KnightsTM
From what I’ve been reading, people certainly feel as if there’s something amiss with what epic fantasy being published today. Either there isn’t enough of it, it’s dead (or not), it’s dying (or not), or it’s just lacking a je ne sais quoi. Certainly, I feel that perhaps it isn’t as pervasive as it once was, and has, in some cases, become either complete cliche or entirely inaccessible.
Paul Jessup linked to an article from IRoSF this morning on a somewhat unrelated subject, but indicated that sf/f makes up a little over 17% of the market, over $700 million. But if you think about that number, and what it includes, that’s quite a width and breadth.
In the 60s, when fantasy was “new”, fantasy as a genre had yet to be branded. There were no tie-ins yet, no movies, or light-up mugs. Most of the conversation then was fantasy writing and its connection to the myths and legends of bygone eras, more fodder for medievalists than the media.
And now, almost fifty years later, we’re in a very different world. Everyone understands, or so they think, what fantasy writing is. It’s swords, sorcery, sorcerors… usually included in the mix are some brawny dudes, scantily clad lasses, and sidekicks with clever quips. Right?
Well not exactly, of course. Those of us who write and read the genre know that it’s a great deal more complicated than that, and that real epic fantasy doesn’t just rewrite (because that’s important) but it challenges our ideas and preconceptions, too.
What I see in the market that is slightly disturbing to me is the adherence to brands in fantasy literature. This happens in SF too, and to a similar degree–but I don’t think it’s bled into the mainstream as much. There seems to be a great deal of new, exciting, unusual work being done in SF, but seemingly less in fantasy writing.
So, there are approximately 10 million subscribers to WoW (if every WoW subscriber bought one fantasy novel a year, even in paperback, that’d account for nearly the entire statistic above). You’d imagine they’re the perfect folks to get into epic fantasy–clearly they have a thing for armor, quests, etc, ad nauseam. But are they buying new epic fantasy, too? Or are they sticking with more familiar territory, like WoW novels, Forgotten Realms, Dragonlance, that sort of thing? Do the markets coincide much? I know they do, on some level, because I’ve met plenty of intelligent WoWers. But is it a wide enough trend to make a difference? Has fantasy in general become so mainstream that it’s too hard to do seriously any longer?
I just wonder if people are more likely to pick up something familiar, something branded, because it’s comfortable. It won’t challenge, it won’t discomfit, it will just be entertaining. And there isn’t anything wrong with that, if that’s the case, but it does shed some light into an increasingly complex genre.
So, as writers of fantasy, then, do we write what the readers want to read, or do we challenge them? Do we put success higher up in our priorities than telling the stories we feel are most important?
I’m not really sure, when it comes to it. I want to see more epic fantasy that pushes the envelope, that gets everyone talking… just not sure where it’ll come from, or when, or how. Maybe I already missed it? Maybe the Golden Age is passed, and we have to work harder to make the next age as impressive.
The Aldersgate Cycle 
September 3, 2008 at 8:58 pm
I used to read much more fantasy than I do now! But there are too many choices! I don’t know where to begin anymore. If I’m looking for something I haven’t read yet I’m more likely to pick up something old simply because I’ve heard of it.
If I hear/read that the author was specifically writing for a cause I usually won’t read it. I don’t mind if I can tell what an author’s opinions are but if s/he says “I was writing this because we need more strong female leads” or “to challenge a religion” or something my experience is the book is more preachy than entertaining. If the book actually has a strong female lead or is challenging isn’t the problem, it’s when the intent is to moralize that the story suffers.
I imagine your world-view would inform your story, in any event, so write what you want and don’t worry about the rest. ^^ I think there’s an audience for either type of story.
Umm, I don’t know if that actually helps. You surely gave ME something to think about, though. =3
September 3, 2008 at 9:34 pm
@dryope It’s strange what informs our purchases. Having worked in marketing the last few years, I’m always hyper aware of what goes into something like a book cover, and how you’re supposed to react to something. Bare chests, bodices, that sort of thing seems to drive romance – and to some extent fantasy, too.
I don’t know if I write from a specific cause, but the longer works of mine are certainly more often than not inspired by a thought or an idea. And I do write my beliefs in, a bit, though I try not to be overt and let the reader make their own decisions. It’s no fun to lead a reader, which some authors do, to decisions.
And as for audiences, they’re certainly there. I’m just pretty sure the dynamic is changing, and has changed significantly, even in the last few years.
September 4, 2008 at 5:32 pm
The internet, to me, is a large constituent in the battle of the shrinking (quality) epic fantasy genre.
As you said WoW and it’s elk are a massive suck on not only the market in regards to branding, but time, interest and interactivity.
In a world of such things as virtual worlds and user-accessibility I think a lot of people that have any interest in epic fantasy more or less go straight to ‘how can I be in it?’, and thus MMORPGs are made larger, video games stretch farther and the ever present film industry can eat it all up.
It’s probably an extension of the entire paper-printed novel vs. current, next-gen media.
September 4, 2008 at 9:37 pm
@RG Sanders Hmm… I don’t think the next-gen media is on the side of branding and WoWers. Online journals, for instance, have seen record numbers of readership compared to print media, ushering in a rather staggering new group of readers to publications that have been struggling the last few decades in print.
Growing up in the US I’ve had branding be a huge part of my life; in the 80s, we learned that cartoons could be on anything, and that kids would, of course, scoop it up. I wonder if this generation is just so familiar with branding that venturing out into unsanctioned land is just too scary?
I think the web is the perfect way to tap into the minds and hearts of folks on the fence, people who love games like WoW, but don’t pick up the newest novels at the B&N. Having something accessible, instant, and frequent, well, that changes things. Because with social media, more and more readers can interact with writers, become parts of their worlds.
November 14, 2008 at 4:58 pm
I like the comment you made about the focus of epic fantasy. I agree that the focus should be on the challenge of ideas on the conflict of the characters and not on the swords, sorcerors, or worlds. The quality of the telling of the stories, but perhaps not the stories themselves, are suffering from this lack of focus.
Most of the printed fantasy is simply cliche. However, I have been able to find some very good writing combined with a good story at different places on the Internet. I have to believe that quality fantasy is being written but accessibility may be the issue.
As with all writing, we must write what we feel is a good story and then hopefully the readers will also think so.
November 14, 2008 at 9:52 pm
I used to have this very problem many years ago where I wouldn’t “venture out” into other fantasy titles, mainly because they were not familiar. Just like you pointed out, I too tended to gravitate toward more widely known titles like Dragonlance and Forgotten Realms.
However, a moment of desperation for something (anything) to read, led me to break from this trend. That was when I purchased the Eye of the World by Robert Jordan. This was many years ago, when the third installment of the book had just released and not many people knew about the series. At first I didn’t think I was going to like it, mainly because it was so different from what I had come to expect from fantasy. However, I stuck with it and it went on to become one of my all-time favorite series.
I think therein lies the problem. Fantasy as a genre forces the reader to grasp and adopt certain rules that pertain to the world they are reading about. If you are an avid fan of the genre, making this effort doesn’t frighten you. However, for the average fantasy reader it becomes more of an investment than they are willing to make.
This is why I there is not a tremendous amount of diversity in fantasy worlds from the one established by Tolkien. For many, fantasy means that elves will be elves, dwarves will be dwarves, and that is the end of it. The ones that do break from this “gold standard” are also the ones that typically fall into obscurity, which is a shame.
I’ve been an aspiring fantasy writer and artist for nearly 15 years. In the area of writing I have very little to show for my efforts. The reason is this: I want to create something truly unique that doesn’t hearken back to that aforementioned “gold standard”. Unfortunately, my realistic side knows that if I ever do, the chances of it actually being read are relatively small.
I think the fantasy genre is due for another “golden age” where it steps outside of the mainstream. Unfortunately, changes of that magnitude are often slow and meet with a lot of resistance.
November 15, 2008 at 2:59 pm
@Rick I think accessibility is a big issue as well, but I think it’s changing. People are demonstrating through the power of the internet, and the sudden exposure to millions of readers, that they can change trends in the literary market. It’s an exciting time to be in.
November 15, 2008 at 3:01 pm
@gryffonx There is a lot of pressure to be unique, you’re absolutely right. But I do also always write from the knowledge that I’m pulling from tradition. It’s important to balance what’s familiar and new, so readers can really identify. Take Tolkien for instance–his world was so familiar, yet so his own, because he incorporated so much from what we already know in legend and myth and made it even more powerful!
November 15, 2008 at 3:01 pm
(and wow… as a side note, this post is suddenly seeing a lot of traffic! Funny how the internet works!)