What Makes A Fantasy Fan?
Ben Galley
I wrote a blog a long time ago about trying to spot fantasy authors while doing book signings. For anyone who might have read that old dusty post (it’s been…
fantasy
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…
The Wounded Guardian by Duncan Lay
Dan Hanks
Under the bright blue skies and Antarctic winds of an Australian winter, I happened across local fantasy author Duncan Lay enthusiastically undertaking a signing outside a bookstore. Sleeves rolled up…
Dreamsongs: A Retrospective – Book One by George R. R. Martin
Dominic Stevens
George R. R. Martin is not just one of the most popular writers in fantasy right now, but in fiction full stop. Game of Thrones has been one of the…
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…
Laura Lam Interview
Leo Elijah Cristea
Laura Lam’s book—Pantomime—might not be released until after the New Year, but already she’s beginning to make her stamp on the YA fantasy world, with excellent advance reviews and a…
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…
The Liminal People by Ayize Jama-Everett
Matt Maenpaa
The word limen in Latin means “a threshold”, and in modern context, the word liminal can be interpreted as a state between one or the other, often in reference to…
Songs of the Earth by Elspeth Cooper
Alister Davison
It’s been reviewed here before, has been a book club read, but Songs of the Earth is a book I have to shout about. Here’s why. Years ago, I gave…
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…
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…