THE HISTORY OF FANTASY. Not to be confused with science-fiction,
which is predominantly drawn from modern technology and a writers
projections of the future, fantasy is a culmination of ideas that
returns us to, and utilises, the history and mythology of many
different cultures.
Science fiction can be seen as a
future-fantasy, and this is why generally both genres can be found on
adjoining shelves in the bookstore. Indeed, a few authors have managed
to obscure the lines between these similar genres. Terry Brooks gives
clues throughout his novels that his fantasy world of gnomes, trolls,
elves, druids and sword wielding warriors, takes place after a
biological disaster, ending in cataclysm and in the rebirth of a world
that may have once been the Earth. Other authors, who hint towards
their worlds being planets far from the Earth that have evolved
similarly, echo this unconventional and unique approach.
This
all helps to confuse the boundaries between the two genres. Generally
though, it is held that science fiction is futuristic and
technological, and is therefore set apart from fantasy, which is a
recreation of an old world VIVA LA FANTASY: THE RESURGENCE OF A GENRE
For thousands of years the art of storytelling has kept alive the
imaginations of millions of people the world over. Much like we would
pick up a novel or sit down to a movie today, people gathered to listen
to tales of brave heroes triumphing over evil as far back as our early
ancestors.
Above all else, the people of those times loved
stories. From ancient Greece we have the myths of the gods and
goddesses of Olympus, and their influence over worldly characters such
as Jason and the Argonauts. And also, the wicked serpent women Medusa,
or the winged horse Pegasus. From the Celts we have tales of witches,
warlocks, and druids, of savage beasts, and of the elf-like Tuatha De
Dunann. Gaelic children fought over whom would be the hero Cu Chulainn,
as they brandished wooden swords like great heroes in their youth. And
the Dragon, in all its incarnations, from several cultures, has
survived in the imagination of kids, big and small, young and old.
John
Boormans 1982 film Excalibur left audiences gasping with its
imaginative scope and reconstruction of the Arthurian theme. The images
are of medieval knights, clad in fantastic armour or masks of gold; but
the true Arthur of old is a very different figure. There were probably
no gifts of magical powers or weapons. And Arthur himself would have
been a violent, fighting man rather than a great king, a warrior tried
in battle and a leader of men who shared his strength and skill. But in
a brief span of 50 years he made such an impression that his tale will
probably never be forgotten. Through the art of storytellers, from
medieval to modern times, it has become possibly the most fantastic of
all narratives. But it is only one of a plethora of wondrous tales of
swashbuckling adventure, strange and savage beasts, of creatures of
fairy, magic and war, and of chivalry and romance, which come from the
days of old.
In some of our earliest literature, we have
preserved many of the finest examples of fantasy: the epic poem from a
late tenth century manuscript the Danish story of Beowulf, Homers
Odyssey, and Chaucers The Canterbury Tales. Although many of the great
historical fantasies have their foundations in reality, some - like the
legends of King Arthur and the Holy Grail - have been transformed by
the imagination of those partial to tell a good yarn. Fantasy writers
today use this creative license to invent whole new worlds of such
fantasies. But two things will always remain: The borrowing of these
old histories and mythologies from numerous cultures, and that ancient
struggle between good and evil.
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The resurgence of the
fantasy genre can be somewhat attributed to a literary group of friends
of which both J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S Lewis were a part of. Known as The
Inklings, they regularly gathered to discuss issues including
imagination, religion, heroism, and good versus evil. Stemming from
these discussions and from the imaginations of these writers came the
fantasy masterpieces that helped provide the groundwork for what is now
a worldwide, billion- dollar industry. Many decades before The Inklings
gatherings, scholars were writing stories of imaginative fantasy.
George
Mac Donald, William Morris, and Lord Dunsany all helped place Fantasy
on the pedestal it resides upon at the moment. These men have sadly
faded into obscurity, but they are worthy of mention, as they inspired
Tolkien and others to go to great lengths to refurbish the genre.
Tolkien without going into too much detail began by capturing the
interest of children with the forerunner of The Lord of the Rings, The
Hobbit. Similarly, C.S Lewis with The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,
began a series of books which have become classics of childrens
literature.
Fantasy for young readers in particular begins
really with the fairy tales of writers such as the Brothers Grimm. Of
course, all the children who grew up reading these books and tales
never, at heart, really grew up at all, for such wonderful stories are
forever entrenched in our minds and imaginations. We are influenced by
them and in turn so are the following generations. And they are as much
fun to read when we are fifty, if only for nostalgic reasons, as they
are when we are children. But its obvious these days that fantasy isnt
only for the little ones. The Lord of the Rings is no childrens book,
nor are the fantasy novels that stock our bookshelves today. By 1977,
23 years after The Lord of the Rings was published, Terry Brooks had
published his first novel, The Sword of Shannara. It became the first
work of fiction ever to appear on the New York Times Trade Paperback
Bestseller List, where it remained for over five months. Earlier works
of fantasy preceded The Sword of Shannara following the release of
Tolkiens work, but none had an affect quite like this. Fantasy was
truly reborn.
Until today this rebirth continues to flourish
and the genre is more popular than it ever has been. David Eddings,
Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman, Raymond E. Feist, David Gemmel, Terry
Goodkind, Robert Jordan; all bestsellers, the list goes on. As the
popularity of fantasy began to grow rapidly, the film and television
industry climbed aboard the bandwagon. During the eighties, the
fantasy/adventure movie was born. Conan, starring Arnold
Schwarzenegger, is a cult classic to this day, as is Willow, a story of
half-lings, trolls, witches, and fairies. Other less memorable films
can still be found in video stores. The lack of genuinely decent
fantasy movies in the recent past can be blamed on inadequate,
substandard special effects.
Basically, our technology at the
time could not transport the vision of the writers onto the screen, nor
bypass the scrutiny of the audience. It simply was not believable. And
for fantasy to make an impact, it has to be as realistic as possible.
Alas, in an age of advanced materials, of "post-modern" computer
technology, the impossible is no longer a concern. Since the release
and popularity of The Lord of the Rings trilogy by and large a
masterpiece of cinema screen production rights have been purchased for
scores of fantasy novels, from Terry Brooks to Robert Jordan.
The
future of fantasy has never looked so assured. Even childrens cinema
has had its own successes with the genre through the big screen release
of the Harry Potter series, and the classic Peter Pan. The cycle
continues, literature, film, theatre, board games, video games; fantasy
has even taken to the streets with the return of the medieval fair.
Whilst there remains an option to go beyond the reality we know, there
will always be Fantasy. By Daniel Martin
Tags:
fantasy fiction books history 
