tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7167131.post4680798877463732008..comments2024-01-27T09:02:10.815-08:00Comments on Jim Davies: the Blog: Is Fantasy Less Creative Than Science Fiction?Jim Davieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09958201922371210613noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7167131.post-3937995642108329152012-04-01T06:38:48.143-07:002012-04-01T06:38:48.143-07:00Hi Jim,
I'd have to say I don't believe F...Hi Jim,<br /><br />I'd have to say I don't believe Fantasy is inherently less creative, but it definitely feels that way. Tolkien may have borrowed from earlier myths but he popularized the crap out of every stereotypical fantasy trope there is. I stopped reading fantasy in college when I realized I could write the jacket cover for every story. An unlikely band of heroes goes on an epic quest to stop the unstoppable – and always previously mythical – forces of darkness, or "blackness" or "evil" intent on taking over the world. And when the heroes are in the woods they eat cheese, cold sausages and hard bread...lamenting the lack of fire for fear of being detected. Despite loving both genres, I feel the same way about SF as I do about F: in worlds where literally anything can happen, the same things always happen. I have been pleasantly surprised by Roger Zelazny (Chronicles of Amber is my fav F), Patrick Ruthfuss, and Brandon Sanderson. But everytime a elf counterpart pops up I want to punch Tolkien right in the Bag End. <br /><br />If you're interested, my friend Auston Habershaw keeps a great blog about this kind of thing. <br /><br />http://aahabershaw.wordpress.com/Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18024818088231010176noreply@blogger.com