This week: Bang! Bang! Bangsian! Edited by: JayNaNoOhNo  
More Newsletters By This Editor 
 
1. About this Newsletter
2. A Word from our Sponsor
3. Letter from the Editor
4. Editor's Picks
5. A Word from Writing.Com
6. Ask & Answer
7. Removal instructions
| Hi! I'm your guest editor today! You'll normally find me hiding out in mystery and contests & activities. |
| ASIN: B083RZJVJ8 |
|
Amazon's Price: Price N/A
Not currently available. |
|
When the fantasy genre comes up, most people think of lush forests and epic quests. Sometimes we lean toward the urban setting and the paranormal. We sometimes forget there's a bunch of little subgenres out there, often because most of them fall close enough to the major genre/subgenres and it's too much hassle to classify everything all the time. Yet every now and then, there's one so specific, you really can't call it anything else.
Welcome to Bangsian fiction.
This genre was named for John Kendrick Bangs, after his 1895 publication A House-Boat on the Styx. This is one of those cases where he popularized the genre, and so got his name attached to it, but this type of story existed well before it became "Bangsian". I'm sure it really ticked off some other authors. Perhaps they still complain about it in the afterlife.
According to Project Gutenberg, the ultimate definition isn't a single thing, but instead a combination of commentary. To be Bangsian, the work must:
 focus on important literary and historical personalities
set such characters in the afterlife, namely, Hell
have slender, uncomplicated plot lines
be humorous
involve "genial adventures"
The easiest way to describe Bangsian fiction is through his own writing: A House-Boat on the Styx is full of real, but dead, characters, and he uses a fair bit of creative license with their personalities. One figure finds himself the riverboat's janitor. Shakespeare may or may not have used ghostwriters. Hamlet, Moses, and Washington make appearances. There's twelve stories in all, and a sequel, where a famous sea-captain isn't allowed membership on the boat.
Bangsian fantasy differs from Posthumous Fantasy, mostly because the literary world is complicated, but also because PF is a tale of a deceased soul on a journey of discovery, often not even knowing they're dead, and resolving the issues around that unfortunate tidbit of info. Alright, maybe it's not complicated. They're completely different, so don't get it twisted.
A more modern take on Bangsian fiction is The Heroes in Hell series by Janet Morris (et al.), first started in 1986. The main concept? A bunch of historical figures meet up in Hell and pick up where they left off on Earth. While Goodreads reviews vary, one reviewer sums up why the hardcore fans love the books: "How did this book happen? It's too stupid and too awesome to be real." Originally ending in 1989, its popularity resulted in Morris resurrecting the series in 2011. It's also a great example of knowing your audience. The reviews clearly show you can't please everyone, but you can certainly develop a dedicated following if you find your calling.
After all, there's nothing wrong with writing (or loving) a good, if possibly weird, niche. |
| |  | Invalid Item
This item number is not valid.
#2252854 by Not Available. |
Want to find contests?
| | Contest Clues (E)
List of WdC Writing Contests, Challenges, Activities. Clues To What's Open, What's Closed!
#2221492 by GeminiGem🐾  |
|
Have an opinion on what you've read here today? Then send the Editor feedback! Find an item that you think would be perfect for showcasing here? Submit it for consideration in the newsletter!
https://www.Writing.Com/go/nl_form
Don't forget to support our sponsor!
| ASIN: 0997970618 |
|
Amazon's Price: $ 14.99
|
|
| ASIN: B01DSJSURY |
Product Type: Kindle Store
|
Amazon's Price: $ 5.99
|
|
To stop receiving this newsletter, click here for your newsletter subscription list. Simply uncheck the box next to any newsletter(s) you wish to cancel and then click to "Submit Changes". You can edit your subscriptions at any time.
|
Fantasy: June 23, 2021 Issue [#10845]
View Portfolio
Visit Notebook
Send Gift Points
Awards
Badges
Send Email
Community Newsfeed
General Discussion
Sponsored Items
Book of Trinkets
Static Items
Books
Groups
Interactive Stories
Audio
Campfire Creatives
Community Notes
Crossword Puzzles
Documents
Folders
Images
In & Outs
Madlibs
Photo Albums
Polls
Product Reviews
Quizzes
Survey Forms
Web Pages
Word Searches
