tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5524866668419203645.post3273345038513617541..comments2023-10-14T15:41:19.887-03:00Comments on Are You Afraid of the Dark?: Fantastic Fantasy: A Review of "On Dark Shores: The Lady"A. F. Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09813561042723593419noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5524866668419203645.post-38296367326087723972011-08-09T14:04:45.557-03:002011-08-09T14:04:45.557-03:00Thank you for your answers. This is what I wanted ...Thank you for your answers. This is what I wanted to know.Essordhttp://essord.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5524866668419203645.post-81627651550573468912011-08-08T18:37:46.472-03:002011-08-08T18:37:46.472-03:00Essard, the main setting does take place in one sm...Essard, the main setting does take place in one small provincial town, but the novel begins elsewhere and there are numerous references to other cities and places in the book. The novel has two distinct cultures, allusions to a past war between these cultures and a fully realised class and social structure.<br />As far as setting and atmosphere, it is reminiscent of Dickens, (specifically Oliver Twist) and even a touch of steampunk, but it is the writing style, especially regarding the characters, that evoked le Guin for me (the Wizard of Earthsea and Left Hand of Darkness came to mind). And there is a significant undertone of social commentary, but subtly done.A. F. Stewarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09813561042723593419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5524866668419203645.post-29071536570555783352011-08-08T17:32:48.257-03:002011-08-08T17:32:48.257-03:00AF, I am not asking for spoilers and I don't w...AF, I am not asking for spoilers and I don't want to get them either. You made comparisons or gave references which intrigued me. Maybe I should ask my questions in a different way.<br /><br />I can understand a similarity in style, but setting can mean many things. They have both written different kind of novels. Dickens for example is more known for his social comments on society, while LeGuin has used a wide range of themes in her novels. So you could for example refer to specific novels which this novel reminded you of?<br /><br />The definition of epic fantasy you use is actually that of high fantasy. Epic fantasy is also high fantasy, but has a far greater scope and scale (like different peoples, races, supreme beings, languages, cultures, etc.). That is a distinction I make, because high fantasy has a too general definition which can include too much variation. If you use subgenre labels I like to know more if it is not clear from the review.<br /><br />I asked my question about epic fantasy because the description of the story that you do give seems to revolve around a single place, which would make it an urban fantasy.<br /><br />I hope this clarifies my question a bit and that this allows you to answer them.Essordhttp://essord.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5524866668419203645.post-67524946199749220442011-08-08T15:20:05.173-03:002011-08-08T15:20:05.173-03:00Essord, I don't like including plot spoilers i...Essord, I don't like including plot spoilers in my reviews, but I'm sorry if you found my description a bit to vague.<br /><br />I was comparing style and setting when making the author comparisons.<br /><br />"Epic fantasy" is a sub-genre of fantasy, used to refer to a book that is set in invented or parallel worlds; that is why it was used as a label.A. F. Stewarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09813561042723593419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5524866668419203645.post-33899099613971182012011-08-08T15:12:58.861-03:002011-08-08T15:12:58.861-03:00JA, you're welcome. I enjoyed your book very ...JA, you're welcome. I enjoyed your book very much.A. F. Stewarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09813561042723593419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5524866668419203645.post-68884890991200918002011-08-08T14:02:33.459-03:002011-08-08T14:02:33.459-03:00Interesting review, but besides a reference to Dic...Interesting review, but besides a reference to Dickens and LeGuin and don't have a good idea what this novel is about. Why did it remind you of either Dickens or LeGuin and to what kind of existing fantasy can this be compared? I noticed the label 'epic fantasy', so what makes this story epic?Essordhttp://essord.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5524866668419203645.post-15348609180363861082011-08-07T18:43:52.560-03:002011-08-07T18:43:52.560-03:00Wow! Thank you very much! I'm so glad you enjo...Wow! Thank you very much! I'm so glad you enjoyed it!<br />JACJAClementhttp://www.jaclement.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.com