Five Books That Transport You to Brand-New Realms

An entire cosmos can fit inside a solitary mind. However, the barriers separating individual thoughts typically remain insurmountable outside of literature. It falls upon writers to connect their readers' experiences with the inner worlds of their characters so seamlessly that audiences develop an intimate understanding of these realms, regardless of how outlandish they might be. Regardless of where this narrative unfolds, skillfully crafted tales can transport readers from everyday realities into wholly different universes. Initially, such settings might seem incomprehensible or bizarre due to vastly differing viewpoints. Nevertheless, through the power of storytelling, we learn to identify and empathize with these unfamiliar terrains—even though something solid and clear-cut for us could appear nebulous and dreamlike to others.

Encountering a different world involves multiple dimensions. This could be an imagined realm or just a fleeting look into an alternate existence. Alternatively, it might merely lie within the interplay between familiarity and alienation. The following selection of books conjures up new worlds by recognizing that fantasy stems from one’s mindset; even the wildest creations have roots in our known realities. They each challenge our usual perception of our environment with experiences ranging from delightful to disconcerting. Pick up any of these five works before bedtime, and you'll momentarily transport yourself elsewhere.

Pale Fire , by Vladimir Nabokov

Maybe the most bubbly and mournfully poetic of Nabokov’s novels, Pale Fire Notably, this work comprises a lengthy verse penned by John Shade, an English literature instructor at a minor fictitious university. This piece is elaborately annotated with explanatory notes by Charles Kinbote, his newly acquainted neighbor and purportedly intimate confidant, who hails originally from a nation referred to as Zembla before moving to rural Appalachia. Within the verses, shades of existence beyond life emerge subtly; meanwhile, Kinbote’s running elucidation constructs a vivid narrative centered around a deposed monarch, intrigue surrounding an attempted regicide, and an obscure territory located somewhere in Europe. However, as the tale unfolds, Kinbote’s citations progressively reveal themselves to be less trustworthy, underscoring how perceptions can color one's understanding of reality. Thus, the structure of the book underscores that the concept of 'truth' often hinges entirely upon individual perspectives shaping these narratives. Pale Fire expands beyond its main verse into a broader realm that prompts us to determine what constitutes fantasy, what represents truth, and which perspective we should embrace as our own reality.

Primeval and Other Times , by Olga Tokarczuk, translated by Antonia Lloyd-Jones

Through interconnected short stories that shift from one character to another, the acclaimed Nobel laureate novelist Tokarczuk delves into how folk traditions, ceremonies, and conflicts mold the perspectives of residents in a town fittingly named Primeval. This narrative spans many years beginning in 1914. It has a surreal quality that still resonates deeply within reality—much like memories lingering at the edge of consciousness where primal feelings and hidden urges come alive; additionally, this story frequently changes viewpoints similar to techniques used by experimental director Luis Buñuel. As she covers significant moments in twentieth-century Polish history, Tokarczuk weaves in fantastical elements including guardian archangels whose presence seems utterly foreign. While you won’t necessarily grasp exactly what daily life felt like for villagers in Poland back then, through her masterful storytelling, readers gain profound insight—a deep comprehension of mental landscapes across a distinct era.

[ Read: The science fiction that preceded science ]

Brodeck , by Philippe Claudel, translated by John Cullen

As the well-known phrase suggests, the past is like another country. However, novels enable us to explore realms that would typically be inaccessible to us. Brodeck
In a secluded mountainous region of France, a newcomer disrupts the routine lives of the local residents, each harboring their own hidden truths. Returning to his hometown after some years away, Brodeck, known for wandering through nature, compiles a "report" chronicling the tension arising when this outsider introduces new perspectives to the townspeople, challenging them to confront realities they wish to ignore—this rift leads to a poignant and sorrowful confrontation between old memories and current events.
Brodeck's personal encounters beyond the village gradually shape how he recounts these occurrences. The stranger grapples with stark contrasts in perception, transforming the narrative into both a critique and documentation of mankind’s shortcomings, subtly hinting at broader societal issues. Ultimately, Claudel crafts a profoundly moving piece of literature exploring narrow-mindedness and concealed mysteries; it remains etched vividly in my mind due to its intricate but empathetic portrayal of an enigmatic setting.

The Ravicka series, penned by Renee Gladman, continues to captivate readers.

In her restrained writing style, Gladwell’s communications from an imagined city-state reinvent the notion of architecture into something fresh. This work is one out of four in the series. Houses of Ravicka The narrative follows the journey of the city comptroller who sets out to locate a house that mysteriously vanished from its original spot, even as another invisible dwelling starts manifesting somewhere else. Other tales within Ravicka delve into unusual physical phenomena, rituals, logical puzzles, and absurdities in a manner that still resonates with contemporary relevance. Essentially, Gladman recasts our reality to reveal underlying mechanisms through which it functions. By integrating everyday bureaucratic roles typically omitted from similar narratives, she brings this type of magical realism fully up-to-date for the 21st century. Consequently, her investigation of Ravicka extends beyond literature; her inquiries about society and philosophy naturally overflow into her non-fiction writings and visual arts, suggesting these themes demand multidisciplinary expressions.

[ One of the greatest fantasy books of all time bears no resemblance to The Lord of the Rings. ]

Dark Matter , by Aase Berg, translated by Johannes Göransson

A creation marked by surreal, sexual, post-apocalyptic discomfort from one of Sweden’s foremost poets. Dark Matter Exists within a nightmarish realm where natural elements intertwine disturbingly with the contamination from man-made structures. This blend of prose and poetry possesses an almost physical presence that envelops the reader relentlessly. "Now I gradually fold myself akin to a muscle pressing against damp clay, pushing flesh onto the glandular openings," Berg articulates, as landscapes meld with the narrator's form. "'In this avian body, I shall slumber amidst feathers, and a harsh star will perpetually shine over the luminous visage’s riverbed.'" Although Berg involves the audience in scenes evoking bodily dread, through some transformative process, their initial terror evolves into fervent intrigue. She incorporates concepts such as string theory, folk traditions, and allusions to The Texas Chainsaw Massacre , along with elements reminiscent of H.R. Giger’s style, blend seamlessly into a depiction of nature that is both tainted and potent. It would be impossible to encapsulate this incisive and unyielding perspective on a changed environment without directly citing more passages such as: "Yet time progresses relentlessly, accompanied by hunger and frailty, which carry me into desolate areas. The soul's deep darkness will gradually descend within me." This represents an entirely alien realm constructed from fragmented remnants of our reality.