Fantasy Aficionados discussion
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Book Eligibility: FA's top 100 books of all time
I'm starting to feel like I'm talking to myself....Antother Question: Necronomicon: The Best Weird Tales. It loos like horror and says nothing about fantasy.
What do yall think?
The problem with Lovecraft, in this case anyway, is he's hard to label. Horror, science fiction, and fantasy all describe his work. His mythos is about ancient gods who come from outer space and other dimensions. My gut feeling is he's horror, then science fiction and lastly fantasy but I don't have a problem with it being on the list.I think The Once and Future King is one book.
There wasn't a rule against comics before this started so I think it's fair to keep them.
Traci wrote: "The problem with Lovecraft, in this case anyway, is he's hard to label. Horror, science fiction, and fantasy all describe his work. His mythos is about ancient gods who come from outer space and ot..."Ok, so I'm keep the comics/graphic novels but I need someone to help me locate the omnibus edition. There's got to be one somewhere, right?
Lovecraft: I'm leaning in your direction, Traci - to remove it as horror - but I'd love some additional opinions.
Unless someone disagrees about The Book of Merlyn being a part of The Once and Future King, I'm scrapping The Book of Merlyn and just having the Once and Future King.
No Comments on Last Call?
__
I'm taking a break. I'm already at 72 unique nominations and I'm only about 1/2 through page 1.
I'm pooped
Wow! I really underestimated how many votes there would be. :(I would be okay with Last Call because I haven't read it but of those who have most shelved it fantasy.
I'd say that Lovecraft is horror first also.I've not read Last Call, but it looks like it won the Locus Award for best fantasy in 1993, so I'll say yes. :)
IMHO:I'd say Lovecraft is horror first, as well.
Last Call should qualify as Fantasy, especially since it won the Locus for that category. (Disclaimer: have not read it.)
The Once and Future King - I read this as a teen, but didn't realize that it had been published separately as individual volumes. I'd say that if Book of Merlyn is part of the whole thing, drop it and put on TOAFK instead. I think it is much more commonly known than the individual 'books' of it.
Last Call I'd say is Fantasy
The Once and Future King as the series instead of just Merlyn
Lovecraft is Horror
Anthologies of fantasy should count.
Graphic novels only if they're adaptations of fantasy novels.
The Once and Future King as the series instead of just Merlyn
Lovecraft is Horror
Anthologies of fantasy should count.
Graphic novels only if they're adaptations of fantasy novels.
Ala wrote: "Anthologies of fantasy should count.Graphic novels only if they're adaptations of fantasy novels."
I agree that graphic novels should count only if they're adaptations of fantasy novels. In this case, the Sandman listed is a compilation of individual comic books that were published. Not to diss comic books, but I don't think of them when I think of "top Fantasy", they are their own genre.
I disagree, though, about the anthologies - I think we should stick with novel-length works. Too many anthologies have re-published works inside of them, which means that several anthologies could have some of the same works inside them.
I think the category of Anthologies and/or Shorter Fiction should be separate from this ranking being put together now. YMMV
*hugs* MrsJ. Any way you can take up the people that offered on some help?My opinion: I think we should stick with generally accepted divisions--graphic novels, short stories and anthologies are a different species of writing. Short stories get their own categories, otherwise we would have had a lot more nominations. It's a different writing genre, different style and many authors who excel in one don't in the other. I would have probably nominated a couple of other people if we were specifically including short stories.
Lovecraft is horror.
Looks like The Last Call is Fantasy, since it won a Lotus award.
Ah-hm. It's why we should have dropped all singular nominations titles. A lot of people named unusual titles just because they hadn't seen them--not because they truly thought they were the 10 best.
Sorry MrsJ. just now checked my updates "and stuff". Personally I would have dropped the graphics as they're sort of their own thing...graphic novels among the top 100 fantasies? But obviously if you've made your decision, cool. After all the work you're doing I won't rock the boat.Lovecraft, I "love the work of Lovecraft", but ya I'd say he's primarily horror.
Once and Future King covers all for White's series, I'd say to.
Last Call...haven't read it, but I did put it on my list, sounds interesting LOL.
Ala wrote: "Last Call I'd say is FantasyThe Once and Future King as the series instead of just Merlyn
Lovecraft is Horror
Anthologies of fantasy should count.
Graphic novels only if they're adaptations of fan..."
I agree with everything except for the anthologies. I think I agree with Carolyn and Carol about anthologies...just think about the butcher shorts... :)
Ok, So we're removing the Sandman mentions (Neil Gaiman) since they are a genre of itself.
Carol wrote: "*hugs* MrsJ. Any way you can take up the people that offered on some help?My opinion: I think we should stick with generally accepted divisions--graphic novels, short stories and anthologies are..."
I did, lol. I'm only doing page 1 & 4.
I think that dropping single nominations would take just work...cause I'd have to go through the entire list for each book to make sure that the book only received one nomination. Most of the books I've seen have had more than one nomination...just not a lot have 10 or more. Just doing "one page" of GR = 24 printed pages. That would be sorting through something like 66 + pages. O_o
Clockwork Angel is Steam Punk...so is Steam Punk science fiction or fantasy? It's one of those "cross genre genres". I usually think of it as fantasy (though I've never found one I really like).Matilda? Youth or YA fantasy. Pretty young, but fantasy (just my opinion).
Mike (the Paladin) wrote: "Sorry MrsJ. just now checked my updates "and stuff". Personally I would have dropped the graphics as they're sort of their own thing...graphic novels among the top 100 fantasies? But obviously if y...":-)
Yep, now dropping graphic novels that are not adaptations...
Mike (the Paladin) wrote: "Clockwork Angel is Steam Punk...so is Steam Punk science fiction or fantasy? It's one of those "cross genre genres". I usually think of it as fantasy (though I've never found one I really like).M..."
oooh! Steam Punk! Great, thanks!
I always think of steampunk as a subgenre of scifi, dunno why.
Also, I'm cool with anthologies being off the table. I was thinking of shared world stuff like Wild Cards. Not sure if there are many of those, though.
Also, I'm cool with anthologies being off the table. I was thinking of shared world stuff like Wild Cards. Not sure if there are many of those, though.
Matilda--youth and not fantasy. Steampunk...officially cross genre. I could go either way.
Ala wrote: "I always think of steampunk as a subgenre of scifi, dunno why.Also, I'm cool with anthologies being off the table. I was thinking of shared world stuff like Wild Cards. Not sure if there are many..."
Hmmmm, I feel you on shared worlds...
Steampunk is (or was) a subgenre of sci-fi but somehow it crossed genres into fantasy, too.
Carol wrote: "Matilda--youth and not fantasy. Steampunk...officially cross genre. I could go either way."
I agree about Matilda
Imo steampunk is alternative history. And I usually consider those fantasy.
MrsJoseph wrote: "What about A Princess of Mars?"And isn't it the same book as: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11...
Hmm, ask Hugh. He's read it :)
What about American Gods / Anansi Boys: Coffret 2 volumes? Isn't Anansi Boys the sequel to American Gods?
I read Anansi boys some time ago... but I would say they are only loosely connected, in the same world, without similar characters. Mr. Anansi isn't the main character in American Gods. So I could be convinced of either.
What about The Enchantments of Flesh and Spirit? This looks like sci-fi to me. I haven't read it but it's mostly shelved as sci-fi but it's also shelved as fantasy & dark fantasy.
MrsJoseph wrote: "MrsJoseph wrote: "What about A Princess of Mars?"And isn't it the same book as: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11..."
I get confused about all of the books too. I wonder if someone came behind ad added the "Barsoom 1" one year, then ten years later called them Mars 1 then...John Carter of Mars.. etc.
I belive this is the first book (the link you have). The first book should start with John Carter, entering a cave, trying to hide during the civil war and waking up on mars. If he's already on Mars or talking/thinking about going back then it's a later book.
again, I think this is the first one.
Kernos, man...you're lucky I like you. I almost tossed at least three of your nominations for not following directions. >:|
MrsJoseph wrote: "MrsJoseph wrote: "What about A Princess of Mars?"And isn't it the same book as: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11..."
I think that they are the same book, A Princess of Mars may have been the name of it when it was first published in a pulp media, the link book, after it was published as it's own edition as a book.
Either way, they should be the same story. John Carter, Civil War fighter goes in a cave to sleep and wakes up on mars. If he's thinking about Mars, or already there on the first page, then it's not the first book.
For Dreaming the Eagle, I read 20ish reviews and many say the spirit of fantasy is there. Let it stand?Hard to Be a God sounds pretty straight sci fi.
Agreed! Last two question books and I'm done with page 1:
Winter's Tale - I'm thinking more sci-fi than fantasy
The Enchantments of Flesh and Spirit - I'm thinking more sci-fi than fantasy
I thought Winter's Tale was fantasy all this time.
Haven't read it, though.
Haven't read it, though.
Ala wrote: "I thought Winter's Tale was fantasy all this time.Haven't read it, though."
So what do you think?
I dunno. I learned of it off a list of 'Fantasy Books you should read' dealie.
Everything I've seen of it has it sounding like a Fantasy book.
Not having read it, though, I'm not sure if there's a scifi element to it that isn't obvious.
Everything I've seen of it has it sounding like a Fantasy book.
Not having read it, though, I'm not sure if there's a scifi element to it that isn't obvious.
It says it's Steampunk. Don't most people classify Steampunk as Sci Fi? Or am I off my rocker?
Apprently Steampunk is now considered part of the whole "wtf, I don't know what genre it is, just toss it somewhere" group of books...
True.I had quite a few nominations that were clearly horror. But, one could argue it's a sub genre of fantasy.
Ala wrote: "Apprently Steampunk is now considered part of the whole "wtf, I don't know what genre it is, just toss it somewhere" group of books..."^this
let's leave it then
Y'know, here's a rule:
If it isn't flat-out, blatantly obviously fantasy, it gets tossed off the list.
eta: mod and helpers have final say on what is/isn't blatantly obvious.
eta2: everyone else can just stfu.
eta3: haters gonna hate.
If it isn't flat-out, blatantly obviously fantasy, it gets tossed off the list.
eta: mod and helpers have final say on what is/isn't blatantly obvious.
eta2: everyone else can just stfu.
eta3: haters gonna hate.
Ok, Ala, you get to be the majority decision since you're the only one talking to us right now.The Enchantments of Flesh and Spirit
Post Apocalyptic, future Earth, mutations... Sounds like sci fi to me.
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It seems that The Once and Future King is an omnibus edition of the entire series? But just not combined by GR librarians? I haven't read it so can't say but the series work for The Book of Merlyn states that it is book 5 of The Once and Future King Series: http://www.goodreads.com/series/57017...