Is there a market for parodies of fantasy?

[Willowhugger]

I was just curious because I've written a parody of typical Tolkien fantasy and am not sure there's really a market for it.

[Variant Frequencies]

Bored of the Rings (http://www.amazon.com/Bored-Rings-Parody-Tolkiens-Lord/dp/0451452615) was done by Harvard Lampoon some years ago. It was pretty funny. I don't know how well it did.

[Imelda]

Wow, I'm spotting fantasy parodies all over the place! Here, Nano, Critters ... Either it's becoming 'genre of the moment', or you people are actually the same person ...

Anyway, I think there is a market for it, and if there isn't, there should be. What I've read was absolutely fantastic, and I'd buy it if it was published. I think the only thing is that it needs to be a respectful parody. If it's insulting fantasy, you'd lose the genre readers, and probably no one else would want to look because it's still fantasy.

Good luck with it!

[UrsulaV]

I suspect that if it's just gay-hobbit jokes, you'll have a much tougher sell than if there's actually a solid story in there.

Sir Apropos of Nothing is something of a send up of traditional fantasy, but it's actually got the ingredients of a genuine story in there to pull it together. Same with some of the Discworld books--there's parody, but they're good books too.

[Higgins]

I was just curious because I've written a parody of typical Tolkien fantasy and am not sure there's really a market for it.

Wrote a couple of books that included a parody or two of fantasy "adventures"...the Viewpoint was from the people who had to be the Dark Lord and his evil minions as part of their work-a-day world.

The Dark Lord of Darkholm or something.

What does it feel like to suddenly have to be Dark Lord?
Dreadful. Wizard Derk, who has spent much of his life peacefully breeding griffins, winged horses, flying pigs, nylon plants and intelligent geese,is horrified to find out he has to rebuild his house as an evil fortress and knock down the nearby village because Mr Chesney wants him to. He is even more upset when Mr Chesney orders Derk's wife Mara to become this year's Evil Enchantress.

(from http://www.leemac.freeserve.co.uk/toughdark.htm#dark)

[Torgo]

Bored of the Rings was funny, but slim; I think it had exhausted most of the Tolkein jokes until the movies came out, whereupon Adam Roberts wrote some unfunny new parodies. But there's always a market for things that are funny. If there's a real laugh on every page, who cares if there's a story in there?

[Imelda]

I'd forgotten about The Dark Lord Of Derkholm. Amazing book, couldn't put it down (despite the fact that I had work to do and really should have closed the thing :D). The sequel, Year Of The Griffin, was pretty good too. The vain teacher (whose name escapes me ...) was hilarious.

[HConn]

Humorous fantasy is supposed to be making a (vanishingly small) comeback.

Is this novel-length? If so, look up some light/humorous fantasy books and see who agented them.

If it's for the magazines, send it on out.

[MattW]

Terry Goodkind writes hilarious parodies....what's that? Not parodies? Intended to be serious? Very badly burned, but not dead?

[jchines]

I've sold two to DAW (though the first was more of a parody than the second). John Moore has sold some to Ace.

[JerseyGirl1962]

Jeff Strand came out with a book (originally an e-novel) called How to Rescue a Dead Princess (http://mundania.com/books-howtorescueadeadprincess.html). Just realized it's out now - I'll have to put it on my "To Buy" list!

I read the 1st chapter somewhere online (I found it here (http://www.fictionwise.com/ebooks/eBook1729.htm) at Fictionwise), and it's hilarious. Thud the horse, the 3 barbarians, the Non-Vile Air Act...funny stuff!

FWIW, he's more well-known for his funny horror novels.

~Nancy