SLCLS Genre Study discussion

Fairytale fantasy is distinguished from other subgenres by the works' heavy use of motifs, and often plots, from folklore.

The fantasy sub-sub-genre of mythic fiction refers to titles rooted in fables or mythology. The works are, ultimately, inspired by, or that in some way draws from the tropes, themes and symbolism of myth, folklore, and fairy tales.

What are some of your favorite fairytale and mythic fiction?

I really love the newish Jessica Day George book "Princess of the Silver Woods."

I love once upon a winters night by Dennis L. McKiernan. It's the first in a series and it is a fantastic reelling of a fairytale about a girl and a polar bear.

Also The Robin McKinley beauty and the beast books, Beauty and Rose Daughter are fantastic. If you want a more adult read (dealing with the darker fairytales and serious issues like rape and miscarriage) she has a book for adults called Deerskin. It is a good book but one that needs to come with a warning sign.

I love Robin McKinley as well. I am also enjoying the new twists modernized; such as, Beastly and Cloaked.

I think a lot of people are also familiar with Shannon Hale's Goose Girl. I wasn't terribly fond of the rest of that series but I really liked Book of a Thousand days. I'm not sure but I think it's based on an Asian...not fairy tale exactly but story. it is a very different sort of story but still retains that fairy tale quality. Another series in the myth category is Meg Cabot's Abandon series that is a modern day retelling of the myth of Persephone.

There is the book Everneath by Brodi Ashton that is also about Persephone, a modern version of the story. It is quite good. There is the Goddess Test series by Aimee Carter. I have never read this but Hood by Lawhead is about Robin Hood and seems very fun. I have read some of his others.

I have read a few of the Persephone books and the Goddess Test series has been my favorite. It is usually the series I recommend most. The Abandon series is my next favorite but I couldn't get into the Everneath one.

Does anyone have a fairytale that they wish someone would use as a basis for a fantasy novel?

Kara wrote: "Does anyone have a fairytale that they wish someone would use as a basis for a fantasy novel?"

My favorite fairy tale is Cinderella and it's been used hundreds of times but my favorite is probably Anne McCaffrey's "Dragonflight" although the author claims it's science fiction in spite of their being dragons.

I would love to see The Little Mermaid. I mean the original, not the Disney sweetened up version. It would be interesting to see how someone could do that one.

I love fairytales and their retellings. I don't think I'll ever grow out of them. My new favorite is Mette Ivie Harrison. Even though her books aren't all based on fairy-tales, they have that feel that original fairytales have.

The Little Mermaid would be great. the ending is so beautiful and sad. On a different note I just finished reading a book called Beauty and the Werewolf by Mercedes Lackey. It was good and a mix of several different fairy tales. Apparently it is one of a series of books I'll have to look into the others.

Two lists (with some overlap) of novels inspired to one degree or another by "The Little Mermaid":

http://www.surlalunefairytales.com/li...

http://pinalbookclub.wordpress.com/20...

Timothy wrote: "Two lists (with some overlap) of novels inspired to one degree or another by "The Little Mermaid":

http://www.surlalunefairytales.com/li...

http://pinalbookclub.wordpress.com/..."

Thanks for the links! I never knew about most of these titles. The one that surprised me was Emily Windsnapp, I didn't realize it was based off of the little mermaid.

So I have to say this. I just finished reading House of Hades the fourth book in Rick Riordan's Heroes of Olympus series. No spoilers but um wow. Also AAHHHH! I have to wait like two more years for the next book! But mostly wow.

You're a jerk... Also a good series is by Gregory Maguire. These are fairytales from the other side of the story. While I have read Wicked I haven't read the others.

I just finished reading "Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy" by Karen Foxlee. It won't be out until end of January (my copy was an ARC). It is an imaginative retelling of The Snow Queen. I absolutely loved it. The heroine is an unlikely character--a young, meek girl who has recently lost her mother. It's for middle readers.

I loved Beauty by Sheri Tepper. So interesting how different authors tackle the same subject.

I will say that this is my most favorite type of fantasy. I especially love all the fairy tale retellings. And even though they aren't super well-written, the "Once Upon a Time" series has been fun to read...if only to see how they redo a fairy tale.