Canadian Politics Today

I think that a fantastical premise can be a very effective tool for exploring themes that are non-trivial.

On this front, another one that comes to mind is American Gods, by Neil Gaiman.   I've not yet seen the new TV series based on the book, but the book was quite interesting.  The premise is as escapist as could be...  figures from legend, myth, and folklore exist and interact in modern-day America.  The plot, such as it is, is primarily an excuse to explore the premise:  an ex-con named Shadow (who is probably Baldur of Norse mythology) has been taken on a cross-country road trip with Mr Wednesday (who is most certainly Odin of Norse mythology) for reasons that only Mr Wednesday really knows. They interact with a number of other characters who are obviously (and sometimes not obviously) symbolic of figures from mythologies from around the world. Also present are the New Gods... representing aspects of modern culture that have take on mythological importance-- technology, media, finances, and a group of "Men in Black" symbolizing the neverending obsession with conspiracy theories.  The old gods are slowly dying off or are just a shadow of their former glory-- because people no longer believe in them. While the new gods become stronger.  Mr Wednesday has a plan to rally the old gods together to do battle with the new gods and reclaim their place or go out in a blaze of glory.

But that's really kind of beside the point, because the book is mostly about man and myth and our need to create mythologies and the role of mythology in our lives.  A number of times the book completely leaves the main story to tell other stories that have nothing to do with the main story.  In one of them an ancient tribe of nomads has crossed the land bridge into North America. In another, a superstitious woman arrives in America, inadvertently bringing fairies and pixies with her. In another, a badgered salesman from the Middle East has arrived in New York and encounters a cab driver that might be a jinn of Middle East folklore. These diversions could be stand-alone short stories, but as part of American Gods they serve to build on Gaiman's premise and to express ideas he has about the subject matter.  So again, the premise is pure escapism but the story ends up being more.

 -k