Just finished reading The Hobbit to my son.
A thought: Science fantasy connects us to the lives of our ancestors.
There's the quest - suffering cold, thirst, hunger and wounds. Crossing rivers and mountains. The misery of rain & nightfall. Traversing harsh environments, and encountering creatures that you never knew existed.
And then juxtaposition this with, say the destination - a magnificent walled city, collosal statues, majestic palace, etc.
How our ancestors managed to survive and thrive, despite all the dangers and evils of the world, provides a underlying sense of wonderment.