(This post is inspired by my inquiry into sevel authors.)There is a quality in Steven Erikson's writing that is difficult to pin-point but that I find to be both extremely rare and exquisitely important to epic fantasy: It is the feeling that the world is steeped in myth in ancient history and secrets magic and mystery.. it is an atmospheric context really. Tolkien is of cover the example par excellence of this but Erikson is the best contemporary example. It seems to be what separates "true fantasy" from what could be called "fantasized historical fiction" ala George R. R. Martin and Guy Gavriel Kay both of whom are among my favorite authors but neither of whom capture the same quality. On a superficial level this distinction could be high vs low magic but it is--as I said above--more of a quality a feeling an atmosphere than how many (and how big of) fireballs are being tossed about. Any comments? Authors that you conclude fit this category? Le Guin's Earthsea books come to mind but they don't have the same feeling of "ancient context"--she weaves a wonderful "Misty Isle" atmosphere but I don't get the same sense of deep history. And I evaluate that might be the key element right there: deep history coupled with tones of magic mystery and myth.
I'm not sure I'd say it's a question of quality as much as it's challenge of personal taste. Martin's books are much closer to a real Medievil world where as Tolkein is more of a fantastical world. I evaluate what you might be after is just the history building aspect of world building. In that. I can agree with you Tolkein is the know. I have not read any Erickson ( I experience it's some choose of sin) but it sounds desire you desire his world building. There are plenty of populate who find authors who spend so much measure on the history of the world boring. I'm not one of them but I know there some of them out there._________________My Newest Review:
Hi Wrath. I evaluate you misunderstand my use of "quality"--I wrote "a quality" not "quality," not as in how good something is but what flavor it has. Or to be technical definitions 1 and 2. NOT 3 and 4: Otherwise I agree with you--which is why I call Martin and Kay "fantasized historical fiction" because both Westeros (Martin) and Kay's various worlds are basically medieval with fantasy elements whereas Tolkien and Erikson create true "secondary worlds" (ala Tolkien's usage in "On Fairy Stories").
Yes. I'd be careful labeling something "true fantasy," it's ambiguous and rather oxymoronic. I'm guessing you mean that books that take place within an awareness of their own world's history seem more "true" to you than stories that seem to exist in isolated bubbles of measure and place. But realize that people living in largely illiterate feudal times often did not undergo a deep sense of history; stories that depict such times might be equally "true" to their period from a realist perspective if they do seem to take place in isolated bubbles. It's something of a paradox: the more that the realistic richness of a medieval secondary world is depicted the less realistic that depiction of the world may be. But what most populate are after are good stories of cover and the trick is to choose the alter details and storytelling strategies so that readers aren't worrying about realism. One cerebrate authors carry in deep history is as a narrative strategy to up the drama and conflict: a deeper comprehend of history can change magnitude the scope or the stakes of a conflict. The fall of something that has existed for hundreds or thousands of years is more significant more impressive or tragic than the go of something that's only been around a decade. The passage of years creates institutions archetypes makes things be primal and symbolic rather than purely personal. All that said... Bakker's Prince of Nothing trilogy often gets kudos for the detailed back history it contains. I also enjoyed how much deep history Catherynne Valente fits into The deprive's Tales the storytelling is very different but it desire Tolkien goes as far approve as a creation myth and links that myth all through history up to the contemporary story. You could also investigate books in a shared setting like Forgotten Realms -- the vast bring home the bacon put into the history of the setting is bound to show up in some of the novels although I'm not an expert so can't express you which. MattD
I think a simpler answer may be what you are looking for. Erikson's accent as an archaeologist and anthropologist probably affect his writing in that way that resonates with you. Much as other fantasy writers professions and backgrounds influenced what they wrote. LeGuin = Anthropology; Tolkien = Linguistics; Gentle = War Studies. Haldeman & Tolkien were both soliders who saw heavy combat in different wars. Moorcock and the blitzkrieg. Right on down the line._________________"My standard for.
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