Fantasy Fiction & Lost Imagination?
Fantasy has always been popular. It appeals to all age groups and genders. There are many forms of this genre. Old style pulp fantasy, to the gentler &more classic, (think Tolkien) to modern epic multi-book fantasy series (examples: Harry Potter & Brian Sanderson). Now this genre often does not get the respect it deserves. Some people think of fantasy or science fiction and automatically stigmatize it as bad writing. You know the type. As a happy nerdy girl, I gravitated toward fantasy and science fiction. Did I love the Bronte sisters and other forms of literature? Yes. I love good writing. I have a shrine to the Bronte sisters. I revel in Shakespeare & Dickens. I do not discriminate by genre.
There have been many great tales of fantasy. When I was young, it was still in a creative heyday. The fantasy novels I discovered off the book racks were filled with bright imagination. But now, no matter how epic or exotic the tale, I feel something is missing.
Consider the great era of pulp. Pulp had nothing to do with quality, but the type of paper used for publishing The Conan tales by Robert E. Howard are my favorite. The writers of Weird Tales introduced us to many great writers of the genre. Imagination abounds here, and your mind conjures images of his many quests. The works of the late great Tanith Lee, and more, the release of classic pulp fiction and growth of the fantasy and science fiction authors of the 70's & 80's rose a spectacular wave of exciting novels with original ideas. The characters were vivid, often flawed, and you could breathe in this fantasy world. Vonda McIntyre's Dreamsnake was a vivid and personal tale of a woman healer in a post-apocalyptic world. Then by chance, I picked up copies of Tanith Lee in used bookstores and discovered her library of wonder. She is my example of what we should be searching for. She wrote it all: fantasy, science fiction, horror, and children's stories, all brimming with imaginative worlds and characters, many with female lead characters before it was popular. Her Tales of the Flat Earth series, The Silver Metal Lover, Black Unicorn, and The Birthgrave are templates of fantastic speculative fiction. Ray Bradbury's sense of wonder enchants us.
Now fantasy seems more curated to fit into certain boxes. I have noticed books all feel the same now. Tropes repeated. Stories that all seem the same. Imagination has been shoved into a closet for trilogies with bigger than life themes and specific categories. Grimdark, young adult, urban, magical realism, romantic fantasy, fantasy of manners, and more, break up the genre into little boxes. Young adult sections in bookstores delegates a section of Twilight or Percy Jackson separate from the rest. But why?
We all loved fantasy and science fiction growing up because it was freeing. Now there are so many trends-vampires, dragons, fairy, gritty girl hero or pone boy in a leather jacket. I have read the opinion that authors in this classic era relied too much on Lord of the Rings in the early years, but I disagree with that. A lot of great fantasy from my favorite authors do not use that Tolkien foundation. Tanith lee, Robert E. Howard, Ursula K. Le Guin, Anne McCaffrey, Poul Anderson, Fritz Leiber, and Jennifer Roberson. These are great fantasy/science fiction authors you should check out. They are my master class of imagination.
The bottom line is the individual feel in books seems a bit lost. When I discovered fantasy the tales I read seemed to create their own literary place. It has not been duplicated. Writers and readers need to search for something new explore. The digital age does not seem to have encouraged that.
The Haunting of NANOWRIMO
So glad November is well behind me as I step into the new year. Okay, I confess that have never participated in this novel writing challenge. Do I admire people who do? Hell yes. Will I ever do it? Hell no. Like most of you out there, I am a busy person. I do not earn my living by writing novels & short stories. I have a stressful job. I have a husband. I have two demanding cats. Many books to read. I cannot focus on this sort of thing. I cannot write every day. It is not possible. It's like the advice that writers should read every day and write every day. It would be lovely, but it is not my reality. I have written six novels that have been published by two wonderful small presses. Do I dream of achieving more? Of course I do. All I can do is keep writing. I have three novels I am working on now. And I have a fulltime job, a husband, and two demanding cats. We all do what we can as indie authors.
Small Press Pride
Speaking of my small presses, my two are TANSTAAFL Press and Wolfsinger Publications. They are awesome and supportive. It is also an outlet who do not want to self-publish or cannot make it to a major publishing house. It takes connections and a lot of road bumps. Small publishers offer a great option. Check them out thoroughly. Do your research. Make sure the publisher is legit and is not asking you for any money. If they do, refuse & run. Even a small press will handle the publishing end and cover art, etc. So, beware and do your homework.
TANSTAAFL Press is headed by Thomas Gondolfi. He is a driven writer himself and rescued one of my novels when the other small press folded (The Bardess of Rhulon). I have written two other novels for his publishing house (The Bastard Sorceress and War Poet). He works tirelessly to promote my works. He is supportive and patient. Boisterous. Fun. And loyal. I hope to write many books for him.
WolfSinger Publications is headed by Carol Hightshoe. She has had a strong indie publishing house for years and also works as a freelance editor. She has edited many of my works (books and short stories) before rescuing my Familiar's Tale series from oblivion. Now Gate of Souls, Tree of Bones, and The Fires of Rapiveshta have a home. Thank you, Carol!
What now in 2025?
Write. Lots of writing. Much coffee and chocolate will be consumed. Have a wonderful new year.
Cheers,
Verna McKinnon
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