The Speculative Element In Fantasy — & Keeping It Real

USA

I wrote this essay on the speculative element in fantasy, but also on the corresponding need to ‘keep it real’, in the context of The Heir of Night, some time ago — but it never quite managed to see the light of day. So with The Heir of Night having recently won the Gemmell Morningstar Award, it seemed as good a time as any to give it an airing. So, here you go:

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” “Where,” a friend complained recently, “is the speculative element in fantasy? It is all just magic and retro medieval societie...