What fantasy works are you referring to? Whatever you have in mind, I can guarantee you it has more real-world political inspiration than you think. You can ign

What fantasy works are you referring to? Whatever you have in mind, I can guarantee you it has more real-world political inspiration than you think. You can ignore it (and maybe even the author denies it like Tolkien) but our physical world and experiences is what defines the fantasy we write. It shapes our understanding of power and character, which is why fantastical stories vary so wildly in different contexts. This doesn't even strike me as activism, unless you're uncomfortable with looking at a Dodo illustration in your D&D campaign. This is a book with extra monster ideas, some of which are inspired by animals you will never see. Even devoid of empathetic value towards those dead animals, you gotta admit it's pretty metal to fight an animal that doesn't exist... anymore.