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Author Post
Will Sachiksy
Topic: Unusual Genre Blendings
Most of use have seen fantasy mixed with science fiction, romance, and even mythology (for the latter, I mean using Classical, Norse, or other existing gods as story figures). I wnat to know what strange genre crossovers with fantasy you've seen.

For example, has anyone seen a good fantasy mystery? I would imagine that kind of story would be difficult becuase the audience would expect a random plot device to the cause and/or solution to the mystery.

#1 Dec 22nd 2006, 7:09pm
Dave Lee
I'm not the most adventurous reader, so the most outlandish mix I've seen is in some of Neil Gaiman's novels, where he blends Fantasy and modern western settings. "American Gods" and "Neverwhere" are the two I'm thinking about, where in the former, classical Norse gods wage war against modern consumerist deities, while in Neverwhere, there is a kind of dystopic fantasy world beneath the city of London. I'm usually not a fan of mixing sci-fi and fantasy, as I feel it strays too far from the roots of each genre.
#2 Dec 27th 2006, 6:22pm
Without A Muse
I haven't read any, but have been 'working' on one (for waaaaay too long!) It's got sci-fi thrown in there as well. And I haven't decided whether to leave it at just mystery, or add murder in. I need to re-do the beginning in a major way, but if you would like to read it, let me know, and I'll post it up.
#3 Jan 04th 2007, 5:08pm
Shdwphoenix
Sci-fi mixed with fantasy makes me think of steampunk fantasy, which I adore (but can't write myself). Or maybe it's just my personal inability to distinguish between sci-fi and steampunk sometimes. o_O

I want to write a fantasy story with Japanese/Chinese history and philosophy as the basis for my world, but a corner of my mind keeps insisting such a plot would fit better in the Manga section. But, what I can't figure out is what exactly qualifies a story for sorting into the Manga category. The only real reasons I'd pick that category is an excuse to give my characters odd eye and hair color combinations (because, I mean... it happens all the time). You don't need a world with Japanese names and influences to post an entry in Manga, and surely the fact that your story is influenced by East Asia isn't enough for you to put the story in Manga instead of Fantasy. So, I dunno. Still thinking about it.

(I know, I'm off-topic. Sorry.)

#4 Jan 08th 2007, 5:04pm . Edited Jan 08th 2007, 5:08pm
Rosemarine
Hmm, I bet writing Manga is a challenge, because, mangastuff is pretty visual, isn't it?

BTW, what is steampunk fantasy? it sounds cool.

#5 Jan 08th 2007, 5:12pm
Shdwphoenix
It is. Which is why I'm confused. XD

I can't explain it very well, but in steampunk fantasy, technology tends to have advanced beyond what you'd expect from a society molded after that time period. The king's army in a 12th century medieval Europe-style world might include crude tanks alongside their footmen and cavalry, who still use swords and lances in battle. The Final Fantasy games have a lot of steampunk elements. Airships and all. And if my weak explanation didn't help, Wikipedia has an article on steampunk.

#6 Jan 08th 2007, 5:42pm
Tamaki
Steampunk is taking anything from the industrial era and adding a certain fantasy element to it. Rather than advanced gadgetry, steampunk uses crude (by our standards, at least) machinery that uses simple electricity or steampower (thus resulting in the name "steampunk"). Generally, it results in a dystopic future, generally set in the late 1800s. "The Haunting of Alaizabel Cray" by Chris Wooding is an excellent example of steampunk.

Steampunk is actually a breakaway from cyberpunk, which also uses a dystopic future but has it take place... in the future with cool futuristic-y gadgets (like lasers as opposed to... say... gas lighting). My story (Chiaroscuro... go read!) is sort of considered to be cyberpunk... but it has very little emphasis on technology (there's no gigantic laser cannons or anything... some of the weapons utilize laser technology but most of them continue to be ballistics and the like... the gang wars I have in my story even use antiquated guns like Macs, Tec-9s, 9mm, and AK-47s simply because they're cheaper but they still get the job done) and a much greater emphasis on fantasy (there's a semi-magic system that I never really call magic... along with a shadow-y sect of meta-androgynous beings with uber-cool powers that figure greatly into the story). So... go read it!

#7 Feb 01st 2007, 7:59pm
Nemonus
Steampunk is fun stuff. I've never written it. I've done metafiction/urban fantasy/mystery, samurai/fantasy, modern/fantasy/romance...modern American politics/fantasy...and I can't say that that last one turned out well. But I definitly like odd combos like that. I really like to see fantasies set in non-technological places which are not like midevil Europe, but rather feudal Japan, or something even more obscure. They're rare.
#8 Dec 04th 2007, 7:09pm

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