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What are fairy tales and why do they matter? This is the question J.R.R. Tolkien took up in a lecture he gave at the University of St. Andrews on March 8, 1939. In our own time, fairy tales and fantasy stories have become something of an obsession for many people well into their adult years. Is this infantilism? A refusal to enter fully into adult life and responsibility? Is it escapism? Disenchantment with a disenchanted world? In this episode, David and Justin do a deep-dive into Tolkien’s famous essay, “On Fairy Stories,” to see what sorts of treasures can be found there. At one point in his essay, a very grown-up Tolkien very seriously writes, “I desire dragons with a profound desire.” And so do we.  …But why?