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)