wanna see? for fantasy and horror(zombie horror mostly) what are some things you dont want to see anymore in those genres and what do you think would be a welcome to the genre
Fantasy: More LotR clones The archtype fantasy plot of evil empire/whatever defeated by farm boy who turns out to be a wizard/king, via use of magic sword/ring/stone/etc. Eragon. Ever again. Horror is a bit different. Something that's actually scary would be good, as very few supposed horror novels manage that (in my experience).
Maybe its just me, and its something minor, but i hate how some fantasy have say a map, and every single location has to be involved in the story (Eragon of recent). Those kind of books make the story feel second (maybe its just be). Fantasy - Farm boy or the likes turing into some ultimate hero, i agree with the above and its just so old now. - Elves, dwarfs, dragons(to a degree) etc (lets see more creation, as hard as it may be). Horror - Clowns; no more please
I personally don't believe the "simple lad goes on a journey to become a warrior/magician/king and fulfill his destiny to save the world" will ever get old. It's archetypal, like the ingenue/vamp/wisewoman or the "golden-hearted" thieves and prostitutes. But I would like to see settings other than Pan-Celtic or Far East for fantasies-- even Spain or the Mediterranean would be a nice break. (Of course, I feel like a filthy hypocrite since I'm currently writing a Euro-centric fantasy even though I changed it from medieval to 18th century.) In Final Fantasy XII (not a book, but, hey, the RPG is a legitimate form of story-telling!) there was Spoiler this ambassador from the country of Rozarria who came to talk peace with us ('cos of the political layer of the story) and... and... we never get to go to Rozarria! But, we always go everywhere in Final Fantasy!! It broke my brain, but when I got over it I kind of liked the idea of a world so big that even the Emperors and Queens that we travel with would never see the whole of it. As for horror... I like the fast, smart zombies nowadays that can actually swim. I'm actually getting tired of sexy vampires. Bring them back to the undead zombie-like nightmares that they used to be!
Fantasy: Most stuff that's popular in fantasy nowadays, pretty much. Boy wizards, elves, dragons, orcs, snarky first-person narrators who try to sound hip, etc. etc. etc. (I'm trying to read the "Bartimaeus" trilogy now and I just want to smack the narrator upside the head. I didn't know it was that kind of fantasy when I bought it.) I'd also like to see more stories that are standalone books or else omnibus editions of a complete series (i. e., I don't have to wait a decade to have the entire series to read, when the local store will probably only pick up the first book or two). I want more fantasy stories based on mythology, and when I say mythology, I don't mean Greco-Roman or Norse or, to a lesser extent, Celtic or Asian because those have already been used to death. And when I say based on mythology I mean the writer did serious research and didn't just toss some foreign god in there. OH. I'm also tired of urban fantasy. Just not my thing. I do not want to see mythological figures acting modern in the modern world. I get enough of the modern world in my daily life. Horror: And most stuff that's popular in that. Vampires, mainly. Ugh. And yes, zombies. Been there, seen that a million times. Hard to make it original anymore. This is why I don't read much fiction, even in the genre I write in.
I don't really read Fantasy so I can't speak on that, but Horror: I don't want to see anymore Japanesse style horror movies, I don't want any more zombies, I don't want any more Vampire novels done up like romance fiction, and I don't want any more "Oh no! There's a psychotic killer in the basement!" being labled as "horror." Sorry if this comes off as strongly worded, but I'm in the midst of working on a horror writing project so I have opions on this now.
Fantasy: 1. I hate the journey of child to hero. 2. I'd like to see a hero or heroes who know what they're doing. In other words they're seasoned people who plan on handleing the situation. This goes back to number one. 3. It's nice when authors don't repeat the LOTR races. I especially dislike terms like "halflings" when you mean Hobbits because it seems like weak copyright dodge. 4. Get a new problem as opposed to a quest. Horror: I've only read a little horror and have seen a variety of films. This is my opinion, but horror seems a little perverse to me most of the time, especially the films, which I no longer watch. The reasin I think so is because humans rarely win and there's a lot of helpless suffering. That's close to the definition of porn for me. I don't really get it. So: 1: Have characters who aren't victims and overall have humanity bravely face the scary whatever. 2. Change the theme from "can't do" to "can do" regarding the threat.
Fantasy: Like everyone else has said, no more elves, dwarves, trolls, etc. No more Eragon No more LOTR rip offs No more Quest (quest are never my thing and so many people have done it) Some things I would like to see in fantasy, some originality and some creativity like Teele's Crystan Dawn. Horror: You are are really going to get me on this. No more sexy vampires, ugh No more love stories between sexy vampires and sexy human girl, even more ugh Vampires aren't killed by silver, a new little twist the world has decided to bring on, if you want to kill a vampire with a metal use something new how about copper or iron....or how about a little more originality Thrillers aren't horror, so stop classifying it as horror And no dumb victims, why can't we have smart victims who know what they are doing for a change.(I recently watched this movie and the killer was outside, to warn everyone there is a killer outside they went outside....where is the logic in that?) Some things I would like to see in horror creativity, originality, and please make your group of victims smarter.
Here Here! There's nothing more irritating then the stupid girl victim who insists on walking down the dark alley, by herself, really slowly, feeling scared but never thinking to run into the damn light!!! or at least prepare the pepper spray! Urgh. The other thing is why do people always fall over when they're running away?!?!?!?! WHY?!? It's their life on the line! You'd think they'd pick up their feet!!!! Hehe, surprised myself with how many things actually irritate me! As for fantasy, well, that's tricky water but try you're best to steer clear of utter stereotypes and if you have to use them then inject some energy or humour.
What I don't want to see in Fantasy. That is a good question and tricky too. What I am about to say applies to both Fantasy and Horror. First off, I want to say that a good story is a good story, there is no one thing that makes a story good or bad. On a personal note, a killer for me is any form of blatant copying of another story or collection of stories. What I mean is, If I go: "This seems just like..." or "This reminds me exactly of..." then that really ruins the story for me. If it smells like a rip off or feels like a rip off, it destroys the enjoyment of the story for me. Mainly because I already read this story before. Why am I reading it again but "changed just enough" to bypass copyright. Also, citing an overused line that has long lost it's impact in a story to try and sound 'cool' or 'edgy' like; "Your powers are weak old man" or something along those lines, anytime people do this, it feels like being slapped in the face with a wet fish and destroys the flow and immersion of the story. Beyond that, I am cool with Dwarves, Elves, dragons, vampires, you name it, It is all good. Toss a few drow in and some orcs, it is all good. None of those things affect the "Story"they are just settings. I think of them as stage props, nothing more, they do not make the performance, the story, or affect the ability of the actors. Never judge a play by it's props, a book by it's cover or a move by who is starring in it. That is my .
In fantasy, the whole prophetic farmer destined to save the world from eminent doom really irritates me. In terms of horror, I am equally irritated with the whole "sexy vampire" thing as Leaka is.
"Imminent." em·i·nent [émminənt] adj 1. of high standing: superior in position, fame, or achievement 2. noticeable: easy to see or notice 3. high: in a high or raised position im·ma·nent [ímmənənt] adj 1. within something: existing within or inherent in something (formal) 2. existing in all parts of universe: describes God as existing in and extending into all parts of the created universe im·mi·nent [ímminənt] adj about to occur: about to happen, or threatening to happen Encarta ® World English Dictionary © & (P) 1998-2005 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
