Lesson 1: What is Fantasy? -- What is Epic Fantasy?
Some Popular Epic Fantasy Books
Lord of the Rings:
Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien was the book that brought the Fantasy genre into its prominence today. Not really a trilogy, it was published in three books by the publisher. This book is the standard by which all others in Epic Fantasy are measured. Tolkien created a vivid world with memorable characters that face great challenges. The book touches something in readers that causes them to look for more stories like Lord of the Rings.
J.R.R. Tolkien was a professor of Oxford University. His field of study was linguistics where he developed the languages for his books, including Elvish. Tolkien studied the mythology of Northern Europe and used it along with his war experiences to develop his world of Middle Earth and the story told in his books. This knowledge and experience gives the book its depth. Lord of the Rings expresses Tolkien’s view of the world through its characters, setting and plot.
The various characters bring the book to life. Frodo and Sam are hobbits, innocent peaceful beings that live in the pastoral Shire. They find themselves pulled into the greater world when the Ring must be destroyed. Frodo takes on a terrible burden to save his world. He has the help of other characters of various races. Humans are represented by warriors like the enigmatic Aragon. Immortal elves like Elrond, Galadriel and Legolas give him advice and help. Dwarves are strong warriors and miners. This fierce race is represented by the character of Gimli. Tolkien uses these characters and others to give readers someone to sympathize with and follow through a memorable story.
Setting is another facet of Lord of the Rings that brings the book to life. Tolkien put as much effort into creating his world of Middle Earth as his languages. Using knowledge of language, history geography and geology, the author creates a vivid world filled with its own cultures and vast history. Middle Earth is well-developed enough to seem realistic and allows a reader to suspend disbelief. It is this in-depth world building that makes Epic Fantasy very appealing to readers.
Finally, Tolkien developed a detailed plot using the themes of Epic Fantasy to tell a wonderful story. Lord of the Rings has a quest and battles between good and evil. The quest is to destroy the one Ring. Frodo begins the quest with several helpers until he must face the quest with only one friend. Several different sub-plots of other characters blend with the main story to keep everything happening as it would in reality. Tolkien weaves all the plot threads into a story that is unforgettable.
Lord of the Rings is the measuring stick by which all other Epic Fantasy books are judged. Many authors try to create works to rival this book. Some succeed by taking the elements of Epic Fantasy and creating new books that keep readers coming back to this sub-genre. J.R.R. Tolkien brought Fantasy into the modern era. His book inspired other writers to make Epic Fantasy grow.
Fionavar Tapestry:
One author that has taken the elements of Epic Fantasy and created a memorable story is Guy Gavriel Kay. He took the themes of epic Fantasy, mixed them with elements from Arthurian Fantasy (to be covered in the next lesson), and created a vivid trilogy that has won awards. The Fionavar Tapestry has the books: The Summer Tree, The Wandering Fire, and The Darkest Road. It is a deeply moving trilogy that explores the depths of the themes of Epic Fantasy.
Fionavar is the first of all worlds. There are many gods and goddesses, one great god that weaves the pattern of destiny, elvish people, and magic. Humans navigate this world carefully, caught between opposing supernatural forces. The lesser gods and goddesses have strictures they must abide by too. This is a complex world where the author uses descriptive, vivid images to bring it to life.
Kay displays this world by transporting five Canadian college students there to watch the coronation of a king. Each student character has a complex vital role to play in Fionavar’s struggle. The author explores the themes of sacrifice, power and moral choice through the character’s roles in this secondary world. The books are very serious in tone and contain some disturbing images.
Elements from another sub-genre and mythology used by Kay give the book a mythical depth. Characters from the King Arthur legend play a part in the story. Kay uses the element of the Wild Hunt from Celtic mythology to represent wild magic and randomness in this universe of woven destinies.
The Fionavar Tapestry is an excellent Epic Fantasy trilogy to read. It contains all of the themes and elements of the sub-genre. Guy Gavriel Kay’s vision is a moving and serious work that can stand beside Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings. The trilogy is a prime example of Epic Fantasy.
Students may find more information about this trilogy and Guy Gavriel Kay at Bright Weavings (http://www.brightweavings.com/ ).
Wheel of Time:
In recent years many Epic Fantasy books have grown into multi-volume series. These books' popularity with fans grow with each new volume that is published. Some of these books appear on the NY Times Bestseller lists. Readers form groups on the Internet to discuss these series until the next volume is published.
The Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan is such a series. This is a series spanning nine books so far, with number ten scheduled to be published in January 2003. It is a story of three men and women from a small country village. They are fated to participate in the final battle between good and evil as the evil lord slowly breaks free of his prison. To add to their problems, the continent faces an invasion by an empire from overseas.
In this world, cycles of the ages are continuous with new ones bringing about great change. Characters are reborn to play their archetypal roles again. Jordan’s world is thoroughly detailed with many different cultures and nations. Each book in the series is over 600 pages long. Magic is based on a male and female source tapped into by those born with the talent to wield it. The Aes Sedai are the group of women. Men are not allowed to channel because the male half of the power is tainted and drives men insane.
The following is a list of books in the series. A reader must start from book one, since the series is continuous.
Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time series is an epic spanning several books. It is richly detailed with excellent world building and interesting characters. The author stated that the series will be finished with twelve books. Some fans want it to be never-ending.
List of other books:
Here is a list of other Epic Fantasy books. They are the first books in a series that are trilogies or larger. This list does not cover the entire sub-genre of books.
The Riddle-Master: The Complete Trilogy by Patricia McKillip
Lord of the Isles by David Drake
The Diamond Throne by David Eddings
Pawn of Prophecy by David Eddings
The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks
The Kingless Land by Ed Greenwood
The Dragon Prince by Melanie Rawn
Arrows of the Queen by Mercedes Lackey
Rhapsody by Elizabeth Haydon
Children of Amarid by David B. Coe
Wizard’s First Rule by Terry Goodkind
A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
Bibliography:
Bright Weavings http://www.brightweavings.com
Kay, Guy Gavriel. The Summer Tree.
-.The Wandering Fire.
-.The Darkest Road.
Jordan, Robert. The Eye of the World.
Tolkien, J.R.R. Lord of the Rings.
