Ninjas stories = fantasy?

leoblanc · May 22, 2007

Hello.
I'm almost done with my WIP and it's a story about Ninjas in a mysterious world. But I was wondering: when I submit it to Agents, what genre shall I say it is? Adventure or fantasy? Or Young adults? (the MC is 15-year old).

Thank you for your help

formlit · May 22, 2007

ya? but i guess it could be fantasy as well. do you have to give it a label?

leoblanc · May 22, 2007

Sorry I don't understand your question :/ What do you mean by 'giving a label'?

jhtatroe · May 22, 2007

I would probably classify it as fantasy, not because it's ninjas, but because it's ninjas "in a mysterious world."

I haven't read it, though... where do you see your book sitting on the bookstore shelf?

yappo · May 22, 2007

YA fantasy

MattW · May 22, 2007

Lian Hearn wrote a series (and is continuing) about a fantasy Japan that is very well realized while still being different: Tales of the Otori.

There are ninjas and samurai without being named as such. A bit of magic here and there, and the ninjas get a new twist to them.

Can't remember details from the first trilogy, but I have to pick up the latest volume.

leoblanc · May 22, 2007

Thank you for you replies guys

I actually see my book sitting next to the likes of 'Nightrise' or 'Mooncall' ... but YA version... I don't know really. I've been in bookshops, checked Amazon for something similar(Ninjas) but there's nothing. It seems like the market is all about vampires and Werewolves and I don't know if my book will fit with it. It's more about Assassins and Ninjas and I've only spotted similar contents in Mangas. I could have written a comic novel if I knew how to ink etc lol... but seriously I really don't know.
Do you think my book would fit next to Werewolves and Vampires stories since my novel's world is quite 'noir'... and what genres are Werewolves and Vampires stories for young adult? YA fantasy?
I'm sorry.. this is my first time wrting this sort of book. Thanks for your help.

Sassee · May 22, 2007

Not all of Fantasy is werewolves and vampires. Some of it is sorcery, dragons, knights in shining armor, et all. I don't see why ninjas couldn't carve out a little place on the shelves in the same section.

Eudaemonic · May 22, 2007

I'd say aim for YA. But there are plenty of things doing crossover. I've seen Trudi Canavan in the teen section as well as sff section in bookshops.
Have you seen Garth Nix stuff? Series beginning with a book called 'Sabreil'?

daemon

The name of that book by Lian Hearn was 'Accross the Nightingale Floor'

Eudaemonic · May 22, 2007

Sorry that should be 'Sabriel'.

daemon

formlit · May 22, 2007

leoblanc said:
Sorry I don't understand your question :/ What do you mean by 'giving a label'?

label, as in the genre you are putting it in. like a marketing label.

sass is right, fantasy is about a lot more than vampire and werewolves. if the market isn't saturated with those right now, i expect it will be sometime in the future. magic and fantastic creatures in all forms is a huge part of it. there is no reason ninjas can't be part of that, espically since it takes place in an mystery world.

leoblanc · May 22, 2007

I really appreciate your help, guys

I think I'll just present the book as YA fantasy. Hope I'm not wrong.
Cheers

MDSchafer · May 22, 2007

According to that Mythbuster show pretty much everything an Ninja supposedly can do is impossible so that kinda makes it fantasy on some level

MattW · May 23, 2007

Ninja Warrior is real!

spacekitton · May 31, 2007

Now now ninja aren't worriors, they are spys. they gather info, infiltrate and spread rumor, assasinate, steal, etc.

There is a series of ninja novels in japan, and I say they are fantasy, definitely. they use what in the west would be magic, or super power.

they appear in the historical novels as well, and when they do they don't use magical powers. they do espionage work.

speculative · Jun 3, 2007

MDSchafer said:
According to that Mythbuster show pretty much everything an Ninja supposedly can do is impossible so that kinda makes it fantasy on some level

Hogwash: http://www.realultimatepower.net/index4.htm :e2fight:

Ninjas stories = fantasy?

leoblanc

formlit

leoblanc

jhtatroe

yappo

MattW

Company Man

leoblanc

Sassee

Momma Wolf

Eudaemonic

what? why!

Eudaemonic

what? why!

formlit

leoblanc

MDSchafer

MattW

Company Man

spacekitton

speculative