tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6682438184679769936.post7130920232126043760..comments2023-10-18T09:50:12.721-04:00Comments on Fresh-scraped Vellum - A blog devoted to historical and fantasy fiction: The Fine Line Between History and FantasyJoseph Finleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11348233611003693635noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6682438184679769936.post-89569588875637838382011-08-15T23:37:18.263-04:002011-08-15T23:37:18.263-04:00I haven't seen Inglorious Basterds, I'm as...I haven't seen Inglorious Basterds, I'm ashamed to admit. But if Hitler dies in a theater fire, instead of in a bunker by his own hand -- yes, it's historical fantasy (probably "Alternative History" to peg the appropriate subgenre). Thanks EKSmith for the great comment!Joseph Finleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11348233611003693635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6682438184679769936.post-67973513654211482362011-08-15T15:18:29.570-04:002011-08-15T15:18:29.570-04:00The answer lies with whether the history as repres...The answer lies with whether the history as represented in the story bears any relation to actual history. For example, in Ken Follett's recent novel about World War I, he invents many characters, has them dialog and interact with historical figures, but generally portrays the War as it really happened. That is historical fiction. <br /><br />But in the movie "Inglourious Basterds!", we have Hilter burning to death in a movie theater long before the end of the War. That is historical fantasy.EKSmithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05272802719404277275noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6682438184679769936.post-12872538458405385952011-08-14T12:51:44.395-04:002011-08-14T12:51:44.395-04:00Greetings from Kiev! Hmm, when is it historical f...Greetings from Kiev! Hmm, when is it historical fiction or fantasy, you ask? Well, the drunken kozak believes that it becomes fantasy the moment any supernatural, mythical or otherworldly being appears in the story as a character, in some tangible form. If, however, one of these beings is simply something that is perceived by a character -- or is something the character believes he is seeing, hearing, or talking to -- then the line is not crossed and the story remains one of fiction.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6682438184679769936.post-42638926844868162282011-08-13T00:18:16.852-04:002011-08-13T00:18:16.852-04:00Richard, thanks for your comment! And I agree, if...Richard, thanks for your comment! And I agree, if the Confederates have AK-47s you are definitely in the realm of fantasy -- unless they brought them back via time machine, in which case I might say science fiction.Joseph Finleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11348233611003693635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6682438184679769936.post-119629862164827562011-08-12T23:51:11.323-04:002011-08-12T23:51:11.323-04:00Amanda, thanks for commenting -- and thank you for...Amanda, thanks for commenting -- and thank you for mentioning my post on your own blog! I've always thought that if George R.R. Martin cut out the white walkers and the dragons, he'd be squarely in the realm of #2 as well. I think this is a very legitimate form of historical fantasy. I wish you all the best on your queries. The query process gives me fits!Joseph Finleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11348233611003693635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6682438184679769936.post-65347363538459921252011-08-12T10:37:49.951-04:002011-08-12T10:37:49.951-04:00Lian Hearn is another author whose books are essen...Lian Hearn is another author whose books are essentially historical fiction. Her Otori series pretty much recreates feudal Japan with some fictional place-names.<br /><br />Currently I'm trying to query a book that falls under your category #2. It has no magic, but it is an imaginary setting with its own constructed language. It reassures me to know that Kay and Hearn get away with this, so there has to be <i>some</i> kind of audience for it, but querying has still been a frustrating process. Agents and publishers who accept fantasy submissions typically want to see, well, some kind of magic.Amandahttp://writing.fly-casual.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6682438184679769936.post-34153779865004236032011-08-12T09:29:40.762-04:002011-08-12T09:29:40.762-04:00(this comment was probably better served on this p...(this comment was probably better served on this post)<br /><br />When you give AK-47s to the Confederates, you're writing fantasy:<br />http://www.amazon.com/Guns-South-Harry-Turtledove/dp/0345384687<br /><br />More seriously, in Stephen Rivele's "A Booke of Days," the main character who embarks on a crusade has incredibly anachronistic views towards religious freedom and the inhabitants of the Holy Land, which continually broke my suspension of disbelief. Also writing fantasy there.<br />http://www.amazon.com/Booke-Days-Journal-Crusade/dp/0330351958<br /><br />On the other hand, geography that is not quite correct, or new characters who don't have a historical base (or a 100% accurate historical base, ala your Bishop of Blois), don't bother me at all. Fiction, not fantasy.<br /><br />Guy Gavriel Kay is a special case; as far as I can tell, the only reason his novels aren't labeled as historical fiction is that he doesn't want to be criticized for any particular inaccuracy (minor use of magic Sailing to Sarantium notwithstanding).Richard Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10196245164076003326noreply@blogger.com