Sunday, December 11, 2005

The Definition of Epic Fantasy

Today I am giving you a definition of Epic Fantasy and tomorrow I will be giving you the Barbarian's Guide to epic Fantasy for beginners.
What is Epic Fantasy?

The definition fo Epic Fantasy is the subject for debate and it differs among critics, readers, and scholars so it is a bit of a challenge. It also shares many overlaps among different genres of fiction -bearing the most similarity to High Fantasy. To understand what it is we should first break the term down into its two components: Epic and Fantasy.

Let's first look at the definitions of Epic. The word is derived from the Latin "epicus", and from the Greek "epikos"

As a noun

1.An extended narrative poem in elevated or dignified language, celebrating the feats of a legendary or traditional hero.
2. A literary or dramatic composition that resembles an extended narrative poem celebrating heroic feats.

As an adjective

1 Of, constituting, having to do with, or suggestive of a literary epic: an epic poem.
2. Surpassing the usual or ordinary, particularly in scope or size: A vast landscape.
3. Heroic and impressive in quality

So "Epic has two components. Heroic and vast. In an Epic there is a hero or heroic feats and the setting is vast in scope -often a complete world.

Now let's look at the definition of Fantasy.

1. The creative imagination; unrestrained fancy. See Synonyms at imagination.
2. Something, such as an invention, that is a creation of the fancy.
3. A capricious or fantastic idea; a conceit.

4 a.Fiction characterized by highly fanciful or supernatural elements.
    b. An example of such fiction.

So fantasy is defined as creative imagination and characterized by highly fanciful or supermatural events.

SO EPIC + FANTASY =

So we put the two together and we get a story of creative imagination that has a hero and or heroic feats and that takes place on an epic scale.

Refinement

Epic Fantasy is generally accepted today to be a sub-genre of Fantasy. The plot line usually centers on one person that develops through hardship and quest from a seemingly average person into a hero that performs heroic feats of might or magic -overcoming challenges that are epic in scope. Usually the whole world laid out in the piece is at stake.

Although often times in the work of Epic Fantasy it is discovered that the "average person" is actually of noble blood line or in possession of previously unknown special skills -typically magical in nature.

The setting for the piece is often one that has a Middle Ages flavor complete with swords, castles, and a magical scheme. Although many successful Epic Fantasy works have used other settings such as the Conan series.

Development of the Character

One of the most important aspects of Epic Fantasy is the development of the main character through the story. And this often follows a tried and true formula of classic steps that a Hero must undertake. This series of steps has been laid out by Joseph Campbell in his work The Hero's Journey and they include steps like

The Call to adventure - Where our average person is called to undertake a journey

Supernatural Aid - Where a mentor or guide is found (Usually a wizard)

The Road of Trials - A series of tasks and ordeals that our hero to be has to undergo on the road to his or her transformation.

So Let's Put it all together!

Epic Fantasy is a subgenre of fantasy and very similar to high-fantasy where a seemingly average person undergoes many trials and ordeals which develop him or her into a hero capable of heroic feats needed to thwart challenges of an epic scale. The work takes place in an imaginitive world and often the setting is Medieval in nature, complete with swords, castles, strange creatures and a magical system.

Saturday, December 10, 2005

Encouragement for Fantasy Writers

If you are a writer of fantasy you probably get discouraged sometimes. Keep your chin up and keep grinding away at it. When it comes to writing you have to keep going.

Roaming around the internet I stumbled across something that you might want to see.

This should encourage you : It is a copy of a rejection letter that a very famous writer recieved for a very famous, award winning, masterpiece of a novel. We are all so glad that she didn't give up. The Rejection letter

It makes you wonder if there are any other incredible works of writing out there that we will never get to experience because of a rejection letter taken to heart.

Book Review - Janathan Strange & Mr. Norrell



Book Review
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susannah Clarke

This book has been getting great reviews and I eagerly looked forward to
reading it. But it was not what I expected and I only made it 150 pages
into the novel before I put it down.
This Book is really not my cup of tea. <- That was a pun there; let me explain.
If you are into the kind of book that creates atmosphere and enjoy the old english
stories of high society types sitting around the reading room over tea and pipes and discussing london society then this is the book for you.

Me, I much prefer that problems be solved with a sharp sword and some muscle.
Although this book is exceptionally well written it just moved too slow.

This first even of any interest didn't happen until 50 pages in and that event was only so-so. (A bunch of statues come alive and start talking)

As I progressed it seemed to be building toward something but it just didn't appeal to me.

One more note: The book uses extensive footnotes -which I found tedious and boring. (Some of the footnotes were a page long! Hey if you need a backstory to explain your main story then write the back story. Don't foot note it -at least not this much.

Two stars out of five.