Fantasy: April 30, 2008 Issue [#2362]
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Fantasy


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  Edited by: Prosperous Snow celebrating Author IconMail Icon
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Table of Contents

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

About This Newsletter

According to the Heroes of Dark Fantasy website, dark fantasy is adventure fantasy, while wikipedia.org refers this type of fantasy as having elements of horror with high fantasy settings. There are many other names for this type of fantasy; however, all of the stories dark elements incorporated in them.



Word from our sponsor

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Letter from the editor

Dark fantasy is not a genre of its own, but rather a subgenre of fantasy that combines the elements of different genres. Adventure fantasy comes closer to describing it then any name given it. This is the type of fantasy written by H.P. Lovecraft, Robert E. Howard, John Jakes, David Gemmell, Karl Edward, Charles R. Saunder, Michael Moorcock, and Fritz Leiber, to name just a few.

H.P. Lovecraft's focus was closer to horror elements in settings that suggest high fantasy or sword and sorcery. Robert E. Howard's focus was on adventure with elements of horror in some of his stories. Both authors used elements of civilization in their stories to make their setting appear real. Both authors revealed their characters at their best and their worst. They knew their characters backgrounds, strengths and weaknesses. They knew the settings and the civilizations that created those settings. They wove both characters and settings into complete and spell binding stories.

Howard's heroes were Conan the Cimmerian and Kull. Lovecraft's heroes were darker and more melancholy. Lovecraft created the Cthulhu Mythos and other intriguing stories in, what appeared to be, normal everyday settings that turned out to be something else entirely.

One thing that most dark fantasy stories appear to have in common is overlapping elements of other genres. Another is the mythic hero, even if the hero turns out not to be as human as he or she first appeared. Dark fantasy can contain dragons, vampires and other exotic creatures or apparently ordinary human beings, but its focus in on the darker elements of the human psyche.



Editor's Picks

An introduction to a dark fantasy character

 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#1339733 by Not Available.



Stories with dark fantasy elements

 The Shadows of Light (Prologue) Open in new Window. (13+)
This is a modern Romeo and Juliet/ fantasy story that I am writing.
#1406325 by Leonardo M. Woodrow Author IconMail Icon


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This item number is not valid.
#1385559 by Not Available.


 Voices: Prologue Open in new Window. (E)
A very brief Prologue.
#1410163 by emerin-liseli Author IconMail Icon


The beginning of a dark fantasy serial

 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#1342061 by Not Available.


Fantasy Contest

The Unofficial Fantasy Contest (CLOSED) Open in new Window. (ASR)
Contest is currently closed.
#1258547 by The Messenger Author IconMail Icon



 
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Word from Writing.Com

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Ask & Answer

sjluke
Dear ProsperousSnow:
Thanks for the newsletter.

hbar Author Icon
Hey thanks for including my story, Never Ignore a Faithful Servant, in your newsletter. I was wondering why the sudden interest in this piece.

Anyway it was a fun one to write, thanks for noticing it.

John

Deany Author Icon
Very interesting. I think that flash fiction is like a music video. You have a very short time to get a story across but need a point to come through as well to make it really good.

By the way I'm planning a story about a necromancer on (what in time turns into) a noble quest. I can't wait to hear your thoughts on dark fantasy.


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