FantasyFantasy
Elves and Dragons and Vampires,Elves and Dragons and Vampires,oh my!oh my!
Definition“A fiction evoking wonder and containing a substantial and irreducible element of supernatural or impossible worlds, beings or objects with which the reader or the characters within the story become on at least partly familiar terms. – CN Manlove in Modern Fantasy [Genreflecting]
Characteristics1. Magic Figures Prominently in the story2. Story lines feature “good” (light) versus “evil”
(dark) 3. Characters often attain magical gifts4. Characters may include mythical creatures5. Detailed settings describe another world6. Books start slowly with the setting of the scene
and involve large groups of characters.7. Books are frequently part of a series.
[Readers’ Advisory Guide to Genre Fiction]
The Big ThreeThe Big Three
JRR Tolkien – The Lord of the Rings
CS Lewis – The Chronicles of Narnia
L. Frank Baum – The Wizard of Oz
ThemesThemes
Sword & SorcerySword & Sorcery–– Saga, Myth & Saga, Myth &
LegendLegend
Time Travel & Time Travel & Crossing OverCrossing OverFairy TalesFairy TalesWorld of FaerieWorld of Faerie
ContemporaryContemporaryAnimalsAnimalsCelebrity CharactersCelebrity CharactersParanormal PowersParanormal PowersFantasy BlendsFantasy Blends
Sword & SorcerySword & Sorcery
Heroes/Heroines vs. Heroes/Heroines vs. Villains/EvilVillains/EvilGood vs. Evil themeGood vs. Evil themeMagic & the Magic & the SupernaturalSupernaturalQuestsQuestsRomanceRomanceTypically in trilogies or Typically in trilogies or seriesseries
Sagas, Myths & LegendsSagas, Myths & Legends
Sagas, Myths & Sagas, Myths & LegendsLegends–– The The ““createdcreated”” world world
is that of myth, is that of myth, saga, or legend saga, or legend ––for example Greek, for example Greek, Celtic, ChineseCeltic, Chinese
–– Arthurian Legend is Arthurian Legend is a very popular a very popular backdropbackdrop
Time Travel & Crossing OverTime Travel & Crossing Over
Time Travel is usually inexplicable as Time Travel is usually inexplicable as apposed to Science Fiction where it is apposed to Science Fiction where it is ““on on purposepurpose””In Crossing Over fantasies, the character In Crossing Over fantasies, the character is magically transported from the is magically transported from the ““realreal””world to a fantasy world.world to a fantasy world.
Fairy TalesFairy Tales
Retelling of classic Retelling of classic tales often with a new tales often with a new twisttwistNewly created stories Newly created stories that have the that have the ““feelfeel”” of of a classic fairy talea classic fairy tale
World of FaerieWorld of Faerie
Creatures with Creatures with magical powersmagical powersFaerie vs. the Human Faerie vs. the Human worldworldRomanceRomanceSet in both fantastic Set in both fantastic realms & realms & contemporary settingscontemporary settings
ContemporaryRecognizable settingsSometimes called “Low Fantasy” or “Realistic Fantasy”More accessible for some readersSub themes: Urban, Human condition, realism
AnimalsAnimalsPlay a role in most Play a role in most fantasy stories in fantasy stories in some form or othersome form or otherUnicorns and dragons Unicorns and dragons are popular as are popular as subjects in their own subjects in their own right.right.““CommonCommon”” animals animals within created within created societiessocieties
Celebrity CharactersCelebrity Characters
RealReal--Life characters or fictional characters Life characters or fictional characters brought to life in a fantasy world. brought to life in a fantasy world. Some books in this genre may be Some books in this genre may be considered alternate history.considered alternate history.
Paranormal PowersParanormal Powers
PsionicPsionic PowersPowers–– Telepathy Telepathy –– common common
between humans and between humans and animals in fantasyanimals in fantasy
–– TelekenisisTelekenisis–– PrecognitionPrecognition
ShapeshiftingShapeshifting –– Can take Can take on a different form on a different form --WereanimalsWereanimalsImmortalityImmortalitySupernatural BeingsSupernatural Beings
Fantasy BlendsFantasy Blends
Dark FantasyDark FantasyFantasy Featuring DetectionFantasy Featuring DetectionRomantic FantasyRomantic Fantasy
Online Resources
• Fantasy Finder -http://www.hoh.se/fantasyfinder/
• Diana Herald -http://www.sff.net/people/dherald/
• SF Site - http://www.sfsite.com/home.htm• The Linköping Science Fiction & Fantasy
Archive -http://sf.www.lysator.liu.se/sf_archive/
Just for Fun
• Which Sci-Fi/Fantasy Character are you? http://www.tk421.net/character/
• Hero Machine -http://www.ugo.com/channels/comics/heromachine2/heromachine2.asp
• Name Generator -http://rinkworks.com/namegen/ or http://www.squid.org/tools/names/
Grace’s Must Reads• The Eyre Affair
by Jasper Fforde• Ink Heart by
Cornelia Funke(YA)
• Guilty Pleasuresby Laurell K. Hamilton
• Eragon by Christopher Paolini (YA)