Historical fantasy

[Viola2007]

My novel takes place in two different worlds. A mythical magic space parallel to the "real world" (1930’s Europe. ) I think it falls under the “historical fantasy” label, but I checked other books in that category and found only medieval epics , things like Mists of Avalon and such. Is my book historical fantasy? Do you know other books that take place in both real and magical worlds (but are not contemporary fantasy)?

[dragonmedley]

Right now, I'm reading Ill Met By Moonlight, by Lackey and Gellis, set in England when Elizabeth was growing up. She protected by elves for the Seleigh court against elves from the Unseleigh court. The bad elves are responsible for the fall of negociations, war, etc.

That's not set in medieval times, right? I am so no a historical buff!

[dclary]

I believe there's a novel about Arthur finally returning as promised to England -- during World War II.

Googling...


Ah yes, here we go:

http://www.amazon.com/Arthur-King-Dennis-Lee-Anderson/dp/006105433X

[Fenika]

Last Light of the Sun by Guy Gavriel Kay (speaking of) is set way back in historic times (don't ask me when exactly, I sux when it comes to dates, lol) and with vikings. It also got pretty random with the fantasy, compared to his other books (imho, and only mho)

Cheers,
Christina

PS- on second thought, I have no idea what time period it's set in, but you can look it up :) He writes mainly historical fiction.

[oscuridad]

My novel takes place in two different worlds. A mythical magic space parallel to the "real world" (1930’s Europe. ) I think it falls under the “historical fantasy” label, but I checked other books in that category and found only medieval epics , things like Mists of Avalon and such. Is my book historical fantasy? Do you know other books that take place in both real and magical worlds (but are not contemporary fantasy)?

it probably depends how significant the '30s setting is to the whole premise. Historical Fantasy tends to be fantasy that builds fantasy around a real figure or event - filling in gaps in knowledge with storytelling. If the 1930s are simply the jumping off poitn then it is not historical fantasy.
You could look at 'three hearts, three lions', by Poul Anderson (I think), and possibly the most similar is 'The House on the Strand' by Daphne DuMaurier, where the protag experiences a historical world around the eponymous house through drug use... quite good, actually.

[Britchik]

Juliet Marillier writes historical fantasy. "Wolfskin" and "Foxmask" both centre around Vikings and Picts (not sure of the spelling on that one), and her Sevenwaters Trilogy focuses on ancient Ireland. She's got a number of other books I haven't gotten around to yet.

[tallus83]

Your work could also be viewed as Alternate History.

[III]

You beat me to it, tallus. I was gonna suggest Alternate History too. No really, I was!

[Higgins]

My novel takes place in two different worlds. A mythical magic space parallel to the "real world" (1930’s Europe. ) I think it falls under the “historical fantasy” label, but I checked other books in that category and found only medieval epics , things like Mists of Avalon and such. Is my book historical fantasy? Do you know other books that take place in both real and magical worlds (but are not contemporary fantasy)?

I think there is still no good label for post-medieval parallel world fantasy...which tends to be very good stuff. I recall one where Sir Phillip Sidney is nursed back to health after his encounter with a Spanish musket ball in 1587 near Zutphen.

I've tried pitching my similar works to agents as "Urban Cosmic" and "Sci-Fi Adventure."

So far the only successes I've had have been with "Dark Fantasy"

What the hell does "Dark" mean? I'm it apparently....but not quite since I get advice like "Try to be more Dark next time."

[Viola2007]

historical events and changed history. None of that in my novel, although characters interact with historical figures, but that happens in Historical Fiction too.
Thanks anyway

[DeleyanLee]

So far the only successes I've had have been with "Dark Fantasy"

What the hell does "Dark" mean? I'm it apparently....but not quite since I get advice like "Try to be more Dark next time."

"Dark Fantasy" means Fantasy with Horror elements, FWIW. At least, last time I checked. Meanings shift so quickly sometimes.

[Higgins]

"Dark Fantasy" means Fantasy with Horror elements, FWIW. At least, last time I checked. Meanings shift so quickly sometimes.

It's true I use the occasional "horror element" (though not in a very horrific way) but in the tale that ended up being classified as "Dark" (or not dark enough, but on the way to being dark, apparently) the setting was an Alternative late 1940s kind of place, so I was thinking of it as more "Deviant History" than "Historical Horror."

[Doodlebug]

historical events and changed history. None of that in my novel, although characters interact with historical figures, but that happens in Historical Fiction too.
Thanks anyway

Do you think that this is a hard and fast definition? I would rank "Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norell" as an alternative history, yet Napoleon is defeated at Waterloo just as in real life. (BTW talk about a fantasy novel with plenty of history - the book parallels real history with fantasy history like no other book I've ever read!)

[MattW]

Historical fantasy probably does involve less "alternate paths" and more the same events , but with MAGICKQ!

Alternate history has a clear divergence point, but may or may not have other fantastic elements.

[DeleyanLee]

When Harry Turtledove invented Alternate History (a subgenre of SF, FWIW) way back when, it was because he took a historical event and introduced an alien element into the proceedings and changed what happened. While this may or may not be the same definition today, whatever it is has certainly grown from this root. I understand there's also Fantasy elements introducted down, but those are usually referred to as Historical Fantasy rather than Alternative History.

History doesn't necessarily have to change for either of these subgenres, at least not in the novels I've read, but the inclusion of the SF or Fantasy elements is the key.

[Doodlebug]

I think there are a lot of different sub-genres here. There are stories in which an historical event has a different outcome from reality ("The Man in the High Castle" by Philp Dick) or stories in which fantasy characters shape the course of history ("Moon and the Sun" by Vonda McIntyre). Then there are fantasies that don't really have much to do with historical events other than simply borrowing the setting ("Vampire Lestat" by Anne Rice).

[Viola2007]

Thanks Doodlebug!
DeleyanLee, thanks for the explanation. In that case, I might try pitching it as Alternative History