It’s a rather recent development that fantasy is getting widespread critical acceptance. It’s strange, though. Fantasy isn’t something that should be dismissed as mere children’s work, and yet it seems that some of the most influential pieces have started as and/or are intended to be entertainment for children and young adults. Even The Lord of the Rings began that way. Still, some stigmatization exists, perpetuated by veins of literary snobbery, but that shouldn’t consign anything […]
What has six faces, But does not wear makeup. Has twenty-one eyes, But cannot see? (a die) In a room are 6 men and 53 bicycles. One man is shot. Why? (he was cheating at cards; bicycle playing cards) It cannot be seen, it weighs nothing, but when put into a barrel, it makes it lighter. What is it? (a hole) Five hundred begins it, five hundred ends it, Five in the middle is seen; […]
Return to Raven’s Feathers
There’s just five this time around. These authors are linked by using rather weird strains in their fiction and either deconstructing many tropes and topics taking for granted or addressing and exploring the very nature of fantasy itself. The results are some of the most unique experiments in the genre. DAVID LINDSAY (1876-1945) Something of a “missing link” between his fellow Scot George MacDonald and the modern day surrealists (in Scotland), Lindsay is best remembered […]
As an extra bonus, I’ll put up the next part right now. Sorry if it’s a bit overwhelming. Just make sure you read Part VI as well! (In moderation, of course.) I consider myself as much a fan of horror as I am of fantasy, and some of my favorites of both blend each genre’s elements in a subtle and efective way. Subsequently, these next authors are cited many times by many critics as contributors to […]
This next list is more of a continuation of the last one, not necessarily anything too new. Still, it’s not meat to be indicative of lesser works. A couple names will be common knowledge, to some extent, while the others may not be all that familiar to casual readers, though I encourage everyone to look up these people further. DAVID GEMMELL (1948-2006) After working through several jobs including journalism, Gemmell came onto the scene […]