People have told stories for thousands of years. Reaction to fiction, as to any genre, depends on the mindset of the reader. I love fiction, it allows my mind to wander and explore more of everything. I do not depend on it for my life's guidance or belief system. Thereby lies God and religion.

My father has mentioned this exact same thought to me. He doesn’t find fiction useful. But I love fiction. I think you can learn a great deal about society through good literature.

It's a human thing. we need to tell stories. It's what we do.

I’m rather fond of fiction.

I don't like fiction in general. I don't like the transition between fiction and reality.

And I agree. The obsession with fiction seems like escapism. But maybe there is some benefit to it..

I personally love reading a good story that I can either relate my own life experiences to or learn from. Johnathan Livingston Seagull comes to mind as a novel that really touched me as a young man. The last novel I read and enjoyed was The Immortality Contract. The first couple sentences in chapter 1 of this book begin: "The lies we tell ourselves about ourselves---about the seen and the unseen, about the mysteries of life and death---come as natural and as unconscious as dreams. None are free of such self-deceptions."

I don't judge the fascination with fiction but arrived at a similar conclusion: biography and history are incredibly captivating, why do I need fiction? And, yet, I do admire a great read.

Fiction is good, makes a person think ! Or so it should ?

Nope. I read fiction and non-fiction. I write fiction. I see nothing wrong with exercising the imagination, and can't relate to people who refuse to do so.

I enjoy fiction very much. It gives me a chance to go on a million adventures I wouldn't have gotten to take otherwise. People who either don't read or only read nonfiction are dreadfully dull - they never give themselves permission to slip the reins of the every day and take that flight of fancy in their imagination.

I love fiction, especially urban fantasy. if you watch movies or tv drama/comedy then you are watching fiction, it’s just a different media to reading a written novel. There has always been make believe; I don’t understand why it should be scary and ridiculous, that seems an odd opinion to me.

Absolutely no problem with fiction. I love classic Sci-Fi and have probably read all of Heinlein's books at least 3x. Same with Asimov, Bradbury, and Clarke... (do you like how I alphabetized them? LOL). I literally read thousands of Sci-Fi books growing up and through my 20s....as an adult, I reread a great number of them and found new things and ideas that I had missed when younger. Most recently I came across a box of my books from when I was around 10 to 14 and I just reread a bunch of them even though they are "juvenile" books -- it was really cool to revisit those stories and view them through the eyes of an adult now.

I love non-fiction, but I also adore the fiction works of Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman, as well as all the live action stories in the Star Trek franchise - all of these give me a sense of what the world could be, allow me to dream that the world could be just, could be post-scarcity, could be full of hope for the future of humanity

It's an issue I have thought about... why would you fill your mind with fiction when it just takes you further away from the real world and all the things in it? It gets you to see the world as someone's fantasy, not the real thing.

I can see the worry. Fiction is an escape from the humdrum and oftentimes unbearable thing that is reality. However like all things there are benefits and there are downsides.

I prefer fantasy to reality. To a point almost dangerous, where I use it as an escape from everything, and easily could delude myself into it. However it's safer than, like, heroin.

There is a lot to like about fiction. I like seeing the different ways words are used and especially appreciate a well-turned phrase. Fiction can also open one to different aspects of thinking. In general, fiction is a mind-expanding experience. It is a way to learn about new words or new uses for old words. It can be a more entertaining way of learning about new things, or things unfamiliar. A little escapism with a well-told story never hurts, either. Just gotta avoid the masses of boring, unimaginative or formulaic novels.

Interesting comment. I mentioned to the local librarian that my preferences lie in non-fiction; his response, 'well, you're cutting yourself out of the a huge slice of reading'. Sorry for the boring response, but I don't know how to 'energise it' into, 'oh, hell yeah. I better get a trolly and fill it with fiction'. Quite unconvincing, but no revelation, not that I am looking for one!

Fiction is my well-deserved break. I'm intelligent enough to know the difference between that and reality. But fiction is based in reality, after all, and I have gotten much-needed philosophical sustenance through all types of reading - including fiction - if it is well-written. A beautifully crafted turn of phrase gives me chills. It's ALL good. As long as you have critical thinking skills, beauty can be found in unexpected places.

I mostly read for pleasure which helps pass time and is more fiction than non. No romance and very little Sci-fi anymore. Have read several non fiction books that were quite interesting. Just finished Sapiens and was surprised it wasn't dry although I did skim over parts that didn't hold my interest.

Yes I haven't really read any novels since I was about 20.. As a child and a teenager I loved Fantasy and science fiction..Tolkien, the bible etc

But as an adult I stuck to non-fiction..mostly history and politics, biographies , popular science etc

Yes. Childrens books are fine. As a child I could not sit through cartoons. As an adult could never sit through most movies.I burst out laughing five minutes into Star Wars. I have a sense of humor,but prefer documentaries if I am trapped and absolutely have to watch t.v.

I love fiction that could at least plausibly happen in real life.

Didn't really like the Pilot's Wife because my brain couldn't get passed the time traveling. Same with Benjamin Buttons.

I don't like horror, fantasy or sci fi fiction either.

Besides that -- I'd say you are definitely in the minority, Tim.

Much of today's fiction like an artificial sweetener, it has no sustenance. They are good enough to stave off boredom, temporarily.

Not really. I think I have more trouble with those who take it seriously and try to pass it off as something real. Scientology anyone?