Strangely, for as much as I loved the Lord of the Rings saga, both the Rankin-Bass animated movies of the late ‘70s and 1980 to the epic Peter Jackson movies of the early 2000s, I had no intention of ever writing fantasy as a published author. That was until HBO’s adaption of Game of Thrones hit TV. Despite its popularity, and don’t be offended if you love it, I loathed it and barely got past the first episode. In fact, I really don’t consider it fantasy at all–it’s more like a medieval and lesser version of House of Cards with a dragon or two thrown in. As for the books, I can’t comment because I have yet to finish even one of Martin’s novels—I’m more of a sci-fi, mystery and thriller reader.
Always, I try to put a new spin on a genre that I write in, whether it’s the provocative “religious science fiction” of my After Eden series, or my Liquid Cool series being cyberpunk reimagined—personally, I love the term “cyber-noir”—I wanted to do the same for my new fantasy series.
So what are the major themes of the fantasy genre that I’d put my unique twist on? Here’s my Top 10 List!
1) Good Versus Evil.
It doesn’t have to be the over-used, two-dimensional Hero versus Dark Lord structure, fulfilling some ancient prophecy. I’m equally unimpressed with most anti-hero(ines) or evil versus evil stories. Good versus evil is a universal trope for a very good reason (with good triumphing over evil in the end)–because that’s how audiences expect the universe to be, any universe, even the ones we fiction writers create.
2) A New World.
Also, called world-building, the first novel often has to spend some time acclimating the reader to your universe. If done well, it all feels natural and welcome. For a lot of fantasy, it seems there’s some boilerplate that everyone follows. If we’re doing fantasy, okay elves and dwarves are fine—I have the former and not the latter. However, there’s a lot more in historical mythology than just that, a lot more.
For my new fantasy series, I want to show readers sophisticated and diverse societies, realistic nation-states, and complex social structures. When I use the word “diverse” I don’t mean the often silly, politically-correct use of it in our time, for the new series, I mean one where humans are merely one of many in this “universe.”
3) Mythical Races.
I need to expand of this point because it has been a source frustration with me for a long time. As a kid who was fascinated with Ancient Greek and Roman mythology and later medieval mythology, much of it due to my Lord of the Rings fandom, I often asked why do we see only dwarves, elves, orcs, satyrs, and a couple of others? Folks, there are dozens and dozens of different races. I do add quite a few of my own, but finally you get to see some of those other races from historical myths.
4) Mythical Creatures.
Dragons? Sorry, no, and it’s not just because that’s my last name. I have often felt that throwing in some dragon to be a cheat in most epic fantasy fiction. I even polled my VIP Readers’ Club members and they too came up a ton of mythical creatures that I’d like to see too. In my new fantasy series, you’ll get to see them!
5) Magic.
I do believe magic is an important ingredient in fantasy. It goes beyond wizards, warlocks, sorcerers, witches or whatever term we use for the practitioners. At the core, these are lands, beings, and creatures of magic. It plays a key role in my new fantasy series as well.
6) Medievalism and Mythology.
Kings and queens, princes and princes, knights and swords? Yes, to all of the above. Some critics say this is the never-ending “McEuropeanizing” of epic fantasy—all the major themes are from Western European mythology. I agree, though nothing is wrong with that by itself; people like Western mythology. However, when I was a kid diving into mythology, I started with Western European mythology, but then moved to other parts of the world, with Chinese mythology being my absolute favorite. In fact, my Sleepy Hollow Horrors series will delve into Native American and Old North American mythology when it relaunches.
One of the things about my new fantasy series is that it will be focused on Western European mythology, but that is only the start. In fact, some of the key characters are not from “Western Europe” lands.
7) Prophecies.
No. It’s one common fantasy device I will not be using. I’ve always felt that its overuse suggests that none of us have free-will and that everyone is just going through the motions of the universe. It’s one thing to say that good should triumph in the end. It’s another to say that evil has no chance of winning in the end, or sometimes does win. If that were the case, then it wouldn’t be good drama.
8) The Quest.
This is another staple in fantasy fiction. Whether you consider it boring and overused, or a satisfying standard depends on whether it’s a good story or not. Actually, this is what originally attracted me to writing in the genre. I was going to write a thriller story about a quest (more about that next month) but when my VIP Readers’ Club members wanted me to write a fantasy series, I simply modified the thriller quest story I was already going to write. As some readers and fans know already, I love genre-blends.
9) Romance.
Does fantasy have to have a good romance? Good question and I have no idea, but I can’t think of any fantasy story I enjoyed that didn’t have it. Though, I still had no obligation to add it, if I didn’t want to. I don’t follow crowds; I prefer to lead or not be in them at all. However, in this case, it adds to the quality of the story, which is the only reason a writer should add anything to their work. What’s an example of what I consider a good romance story? (Yes, I’m a guy but from my 2017 Year End Survey of my VIP Readers’ Club, I was surprised to learn that 72% of my reader fans are women!) Here’s an example: Besides the subplot in the Lord of the Rings between Aragon and Arwen, how about the 1985 classic movie Lady Hawke starring Rutger Hauer and Michelle Pfeiffer?
10) Fantasy novels of 800 pages or more.
This is why I haven’t read George RR Martin’s A Game of Thrones yet. I’m busy and when I do read it’s a binge of multiple books. So would I rather read five books in a finite period of time or just one GRRM book? Obviously, I have chosen the former for the last four years. I have a personal rule never release a single book of more than 500 pages, with 400 being the targeted standard. So that’s what I will do with the new fantasy series. I’ll write lots of content, but not bury people with 1000-page single novel tomes.
There it is.
What do you think about my “Top 10 Themes of My New Upcoming Fantasy Series”? Leave a Comment Below.
#Fantasy #EpicFantasy #ActionAdventure #Thriller
Austin Dragon is the author of over 30 books in science fiction, fantasy, and classic horror. His works include the sci-fi detective LIQUID COOL series, the epic fantasy FABLED QUEST CHRONICLES, the international futuristic epic AFTER EDEN Series, the classic SLEEPY HOLLOW HORRORS, and new military sci-fi PLANET TAMERS series. He is a native New Yorker but has called Los Angeles, California home for more than twenty years. Words to describe him, in no particular order: U.S. Army, English teacher, one-time resident of Paris, ex-political junkie, movie buff, Fortune 500 corporate recruiter, renaissance man, futurist, and dreamer.
LATEST RELEASE: THE OFFICIAL FABLED QUEST BESTIARY
89 Responses
I have to agree with your GRRM opinion. I’ve tried many times to get through any one of his “novels”, and failed miserably. I always thought I could read anything if it were well crafted. Solid world-building, character development and plot that moved. GRRM had times where 50 or more pages went by little really happened.
Your ten points are wildly stimulating and have fired up my old imagination. Going where no one dared to venture. Characters real and good vs bad is not precise. I look at old Indiana Jones pulling out his revolver and shooting then walking away. And of course both Dr Jones scoring with the Nazi chick. If I had the opportunity I would have too!
So I await whatever your Muses lead you too. Maybe the true EL DORADO….
I think the outline is very good but it is missing another very important thing; Religion. Almost all the good fantasy books I have read included characters that have a religious background and that influences them or other characters throughout the book. Whether you like it or not, I loved the last book by Brandon Sanderson in his series, the stormlight archive. He included characters that have a strong religious influence and I personally think that it added certain fresh and randomness to the book. I’ve read Metal Flesh and I won’t spoil it for those who haven’t yet but I did appreciate adding of religion in that Sci-Fi world. But overall, for this outline, I think it is wonderful and I do look forward to the series whether it has a religious aspect or not.
I’m excited for your new series Austin. I read all forms of fantasy and I do find occasionally that consuming a nice, uncomplicated, gentle, formulaic, standard trope/creatures story – can be very soothing and satisfactory, in this pace-driven life. But your outline is intriguing and I’ll enjoy your thought provoking tale.
As an avid reader of Scify, Fantasy, etc, etc, for over 50 years, I feel there are many subjects over done in print and needs something new injected. I read with great interest your input and look forward to reading some or all of your next series. I’m not a professional book reviewer or any thing along those lines. I’m just a 67 year old who fell in love with reading back when I was in the second grade, (circa ’58, ’59). I was originally attracted to anything space related, but discovered everything else in my 20’s. Please keep me on your email list.
Donnie L. White
Rh203cef@verizon.net
Personally I like all the entries except your 10. I’d be sad to have to miss Sandberg’s Abraham Lincoln: The War Years, Tolkein’s Ring saga, or Jordan / Sanderson’s 10k or so pages of The Wheel as examples. But tight and complete stories of under 500 pages are also great in my book.