generations and you feel connected to the characters and plot from beginning to end.

Domi: Any advice you would like to leave us with?

Ryan: Give the fantasy and sci-fi genres a chance. They are great escapes and sometimes you may be surprised to learn how closely they relate to real life.

Thank you to Ryan for his time and for sharing his thoughts on a type of book we haven't all had the chance to experience yet. I hope this has inspired you to try reading something out of your comfort zone.

Happy reading!

Domi