DOCSLIB.ORG

In the Gaps Left Unfilled—Historical Fantasy and the Past

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
In the Gaps Left Unfilled—Historical Fantasy and the Past In the Gaps Left Unfilled—historical fantasy and the past Maxine McArthur B. Letters (University of Osaka) A novel and exegesis submitted for the requirements of the Master of Arts (Research) Faculty of Creative Industries Queensland University of Technology 2008 Keywords Historical fantasy, historical fiction, Japan, supernatural, religious beliefs, history and the past, historical fantasy writers, Japanese Buddhism, Shinto, history and fiction, fiction and the past, religious syncretism in Japan, angry ghosts, shamans in Japan, spirit summoning, Salmonson, Tezuka, Hughart, Princess Mononoke, kami. i Abstract The thesis consists of the novel The Fox and the Mirror and an accompanying exegesis. The novel is an historical fantasy set in a world based on early medieval (12-13th century) Japan. The main characters are a young female shaman, Hatsu, and a young warrior’s assistant, Sada, who is a Buddhist believer. When Hatsu’s village and shrine are destroyed by warriors and her summoning mirror is stolen, she is abandoned by her kami1. To experience the kami’s presence again, she must follow the thief and retrieve the mirror before it can be used to resurrect an ancient evil. Sada must capture Hatsu and bring her back to his lord, or his family will suffer. Yet he is entranced by Hatsu and feels guilt at the destruction of her village. He must choose whether to abandon his former life and stay with Hatsu, or betray her. In the novel I have tried to invoke the feel of a place and time where the supernatural is as real as the physical world; I also try to imagine how a religion as alien to Japanese native beliefs as Buddhism became a part of that country’s spiritual culture. In the exegesis I reflect upon how I used various kinds of history, both written and unwritten, to build the world, characters and narratives of The Fox and the Mirror, and thereby explore some ways in which historical fantasy, as a sub-genre of historical fiction, is capable of presenting an ‘authentic’ view of the past, in spite of its non-realistic nature. I identify three main ways historical fantasy writers can provide an authentic view of the past: by using telling details from an historical era; by incorporating documented events and persons into the story; and by portraying the world as people in the past believed it to be. Historical 1 “Kami” is often translated as “god”, however this carries nuances of European deities that are not necessarily appropriate. Kami are material as well as spiritual—a tree can be both kami and tree. Ancestral spirits may become kami after centuries of worship; vengeful ghosts can be turned into kami and their power channeled into good. Kasulis (2004) describes this as ‘a presence that inspires awe’ (12). In The Fox and the Mirror I have tried to portray a world in which kami-nature may reside in anything, from fox to stone to human, and in other religons’ gods as well. ii fantasy is different from realistic historical fiction in that it can more easily incorporate elements belonging to shared cultural heritage, such as beliefs regarding the dead and the supernatural. This characteristic involves writers in research using material that involves other ways of knowing the past—in particular the expressions of belief such as religion, popular customs, folk tales, and oral history. With the broadening of our historiological perspectives in the postmodern climate, historical fantasy based on non-documentary forms of history may come to be seen as another way of knowing the past. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Keywords ........................................................................................................................... i Abstract ............................................................................................................................ ii Acknowledgements ....................................................................................................... vi Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 1 Literature Review ............................................................................................................ 6 1. History and fiction .............................................................................................. 6 2. History and the past .......................................................................................... 10 3. Historical fantasy and the past ........................................................................ 13 Use of historical detail ............................................................................................ 15 Reference to historical figures and events ........................................................... 17 Ethnographic Viewpoint ........................................................................................ 18 Case Studies ................................................................................................................... 20 1. Use of physical detail. ....................................................................................... 20 2. Use of historical characters and events .......................................................... 28 3. The supernatural as tangible ........................................................................... 35 Conclusion ...................................................................................................................... 46 Bibliography .................................................................................................................. 49 Reference List A: Exegesis .................................................................................... 49 Reference List B: Creative work/ The Fox and the Mirror ................................. 53 iv The work contained in this thesis has not been previously submitted to meet requirements for an award at this or any other higher education institution. To the best of my knowledge and belief, the thesis contains no material previously published or written by another person except where due reference is made. Signature ____________________________ Date ___________________ v Acknowledgements I would like to thank Queensland University of Technology, Faculty of Creative Industries, for taking the chance on a speculative fiction cohort and offering us the opportunity to engage in this creative research. My sincere thanks especially to our supervisors, Craig Bolland and Nike Bourke, for their patience, and timely advice about all things academic. I could not have completed this thesis without the support of the other writers in our cohort; it has been a pleasure to know them all, and may our friendship continue long after our degrees are attained. Special thanks, as always, to my long-suffering family, Haruki, James and Ray. vi Note on names and translations: All translations are mine unless otherwise noted. Japanese names are written surname first, except for those that have been customarily used the other way for a long time. If a work is known in an English translation, the title will be provided in English. e.g. Princess Mononoke. If the work is not readily available in English, the Japanese title will be provided, together with an English translation in parenthesis. e.g. Hinotori Taiyō hen [Phoenix series: The Sun]. vii In the Gaps Left Unfilled—historical fantasy and the past “The truth in history is not the only truth about the past” (Lowenthal, 1985: 229). Introduction My novel The Fox and the Mirror is an historical fantasy set in a world based on early medieval (12-13th century) Japan. Note that I do not say ‘set in medieval Japan’. Historical fiction research raises questions pertinent to my exploration of the process of writing an ‘authentic’ historical fantasy: is it possible to portray the past from our present viewpoint in a way that is true to the past, i.e. does our present viewpoint always get in the way? How much should the writer be held to facts and how much should they be allowed to invent? The land, social customs and most of the beliefs in The Fox and the Mirror are as close to what is known of the past as my research can achieve; the names and some geography, however, are different, and the story does not feature recognisable historical personages. One reason for this is that my protagonists are commoners, and recorded history says little of their characters or doings. Another reason is that my characters talk to ghosts, and supernatural creatures are part of their world. That is, it is ‘fantasy’. Fantasy, historical or otherwise, usually involves magic or supernatural forces, things that aren’t real. Historical fantasy does not 1 expect the reader to believe the past was ‘like that’. What it can do is make the reader aware that the way they see the world is historically (and culturally) specific. The reader of The Fox and the Mirror, for example, may be drawn to think about how, in our time, we put death at a distance; in pre-modern Japan (and still, to a certain extent, in Japan today), the remembered dead were part of the family. Also, people’s actions or inactions had repercussions in the spiritual plane. For example, lack of reverence towards ancestors and the kami (the spirits who reside in all things; some have more power than others) around them might bring vengeance from an angry spirit. Kami were neither solely good nor evil; they could be neutral or both. The whole world was a moving thing, in and out of balance. Every year the seasons returned,
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Mythlore Index Plus
    MYTHLORE INDEX PLUS MYTHLORE ISSUES 1–137 with Tolkien Journal Mythcon Conference Proceedings Mythopoeic Press Publications Compiled by Janet Brennan Croft and Edith Crowe 2020. This work, exclusive of the illustrations, is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/us/ or send a letter to Creative Commons, 171 Second Street, Suite 300, San Francisco, California, 94105, USA. Tim Kirk’s illustrations are reproduced from early issues of Mythlore with his kind permission. Sarah Beach’s illustrations are reproduced from early issues of Mythlore with her kind permission. Copyright Sarah L. Beach 2007. MYTHLORE INDEX PLUS An Index to Selected Publications of The Mythopoeic Society MYTHLORE, ISSUES 1–137 TOLKIEN JOURNAL, ISSUES 1–18 MYTHOPOEIC PRESS PUBLICATIONS AND MYTHCON CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS COMPILED BY JANET BRENNAN CROFT AND EDITH CROWE Mythlore, January 1969 through Fall/Winter 2020, Issues 1–137, Volume 1.1 through 39.1 Tolkien Journal, Spring 1965 through 1976, Issues 1–18, Volume 1.1 through 5.4 Chad Walsh Reviews C.S. Lewis, The Masques of Amen House, Sayers on Holmes, The Pedant and the Shuffly, Tolkien on Film, The Travelling Rug, Past Watchful Dragons, The Intersection of Fantasy and Native America, Perilous and Fair, and Baptism of Fire Narnia Conference; Mythcon I, II, III, XVI, XXIII, and XXIX Table of Contents INTRODUCTION Janet Brennan Croft .....................................................................................................................................1
    [Show full text]
  • The Death of Genre: Why the Best YA Fiction Often Defies Classification
    LoriScot Goodson Smith & Jim Blasingame The Death of Genre: Why the Best YA Fiction Often Defies Classification few years ago, I received a phone call from a adding a list called genre-busters, novels which do not desperate sixth grade reading teacher. “Help!” easily fit into a single category. The more I think about Ashe cried, “I have a literary mutiny on my my YA favorite titles of the past few years, the more hands. I need your help now!!” I immediately raced bewildered I become. Zusak’s The Book Thief— upstairs. historical fiction or fantasy? Anderson’s The Astonish- Our sixth graders read Louis Sachar’s Holes as a ing Life of Octavian Nothing—historical fiction or required novel. The teacher uses Holes as part of her science fiction? Rosoff’s How I Live Now?—realistic unit on fantasy. In a time where many middle fiction or science fiction? Shusterman’s The Schwa schoolers are steeped in Harry Potter and Paolini, Was Here—realistic fiction or fantasy? I have come to Holes just did not seem to fit into that the same the realization that genre might be dead, that many of category of fantasy. recently published YA novels no longer fit into the “Mr. Smith,” they argued, “It can’t be fantasy. It’s predictable categories we typically designate for too real.” books. Is it time to despair? I think not. Rather, let us What followed was a long discussion about the celebrate the innovative fashion in which today’s YA different types of fantasy. We debated over the effects authors are bending the traditional definitions of of rattlesnake nail polish, the existence of yellow genre.
    [Show full text]
  • Green Acres School Reading Suggestions for 5Th Or 6Th Graders Updated June 2019
    Green Acres School Reading Suggestions for 5th or 6th Graders Updated June 2019 (The books recommended below are part of the Green Acres Library collection. Reading levels and interests vary greatly, so you may want to look also at Reading Suggestions for 4th Graders and Reading Suggestions for 7th/8th Graders.) This list includes: • Fiction • Poetry and Short Stories • Biography and Memoir • Other Nonfiction Graphic books are denoted with the symbol. Fiction Alice, Alex; transl. by Castle In the Stars: The Space Race of 1869 Anne Smith and Owen Smith. "In … this lavishly illustrated graphic novel, Alex Alice delivers a historical fantasy adventure set in a world where man journeyed into space in 1869, not 1969.” Graphic steampunk/Historical fantasy. (Publisher) Appelt, Kathi and Alison McGhee. Maybe a Fox “A fox kit born with a deep spiritual connection to a rural Vermont legend has a special bond with 11-year-old Jules.” Fantasy. (Kirkus Reviews) Avi. The Unexpected Life of Oliver Cromwell Pitts “A 12-year-old boy is left to fend for himself in 18th-century England following a terrible storm and the disappearance of his father… Impossible to put down.” Historical fiction. (Kirkus Reviews) Bauer, Joan. Soar "Sports, friendship, tragedy, and a love connection are all wrapped up in one heartwarming, page-turning story. …This coming-of-age tale features a boy who is courageous and witty; readers—baseball fans or otherwise—will cheer on Jeremiah and this team. The latest middle grade novel from this award-winning author is triumphant and moving." Fiction. (School Library Journal) Beckhorn, Susan.
    [Show full text]
  • Mythcon 50 Program Book
    M L o o v o i k n i g n g F o r B w a a c r k d Program Book San Diego, California • August 2-5, 2019 Mythcon 50: Moving Forward, Looking Back Guests of Honor Verlyn Flieger, Tolkien Scholar Tim Powers, Fantasy Author Conference Theme To give its far-flung membership a chance to meet, and to present papers orally with audience response, The Mythopoeic Society has been holding conferences since its early days. These began with a one-day Narnia Conference in 1969, and the first annual Mythopoeic Conference was held at the Claremont Colleges (near Los Angeles) in September, 1970. This year’s conference is the third in a series of golden anniversaries for the Society, celebrating our 50th Mythcon. Mythcon 50 Committee Lynn Maudlin – Chair Janet Brennan Croft – Papers Coordinator David Bratman – Programming Sue Dawe – Art Show Lisa Deutsch Harrigan – Treasurer Eleanor Farrell – Publications J’nae Spano – Dealers’ Room Marion VanLoo – Registration & Masquerade Josiah Riojas – Parking Runner & assistant to the Chair Venue Mythcon 50 will be at San Diego State University, with programming in the LEED Double Platinum Certified Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union, and onsite housing in the South Campus Plaza, South Tower. Mythcon logo by Sue Dawe © 2019 Thanks to Carl Hostetter for the photo of Verlyn Flieger, and to bg Callahan, Paula DiSante, Sylvia Hunnewell, Lynn Maudlin, and many other members of the Mythopoeic Society for photos from past conferences. Printed by Windward Graphics, Phoenix, AZ 3 Verlyn Flieger Scholar Guest of Honor by David Bratman Verlyn Flieger and I became seriously acquainted when we sat across from each other at the ban- quet of the Tolkien Centenary Conference in 1992.
    [Show full text]
  • No. 3 / May 2014 Ecdysis Masthead
    No. 3 / May 2014 Ecdysis Masthead Ecdysis No. 3 / May 2014 Jonathan Crowe editor Zvi Gilbert Jennifer Seely art Tamara Vardomskaya Send hate mail, letters of comment, and submissions to: All content is copyright © their respective contributors. mail PO Box 473 Shawville QC J0X 2Y0 Photo/illustration credits: [1, 8, 17, 19, 24] Art by CANADA Jennifer Seely. [25] Photo of Samuel R. Delany by e-mail [email protected] Houari B., and used under the terms of its Creative web mcwetboy.net/ecdysis Commons Licence. 2 Some Twitter responses to a mass e-mail begging fellow SFWA members for a Nebula nomination in early January 2014. EDITORIAL The Value of Awards I’ll be honest: I have ambivalent feelings ess, or whether the wrong works or individu- about awards. als were nominated, or whether the wrong On the one hand, I find awards useful: works or individuals won, as so many fans when so much is published in science fiction seem to do every year. and fantasy every year, they serve to winnow No, the problem I have with awards is the wheat from the chaff. For the past few how much we talk about them, and how im- years I’ve made a point of reading as many of portant we make them. the award nominees as possible, even if I’m Which is to say: too much and too much. not in a position to vote for them. One problem with awards is that there But on the other hand, I find awards an- are so many of them.
    [Show full text]
  • 'I Watch It for Historic Reasons.' Representation and Reception of The
    ‘I watch it for historic reasons.’ Representation and reception of the Middle Ages in A Song of Ice and Fire’ and ‘Game of Thrones’ Riccardo Facchini Práticas da História, n.º 4 (2017): 43-73 www.praticasdahistoria.pt Práticas da História, n.º 5 (2017): 43-73 Riccardo Facchini ‘I watch it for historic reasons.’ Representation and reception of the Middle Ages in A Song of Ice and Fire’ and ‘Game of Thrones’ This article aims to analyse several ideas of the Middle Ages that inspired HBO’s TV show Game of Thrones (HBO 2011-), based on George R. R. Martin’s ongoing series of novels A Song of Ice and Fire (1996-). The phenomenon will be read through the concept of “medievalism”, i.e. «the representation, the recep- tion and the post-medieval use of the Middle Ages» (di Carpeg- na Falconieri 2011). After a short introduction concerning the Middle Ages and cinema, I will analyse the new way in which Martin represents and perceives medieval times. This different approach places in the medieval era the disillusionment and the alleged absence of values typical of postmodern times, often hidden behind the notion of historical “realism”. The result is a rejection of the neo-medieval romantic idealization of the Midd- le Ages that characterized most twentieth-century productions. Keywords: Medievalism, Middle Ages, Game of Thrones, A Song of Ice and Fire, Fantasy. “I watch it for historic reasons”: Representação e receção da Idade Média em As Crónicas de Gelo e Fogo e Guerra dos Tronos Este artigo analisa as diversas perceções da Idade Média que inspiraram a série televisiva da HBO Guerra dos Tronos (HBO 2011-), baseada na série de livros de George R.
    [Show full text]
  • The Routledge Companion to Imaginary Worlds Invented Languages
    This article was downloaded by: 10.3.98.104 On: 23 Sep 2021 Access details: subscription number Publisher: Routledge Informa Ltd Registered in England and Wales Registered Number: 1072954 Registered office: 5 Howick Place, London SW1P 1WG, UK The Routledge Companion to Imaginary Worlds Mark J. P. Wolf Invented Languages Publication details https://www.routledgehandbooks.com/doi/10.4324/9781315637525.ch3 Dimitra Fimi, Andrew Higgins Published online on: 09 Oct 2017 How to cite :- Dimitra Fimi, Andrew Higgins. 09 Oct 2017, Invented Languages from: The Routledge Companion to Imaginary Worlds Routledge Accessed on: 23 Sep 2021 https://www.routledgehandbooks.com/doi/10.4324/9781315637525.ch3 PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR DOCUMENT Full terms and conditions of use: https://www.routledgehandbooks.com/legal-notices/terms This Document PDF may be used for research, teaching and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematic reproductions, re-distribution, re-selling, loan or sub-licensing, systematic supply or distribution in any form to anyone is expressly forbidden. The publisher does not give any warranty express or implied or make any representation that the contents will be complete or accurate or up to date. The publisher shall not be liable for an loss, actions, claims, proceedings, demand or costs or damages whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with or arising out of the use of this material. 3 INVENTED LANGUAGES Dimitra Fimi and Andrew Higgins Language invention has occupied many brilliant minds throughout history, from the philosophically driven pursuit for the prelapsarian “perfect language” of Adam in the Middle Ages (Eco, 1995) to the more utilitarian 20th-century aim of facilitating communication in an increasingly globalized world by creating languages such as Esperanto and its offspring (see Okrent, 2009).
    [Show full text]
  • The Changing Topography of Contemporary French Policier in Visual and Narrative Media
    Deathly Landscapes: The Changing Topography of Contemporary French Policier in Visual and Narrative Media DISSERTATION Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University By Paige M. Piper, M.A. Graduate Program in French and Italian The Ohio State University 2016 Dissertation Committee: Margaret C. Flinn, Advisor Jennifer Willging Patrick Bray Copyrighted by Paige M. Piper 2016 Abstract This dissertation explores spatio-temporal shifts in twenty-first century French crime narratives, through a series of close readings of contemporary crime films, television, literature, and comics. The works examined rely on the formal properties of the policier genre but adapt its standard conventions, most notably with deviations in the use and function of space. In this dissertation, I demonstrate that the modern policier is one that embraces its spatio-temporal, social, and generic non-fixity. The textual/visual constructions of many hyper-contemporary crime narratives contain multiple modes of decomposition within: a decentralization of space, which moves the action away from the genre’s traditionally urban location to boundless rural spaces and border zones; a de- concentration of the policier genre, through the incorporation of tropes from other literary styles and works; and a devolution of social cohesion and community identity in the narratives. Chapter 1 examines works where historic references and urban legends of the 19th century fantastique literary genre unfold in modern rural locations. The past and the present converge to problematize modern ideals, identity, and community unity in rural spaces where reason is pitted against the supernatural.
    [Show full text]
  • Science Fiction Review 58
    SCIENCE FICTION SPRING T) 1TIT 7T171H T NUMBER 5 8 1986 Hill V J.-Hi VV $2.50 SCIENCE FICTION REVIEW (ISSN: 0036-8377) P.O. BOX 11408 FEBRUARY, 1986 --- Vol. 15, No. 1 PORTLAND, OR 97211 WHOLE NUMBER 58 PHONE: (503) 282-0381 RICHARD E. GEIS—editor & publisher PAULETTE MINARE', ASSOCIATE EDITOR COVER BY STEVEN FOX 50 EVOLUTION A Poem By Michael Hoy PUBLISHED QUARTERLY FEB., MAY, AUG., NOV. 4 ALIEN THOUGHTS 51 INTERVIEW: By Richard E. Geis NONE OF THE ABOVE SINGLE COPY - $2.50 Conducted By Neal Wilgus 8 THE ALTERED EGO By James McQuade 52 RAISING HACKLES By Elton T. Elliott SUBSCRIPTIONS 8 TEN YEARS AGO IN SCIENCE FICTION REVIEW SCIENCE FICTION - 1976 54 LETTERS P.O. BOX 11408 By Robert Sabella By Andy Watgon PORTLAND, OR 97211 Fernando 0, Gouvea 9 PAULETTE'S PLACE Carl Glover For quarterly issues #59-60-61: Book Reviews Lou Fisher $6.75 in USA (1986 issues). By Paulette Minare' Robert Sabella $7.00 Foreign. Orson Scott Card 10 A CONVERSATION WITH Christy Marx For monthly issues #62-73: NORMAN SPINRAD Glen Cook $15.00 USA (1987). Edited By Earl G. Ingersoll David L. Travis $18.00 Foreign. Conducted By Nan Kress Darrell Schweitzer Sheldon Teitelbaum Canada & Mexico same as USA rate. 14 AND THEN I READ... Randy Mohr Book Reviews F.M. Busby 1986 issues mailed second class. By Richard E. Geis Steve Perry 1987 issues will be mailed 1st class Neil Elliott (Foreign will be mailed airmail 17 YOU GOT NO FRIENDS IN THIS Rob Masters WORLD Milt Stevens By Orson Scott Card Jerry Pournelle ALL FOREIGN SUBSCRIPTIONS, INCLUDING Robert Bloch CANADA AND MEXICO, MUST BE PAID IN 22 NOISE LEVEL Don Wollheim US$ cheques or money orders, except By John Brunner Ian Covell to subscription agencies.
    [Show full text]
  • SF Commentary 71-72
    SF COMMENTARY 71/72 April 1992 96 pages Damien Broderick on PRINGLE’S ‘ULTIMATE GUIDE’ Colin Steele on BRODERICK’S COLLECTED STORIES TAD WILLIAMS and GREG BEAR interviewed Bruce Gillespie on JONATHAN CARROLL Roslyn K. Gross on DIANA WYNNE JONES Wynne Whiteford on CHANDLER’S COLLECTED STORIES SHORT REVIEWS OF SI# AND FANTASY BOOKS: Damien Broderick Wynne Whiteford Alan Stewart Dave Langford Greg Hills Andy Sawyer Roger Weddall Roslyn Gross Bruce Gillespie Michael J. Tolley Scott Campbell Elaine Cochrane Colin Steele I MUST BE TALKING TO MY FRIENDS PINLIGHTERS: Letters from Ursula Le Guin Walt Willis Brian Aldiss Gerald Mumane Malcolm Edwards Rob Gerrand Kim Stanley Robinson Robert James Mapson Syd Bounds Richard Brandt David Russell Brian Earl Brown Ralph Ashbrook LETTERS TO A CURRENTLY DEFUNCT FANZINE Buck Coulson Yvonne Rousseau Justin Ackroyd’s LISTOMANIA SF COMMENTARY 71/72 April 1992 96 pages SF COMMENTARY No. 71/72, May 1992, is edited by published by Bruce Gillespie, GPO Box 5195AA, Melbourne, Victoria 3001, Australia. Phone: (03) 419 4797. Printed by Copyplace, Melbourne. Editorial assistant and banker: Elaine Cochrane. Available for subscriptions ($25 within Australia, equivalent of US$25 (airmail) overseas), written or art contributions, traded publications, or donations. ART Most of the art is out of copyright, available from various Dover Publications. Back cover and Page 15 illustrations: C. M. Hull. Book covers and photo of Jonathan Carroll (p. 28): thanks to Locus magazine. TECHNICAL STUFF This is my first big publication in Ventura 3.0. Thanks to Elaine Cochrane, Martin Hooper, Charles Taylor, Tony Stuart and several others who endured my endless learning process.
    [Show full text]
  • Mithra's Gift a Study of Historical Fantasy Through a Creative Lens
    Mithra’s Gift A Study of Historical Fantasy Through a Creative Lens by Carma Sharp A thesis presented to the Honors College of Middle Tennessee State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for graduation from the University Honors College. Spring 2020 Mithra’s Gift A Study of Historical Fantasy Through a Creative Lens by Carma Sharp APPROVED: ___________________________ Dr. Martha Hixon Department of English ___________________________ Dr. Fred Arroyo Department of English ___________________________ Dr. Philip E. Phillips, Associate Dean Department of English Table of Contents Table of Contents iii Introduction 1 Chapter 1: Background of the Historical Fiction Genre 6 Shifts towards inclusion in publishing 6 The origins of historical fiction 7 Popularity of historical fiction 8 Defining historical fiction 10 Writing historical fiction for young audiences 14 Defining historical fantasy 17 Juvenile fiction 20 Conclusion 21 Chapter 2: Author Commentary 23 Bibliography 27 Mithra’s Gift 33 iii Introduction The myth of the genie has a long history within Arabian and Middle Eastern history. It existed thousands of years before Islam developed1, and the pre-existing myth was adopted into the Qur’an as jinn, beings that Allah created from fire2. Adding the jinn into the Islamic religion did not erase the earlier stories and superstitions that existed in the culture, however; these superstitions were still prevalent in 1885 when Sir Richard Francis Burton translated several religious and cultural texts from the Middle East and India, including The Book of a Thousand Nights and a Night.3 Victorian Britain did not immediately embrace Burton’s literary contributions and considered them vulgar.
    [Show full text]
  • Fantasy 2020
    Fantasy 2020 The Binding The Bird King by Bridget Collins by G. Willow Wilson In a magical world where books are A concubine in the royal court of Granada at repositories of individual lives, a reviled the height of the Spanish Inquisition and Bookbinder's apprentice crafts elegant her mapmaker friend risk their lives to memory volumes to help troubled escape when the latter is accused of customers before discovering that others in sorcery. By the award-winning author of Alif his profession use their skills for dark ends. the Unseen. Black Leopard, Red Wolf Dark Illusion by Marlon James by Christine Feehan Hired to find a mysterious boy who Fleeing her controlling family to warn the disappeared in Africa three years before, Carpathians of an imminent threat, a mage Tracker joins a search party that is quickly resists the advances of a centuries-old targeted by deadly creatures, in the first warrior who recognizes her as his lifemate. novel of a new fantasy trilogy. By the best-selling author of the GhostWalker series. Endgames Eye Spy by L. E. Modesitt by Mercedes Lackey Surviving an assassination attempt only to A sequel to The Hills Have Spies is set in the see the land of Solidar descending into war, Valdemar and finds the children of Heralds young ruler Charyn fights to end the turmoil Mags and Amily exploring the potential of that is giving the High Holders Abi's supernatural gifts ot protect the realm. disproportionate power over the realm's struggling commoners. Gods of Jade and Shadow The Ingenious by Silvia Moreno-Garcia by Darius Hinks A dark fairy tale inspired by folklore is set Thousands of years ago, the city of Athanor against the Jazz age in Mexico’s underworld, was set adrift in time and space by where a young dreamer is sent by the alchemists.
    [Show full text]