The Pros and Cons of Worldbuilding Using Unfamiliar Cultures
Jay Kristoff
When I decided I wanted to try my hand at writing a steampunk novel, I gave myself a few provisos. The first was that I’d avoid the rose-colored goggles point…
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Fantasy As Escapism: Avoiding Boredom or Uncertainty?
Eric Christensen
In my last Fantasy-Faction article, I quoted a recent article in The New Yorker by Arthur Krystal in which he denigrated genre fiction, suggesting that readers rely on it as…
Faerie-Tales: The New “Thing” in Fantasy Entertainment
Rachel Riegel
First it was vampires and then it was zombies. Now it’s faerie-tales. What will the next fad be? Necrophilia and bestiality? Supernatural teen pregnancy? Oh, wait. I forgot. Twilight already…
Historical Fantasy vs. Historical Fiction
Ashley Barnard
It has been almost eight years since I’ve been on stage — twelve since I’ve been in a major role — and yet I still have the Actor’s Nightmare at…
Fantasy Influences: Ancient Greek Mythology – Part Two
Victoria Hooper
You can read part one of this series here. In the last article, I looked at Greek mythology’s influence on fantasy, including the hero’s quest and what he or she…
Genre Blending
Ryan Howse
It should surprise no one, given where I’m writing this from, that I am a fan of fantasy. But while it’s my favorite genre, it’s not my only love. I’m…
Maps And eReaders
Zachary A. Matzo
“I wisely started with a map.” – J.R.R. Tolkien. Clearly ebook publishers ascribe to a different way of thinking. Does Amazon.com hate fantasy readers? Does Barnes & Noble? Kobo? Apple?…
Pirates: Fantasy’s Forgotten Scoundrels
Laura Graham
I’m going to start you off with a quiz this month. Nice and simple, five questions, just to see what you really know about pirates. 1. Apart from as a…
Layers of Reality
Max Edwards
As an English Undergraduate at a UK university, I often feel an obscene sense of guilt and embarrassment when asked what, specifically, I enjoy reading. When I respond with “science…
Hybrid Fantasy
Once upon a time, fantasy stories had a relatively simple format. Typically, a hero fought a monster, and there was often some magic involved. This format goes as far back…
Raiders of the Lost Art
Dan Hanks
It was always a dream of mine that once my book was published, and the film deal secured, Drew Struzan and Ralph McQuarrie would step into Bespin’s carbon-freezing chamber and…
Video Games: Thank You, Fantasy.
R.T. Kaelin
$17 billion. In 2011, US consumers spent $17 billion on video games. That is $54 for every man, woman, and child in the country. And that’s actually down from the…