What Would You Most Like To See In The Fantasy Genre

[[deleted user]]

Ha Ha, Mark, now that's a book I'd read. If the hero was unfortunate enough to have turets (can't spell it) syndrome...?

[[deleted user]]

More than anything, I would love to see some female characters who aren't necessarily badass bitches - for lack of a better term. I'd like more Molly Weasleys over Ginny Weasleys. It's not that having a woman with a sword and a tough attitude is a bad thing, but they seem to be the only ones that populate the genre. Any glimpse we get of a homely woman who cooks and cleans and cares for the kids gets left back at home while the men and the women with bigger racks go out on adventures. The best example I can think of involving a more ordinary woman as a protagonist is Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH (which was adapted into a fantastic animation by Don Bluth).

[Judy]

Alexandra, I am with you 100%. Couldn't have said it better. I like stories where ordinary women do extraordinary things. In the case of Mrs. Frisby and Mrs Weasley, it is all about protecting a most prized "possession"...namely her own child(ren).

[TinaNoir]

Ista fromPaladin of Souls by Lois McMaster Bujold meets that criteria, imo. She isn't homely exactly but she is an older lady, she's about to become a grandmother, and is called upon to defeat a band of demons by the Gods.

[whimsicalmeerkat]

They aren't fantasy characters, but I do love Mrs. Pollifax and Mrs. Marple in the mystery genre.

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, *good karma*]

Mercedes Lackey/Piers Anthony have a book If I Pay Thee Not In Gold that has a demon that turns into the sex s/he has sex with...so s/he has to have two partners at all times or s/he gets stuck as the oppsite sex.

[[deleted user]]

Would anyone know of any UF based on the US West coast? The midwest and east coast seem to have representation, and London appears to be getting tons of love, yet I haven't see anything for the West Coast(in particular, Seattle).

If not, I wouldn't mind seeing that in Fantasy.

[[deleted user]]

Yup. Moon Called and the rest of the Mercy Thompson series is set in precisely that area

[Tracey]

Ala wrote: "Would anyone know of any UF based on the US West coast? The midwest and east coast seem to have representation, and London appears to be getting tons of love, yet I haven't see anything for the Wes..."

Twilight takes place in Washington state ... *runsaway*

[[deleted user]]

*Throws heavy blunt objects at Tracey while yelling, "Twilight isn't fantasy!"*

[[deleted user]]

Thanks self!

Also:
*throws sharp objects at Tracey*

[[deleted user]]

btw, 3 stars Grant? Good/Bad/Review?

[[deleted user]]

3 Stars for me means that I found a book an enjoyable read but that it was merely good rather than great(4 Star) or superb(5 Star). I'd still read the sequels but likely would never re-read the series.

[[deleted user]]

Might as well finish my scale. 2 Stars means I didn't enjoy it but I suppose it may be someones cup of tea and 1 Star means that the book in question was particularly disappointing, offensive or just outright bad and should be used for toilet paper or target practice.

[Tracey]

*ducks* There's a website out there *ducks again* somewhere *bobs, weaves* which lists tons of books *takes advantage of Grant and Ala's conversation* by genre, subgenre, setting (country, US region, etc), time period, and all sorts of other criteria ... and I can't find it. I thought I had it bookmarked, and I don't. It's driving me crazy. *limps off for ice and bandages*

[whimsicalmeerkat]

/cries

[Tracey]

Well, poop. I found the website - Reader's Advice - but only mysteries are sorted by physical setting. Poopyheads. Still a great site, though.

[Danielle The Book Huntress]

The Twenty Palaces books by Harry Connolly are set on the West Coast.
Child of Fire
Game of Cages

[[deleted user]]

thanks Lady D :)

[Tracey]

*pouts*

[Danielle The Book Huntress]

YW, Ala.

[[deleted user]]

*throws Denae at Tracey*

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, *good karma*]

LOL

[whimsicalmeerkat]

/blinks

[Judy]

Judy wrote: "Alexandra, I am with you 100%. Couldn't have said it better. I like stories where ordinary women do extraordinary things. In the case of Mrs. Frisby and Mrs Weasley, it is all about protecting a..."

Just picked up two books by Lois McMaster Build for the TBR pile...thanks for the recommendation.

[Kevin]

I actually would like to see more books with the main point of views from the other side, the villains. It does not matter if they are being evil or like the way Terry Goodkind did in the seventh book of Sword of Truth, Pillars of Creation. But I know that many people would not like to see that, that is why people read fantasy to be on the winning side.

P.S. Most people who have read all of the Sword of Truth novel as far as I know have hated Pillars of Creation, maybe it was because the whole book did not have the Heroes, but the Villains, but he did make you believe they were doing everything for the greater good of the world.

[Amanda]

Actually that really would be something a bit different Kevin. I think that would make for a different take I could into.

[whimsicalmeerkat]

/glares at Ala

[Bets]

Dude, I have steamy jungles. I have female characters that at least don't start out as bad asses. I have bisexual characters. I have biracial characters (though not in the same person, sorry). I have villain pov. Of course, those aren't all in the same books, but you'll love me when I publish, right?

I don't mind female badasses. Females still don't get to be bad ass bitches in much of this world. At least allow them to have fantasy. Plus, I consider women protecting their children like Mrs. Frisby to be bad ass bitches. It's about knowing what you want and going after it. Being In Total Control of Herself, bitch.

[Rachel]

Speaking of prologues, I just read Red Seas Under Red Skies - now there's a prologue that keeps you reading past midnight to see what will happen!

[[deleted user]]

Oh see I hated the prologue of Red Seas Under Red Skies. Ive never been a fan of "hook" or "cliffhanger" prologues. Plus, I knew/suspected exactly what the reality of the hook was immediately and I turned out to be right, which annoyed me immensely. I'd greatly prefer to be proven wrong and read something surprising than to start off a book with a predictable ploy.

[mark]

yes cicadagrrl, i will probably love seeing those things and will probably love you for publishing them! just don't forget about the birthmark that looks like a black eye, that's highly important. a protagonist with a freshly-beaten look will no doubt get into all sorts of shenanigans and have all kinds of amusingly awkward conversations. i imagine it may be the kind of life issue that could force him to become some kind of apprentice assasssin! just sayin.

[[deleted user]]

I liked Red Seas Under Red Skies, but the prologue didn't add much to it, in my opinion. Mostly for the reasons Grant stated. I've never cared for the plot device, and frankly, it didn't add anything to the experience. For all that I did inevitably like the book, I think I'd have liked it more if I had skipped the prologue and just started at chapter one.

Of course, I feel that way about most prologues.

[Kevin]

I would also like to see more POV chapters based on individual characters like in SoIaF, but I think many would say that would be a rip off.

I would also like to see more fantasy series that have each book set with different characters in a different time fame in the fantasy world, but I don't think many would like that, but I think The Saga of Recluse by L.E. Modesitt worked out pretty well like that.

[[deleted user]]

See I didn't care for The Saga of Recluse series or the Shannara series for exactly that reason. Having a series that spans hundreds of years with new characters each time feels so disjointed to me. Even having a common character or thread to join them isn't sufficient to make the experiene enjoyable. I still prefer a typical series set in one time with charactes I can see evolve and grow to love. I'm also completely open to a solid standalone novel

[[deleted user]]

I enjoyed Red Seas Under Red Skies as well Alexandra but I agree that the book would have been better off starting just at chapter one.

[Jea0126]

Tina wrote: "Jea0126 wrote: "Also I'd like to find a series like the Empire Trilogy from Feist and Wurts that are strong in intrigue. Mara was a great character because of her way of manipulating the system in ..."

I love Jennifer Fallon. I've read them all except her Second Sons set which I have on my TBR shelf upstairs. I'm chopping at the bit waiting for the Chaos Crystal to finish out Tide Lords Quartet.

[Jea0126]

Tracey wrote: "*ducks* There's a website out there *ducks again* somewhere *bobs, weaves* which lists tons of books *takes advantage of Grant and Ala's conversation* by genre, subgenre, setting (country, US regio..."

www.scifan.com ?

[Jea0126]

Kevin wrote: "I actually would like to see more books with the main point of views from the other side, the villains. It does not matter if they are being evil or like the way Terry Goodkind did in the seventh b..."

I thought Soul of the Fire and Naked Empire were worse.

[Jea0126]

Kevin wrote: "I would also like to see more POV chapters based on individual characters like in SoIaF, but I think many would say that would be a rip off.

I would also like to see more fantasy series that have..."

You should enjoy Katharine Kerr

[Kevin]

Jea0126 wrote: "Kevin wrote: "I would also like to see more POV chapters based on individual characters like in SoIaF, but I think many would say that would be a rip off.

I would also like to see more fantasy ..."

I have the first two books she wrote. The thing is with her is that every time I start on Draggerspell, I am not drawn enough to the book to read pass the first 100 pages or so or I find a better book to read.

[Traci]

I am currently reading A Clash of Kings GRRM. And although I am enjoying it, it's not my usual type of fantasy. I got to thinking. I want a high epic fantasy that reads like a low brow action series, or a low brow action series that reads like an epic. I want a SoIaF type series that fulfills the part of me that reads fantasy for...well fantasy. Magic, otherworldly creatures and races, battles and duels, gods mythology. In my experience most epic fantasy reads either like a romance or a history with some of these elements thrown in.

[Kevin]

Traci wrote: "I am currently reading A Clash of Kings GRRM. And although I am enjoying it, it's not my usual type of fantasy. I got to thinking. I want a high epic fantasy that reads like a low brow action serie..."

I would too, especially fantasies that has no sense of magic like in SoIaF.

[Bets]

mark wrote: "yes cicadagrrl, i will probably love seeing those things and will probably love you for publishing them! just don't forget about the birthmark that looks like a black eye, that's highly important. ..."

I'm actually in the process of createspacing. If you want a preview of the first book I'm thinking of setting up, it's posted in Struggling Writers and Ambitious Writers. Would love input.

I will keep the birthmark in mind for my next story. I think I know who it is going on.

[Mike (the Paladin)]

I would like to see ore books that I like.... forget the rest of you guys. :)

There are only 10 kinds of people. Those who understand binary and those who don't.

[whimsicalmeerkat]

*more :P

[Mike (the Paladin)]

:)

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, *good karma*]

lol

[Rachel]

Grant wrote: "Oh see I hated the prologue of Red Seas Under Red Skies. Ive never been a fan of "hook" or "cliffhanger" prologues. Plus, I knew/suspected exactly what the reality of the hook was im..."

Yeah, it would have been more interesting if it had turned out the other way around, and the book probably would have been *better* without it - but it worked on me at a purely emotional level, in that I just had to know! Now! (which is inconvenient when that scene only appears quite a long way into the story...)

[[deleted user]]

Lol...I hear ya, Rachel. I'm not going to say I've never been suckered in by a quick hook but I clearly remember frowning at my novel with a terrible countenance and mentally shaking a finger at Scott Lynch ;)