Arts & Humanities >
Fantasy & Science Fiction
Get a Widget for this title
RSS FeedHas the fantasy genre become stagnant?
Results so far:
| Yes | 45% | 348 votes | Total: 765 votes | |
| No | 55% | 417 votes |
Yes
Write now
Print
Invite a writer™
Add to FavoritesDragons, swords, and magical lands have been the highlight of fiction in the twenty-first century. Children, teenagers, and adults alike thrill to the adventures of brave heroes who exist in a place beyond reality, but nevertheless accessible through the vibrant pages of a book. Don't believe it? Just step to the young adult fiction shelf of your local bookstore. You'll be hard-pressed to find anything but fantasy.
What is it that draws so many readers to fantasy? Maybe it's the romance of the medieval settings; maybe the compelling action sequences scattered throughout; maybe the mythical creatures like dragons and unicorns that hold such appeal for contemporary audiences. But regardless of the initial attraction, it's hard to escape the realization that most works of modern fantasy usually have a common denominator.
The basic plot is simple: a young and dashing hero wakes up one morning to learn that his true identity is one of greatness.
Unfortunat ely, his life is on the line because a certain wicked villain is seeking to steal his power and rule the world. Throw in some dwarves and telepathic dragons, and your fantasy clich has come full circle. We've all heard itprobably more times than we'd care to tell.
When did such an intriguing genre become an almost exclusive slush-pile? No one denies that Tolkien's Lord of the Rings is a brilliant story by a brilliant author. Same for The Chronicles of Narnia. But as times goes on, and the genre of fantasy grows and flourishes, we tend to see more and more repetition and less originality. Elves, dragons, and magica person can't help but wonder how often the same fictional elements can be mixed up to create a new storyline.
Has the fantasy genre become a stagnant pool of overused ideas? Most definitely. But in trudging through the muck, you're likely to find a few gems still remaining. In the end, writers of fantasy should stop seeking to "be original" with material that has already been used, but rather focus on the story they plan to tell. Observation is beneficial; imitation is detrimental.
C.S. Lewis says it best: "Even in literature and art, no man who bothers about originality will ever be original: whereas if you simply try to tell the truth (without caring two-pence how often it has been told before) you will, nine times out of ten, become original without ever having noticed it."
Learn more about this author, Beth Maisano.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.
No
Those who think the science-fiction/fant asy scene has become stagnant aren't looking hard enough at the genre. New tales of magic and technology continue to be unique and innovativeas long as you're reading the right ones. Today's market is glutted with urban fantasies and paranormal romances of questionable quality, but the real gems are still out there, and they're worth waiting for.
Contemporary fantasy novels have embraced the idea of magic in today's world. Urban fantasies and paranormal romances have become very popular, and stories of werewolves in the suburbs, wizard detectives, etc, have given hip new twists to the idea that magic is out there. However, some authors' twists are more hip than others, and perhaps this has led to the idea that the genre has become stagnant. I disagree. There are as many new, quality stories coming from the sci-fi/fantasy corner as everthey're just harder to find.
The rarity of truly exceptional science-fiction or fantasy novels is in part because the genre has become more popular in recent years. The huge success of novels like Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake books have attracted more readers to the genre, opening up a demand for more stories like these. The result is that there are many, many more authors trying to make names for themselves writing science-fiction and fantasy today than there were just a few years ago. Even some established historical romance writers have ridden the wave over to the fantasy shelves, trying to capitalize on the popularity of the paranormal.
Authors aren't the only ones trying to take advantage of the witch, werewolf, and vampire craze. Publishers, too, are pushing urban fantasies and paranormal romances onto shelves, and in their hurry to sell, sell, sell, the elements of plot and character often suffer. As a result, one urban fantasy comes to read much like the next. The success of novels like theseand they are succeeding, don't ask me howdon't showcase the possibilities of the science-fiction/fant asy genre, or encourage authors to experiment with new styles and topics of writing. Die-hard fans of high fantasy or science-fiction don't need to hang up their reading glasses, though. Amid the genre-jumping confusion, there are bright sparks of hope.
Every so often I discover a writer like Naomi Novik, creator of the wonderful Temeraire series, or Patrick Rothfuss, who is writing the tremendously promising Kingkiller Chronicles. New writers like these are quickly added to my list of sci-fi/fantasy all-stars, and give me confidence that I will continue to discover new authors and stories, with their own unique magical twists and plotlines, different advances in technology, and ideas for the future.
Of all the areas of fiction, fantasy is the least likely to stagnate. The genre is simply too broad, with possibilities as endless and as varied as the imagination can . . . well, imagine. The first book you pick up off the science-fiction/fant asy shelves might be something you've read beforeor close enough to it to make no difference. But keep looking, and have faith in the endless creativity of the human mind! The truly exceptional and innovative sci-fi/fantasy writers of today are well-worth the time and the effort it will take to find them.
Learn more about this author, Jessie Tobias.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.
Difference of opinion? Debate now.
- Fantasy & Science Fiction
- Was theTwilight novel better than the movie?
- Was the New Moon novel better than the movie?
