Fantasy Sub-Genres

[sparkle]

Hello! Nice forum! Very...
- cool!
Ok. I'm representing the Romanian Fantasy Community, and we're conducting an investigation concerning fantasy sub-genres. We really need your help here. The internet has many articles on this, but some real feed-back from f. fans and writers would be better. So, considering we are few in number, we want to ask you about it.
You may also take it as a quiz, as we have some point-questions. But anything related to the topic would be real nice.

High fantasy - please a small definition
Dark fantasy - examples of best works
Bangsian fantasy - also a definition
About sword&sorcery - heroic f. - what are the differences between them?
An the last one, how can you call a story that tells the creation of the world and the beginning of all things?

Thanx. i'm off

[kartaron]

As I understand it:

High fantasy - A story that is based in a traditional fantasy enviornment that attempts to reach a level of acceptance to be considered literature. Generally the structure is tighter the characters are well defined and the story tends to lean towards allegory.

Dark fantasy - Dracula, Frankenstein, Interview with the Vampire... Some of Stephen King's books would fit.

Bangsian fantasy - never heard of it so I looked it up: Comic, occasionally savage, spoof fantasy set in the afterlife. This is an example of a genre so specific that you have to wonder if there are more than a few books that qualify.

About sword&sorcery - heroic f. - The opposite of high fantasy, The rules of the world can change depending on the need of the author, the plot is loose and has gaps, characters are one dimensional. the point of these stories is to celebrate the actions of the broad characters.

Between the two sword and sorcery would be more likely to be pure fantasy but the heroic fiction would tend toward fictional characters in historic times. Conan is S&S while King Arthur is HF.

An the last one, how can you call a story that tells the creation of the world and the beginning of all things?

I dont understand the question, Nearly all fantasy have some story that describes the beginning of their world. If you mean a book that focuses exclusively on that, then I doubt there are enough of the to qualify for a sub-genre. More likely it would fall under another genre based on how it was told.


Remember that it is not impossible for a book to be in several genres, even apparently competing genres. Think of music... is metal a subgenre of rock or an entirely unique genre? If a band claims to be metal but has more in common with Nsync what genre should they be in?

[sparkle]

i was reffering more to short stories...myths of creation that explain some things for the world...they usually affect the mentality and beliefs of the peoples...