new genre

[selket]

did anyone know there is a new genre of ficton? it is called historical fantasy!! :roll: if it is historical, how can it be fantasy?

[Jozell]

I have read historical fiction....perhaps they mean a fantasy story that uses elements of history but the premises as just too fantastical to be real? I'm thinking Sara Douglas' current series of books about mazes would fall into this genre.

[Beisla]

I guess historical fantasy could be used to categorize historical stories with fantasy elements. One that comes to mind is Orson Scott Card's Alvin Maker -series. But there's also alternate history in those stories: it happens in America, but history is slightly altered, and there's also magic.

Perhaps some of Guy Gavriel Kay's books could be called historical fantasy: many of his books are based on places/times in our world (such as historical France) but mixed with fantasy, and the settings are not in our world. (Different maps ect.)

I find this type of fantasy very interesting. :good:

[Kitsch]

I think Mary Gentle would probably fall into this category, I've read two of her books 1610: A Sundial On A Grave and Ash, A Secret History both of which use parts of actual history (In 1610, the assasination of Henri II and James 1st' England but introduce Rosicrucians and mathematical manipulation of future, and in Ash the fall of Burgundy as manipulated by 'Wild Machines' malevolent intelligences from lost Carthage).

Very good books actually, can recommend them,

[Elisabetha]

I am now reading 1610, A sundial in a grave Kitster, and I agree that it is a very good book. I have also read Ash and another book by her titled Orthe, which is more science fiction.

I think that this is indeed what people mean when they talk about historical fantasy, though I would call it alternate history and that is not a new genre.

Did they mention titles where you fiound this new genre named Selket?

:bouncy: :bouncy: :bouncy:

[Anareth]

I wouldn't call it new by any stretch, unless they're starting to separate it out in the bookstore and libraries. I would call it a subgenre of fantasy. And I wouldn't say that historical fantasy (a la Misty Lackey's historically-themed Elemental Masters books) is necessarily the same as Alternate History. Alternate History doesn't necessarily have to depend on 'fantasy', which pretty specifically involves magic, the supernatural, SF, etc. I can write a book about the South winning the Civil War without putting in a single fantastic element. That would still be alternate history, but it wouldn't be historical fantasy. In fact that could be an academic paper. If I had the South win because *ahem* some futuristic guerillas used a time machine to come back and give the Confederates AK-47s (Harry Turtledove's plot for "The Guns of the South"), that would be Historical SF. If I had the South win because they had magicians working on their side, that would be Historical Fantasy.

[murphy]

In Diana Gabaldon's book, Outlander, she has her heroine go through some standing stones in Scotland, from the year 1946 to 1743. Although she is unable to change any history. :2cent:

[selket]

the book i'm talking about is rite of conquest. the story is tha william the conqueror is king arthur reborn to bring druidism back to england. he and matilda are offspring of druid goddesses! this is too far from reality for me

[murphy]

the book i'm talking about is rite of conquest. the story is tha william the conqueror is king arthur reborn to bring druidism back to england. he and matilda are offspring of druid goddesses! this is too far from reality for me

That's be Judith Tarr. She writes a lot of books like that and I really like her writing. :2cent:

[Saf]

Historical fantasy or altered history? Hard to say which is more apt - though I've always thought that labelling someone like Anne McCaffrey as a "sci-fi" author does not do her credit, as her stories are much more than that IMHO.

When I read your post Selket, the first book that came to mind was Ken Follett's The Pillars of the Earth - a book that uses some real people from history and also some real historical events - but binds these into the fictional story. Clive Cussler often does the same, though he generally does this only in the prologue to whichever story.

[Flinx]

I would agree with both Jozell & Beisla on this, historical fantasy would be stories based on or set in a historical event/period with fantasy elements, like magic.

The first one that came to mind for me was This Scepter'd Isle (http://www.mercedeslackey.com/books/serra7.shtml) by Mercedes Lackey & Roberta Gellis, it's set in the time of Henry VIII in England with elves trying to protect Elizabeth I.

Flinx :crazy:

[selket]

i've read other judith tarr books. they are much better.

[Brenda]

With Card's books, the alternate history is not the point - it is casually mentioned occasionally, but is not the source of the plot. Magic is the source of the plot.

Patricia Wrede has written some historical fantasy: Mairelon the Magician, Magician's Ward, and Sorcery and Cecelia (with Caroline Stevermer). These three all take place in Regency England - there is all the society stuff, and there is a Royal College of Magic.

I love the full title: Sorcery and Cecelia, or The Enchanted Chocolate Pot: Being the correspondences of two young women of quality regarding various magical scandals in London and the country

[Kitsch]

I would agree with both Jozell & Beisla on this, historical fantasy would be stories based on or set in a historical event/period with fantasy elements, like magic.

The first one that came to mind for me was This Scepter'd Isle (http://www.mercedeslackey.com/books/serra7.shtml) by Mercedes Lackey & Roberta Gellis, it's set in the time of Henry VIII in England with elves trying to protect Elizabeth I.

Flinx :crazy:

Now this sounds like something I've got to read! *puts it on her ever growing Amazon Wish List*