tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6145452263098688113.post5937978931545255240..comments2024-01-20T18:08:44.444-05:00Comments on You Can Never Have Too Many Books: The Language of the Night - what is good fantasy?Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09095246748581382752noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6145452263098688113.post-71878882159164007832009-08-01T00:21:53.646-04:002009-08-01T00:21:53.646-04:00Oops wanted to add while fantasy does not often ge...Oops wanted to add while fantasy does not often get taken seriously, in recent years we have seen some seriously major works of literature emerge from fantasy, I am thinking of Philip Pullman's Dark materials triliogy, while controversial it is also one of the most important books to emerge from children's and young adult literature in a long time and again it represents the creation of a world and characters that are so vividly realised they are impossible to forget.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6145452263098688113.post-45589033502525830562009-08-01T00:15:02.344-04:002009-08-01T00:15:02.344-04:00I have been meaning to come back and comment on th...I have been meaning to come back and comment on this post, which is a great post by the way and I really must get a copy of Le Guin's essays. It really sums why some books are so powerfully realised and others are not, why some books and characters take up permanent residence in your imagination. For me one of the most powerful fantasies has been Mervyn Peake's Gormenghast series, tragic that he was not able to complete it. Neil Gaiman is another author who creates powerfully realised landscapes. Great post.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6145452263098688113.post-50480687288016265022009-07-31T19:31:03.991-04:002009-07-31T19:31:03.991-04:00Chris: I think you're right! I've seen p...Chris: I think you're right! I've seen people turn away from Fantasy just because of the name. I'm not sure changing the name will help...maybe not having any categories would help, but I think the publishers would blow up if we did that! I worked in bookstores for many years, and categorizing them helped them to know where to put books or how to sell them (the market). Us book-lovers, on the other hand, want usually to know if it's good, first, though I do know many people (especially when i worked in those bookstores) who read only romances or mysteries or fiction or sf. It's an interesting conundrum, isn't it?<br /><br />I'll keep an eye out for your book. It's title seems familiar, so I think I've seen it reviewed, possibly in Locus....<br /><br />i'll have to think if I like fantasy as 'extended reality'. That reminds me of quantum physics more than fantasy!Susanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09095246748581382752noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6145452263098688113.post-42665327131070741482009-07-30T04:28:43.817-04:002009-07-30T04:28:43.817-04:00Your article about fantasy is excellent and I agre...Your article about fantasy is excellent and I agree with all you say. It struck me as I was reading it that much of the reason why some people 'don't read fantasy' is for no other reason than it is called 'fantasy'. Your article makes we wonder whether fantasy is, in fact, a huge misnomer, which does the genre a great disservice. We we not be better giving it a label of 'extended reality'? That's how I perceive my 'fantasy' writing.<br /><br />Chris Warren<br />Author and Freelance Writer<br />Randolph's Challenge, Book One - The Pendulum SwingsChris Warrenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00960167773718414439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6145452263098688113.post-83277912379484782952009-07-27T23:45:09.839-04:002009-07-27T23:45:09.839-04:00Table Talk: Ann! You're back! I'll come...Table Talk: Ann! You're back! I'll come find you! *happy dance*<br /><br />Rhinoa: I think that is the most recent book by Le Guin, that Nymeth posted about. I'll have to go read it - I'm so far behind in visiting blogs this month! and you know Nymeth's review will make me want to run out and buy it right away! lol<br /><br />Middle Earth, Narnia....both worlds are ones I'd love to visit!there are so many worlds - I think that is what is part of what I like so much about reading, and fantasy, is the variety and wonder that is imagined. It's breathtaking.<br /><br />I enjoy urban fantasy for the very same reasons! :-D<br /><br />Kailana: I know, some of the essays are dated. What is really shocking though, is how some of the concerns she has about women sci fi writers (there are more now, but still only a small percentage of sci fi writers are women) and how the bestseller still rules over thought-provoking original works. Yet, I think, original works will last, because of their nature.<br /><br />I'm glad I could find you a book you hadn't read yet! lol (you read so much more quickly and faster than I do...)<br /><br />Jeane: I'm sure you've read Nymeth's post about Le Guin's latest book of essays. I have to go read both Nymeth and the book - I haven't found it here yet - there is so much to think about, interesting questions Le Guin raises about this field we love so much. I hope you can find a copy!<br /><br />Lezlie: when I was a child, sometimes I would cry because I wanted to go so badly, too! and I couldn't....so I understand you! and I completely agree with your choices, I'd LOVE to go to Harry Potter's world - well, find the magic that 'our' world has there. and Newford - fabulous. a little bit frightening, but oh so cool to live there. Good choices!<br /><br />Memory: her essays are easy to read, because she's interested in discussing ideas about science fiction. She's not pretentious, although she tackles difficult subjects - sexism, culturalism, reimagining creatively, artistically, exploring what it means to be human, which she says is the writer's job and gift, and science fiction lets us go forwards and backwards, and imagine it differently. I hope you can find a copy of the book, too!<br /><br />I like/am terrified of the world Kay sends his characters too in the Fionavar Tapestry. Also his Sarantium series, which was really, really good writing. another good choice, Memory!<br /><br />Hazra: I haven't read any Terry Pratchett since I was in my 20's. I have to pick some up again, I know everyone enjoys him, but I wasn't in the mood for puns etc when I was younger. Now I'm older and need to laugh, so it's time!! lol I do agree with you about Harry Potter, I always wished this world had magic like in the Potter books (well, without Death eaters, and Lord Voldemort....)Susanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09095246748581382752noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6145452263098688113.post-6012722866344870022009-07-25T05:05:39.864-04:002009-07-25T05:05:39.864-04:00If you consider a completely true fantasy world, I...If you consider a completely true fantasy world, I would love to go to Middle Earth, as would everybody else, I'm sure. But a parallel world, like the Harry Potter universe is really fascinating to me as well, because it involves the intermingling of fantasy and reality. And I would like to be on Discworld, for only a short time though, to experience the mayhem that comes across in Pratchett's writing.Hazrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08441208944580008891noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6145452263098688113.post-18827892432747851972009-07-24T20:30:27.524-04:002009-07-24T20:30:27.524-04:00I NEED to read some of Le Guin's criticism. I...I NEED to read some of Le Guin's criticism. I often find her prose difficult, but the quotes you've posted convince me she's worth the effort.<br /><br />As far as worlds and authors go, Guy Gavriel Kay rarely fails to resonate with me. TIGANA and LORD OF EMPERORS are by far my favourites among his novels; I get chills just thinking about them. Ditto for the four books in Sarah Monette's DOCTRINE OF LABYRINTHS series. And Lloyd Alexander still kicks my soul up a notch sixteen years after I first discovered him. I would visit Prydain in a heartbeat.Memoryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03922151273874989122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6145452263098688113.post-19650584306060529522009-07-24T08:21:54.755-04:002009-07-24T08:21:54.755-04:00I have really really really really always wanted e...I have really really really really always wanted either:<br /><br />A) Harry Potter or<br />B) Newford from Charles de Lint's books<br /><br />to be real. Confession: Sometimes I get this really sad ache in my chest when I realize that this is it. I know that sounds silly, but they're just so magical - danger and all - that I feel like I have to see them at some point, or I haven't lived all the way! I guess it just means I'll have to read and reread the books :)Leslie @ This is the Refrainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18027804132268043518noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6145452263098688113.post-66129980412046391732009-07-24T08:15:59.489-04:002009-07-24T08:15:59.489-04:00Oo, I read one Angela Carter and it gave me the sh...Oo, I read one Angela Carter and it gave me the shivers, it was such a vivid (and frightening) world! This sounds so lovely, I do want to get my hands on a copy to read. LeGuin is one of my favorite authors, and it sounds like she has a lot of great stuff to say about writing.Jeanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02270303640902731044noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6145452263098688113.post-52501601787074351712009-07-24T05:26:22.898-04:002009-07-24T05:26:22.898-04:00I actually read this a few weeks ago. I have to s...I actually read this a few weeks ago. I have to say, I liked some essays in the book better than others. I think maybe I found a couple others a bit dated. It was interesting, though. I came across it because you mentioned it earlier this year, actually, so thanks!Kailanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11136262232046813471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6145452263098688113.post-37881817673287545682009-07-24T05:10:15.069-04:002009-07-24T05:10:15.069-04:00Nymeth recently posted about a different book by L...Nymeth recently posted about a different book by Le Guin that collects some more of her essays on fantasy and what it is. <br /><br />I would love to experience Middle Earth and meet the hobbits etc. Narnia also sounds like an interesting place and I would love to talk to the animals and hear their thoughts on a bunch of mundane matters! <br /><br />It was interesting what you said about fantasy worlds. I read a lot of urban fantasy which is often set in real cities and towns with supernatural twists. I really enjoy the genre and I like that it makes mundane places magical.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6145452263098688113.post-15889957837311847712009-07-24T04:00:57.965-04:002009-07-24T04:00:57.965-04:00Hi Susan, just to let you know that I'm back ...Hi Susan, just to let you know that I'm back on the blogging block, although I've had to change platforms. The link should take you through. <br /><br />This book is sitting on my shelf looking at me. Clearly, I'm going to have to find time to get acquainted with it.Table Talkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06132815228630780151noreply@blogger.com