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- Mar 21, 2005
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Lest anyone think otherwise, I like Fantasy fiction. At least, non-clichéd, creative, clever Fantasy fiction. Alas, so much of the newer stuff I've attempted to read in recent years is obvious, slightly veiled, rehashes of Tolkien, that I get dismayed even looking at stuff in the bookstore anymore.
I really like the original Earthsea trilogy by Ursula LeGuin, who is a terrific writer of both Fantasy and straight SF (The Left Hand of Darkness, The Lathe of Heaven). The subsequent follow-ups were less successful to me, but overall, she's a giant in the field.
And if you've only been devoted to the Fantasy writing of the past couple of decades, and you want to read something totally new and refreshing, go back to the good ol' stuff, which is often absurdly hard to find these days. Start with George Macdonald, Phantastes, Lilith. Both are in public domain and I believe available on-line, free. And Lord Dunsany, a quirky genius at both short and long forms, a writer so unique that he hasn't really had any subsequent imitators, that I'm aware of. Or, if you really like pseudo-archaic overwrought prose, go for William Morris, E. R. Eddison, W. H. Hodgson (The Night Land), or Tolkien's contemporary and friend, Mervyn Peake. Peake, in particular, tried to write a Fantasy epic that didn't involve magical powers. Opinions vary as to how well he succeeded, but he's a considerable writer who can't be ignored.
In short, I value creativity and originality more than clever facile follow-ons. So, yeah, the latest farm-boy confronts evil dragon guarding a hoard of stolen wealth from the beautiful princess story doesn't usually stimulate my interest.
caw
I really like the original Earthsea trilogy by Ursula LeGuin, who is a terrific writer of both Fantasy and straight SF (The Left Hand of Darkness, The Lathe of Heaven). The subsequent follow-ups were less successful to me, but overall, she's a giant in the field.
And if you've only been devoted to the Fantasy writing of the past couple of decades, and you want to read something totally new and refreshing, go back to the good ol' stuff, which is often absurdly hard to find these days. Start with George Macdonald, Phantastes, Lilith. Both are in public domain and I believe available on-line, free. And Lord Dunsany, a quirky genius at both short and long forms, a writer so unique that he hasn't really had any subsequent imitators, that I'm aware of. Or, if you really like pseudo-archaic overwrought prose, go for William Morris, E. R. Eddison, W. H. Hodgson (The Night Land), or Tolkien's contemporary and friend, Mervyn Peake. Peake, in particular, tried to write a Fantasy epic that didn't involve magical powers. Opinions vary as to how well he succeeded, but he's a considerable writer who can't be ignored.
In short, I value creativity and originality more than clever facile follow-ons. So, yeah, the latest farm-boy confronts evil dragon guarding a hoard of stolen wealth from the beautiful princess story doesn't usually stimulate my interest.
caw