tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post9098095489343759643..comments2024-02-12T17:59:33.534-06:00Comments on RAZORED ZEN: Fantasy by Definition: Part 5Charles Gramlichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02052592247572253641noreply@blogger.comBlogger37125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-81979936126838539312010-06-14T07:37:15.090-05:002010-06-14T07:37:15.090-05:00Another great post on the series :) I'm not t...Another great post on the series :) I'm not too big into Urban Fantasy, but I do know there are many good books in the sub-genre. I've been enjoying True Blood which is an urban fantasy TV series and has made me a bit more interested in the sub-genre, but I've yet to break away from my high fantasy roots :)<br /><br />Another sub-genre I've been interested about recently is steam-punk where the world has a different technology than our own, usually steam-powered.Laurenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11795668965659926769noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-30065086616078106232010-06-05T22:54:43.309-05:002010-06-05T22:54:43.309-05:00Archavist, glad you found them of some use.Archavist, glad you found them of some use.Charles Gramlichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02052592247572253641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-15581393708840256812010-06-05T20:21:58.305-05:002010-06-05T20:21:58.305-05:00I just read through all these posts in one go. Ver...I just read through all these posts in one go. Very interesting and something I will refer to from time to time.Gary Dobbs/Jack Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10935686140719743351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-58850004332371285342010-06-03T13:36:28.084-05:002010-06-03T13:36:28.084-05:00David Cranmer, I think there's ample room stil...David Cranmer, I think there's ample room still in fantasy, and westerns as well for peple to do interesting variations on a theme. They can use tropes developed in the field but don't have to be hack work.Charles Gramlichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02052592247572253641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-69177572544512075542010-06-03T09:30:57.914-05:002010-06-03T09:30:57.914-05:00Charles, I've been silent over your terrific s...Charles, I've been silent over your terrific series of posts and have enjoyed reading them. I don't read a lot of fantasy so have been slow to comment but I will agree that we don't want "paint-by-the-numbers process." That also goes for the genres that are close to my heart: Crime and Westerns.David Cranmerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04749857752139212888noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-57985505301034011242010-06-03T08:43:24.137-05:002010-06-03T08:43:24.137-05:00Erik Donald France, oh yes, the first Conan movie ...Erik Donald France, oh yes, the first Conan movie had some great music. I need to make more of a study of urban fantasy.<br /><br />eric1313, turned out that was a misunderstanding. There was only a sample posted as part of an advertising kind of thing. So I didn't end up having to take any action.<br /><br />L.A. Mitchell, one of the reasons I probably haven't read a lot of urban fantasy is because of how blurred that line is and I don't know what side the book I might be intersted in falls on.Charles Gramlichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02052592247572253641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-69566263676201908102010-06-03T06:31:41.207-05:002010-06-03T06:31:41.207-05:00Darn..I kept checking back hoping you could shed l...Darn..I kept checking back hoping you could shed light what it takes to be moved in the brick and mortar stores from romance to the fantasy/(sci-fi) section. Percentage dedicated to each, sure, but some really seem to blur that line.<br /><br />Informative, as always, Charles :)L.A. Mitchellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11729129827211991040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-42571948894851660282010-06-03T04:17:51.715-05:002010-06-03T04:17:51.715-05:00Looks like we posted at the same time earlier to.....Looks like we posted at the same time earlier to... errr... yesterday, rather. <br /><br />BTW, I was wondering what ever happened in the case of your book being found for free on the web? Hope you got it taken down or some recompense for that troubling bit of news that someone decided your work was important enough for you to not get paid for it's being read.eric1313https://www.blogger.com/profile/13807078704660045859noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-53980070989143942652010-06-02T23:40:52.100-05:002010-06-02T23:40:52.100-05:00Charles, nifty-fifty. You've piqued my interes...Charles, nifty-fifty. You've piqued my interest about Urban Fantasy here of the non-vampire kind. Loved Excalibur, and liked LotR, and agree on Conan. The first one uses Wagner well, eh? Didn't see Red S.Erik Donald Francehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02332500850365598564noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-1859656699272596762010-06-02T23:20:20.446-05:002010-06-02T23:20:20.446-05:00Gustavo, I actually haven't read Cook's PI...Gustavo, I actually haven't read Cook's PI series. Early urban fantasy I think, and I've never gotten deeply into that field. I probably should read more. thanks for dropping byCharles Gramlichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02052592247572253641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-47810519228679042962010-06-02T21:48:33.616-05:002010-06-02T21:48:33.616-05:00Hey Charles,
Gustavo here. Cook's Black Comp...Hey Charles, <br /><br />Gustavo here. Cook's Black Company is a classic - but I prefer his PI Garrett series.Gustavohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08452080981639193785noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-88455158747033127272010-06-02T19:01:54.150-05:002010-06-02T19:01:54.150-05:00Barrie, glad you enjoyed.Barrie, glad you enjoyed.Charles Gramlichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02052592247572253641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-72873004498482436572010-06-02T19:01:45.488-05:002010-06-02T19:01:45.488-05:00A lot of my fantasy background comes from gaming, ...A lot of my fantasy background comes from gaming, both role playing games and video games... on the RPG side there is a great game called RIFTS, about a post apocalyptic world were the sheer amount of death that took place in a nuclear holocaust caused a rupture of magical and psychic energies to manifest all around the globe, spanning in ley lines and joining a many nexus points across the planet. It mixes Sword and Sorcery with the Highest Tech, wizards combating cyborgs, CyberKnights combating demons and other dimensional beings who can now access the world through the nexus points, Atlantis rising from the sea and the rise of a totalitarian human empire from the ruins of old Chicago (Called Chi Town) that wishes to exterminate all manner of dimensional beings, evil or benign... It even explores the darker side of technology, like the forced application of cybernetics on an unwilling being, or a mind over matter chip installed in a a human brain magnifying psychic and physical strength but at the cost of the recipients sanity... all kinds of dilemmas and ideas explored... <br /><br />And of course I was a fan of Final Fantasy, a video game that was a synthesis of High Fantasy and Sci Fi as well... <br /><br />Have always been a fan, obviously. Great series of posts.eric1313https://www.blogger.com/profile/13807078704660045859noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-76578651489145452172010-06-02T16:48:59.070-05:002010-06-02T16:48:59.070-05:00What a great series, Charles. I really enjoyed how...What a great series, Charles. I really enjoyed how you explained the various subgenres of fantasy. I used to read more fantasy than I do now. Your series made me want to add some fantasty to my TBR pile.Barriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04678698296265168217noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-4423335460297811602010-06-02T13:04:49.066-05:002010-06-02T13:04:49.066-05:00Bernardl, the first ten books of the Gor series, w...Bernardl, the first ten books of the Gor series, with one exception, were really good, I thought. But then he got so focused on the slavery thing that the action really took a back seat. I really liked Nomads of Gor, one of my favorites.Charles Gramlichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02052592247572253641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-75480462443607403862010-06-02T11:49:06.296-05:002010-06-02T11:49:06.296-05:00Thanks for a very enlightening series. I enjoyed i...Thanks for a very enlightening series. I enjoyed it very much. I read most of the Gor books by John Norman. It's too bad he went a little nuts because he wrote some of the best action sequences I've ever read.BernardLhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09722619048888613647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-90197390404746944152010-06-02T10:14:09.564-05:002010-06-02T10:14:09.564-05:00BStearns/Bryan, I appreciate the kind words. I...BStearns/Bryan, I appreciate the kind words. I've spent a lot of years reading, and writing in and about these genres so I like to think I have a feel for them.<br /><br />Ivan, there have been a number of send offs of the Heroic Fantasy genre, particularly Sword and Sorcery. One funny one is "Mention My Name in Atlantis" by John Jakes. Poul Anderson also wrote one. A send up on Sword and Planet fiction, something of one anyway, was Ardor on Aros by Andy Offutt.<br /><br />Bernita, I wouldn't doubt it. The nature of such things is to explode and then specialize.Charles Gramlichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02052592247572253641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-51182470178691985332010-06-02T09:53:32.247-05:002010-06-02T09:53:32.247-05:00I read recently that urban fantasy is now split in...I read recently that urban fantasy is now split into "urban" and "rural" fantasy...Bernitahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05264585685253812090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-63838348531389050192010-06-02T00:54:30.298-05:002010-06-02T00:54:30.298-05:00I used to like it back in the Sixties when the the...I used to like it back in the Sixties when the then-great MAD Magazine would lampoon--oh, say it on!--ridicule superheroes.<br /><br />Clark Kent, somewhat decrepid now, hobbling from spittoon to spittoon, flies buzzing around him, making a pass at the unattainable Lois Lane, being rebuffed in a final comic book frame, by a backhander from Lois, standing there in her high heels and seamed nylons. "GET LOST, CREEP!"<br /><br />"Prince Violent", ready to come on the scene, but he is a f*ck-up. (Picks up bow, drops bow, picks up quiver, drops quiver....Drops chainmail pants).<br /><br />And the Lone Stranger, employing Tonto to get a fire going by rubbing two sticks togethere, finally in frustration pulling out a Bic Butane and saying **** it!<br /><br />More recently there has been a satire on the female superheroine or some such...Was she called EMPOWERED GIRL?...Getting into a scrape and calling her mother on the cellphone for advice.<br /><br />Heh. You get into funny turns of mind when you do your Master's thesis on MAD Magazine.<br /><br />I wondered why they had let me do it, until I realized that MAD --in the Fifties anyway--had elements of Kafka, Orwell, Hemingway. These were talented people, very aware of the twisted spirit of the age.<br /><br />I was disapponted and saddened last year when I found out that Wille Elder, the brilliant inventor of Melvin Mole, a Man Out of Control--surely pure Kafka--had died at an advanced age.<br />I still possess the email from him.<br /><br />He had said, after I had cited the MAD out of the Fifties as high literature, "You are now one of us."<br /><br />But Willie had added, characteristically,<br /><br />"But Groucho Marx said that 'I wouldn't want to be part of any club that would have me as a member. :)"ivanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05662075375182633162noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-85924434806257430702010-06-02T00:33:25.156-05:002010-06-02T00:33:25.156-05:00Great series of posts, I'm sad to see them end...Great series of posts, I'm sad to see them end. You clearly have great insight into these topics, and you've definitely taught me a thing or two about these genres. Thanks a lot Charles!<br /><br />-Bryan<br />sff-hub.blogspot.comBStearnshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00110189767629308496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-61869787417814520372010-06-01T23:20:51.014-05:002010-06-01T23:20:51.014-05:00Travis Cody, then my job here is done. :)
Lana, t...Travis Cody, then my job here is done. :)<br /><br />Lana, thanks sweetness.Charles Gramlichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02052592247572253641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-57273282811905510842010-06-01T23:16:44.494-05:002010-06-01T23:16:44.494-05:00This has been an interesting series, baby. It'...This has been an interesting series, baby. It's made me think more about various types of fantasy than I have in quite a while.Lana Gramlichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06975996208260144558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-42559705751309609292010-06-01T19:34:03.411-05:002010-06-01T19:34:03.411-05:00I've enjoyed this series of essays, and I'...I've enjoyed this series of essays, and I've picked up a few writers to add to my list. I even learned a thing or three.Travis Codyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06192526507760146748noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-75688409510752933382010-06-01T18:48:50.568-05:002010-06-01T18:48:50.568-05:00Laughingwolf, yes, the first Matrix movie was trul...Laughingwolf, yes, the first Matrix movie was truly outstanding. The others nto so much. I liked Excaliber pretty well. I thought it was one of the better fantasy movies done up to that time.<br /><br />Pattinase, it's been a few years for me as well.<br /><br />Steve Malley, I well remember the Glen Cook Black Company books. I was just blown away. <br /><br />Cinammon, reading is always good.Charles Gramlichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02052592247572253641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-44726993608322137622010-06-01T17:48:03.050-05:002010-06-01T17:48:03.050-05:00Well Charles! I am going to have to go read some n...Well Charles! I am going to have to go read some now!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com