James Barclay

[Drizzt]

Where do we all reckon the industry is heading? Well all read and enjoy fantasy, but over the last few years - as with any industry - changes, subtle and outright, have been afoot. So where will we be in a year's time? What 'type' of fantasy will we be seeing more of on the shelves?

Over the last few years, though it may just be me, I've been seeing less and less 'epic' fantasy on shop shelves. By this I mean the big, army-ridden, battle-soaked, quest-loving books which brought fantasy to where it is. Instead, I'm seeing more and more 'urban' fantasy books. By this I mean books set either in our time or in a setting close enough to it to count, but which fall into fantasy. I've also seen more and more books which are a hybrid of fantasy and old legend in the same manner as Mark Chadbourn. I'm losing count of the books in the fantasy section which boast of featuring Celtic or Arthurian legend...

Is there still a place for books like those James brought to us in The Raven? The Ascendants? I'd like to think so, but the pickings seem to be slimming somewhat in favour of the likes of Scott Lynch's Locke Lamora books, Joe Abercrombie's works, Terry Brooks' Shannara Genesis books...

So, what will be on the shelf in a year's time? What won't?
_________________
Pagan Music

[Deornoth]

I agree with you re. the whole urban fantasy thing, there seems to be an awful lot more 'feisty female vampire hunter' stuff on the shelves as well (some good, some horrible... ) I'm a fan of epic fantasy too and my options for a good read are starting to become limited. My options for a good re-read however are still looking just fine
_________________
Graeme's Fantasy Book Review

Does exactly what it says on the tin!

[Lizzy]

I reckon the epic/high fantasy will still be written and published, it still sells doesn't it? And if it's done well, is brilliant fun to read.

But I also think the genre has plenty of room for newer ideas, ones that stand the tropes on their heads and re writes the stereotypical hero, ala Lynch and Abercrombie. You need to put in fresh stuff to stop it all stagnating.

Nothing wrong with good Urban/dark fantasy, (but you'd expect me to say that) as long as a fresh twist continues to be put on it.

Thing is I'm much more driven by character than plot when it comes to books I like. I read across several genres and the books I rate most are the ones where I really enjoy the characters. Yes of course the plot matters, but however fantastic the plot is, if the characters don't reach into my soul (either as someone I love or hate) then it doesn't work that well for me, it's just an ok book.

I also dislike all the subgenre classification, probably because I read across a broad spctrum and don't see the point. It makes it all sound a bit elitist to me. Same when people get snobby about young adult fiction (I mean in terms of saying 'I wouldn't read it because I'm an adult') Some of the best books I've read have been young adult. But then again I look forward to The Sarah Jane adventures on CBBC so maybe I'm still 14.
_________________

Listen to Lizzy, she's always right! as said by Jovial

[Wulfa_Coldheart]

Well urban fantasy is on the rise, but I think it's more of a short term trend than a long running one. I think some of the authors and serieses that have appeared during this urban fantasy trend will carry one, but most will vanish after a while.

I think what we have seen is a change in the type of epic/high fantasy. I think there is a great deal of difference between the likes of Abercrombie/Lynch and Erikson/Bakker.

Epic/high fantasy will always be around due to the hardcore fantasy fans who like to read it. Urban fantasy appeals to the same, but also a wider audience.
_________________
"You know what Jack Burton always says... what the hell?"

[Drizzt]

[Alia]

If we talk about some new genres that have recently appeared, I'm a great fan of New Weird, like China Mieville or Ian Macleod.

[Max Power]

I agree with Lizzy - I'm a fan of dark fantasy, and I do like the Chadbourn style, but it's about characters ane the way they can engage me. Bad dark fantasy is horrible (unspeakably evil 'bad guy' and sick sexual perversions just for the sake of it...), but characters save a book for me.

I think you'll always have your heavyweight authors, and your pulp fiction ones too, and I think all types will remain. I doubt whether you'll get many Tolkeins or Eddings-type writers for a while as the field has changed since I started reading.
_________________
If you strike me down, I shall become more powerful than you can possibly imagine.

[DeathJunior]

I kinda enjoy writing cult gothic (Urban Fantasy) books, though I still need to work on it a little. But as to the fantasy industry changing, of course it is. Genres evolve and devolve as new and old ideas keep coming forward. They'll go through stages and cycles and they'll either come back to their original form or become something different entirely depending on social, environmental, political etc comments and happenings at the time of release.
_________________
Come see me at my other spot locations:

www.myspace.com/djjaines
http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=DJJaines
Dan Jaines a walking dictionary of Danisms

[Drizzt]

[Deornoth]

I don't think he said nothing, it was more of a generalised comment... (At least, that's what I thought )
There does seem to be a downturn in epic fantasy (my favourite kind!), is this a backlash against the Lord of the Rings film? I don't know... What do you think?
_________________
Graeme's Fantasy Book Review

Does exactly what it says on the tin!

[DeathJunior]

I said the industry is fading again but in a few cycles it'll probably be back again... in a round about way.
_________________
Come see me at my other spot locations:

www.myspace.com/djjaines
http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=DJJaines
Dan Jaines a walking dictionary of Danisms

[dragonkillernz]

I think epic fantasy is back on the rise. One only has to look at the popularity of other mediums of entertainment and it's embrace of fantasy, like movies (there's been heaps of fantasy crap lately, most of it crap, to be honest ), games and TV. With the rise in these other forms, it's bound to spill over into books as well. I know that reading is not as popular as it used to be, but it is still a viable source of entertainment, and as more people discover some great books, like all the aforementioned authors, it is bound to garner more interest with the younger generations.
_________________
Ian Fulguirinas(dragonkillernz)