You can also make explicit certain social problems which, again, would be prejudged or not encountered at all in real life, because people have set up defenses against it. Fantasy allows you to get past defenses.

Everything in my life that I value has been gained at the cost of not saying what I really think and saying what they want me to say.

No, but a cello is the perfect string bass for an accordion. Works with it beautifully.

Having to struggle gave me the chance to demonstrate strength of character.

I actually feel that the different kinds of stories come out of different parts of my brain.

There are relatively few science fiction or fantasy books with the main character being an old person.

It may be far in the future, but there's some kind of logical way to get from where we are to where the science fiction is.