Category: Fantasy with Friends

Fantasy with Friends is a weekly meme hosted by the good people over at Pages Unbound. Fantasy with Friends poses questions each Monday about fantasy, either as a genre as a whole or individual works.

This week’s prompt is:

Do you enjoy books about schools of magic, or do you think they are overdone? Do you have any favorite magical schools or magical school books?

On the one hand, I feel like I’ve read a million of these, but I’m having trouble coming up with actual names:

• There’s Hogwarts, of course, that’s going to be pretty much everyone’s first thought, right? (as much as many of us don’t want it to be, for variety of reasons)
• Of course, you’ve got Brakebills University for Magical Pedagogy, which is both cooler, and freakier than that.
• I remember liking The Osthorne Academy of Young Mages from Sarah Gailey’s Magic for Liars, but don’t ask me anything about it.
• I’ve never gotten around to reading about Novik’s Scholomance (I don’t even know the full name), but I’ve heard a lot of good, bad, and meh about it. So I don’t know if I actually will get around to it.
• I’ve also never gotten around to reading Rowell’s books about the Watford School of Magicks (and I really only skimmed the bits from Fanboy about it, too).
• Annnd…that’s it. That’s all I can remember.

This suggests that I haven’t read as many as I think I have, or that my memory is garbage. I’m ready to believe either.

The Summer Program at the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs kind of counts, but not really. Ditto for Camp Half-Blood or Camp Jupiter. Drew Hayes’ Trestlevend University comes close, too. But all of these are really for parahuman/supernatural beings, not quite magic schools.

So, do I think they’re overdone? Maybe, but I clearly haven’t over-read from them. But also, anything can be “overdone” until it’s not. It’s all about the execution, not the elements that make it up. Sure, many things could scream “Hogwarts Knockoff,” but it could be written in such a distinct, clever, and engrossing way that we’ll all start saying that “Hogwarts walked so [insert name] could run.” Any trope, theme, setting, or character type can be overdone, tired, or used enough to be a cliche. But if the right author comes along and deals with them in their own particular way, we just won’t care.

Do I enjoy these? Sure–if everything else is compelling. That’s kind of the core, really–I liked the silly escapism of Hogwarts, and the almost complete lack of silliness to Brakebills. I can’t tell you why I enjoyed Osthorne, but I think it was just a step or two away from a typical American High School depiction, just with that magic flair. It’s really not the school–it’s the depiction of it and the world it’s in.

Basically, if you throw a bunch of mages (or whatever you want to call them) of various skill levels in a building together, and insert some sort of outside complication or inside conflict, something entertaining is bound to happen. Kids with adults, rookie adults with experienced adults? Doctorates and grad students mixing together? Whatever. All of those can be a source of whimsy, comedy, horror, drama, trauma, adventure, and so many other things. So yeah, bring ’em on.

I’m sure some of the other posts in response to this prompt will be more thoughtful. I’m looking forward to reading them. Do you have responses to this? (either for the comment section below or from your own post)

Fantasy with Friends is a weekly meme hosted by the good people over at Pages Unbound. Fantasy with Friends poses questions each Monday about fantasy, either as a genre as a whole or individual works.

This week’s prompt is:

There are many interpretations of dragons in literature – evil, wise, talking, non-talking, etc. Do you have a favorite way of portraying dragons or a specific book you loved the dragon(s) in?

It’s hard to think of a bad portrayal of a dragon—there are just varieties and levels of good, right? Like Pizza or…well, you know..

There’s just something about these serpentine creatures that captures the imagination—just look at the number of that crop up in stories world over for centuries now, from Wales to China and beyond. Spend a little time watching video of a Komodo Dragon and you get a little of the flavor that inspired so many—they’re so alien, so powerful, grawlixing fascinating. And Fantasy authors/filmmakers/illustrators/animators have taken that fertile ground and run wild with it.

Rabid, vicious beasty. Noble animal ridden by knights/warriors like a war horse. Intelligent being with incredible power (and frequently wisdom). I’ll take any of them. I think I prefer the intelligent, talking kind—of course, I think the same thing about dogs in fiction. Or almost any animal. But I’m getting distracted.

I think back to Dragonlance in general—but specifically to The Legend of Huma and the great dogfights (no species disrespect intended) between mounted riders. They really ignited my fascination with the species–but I can’t remember not being into dragons before that, either. You get some of the same in Paolini’s Inheritance Cycle (I think, I only read the first one ages ago). Or, you get that—but with talking dragons in Novak’s Temeraire series. (did Paolini’s dragons talk? I forget. Hope my second son doesn’t read this post, or I’m going to get a stern talking to). I don’t read much anymore that really features that kind of use of dragons—but I suddenly really want to.

Lately, most of the dragons I can think of are solitary figures with their hoard. Like Eustace (and his predecessor) or Smaug. The Dragon species as depicted in McGuire’s InCryptid books are fascinating. You get the sole, powerful being with his hoard—that’s also almost humanized by his mates (that’s not the right term, but I’m not sitting next to the books to get a better one as I type this up).

Then there are the dragons in Evan Winter’s The Burning–that was a grim vision of dragons (not unlike those of Westeros, just maybe a bit more dangerous). The dragony draccus that Kvothe and Denna encounter. The dragon in the Alex Verus books is one of the more daunting creatures I can think of in Fantasy. Peter Beagle’s variety of them from I’m Afraid You’ve Got Dragons is a take we need more of.

I’m not super-crazy about Harry Dresden’s Ferrovax or Fred, The Vampire Accountant’s Gideon, the King of the West–super powerful and ancient dragons, who walk around looking like humans. I mean, they’re cool characters—I just don’t like that kind of dragon in theory, I want them to be unmistakably dragony.

I do think my favorite recent(ish) dragon is Eoin Colfer’s Vern (short for Wyvern). He’s lived all over the world over the last 3,000 years, but hides out in the swamps of Lousinana when we meet him in Highfire. He spends his days drinking vodka, binging Netflix, and being lazy (until it’s time for him to get all terrifying and viscious). I need to revisit him.

I can’t neglect Zoth-Avarex, the Self-Proclaimed Greatest Dragon in the Multiverse, either. Lockhaven has a lot of fun with him in the novel that shares his name, the sequel novella, and then The Azure Archipelago series. He’s egotistical, a hoot to read about, and has a surprising arc after all. You love to see him get his comeuppance…and to see him grow. Lockhaven’s got a new book on the horizon and the dragon in that one is one you really need to meet. That’s all I can say now.

Oh, I shouldn’t forget the cute hatchling from Miss Percy—I haven’t read the rest of the series, so I can’t comment on what he becomes. Come on—a clumsy lizard acting like a devoted puppy? Just so good.

I think I started with an outline and thesis in mind, but I got all distracted and just started rambling about some particular dragons. It fits, because it’s hard to be organized when you think about this kind of thing. Dragons, like bow ties and Stetsons, are cool. Everything else is just icing on the cake. We might as well just revel in it.

I’m sure some of the other posts in response to this prompt will be more thoughtful. I’m looking forward to reading them. Do you have responses to this? (either for the comment section below or from your own post)

Fantasy with Friends is a weekly meme hosted by the good people over at Pages Unbound. Fantasy with Friends poses questions each Monday about fantasy, either as a genre as a whole or individual works.

This week’s prompt is:

What do you think of the current trend for cozy fantasy? Why do you think it is currently so popular? What makes a good cozy fantasy?

What do I think about them? I love ‘em! Even the ones that haven’t really wowed me, I relish spending time in them. Why? It’s in the name. Cozy. They’re comfortable, they’re warm, it’s perfect escapism—a cool world (largely generic fantasy that readers can plug into instantly), characters that are largely loveable doing relatable things, with an almost sure guarantee of a comforting ending.

Why do I think they’re so popular right now? Read the description I just sketched out and then spend 5 minutes (at the most) on your favorite social media platform. I think that explains it.

I pretty much already addressed the last question—but there’s a little more that makes a good cozy fantasy. There’s some good friendships, there’s some personal growth—at least for the protagonist, maybe for some friends, too. That’ll focus on a career change for the protagonist, finding their place in a new community, and so on. There might be (but it’s not necessary) a hint of romance. You’ll have a lot of fantasy tropes, species, and features—but the focus will almost certainly not be on a typical fantasy story. Instead, it’ll be something mundane—e.g., opening a coffee shop, a cocktail bar, inventing nachos and karaoke while working on a treasure map. Some gentle humor, too—a laugh-out-loud moment or two, but mostly just warm humor.

Writing this up reminded me of a couple of cozy fantasy novels I’ve been meaning to buy and read. I think I’ll go do that now.

I’m sure some of the other posts in response to this prompt will be more thoughtful. I’m looking forward to reading them. Do you have responses to this? (either for the comment section below or from your own post)

Fantasy with Friends is a weekly meme hosted by the good people over at Pages Unbound. Fantasy with Friends poses questions each Monday about fantasy, either as a genre as a whole or individual works.

This week’s prompt is:

What do you think of romantasy as a category? What makes something romantasy vs. a fantasy book with a romance?

As for the subgenre as a whole, it’s not for me. I’ve got nothing against it, but it’s not something I seek out or would. But I have friends who love it—I have family members who love it—and I’m glad they have something that entertains them.

There are individual works that I’ve read and enjoyed—some I didn’t realize fit into that category until after I’d read them, and one or two I’ve been specifically recommended. So yeah…I don’t see myself as a fan of the subgenre, but that doesn’t mean I will run away from a good one. I just won’t go looking for one.

For me—and I’m looking forward to reading more informed definitions—a Romantasy is a Romance Novel that takes place in a Fantasy world (the way that the Eddie LaCrosse novels are Detective Novels that take place in a Fantasy world, or The Midsolar Murder books are Murder Mysteries on a Space Station, etc.). These are distinguished from books that are solid Fantasy novels with a love story (The Bright Sword, for example); or a Detective Novel with a touch of the mystic (or at least possibility of it) like the Walt Longmire series; or a Science Fiction novel where someone is murdered like 2001: A Space Odyssey.

Given that understanding, my typical disinclination to reading Romance is the same as disinclination to reading Romantasy.

I’m sure some of the other posts in response to this prompt will be more thoughtful. I’m looking forward to reading them. Do you have responses to this? (either for the comment section below or from your own post)

Fantasy with Friends is a weekly meme hosted by the good people over at Pages Unbound. Fantasy with Friends poses questions each Monday about fantasy, either as a genre as a whole or individual works.

This week’s prompt is:

Fae have been popular in fantasy the past couple years. Do you have a favorite portrayal of Fae? What aspects do you think are important to Fae characterization? Do you prefer traditional representations or unique takes?

As with many things, my favorite is the one I’m reading or most recently read. I’ve read so many Dresden Files recently that that’s my answer for now. The Fae Courts that Harry has to navigate (and now represents one of) are a great setup, ripe with drama; to learn (as we do in drips and drabs) what the Courts are up to—and aren’t telling people about—and the details about their inner-workings are just delicious.

But I have a large soft-spot for Toby McGuire’s world, too. And the…oh, wait, the prompt says favorite, not favorites.

What aspects of the Fae are important in a depiction? The impossible beauty, the power (obviously), the inability to lie (and the ever-so-fun ways they devise to deceive with the truth, or carefully selected portions of it), and the danger of iron.

It’s tough to say if I prefer “traditional representations” or something unique. Because I honestly don’t know anymore what’s a “traditional” representation anymore. Everything I can think of falls into unique.* But I’d probably say something unique anyway. That’s the fun thing, isn’t it? Butcher’s take on Wizards, Fae, Vampires, Werewolves, etc. are different than Faith Hunter’s, Drew Hayes’ or Patricia Briggs’. Or, let’s focus on fae: Seanan McGuire’s, Patrick Rothfuss’, and Heather Fawcett’s couldn’t be more different—throw in George MacDonald and you might as well be talking completely different species. It’s great to see the commonalities that all of these share, and the distinctives, too. The idiosyncrasies of each depiction are where the magic lays. You take the “traditional” approach, shave off those aspects you aren’t interested in (or don’t help the story you’re trying to tell), add whatever bits of contemporary feel you want…and bang. You’ve got yourself a wonderful world for story telling.

* This means, as soon as I hit “Schedule” on this post—or, at best, within 24 hours of this posting, I’ll think of at least a half-dozen things I should’ve said here about traditional representations.

I’m sure some of the other posts in response to this prompt will be more thoughtful. I’m looking forward to reading them. Do you have responses to this? (either for the comment section below or from your own post)

Fantasy with Friends is a weekly meme hosted by the good people over at Pages Unbound. Fantasy with Friends poses questions each Monday about fantasy, either as a genre as a whole or individual works.

This week’s prompt is:

Which genre are you eager to jump into more this year, and what draws you to it? Do you think fantasy still isn’t taken “seriously” as literature by some people or in some circles? What response do you have to that?

Oh, I know it isn’t. There are just some snobs that have a hard time recognizing genre fiction at all as “serious.” They’ll glance at something like A Song of Ice and Fire because no one can stop talking about the show—and mostly cover their sneer. What was that hit piece that someone did on Sanderson a year or so ago? Look at the response to Romantasy trend—or think back to responses of Pottermania.

What’s my reaction to that lack of recognition? I ignore it. They’re not going to change—at least by and large. It’s not my job to convince anyone to read a book or a genre they’re not interested in. I have a good friend who wanted to try the Dresden Files, but couldn’t handle the magic—as much as he was enjoying Harry and the other characters. Now, he’s not disdainful of the genre—but the same principle can apply to others, there’s just something about Fantasy that turns them off and for many people that will result in belittling. These people, by and large, are not worth wasting time and ink on (even if the ink is made up of bits on a screen).

I think if I’d decided to try to convince someone to give Fantasy a try, or at the very least, to consider that some works could have literary merit—I wouldn’t try for the genre as a whole. I’d pick a book that I think would appeal to them. And then, an other. And another after that. Take down the prejudice down one brick at a time. Does it work? Well, with my friend and the Dresden Files, nope. But it has with others. And I’m coming up with another way to trick him into giving Fantasy a shot. It’ll just be in a few months after he’s read that I’m planning on tricking him.

I’m sure some of the other posts in response to this prompt will be more thoughtful. I’m looking forward to reading them. Do you have responses to this? (either for the comment section below or from your own post)