In Episode 16 Gen and Jette do a genre breakdown and ask: “What is fantasy?”
If you’re a genre reader–and even if you’re not–you know that the lines between genres can get very, very blurry. So many authors play in the margins of genres. You’ll find yourself asking, “Is this fantasy?” This is our attempt to answer this question. We look at the conventions of the genre. We examine high and low fantasy settings. And we look to some of our favourite examples of fantasy.
By the end of the episode you might just have an answer to our genre breakdown question, “What is fantasy?”
Show Notes
Harry Potter mention counter: Gen kept it to a very minimal 8 (with one bonus Supernatural mention).
Gen was also incredibly chill about The Raven Cycle in this episode.
Umbrella Academy mention counter: Jette is far more chill with just one.
Read more about the mythical water horses called capaill uisce.
Nicolas Hoult is playing Tolkien in the new movie.
After debating Star Trek versus Star Wars (fantasy set in space?) and superhero stories, we decided maybe these things are a genre unto themselves.
For the record, it is creepy that Bowie is so much older than 12-year-old Jennifer Connelly in Labyrinth, but we still love it.
For those who don’t know, this is The Big Rock Candy Mountain.
Bedknobs and Broomsticks holds up pretty well for being such an old movie.
Books Mentioned
The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien
A Game of Thrones by George RR Martin
Howl’s Moving Castle by Dianne Wynne Jones
The Neverending Story by Michael Ende
By Maggie Stiefvater: The Dreamer Trilogy, Book 1: Call Down the Hawk, The Scorpio Races, The Raven Cycle Trilogy, All the Crooked Saints
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
The Wizard of Oz by L Frank Baum
By Neil Gaiman: Neverwhere, American Gods
Deathless by Catherynne M. Valente
Other Words for Smoke by Sarah Maria Griffin
Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
