Category Archives: A to Z 2012

H is for historical

Posted on April 9, 2012 by Erin

I know — in my defining the genres post, I established that historical and epic are different. Thus, this one is cheating for me. I don’t care. Inhuman creatures, good vs. evil, main character with a dark past, sword fights, … Continue reading →

Posted in A to Z 2012 | Tagged | 11 Comments

G is for good vs. evil

Posted on April 7, 2012 by Erin

The classic theme for epic fantasy is good vs. evil. It’s big, it changes the world, nations hang in the balance. The nations of the North unite to fight Sauron. Only the Sword of Shannara can defeat the darkness. The … Continue reading →

Posted in A to Z 2012 | Tagged | 17 Comments

F is for farmboy

Posted on April 6, 2012 by Erin

Poor farmboy goes on a quest and winds up saving the world, right? He doesn’t have to be a farmboy; he can be a pig-herder, a baker’s apprentice, or some other menial occupation. You see it everywhere from Lloyd Alexander … Continue reading →

Posted in A to Z 2012 | Tagged | 19 Comments

E is for Elliott

Posted on April 5, 2012 by Erin

I talked about Kate Elliott in my women in science-fiction and fantasy series (specifically, her book Spirit Gate, the first book of the Crossroads Trilogy), and I’m talking about her again because she writes excellent epic fantasy. Today, I’m talking … Continue reading →

Posted in A to Z 2012 | Tagged | 18 Comments

D is for different worlds

Posted on April 4, 2012 by Erin

Different, or secondary, worlds are a defining feature of epic fantasy. They are elsewhere, somewhere fantastic and magical, sometimes reached by a portal (like Narnia), sometimes existing on their own without connection to our world. Secondary worlds are internally consistent, … Continue reading →

Posted in A to Z 2012 | Tagged | 18 Comments

C is for Cooper

Posted on April 3, 2012 by Erin

If you haven’t seen Songs of the Earth by Elspeth Cooper, but you enjoy traditional epic fantasy, with knights and swords, wild magic — and perhaps even a church that forbids the use of such magic — you should definitely … Continue reading →

Posted in A to Z 2012 | Tagged | 16 Comments

B is for Black God’s War

Posted on April 2, 2012 by Erin

Black God’s War is the first book in Moses Siregar III’s planned series, Splendor and Ruin. From the first page, I was captivated by Lucia, who manages not to be petulant and jealous when her younger brother is born and … Continue reading →

Posted in A to Z 2012 | Tagged | 15 Comments

A is for Abercrombie

Posted on April 1, 2012 by Erin

Joe Abercrombie writes gritty fantasy. The first thing I picked up of his wasn’t the First Law trilogy, but rather the standalone Heroes, set in the same world. The first chapter told me exactly what I was in for: the … Continue reading →

Posted in A to Z 2012 | Tagged | 17 Comments

A to Z coming to a blog near you

Posted on March 29, 2012 by Erin

April begins on Sunday, as you might have noticed. Last April, I participated in the A to Z blogging challenge. This year, I’m doing it again, and unlike last year, I’m going with a theme: epic fantasy. Posts will be … Continue reading →

Posted in A to Z 2012, announcements, metablogging | 4 Comments