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NOVEMBER FEATURE ARTICLE - FANTASY SUB-GENRES
by Carolee Dean
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This month's post
is a continuation of my discussion with bookseller Elizabeth Anker.
She's the owner of Alamosa books here in Albuquerque, NM. To read last month's post go to the OCTOBER FEATURE ARTICLE.
 I
asked Elizabeth about her definition of dystopian fantasy and she said
she believes dystopian looks at the future as an examination of
political structures. In utopia life is perfect. Dystopia turns
everything on its head. Usually a totalitarian and authoritarian
government is involved and the story is set in a future that is often
post apocalyptic. Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins is the most popular example of dystopian fiction.
Elizabeth said that
as the genre continues to grow in popularity and people write more of
it, there is far less explanation of why the future described in the
book is happening and how the events affects our world at large. These
weaker stories tend to focus on a few teens struggling to survive and
often rely on super powers to explain things.
In discussing other
sub genres of fantasy, Elizabeth pointed out that just about any
magical creature you can think of has its own series: vampires,
werewolves, and even angels.
 Scott Westerfeld, author of the Leviathan
series, explores zombies, vampires, and classic fantasy creatures by
explaining their biology and origin in scientific terms. He tends to
fall in her science fiction shelves. For an interesting discussion of
the difference between fantasy and science fiction, see our October 1
feature article.
 Seth Grahame-Smith, author of Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter, combines zombies and vampires with historical elements and extensive research.
 In
regard to urban fantasy, Elizabeth says it's just what it sounds like.
These stories take classic elements of myth and place them in urban
centers like New York and London. The author then weaves in the history
of those places with the current story. There is a lot of romance and
often humor and whimsy. Examples are Cassandra Clare and her Mortal Instruments Series, Kate Griffin's Matthew Swift Series and Cynthia Leitich Smith's Tantalize Series. A lot of these writers are aiming for a clever feel, working in modern trends and using word play.
In Epic Fantasy
like Tolkien authors create a world and send a hero a quest. Good and
evil are usually clearly defined. George R. R. Martin, A Game of Thrones,
is an example. These stories are not derived from classic myth but are
largely based on Tolkien's work which is in turn based on Scandinavian
and British isles myths. Tolkien blended those influences with his
Catholic beliefs of good and evil and the idea that there is an ultimate
morality we should all be supporting.
I asked Elizabeth
why she thought so many of the great fantasy writers are British.
She believes it's because Brits have deeper history than we do and
deeper roots to mythology. Americans are good at taking ideas and
developing them. Perhaps that is why we have so many good science
fiction writers.
For a super handout exploring fantasy sub-genres visit Kimberley's website. She created the handout for our panel presentation at the International Reading Association last April.
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Ca rolee
Dean has made numerous appearances as a guest poet/author at schools,
libraries, poetry events, and teacher/library conferences. She holds a
bachelor's degree in music therapy and a master's degree in
communicative disorders, and she has spent over a decade working in the
public schools as a
speech-language pathologist.
Her first novel, Comfort,was
nominated as a Best Book for Young Adults, was named the Best YA Novel
of 2002 by the Texas Institute of Letters, and was on the TAYSHAS (Texas
Library Association) reading list. Take Me There is a YALSA Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers.
Her upcoming paranormal verse novel, Forget Me Not, will be published by Simon Pulse in October of 2012.
She conducts teacher trainings on inspiring reluctant writers
including "The Secret Language of Stories" and "Random Act of Haiku." 
 Caroline
Starr Rose spent her childhood in the deserts of Saudi Arabia and New
Mexico, camping at the Red Sea in one and eating red chile in the other.
She's taught English and social studies to upper elementary and
middle-school students in New Mexico, Florida, Virginia, and Louisiana.
Back in New
Mexico, Caroline now writes middle-grade novels and picture books full time.
To find teach er's guides, writing activities, and information about author visits, go to my website.
 Kimberley
Griffiths Little is the recipient of the Southwest Book Award, The
Whitney Award for Best Youth Novel of 2010, and the author of the highly
acclaimed, The Healing Spell and Circle of Secrets, published by Scholastic Press. Look for her books at the Scholastic Book Fairs, as well  as two more forthcoming novels in 2012 and 2013.
She
lives on a dirt road in a small town by the Rio Grande with her
husband, a robotics engineer and their three sons. Kimberley is a
favorite speaker at schools around the country, presenting "The Creative
Diary", a highly successful writing  workshop and has been a speaker at many conferences.
November, 2012
YALSA Literature Symposium
"Author Research Panel"
Carolee Dean
and four other authors
St. Louis, Missouri
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