Autism and the Love of Fantasy: An Unsurprising Connection

The fact that autistic individuals show interest in fantasy is not just a fact but often a noticeable pattern. Of course, preferences are very individual, but it has been established that the reasons for loving fantasy are multifaceted and linked to the thinking and perception traits characteristic of autism.

• Consistent and Logical Worlds: Science fiction and fantasy worlds are often built on internally consistent systems: magical laws, fictional physics, political structures, alien biology. These clear and logical rules are naturally appealing to autistic people. Moreover, many seek order, logic, and predictability, and such worlds feel more understandable and comfortable to them than the real world, with its obscure, ever-changing, and often irrational social rules.
• Rich and Detailed Universes: Authors in these genres tend to create incredibly detailed worlds with rich histories, maps, languages, technologies, and species, offering limitless opportunities for deep immersion.
• Intense Focus on Special Interests: Autistic individuals often develop intense focus on specific topics (special interests). Science fiction and fantasy provide perfect material for deep study, fact memorization, and systematic knowledge organization.
• Predictable Story Structures: Although narratives can be complex, many science fiction and fantasy plots follow recognizable patterns (hero’s journey, good versus evil, etc.) and use archetypal characters. This predictability in structure can also be appealing.
• Exploring Social Norms Through Other Worlds: Sci-fi and fantasy often question real social norms by showing them through alien cultures, fantastic societies, or mythological contexts. This allows for the exploration of complex themes like identity, belonging, justice, and power indirectly and safely, without direct confrontation with the confusing “unwritten rules” of the real world.
• Themes of Outsiders and “Others”: Stories about outcasts, “others,” those who don’t fit in (elves among humans, humans among aliens, mutants in society) often resonate deeply with many autistic individuals who feel “different.”
• Controlled Sensory Experience: Immersion in books, movies, series, or video games in these genres allows control over sensory input—you can adjust volume, brightness, pause, or reread. This is a safe way to process strong emotions and impressions in a manageable environment, unlike the unpredictable and often overwhelming real world.
• Escape from Stress and Daily Difficulties: Like many neurotypical people, autistic individuals use these genres as an escape from stress and daily challenges. For those who may experience heightened anxiety or social difficulties, the ability to “retreat” into a logical, structured, or simply “different” world can be an especially valuable form of rest and recovery.
• Pathway to Social Interaction: Interest in specific universes (Star Trek, Star Wars, Tolkien, Warhammer 40K, etc.) can form the basis for mediated social interaction. Online forums, conventions, and interest groups provide structured environments for communication where topics and interaction rules are clearer than in unstructured real-life socializing. Sharing common interests also reduces anxiety over meaningless conversations in daily life.
• Focus on Ideas and Systems: Sci-fi often explores scientific concepts or technological achievements, while fantasy investigates logical consequences of magic use. This focus on ideas, logic, and systems is more attractive than stories about complex interpersonal relationships and emotions, which autistic individuals may find difficult to understand.

Not all autistic people love science fiction and fantasy, as their interests are as diverse as those of neurotypical individuals. When such interests do occur without becoming obsessive, they are not symptoms but rather natural outcomes of how certain autistic traits interact with these genres. It’s less about a hobby and more about engagement with genres that matter because they offer a retreat to a comfortable, predictable world, allow deep immersion in special interests, provide compelling images for self-identity, and open potential pathways to socialization through shared passions. This connection reflects the search for understandable structures, meaning, and a place in a world that often seems too complex and unpredictable.

Love for these genres often begins in childhood—fortunately, children today encounter them not just through books but through movies and series. This passion is unlikely to disappear if autism were cured, since it stems from feeling “different” and wanting to mentally move into a comprehensible and predictable world. However, autism can also manifest in more severe forms, so it must be addressed, and the fastest and most reliable way to overcome it today is through cell therapy—an innovative technology once considered science fiction or a risky experiment but now widely recognized as a leading method to combat autism and its symptoms.

This therapy is based on transplanting stem cells taken from the patient, eliminating rejection risks and making the procedure safe. It works by stimulating the body’s natural regenerative abilities, making it as natural as possible. Stem cells are the body’s fundamental units and can transform into any other cells, replacing damaged ones with healthy counterparts. Soon after the intervention, positive changes occur—normalization of brain and nervous system function, behavioral stabilization, accelerated development, and reduction or disappearance of autism symptoms. These positive outcomes are long-lasting, often lifelong, greatly enhancing the effectiveness of other corrective measures.

Leading clinics worldwide, including the Mardaleishvili Medical Center, have adopted cell therapy. Their specialists are highly trained, possess extensive successful experience with stem cell transplantation, and use state-of-the-art high-tech equipment to achieve the best possible therapeutic results. The treatment meets the strictest international standards and is more affordable than in many other countries with advanced healthcare systems. Additionally, assistance is available during the planning stages of the trip and with other issues, including accommodation during rehabilitation, if needed.

Cell therapy is not science fiction—it is reality in the fight against autism!