Fantasy Conversion Kit

[kate_nepveu]

My entry in the genre conversion kits discussion is very belated, but here it is all the same (I came up with a list of titles back when the discussions were going around, and then didn't have time to add reasons to the list). Since I'm not up-to-date on science fiction

Comments

[larabeaton]

When I saw the title "Fantasy conversion kit", I thought you meant instructions on how to change any book into a fantasy book.

Step 1 - change the main character's name to something you just made up. the more odd the name the better (i.e. Frodo, Rincewind, or Phedre). Repeat for all characters.

[kate_nepveu]

Heh. Perhaps I should edit that . . .

[larabeaton]

I'm really liking that idea, though. Start with Wuthering Heights, and end with Kushiel's Dart.

Or, you could take the easy route, and start with The Four Musketeers and end with The Phoenix Guards.

[kate_nepveu]

Except that you make the characters nicer.

I haven't read _Wuthering Heights_. Or _Kushiel's Dart_.

[anonymous]

I was surprised not to see _Bridge of Birds_ on your list. If I had to remove one book from your list to make room for it I'd lose _Sorcery and Cecilia_, not because I don't like it (though I don't like it as much as I do the others on your list) but because I think a lot of the fantasy-of-manners (as I understand the term) niche can also be filled by _Tooth and Claw_. Aside from _Bridge of Birds_ being one of my favorite novels ever, it gets the axis of fantasy based on non-European source myths into the mix.

[kate_nepveu]

Hmmm, well, that's a possibility. I don't think _Tooth and Claw_ gets you the sheer *fun* of Fantasy of Manners; and I'm not entirely sure that _Bridge of Birds_ would lead into other non-European-sourced fantasies, but that's possibly just because it hasn't for me.

But it's true that I am somewhat lacking in non-European-sourced fantasies, both generally and here.

[kate_nepveu]

On reflection, _Bridge of Birds_ fits more to me as an alternative to _Good Omens_, as "funny and humane" seem to my brain to be their critical distinguishing characteristics.

[izhilzha]

I'm intrigued that your list mostly includes fantasy that would be shelved in the (grown-up)fiction section of most libraries. Were I trying to convert someone (no matter what age) to fantasy, there are some "children" or "YA" books that would be right up next to Tolkien.

Examples: A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. LeGuin; The Black Cauldron by Lloyd Alexander; A String in the Harp by Nancy Bond.

Unless your list is specifically directed to converting someone to sword-and-sorcery "grownup" fantasy....

[larabeaton]

I know that my preference for the fantasy genre began with The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe, so if I were to add YA books to the list, that one would be at the top.

[kate_nepveu]

But for adults? An awful lot of baggage there.

[silmaril]

That's why I'm hesitating to pick them up, even though they have to be the most periodically recommended books to me. (That is to say, like clockwork, periodically someone will recommend them, not necessarily the same someone.) I'm afraid that I won't be able to get out of reading the subtext and into the fantasy-magic in them.

[kgbooklog]

I'm late to this discussion, so I'm a bit unsure of the goals. Are we looking for representatives of the major sub-genres, or most accessible books?

Here's my list (assuming we're trying to steal fans from other genres):

1. Non-readers - Harry Potter
Not a great work, but provably accessible.

2. Mystery: Police Procedural - Pratchett Guards! Guards!

3. Mystery: Hard-boiled PI - Butcher Grave Peril
Third book in the series, but better than the first two.

4. Mystery: Whodunit - Garrett Lord Darcy

5. Books With Cats - Duane Book of Night With Moon
Maybe not a genre, but definitely a large demographic. First Joe Grey book would work too (looking up title...) Cat on the Edge

6. Romance: Silly - Davidson Undead and Unwed

7. Romance: Serious - Harris Dead Until Dark

8. King Arthur - Walton The King's Peace

9. Historical - Stevermer College of Magics
Though Sorcery and Cecilia and Element of Fire work too. And Bridge of Birds for non-European history

[kate_nepveu]

I'm looking for books that I might give a non-fantasy reader to convince them that fantasy doesn't suck. I set up my kit to span sub-genres in the theory that this would allow more tailoring for the tastes of the potential convertee.

I love _A College of Magics_, but I'm not sure that the plot is sufficiently foregrounded to work for a reader new to the genre. I'd say _When the King Comes Home_, but people seem to split sharply on Hail, the narrator (I have this reservation, to a lesser extent, regarding the Sulien books). _Scholar of Magics_ hasn't sunk into my brain well enough yet for me to really say.

I wonder if _Lord Darcy_ might not feel a little fussy and outdated to someone new to the genre?

Books with cats is a great subcategory!

I don't know either of your romance suggestions.

I was deliberately leaving science fiction off the list.

[cliosfolly]

Thinking about Sean Stewart, would you consider Nobody's Son to meet your definition of fantasy of manners? Either Shielder's Mark or Gail seem to fit several of the aspects of your definition, and while I wouldn't necessarily qualify it primarily as fantasy of manners, it seems to mesh well enough, to me, to fit in a cousinly sort of way.

[kate_nepveu]

It's been so long since I read it that I'm afraid I couldn't say.