Once upon a time, reading was fun. Books had wizards, demons, and spells. They transported you to places far, far away.

The years passed, and all that was left was work, relationships, and sex. Can’t anyone write a book about something — anything — else?

Funny you should ask, because Scarlett Thomas has just sprinkled some pixie dust on adult fiction.

Going Out is a genre-bending fairy tale about a bunch of English 20-somethings stuck in a bland village. They amuse themselves with e-mail, gossip, and their own quirks — like one character’s addiction to routine and another’s rare allergy to sunlight. When an old friend finds a Chinese doctor in Wales who can cure the former, the motley crew sets off on an adventure.

Sound familiar? It should: The book is loosely based on The Wizard of Oz.

With wry humor and fanciful insight about contemporary society, Going Out shows how, with a little effort, everyone can live, um, happily ever after.

Available at your local bookstore or online at amazon.com.