Historical Fantasy discussion

I think defining what historical fantasy is a difficult subject and one that I'm not actually sure about. If you look at Wikipedia Historical Fantasy can include Tolkien and anything with a secondary world with historical parallels - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historic...

Personally that definition doesn't work for me - surely historical fantasy should be set in an actual historical setting rather than just be based on a historical setting - otherwise you could include all of epic fantasy!

From my point of view as a writer of historical fantasy I imagine what would happen if fantastical elements were real in a historical context. For me the tension between magic/religion and science has always been a fascinating one - some early scientists were thought of as magicians by some - Aristotle, Bacon, Newton etc. See Lynn Thorndike's History of Magic and Experimental Science for more on that.

In some of my fiction set in the Middle Ages I imagine what it would be like if the superstitions of that age were real - there was a hell full of demons that came to the world to tempt people into sin, and it was possible to use magic to get what you wanted. That was my starting point. I treat the magic in my fictional world as a secret history.

Other historical fantasy can take different paths - so His Majesty's Dragon puts mythical beats into a real setting and changes history as a result and the fantastical element - dragons - are quite open and well known.

I would be interested to know what others think about this.

Thanks for this post, Mark...
This is a pretty good definition. I came to this Group to see what this was all about, and your views have added to my understanding. Though, I see in another thread there are some strong disagreements.

The description here says:
Anything that has even a touch of fantasy with its history.
Anything that has even a touch of history (or alternate history) with its fantasy.

As a writer, much of my work includes "alternate history" and it's a little shy on fantasy, unless you count time-traveling... Another book of mine, Jekyll's Daughter, is extremely historical, though based on a fictional character!

I'm not at all sure if I fit into any category now!

I guess I think if its just a touch of history you could include anything almost!

I suppose I should leave then...

Don't leave! This is why I gave my definition as wide as possible.

For my writing, I like to keep the fact that witches exist a secret. It makes for more fun when I write, & fulfills my theme. But when my protagonist changes all the possible histories, the result is the history as we know it.

Yet showing history with witches (unless you believe witches were real) makes it alternate history.

To me, having mythical beasts in a real setting with people know it, doesn't make it more of an alternate or less of an alternate history. I don't know enough of that history to know if the dragons' presence changes what we, the readers, know as history.

M.K. wrote: "I suppose I should leave then..."

Hi M.K. I think you're in the right place! I think most of the posts in this group will be about books like yours from what I can see.

Talked me into it...
I'll stay but I do remain a bit confused.

Likewise!