: Re: Why should I try to create realistic fantasy characters? One use for fantasy is wish-fulfillment. With that in mind, why is there a need for realism in creating a character in a fantasy novel?

@Cooney417

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To me, this question confuses what "realistic" means when it comes to characters in fantasy.

Characters should be realistic in the sense that they're realistic for the story itself, not necessarily realistic because they conform to our known norms, cultures or behaviours.

In my mind, what readers look for beyond familiarity is consistency, where the events that happen are consistent with the laws of that universe for that particular world, and the people/aliens/creatures involved fit into that universe.

They may not be realistic in this universe, but they better be realistic in theirs.

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