Reaching Outside the Genre
Aaron Miles
The fantasy genre is a curious beast, its wide reach covering a range of topics and themes. It has stories about growing up, stories about overcoming problems, stories about slaying…
Articles
The Problem with Abandoning the “Strong Female Character”
A. M. Justice
Yet another descriptor has been caught in the verboten term net. Recently, several essays have appeared arguing that people should stop using the term “strong female character” (SFC) or “strong…
Small Press, Big Stories: The Expo!
Steven Poore
Today on Small Press, Big Stories – an announcement! On Saturday 24th February, the Forbidden Planet London Megastore will be hosting a small press expo! Authors and editors from four…
Monthly Short Stories Winner: Water
Xiagan
This month we asked for stories, where water of any kind was a key element. It didn’t matter if it was a stormy sea, a misty lake, a polluted river,…
In Defence of a Zombie-Free Apocalypse – Part One: Vampires, Werewolves, and Ghosts
Richard Marpole
Zombies are awful. They look disgusting and they smell worse. Their eating habits are appalling. Their conversational skills leave a lot to be desired. People keep trying to explain them…
Time Travel in Fantasy: More Common Than You’d Think
Nicola Alter
Many of us associate time travel with science fiction, picturing tinkering scientists, time machines, futuristic societies, wormholes, or space travel. This is in no small part due to the H.…
Ursula K. Le Guin – In Memoriam
Jonathan Thornton
I feel I owe you, my readers, something this evening. Why am I so utterly devastated? Why am I going to sleep with a first edition of The Dispossessed under…
Dungeons and Dragons – An Adventure in Two Worlds
Geoff Matthews
Kenric awoke to the smell of his own urine. Sweet and acrid. He raised a hand to his head and massaged his temples. The thumping ache behind his eyes, threatening…
Locked Up Abroad: Lessons From the Streets of Fantasy – Guest Blog by K. S. Villoso
K. S. Villoso
You ever wonder if a fantasy novel can actually help you survive in a real life situation? I don’t mean teach you about sword-fighting and how to slay dragons, or…
Fantasy-Faction’s Best Fantasy Books of 2017
Jennie Ivins
2017 was a heck of a year! And we mean that we a giant *SIGH* right after it. But while the world around us seem to darken as the year…
Small Press, Big Stories: 2017 In Review
While the world goes to hell in a handcart, it’s still been a heck of a year in fantasy fiction. And small and independent presses have definitely had their fair…
Books You Should Buy With Your Holiday Money
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays Factioners! At this festive time of year whether you celebrate Yule, Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, or any other December holidays, you may end up facing a…