There is some innate ability in children to create rich imaginary worlds. For some of us, that childlike sense of wonder and fantasy stays along for the ride into adulthood. Who doesn’t enjoy getting lost in a book, TV series, or video game? Well, those worlds we so enjoy being a part of are described in one simple word: paracosm.
Meaning: A rich imaginary world, detailed to such a degree so as to become fully immersive; these worlds are commonly the ones created by children, but there are many such fictional worlds for adults too.
Origin: From the Greek παρά (pará), meaning “beside” or “alongside”, and κόσμος (kósmos), meaning “world” or “universe”.
Example: “We each have a favourite paracosm in which to escape from our busy lives.”
Lately, we’ve seen a surge in binge-watchable TV shows. No doubt the advent of streaming services has made this easier to do. But the idea of deeply intricate fictional worlds is not new. Think of some long-running novel series’ like The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan, the Foreigner Series by C.J. Cherryh, or the immense lore of the Warhammer 40,000 Universe. Each of these, and others, have entranced readers for decades and will continue to do so for many years to come. Such is the draw of an invitingly detailed world different from our own.
