Following tropes or not in fantasy
Something I've been pondering: when reading fantasy, how far do you like authors to veer from established traditions for a supernatural creature? If we're dealing with vampires, say, then they can't NOT drink blood. They aren't vampires unless they do. But can the author change other traditions and still make it work for you? It seems to have been voted a bad idea to decide they sparkle in sunlight instead of burning up, so apparently readers do have limits. :D
I'm not actu...
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Rosie
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Aug 29, 2017 11:37AM
I think if an author is going stray very far from traditions they better have a pretty good reason to do so and it should be explained well and consistent. Also, part of the fun of fantasy is that there are traditions, but it's fantasy, so you can do whatever you want. Like in the Mercy Thompson books, Patricia Briggs borrows from lots of different traditions and melds it all together for a cohesive narrative. She has fae that are effected by iron and fae that can weld it, but it's explained. Her main character is in a mated pair, but it was a mating of their choosing. So traditions are a good point of reference, but the author has to decide what works best for them (but maybe be ready to defend certain things, like why vampires would sparkle).
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Thank you--and yes! I figure as long as there's enough recognizable tradition for the creature in question, there's still room for creating new rules. The author does have to make a good case for them, though, as you say. :D
