Where’s the Community? A Look at Individualism in Fantasy Narratives
Something new for the New Year!
I’ve been working with some of my writer friends to bring more content to y’all, and here’s the first one — a guest blog by Ka’ua Lara, author of A New World for You (are you sensing a theme yet??). Below, Ka’ua takes a look at community and individualism in fantasy narratives. Enjoy!
Where’s the Community? A Look at Individualism in Fantasy Narratives
In a lot of isekai I’ve read, there’s this fascination with what I like to describe as “main character syndrome.” It’s essentially where a character—usually the main character—is the absolute best at anything, relegating all peripheral characters to side players at best and inconsequential at worst. This sort of narrative framework really drives forward the idea of individualism, which in of itself is not inherently bad. I think it’s important to be self-sufficient and have dreams and ambitions which don’t orbit around the desires of friends or family. At the same time, I think it’s important to invest in communities. Humanity never got this far by the hands of lone wolves. Even the most innovative of people had communities and families that loved and supported them. Bill Gates had the wealth and connections of his family, Steve Jobs had the brilliance of his friend Wozniak. That’s not to diminish their inherent drive and vision, but to say that they did it alone would be factually false. They had their own ambitions, which is important. They also had their communities, the people that supported their dreams and helped forge them into reality.
And yet, we don’t see the community receive as much focus when we regard these people who are larger than life, and that’s also reflected in some of the fiction we consume. I believe it’s worth mentioning that the fantastical worlds we delve into take this individualistic fascination to another level. Sometimes, the communities don’t contribute anything and they’re just there to be there, a side piece orbiting the main character. Other times, the communities have time to shine but are often completely overshadowed by the main character. Anything the healer, fighter or other party member can do, the mc can do better. It’s as if the entire new world was built with a penchant for the success of one person over everyone else.
This sort of individualistic power fantasy has dominated the isekai scene for quite some time, and I imagine this style of writing will remain popular in the foreseeable future. However, every now and then there are stories that break the mold.
A wandering inn follows Erin Solstice and her misadventures into a new and dangerous world. She doesn’t automatically become the everything woman, the person who becomes the best at magic, fighting, and everything in between. She has a quaint charm to her and a firm resilience, but she’s not a power fantasy self-insert.
I think that’s wonderful. She’s a lovely person who makes mistakes, wants to give up and cry, but also has the fierce determination to push forward. Her charisma and open-minded approach to life attracts a myriad of fantastical characters, all with their own motives and stories. The world adores her, but it does not revolve around her.
That’s not to say she isn’t fiercely capable, but she is a single person. No one can do the hero thing on their own, and she doesn’t. She grows as a person and alongside her community and does her best to elevate those around her. She nurtures her community and her community nurtures her. At no point did this detract from everything she is and is capable of. Instead, it enhanced everything she loved and stood for. She is a testament to humanity and what we are capable of, and a reminder that we never got this far alone.
Liz and I have had a similar approach to our writing. We have these fantastical protagonists who are very competent individuals, but they would die if they were alone. They need the support of their friends, mentors and community in order to truly thrive and prosper in their world. This isn’t to say that individualism is bad, and in no way, shape or form am I trying to detract from the hard work a person can do for themselves.
What I am trying to say is that no one does this on their own. These isekai stories about heroic individualism have its merits, but our foundation as humanity involves the journey we take together. I think when fiction reflects this balance, it celebrates the best of what we are capable of as individuals and communities.
If you want to learn more about Ka’ua or his series, be sure to check out his website!
A New World for You is a deconstruction of the isekai genre, mixed with dark fantasy, wonderful worldbuilding, and richly developed characters. It can be found on Amazon, Itch.io, or on Campfire with bonus content!
The first draft of the sequel is in development now!
About Ka’ua Lara:
I was born and raised in Maui, Hawaii. These days, I call California my home, where I'm continuing my education and enjoying various hobbies outside of writing. If I were to trace my interest in writing back to my childhood, I'd say that my exposure to fantasy novels like Eragon and games like Dungeons and Dragons and RuneScape really inspired me. Over the years, no matter what direction my life took me, from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows, writing has always been a part of my journey.
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