Talk:Low fantasy

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Can anyone provide references or examples of the usage? The only ones I've found in the print world are in Gary K. Wolfe's Critical Terms for Science Fiction and Fantasy and the Clute & Grant Encyclopedia of Fantasy, both of which in turn point to a single 1977 introduction by Boyer and Zahorski, where the definition ("Narratives in which the fantastic element intrudes on the 'real world,' as opposed to fantasies set all or partially in a Secondary World") is not the same as that proposed in the article. The term is not otherwise in common use in literary criticism and is clearly a back formation from "high fantasy." The meaning in the article, on the other hand, seems to be formed by analogy with "low comedy." It might be useful to separate the areas where the term is actually used--in literary discussions, it is rare enough that I've never seen it used in 35 years work as a teacher and critic. RLetson 01:01, 7 April 2006 (UTC)

The February 2006 issue of White Dwarf magazine has a whole article on playing the Warhammer Fantasy Battles miniatures game with a "low fantasy" theme

This will probably only worsen your confusion, but I have never seen it used outside the internet, where it is used mostly about fantasy role-playing games, and only occassionally as a way to describe fantasy books. I mostly agree with Boyer and Zahorski's definition, though I would also like it to include some works set in fantasy worlds.

"The meanng in the article, on the other hand, seems to be formed by analogy with "low comedy."

That was not my intention. I will see if I can find a way to make the article better.sindreman

Allow me to make a suggestion: Start with the fact that the term has different senses in different contexts or subcultures and outline what they are. The Boyer-Zahorski sense seems to be the only one operating in the print/literary-critical world. (And I emphasize that it is a very rarely used term there, though "high fantasy" is pretty well established.) If the gaming world uses it in a different way even when talking about books or films or TV shows, document that usage separately. A possible dividing-point might be that the term seems to be constructed in contrast to "high fantasy," but with different elements or aspects of highness/lowness being emphasized.

Something like this:

Low fantasy is a term coined in opposition to various aspects of the older term "high fantasy." It has different senses in different contexts. As a literary term it originated with [cite Boyer-Zahorski], who see is as a subgenre of fantasy literature in which "the fantastic element intrudes on the 'real world,' as opposed to fantasies set all or partially in a Secondary World" [in-line citation of Wolfe and Clute & Grant]. [para break] In the world of role-playing games, however, "low fantasy" indicates [plug in whatever the most common usage is, along with citation]. The term is also sometimes used to describe comic fantasy [insert citation/authority/examples, along with note that this may be a relatively minor usage].

Just a suggestion, but one that might allow the various senses to be laid out without too much confusion. RLetson 18:57, 14 April 2006 (UTC)

Rewrote the article to emphasize the umbrella nature of the "low fantasy" concept. Added several types that I had run across that were not included. OTOH, many of the meanings may overlap, and I did not develop that fully. Goldfritha 02:20, 1 May 2006 (UTC)

Just goes to show; I need to du my edits quicker instead of planning them for a long time.Just kidding. Goldfritha, you've done a wonderful job. Sindreman (UTC)

I'm not sure if "Darklands" should be listed as an example, considering it's set in C14th Germany. It certainly includes fantasy elements, but is generally considered a historical RPG.

Real, including historical, settings are one criterion that has been held to be a mark of low fantasy. I'm not surprised that the term isn't often used, since it's so confused, but being in a real setting doesn't disqualify it. Goldfritha 23:04, 16 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Original intent

I reverted an unreferenced claim that the "original intent" was "a story lacking a clear cut dichotomy of good versus evil." There have been a lot of original intents. Without references -- and for the claim that this was the original intent, and whose intent it was, and why this person's intent trumps all other usages -- this is not a valid cliam. Goldfritha 23:42, 19 October 2006 (UTC)