Current Fantasy Novel Trends

[Anne Lyle]

I hope not. I looked on Amazon at some of the smaller covers and really, to me, they look fine. I won't buy a book with those awful 'hooded man' covers now.

I know what you mean. Our writers' group used to meet in the Starbucks franchise in Borders, and at the end of each meeting we'd go down to the SFF section and look for bad cover art. It's getting better, particularly on this side of the Atlantic, but you still see the odd cover where the artist clearly has little grasp of human anatomy, judging by the weird proportions. That sort of thing totally biases me against a book, to the detriment of the poor author...

 

[Dornish First Sword]

I've always wondered how much say an author gets in the artwork, from looking at trends I'd have to assume the publisher has alot more say than the author. It seems to me a trend would be more likely to be followed or pushed by a publisher than a huge collection of authors all pushing for that "hooded guy" on the cover. Anyone have any experience with this and if so how much does the influence the author have on the art change through their career? Say would G.R.R.M get a bigger say in his cover art than someone on only their first or second outing into the world of publishing?

 

[Anne Lyle]

It depends on the publisher as much as the author - the smaller the publisher, the more likely you are to get input. In my contract with Angry Robot it states that I will be consulted on the cover but the publisher will get the final say, which is sensible - after all, the publisher has sold a lot more books than most authors!

What that meant in practice was that I was asked for some descriptions (my protagonist, and also the non-humans, in case they wanted to include them in the design), and was also told who they were thinking of commissioning. I was very pleased when Larry Rostant's name came up, as I'd been admiring one of his covers (The Fallen Blade) not long before.

After that, my publisher commissioned the art, and eventually sent me three draft images and asked what I thought of them. Luckily we both liked the same one! You can see the artwork (still awaiting lettering) here:

http://angryrobotbooks.com/2011/08/cover-art-reveal-introducing-mal-catlyn/

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

Wow. Very impressive artwork, Anne!

 

[Anne Lyle]

Thanks! Larry has won me a whole new set of drooling fans

Never underestimate the power of a good cover...

 

[soulsinging]

Non political fantasy ? Most fantasy dont care for political intrigue unless its huge epic fantasy series.

Tim Powers, Paul Kearney,Gemmell, Charles R Saunders,Tanith Lee, Sanderson,Meiville,Di Filippo etc

There are many types of fantasy that suit what you are looking for.

I would say Sanderson definitely touches on politics and similar subjects. Elantris was heavy on feminism and meditations on social order. Mieville also gets into that sort of thing from what I hear.

Though honestly, it's always seemed to me that the line between philosophy and politics is pretty thin and I think about politics constantly, so maybe I'm just reading in too much...

 

[Anne Lyle]

It's the difference between plot and theme. Your theme can be political (power corrupts) within a straightforward epic, e.g. The Lord of the Rings, or the story itself can be about a political conflict, e.g. A Song of Ice and Fire.

 

[Mouse]

http://angryrobotbooks.com/2011/08/cover-art-reveal-introducing-mal-catlyn/

Very nice, Anne! Still one man but at least he's not on a plain background! And is it a photo? It's extremely realistic looking. I thought he had a sai in his hand for a moment and was getting all excited, then enlarged it and saw it was a dagger. Still looks uber snazzy though.

 

[Anne Lyle]

Very nice, Anne! Still one man but at least he's not on a plain background! And is it a photo? It's extremely realistic looking. I thought he had a sai in his hand for a moment and was getting all excited, then enlarged it and saw it was a dagger. Still looks uber snazzy though.

It is indeed a photo - Larry specialises in historical/fantasy subjects, photographed and then photoshopped in interesting ways.

I'm afraid there's not much chance of a sai appearing in these books, as contact between Europe and the Far East is still very limited. It's just a conventional main gauche, as used in the fencing techniques of the period (late c16), with a typical ring hilt.

The full-res version is well worth a look - for one thing, that male model has lovely hands

 

[Mouse]

Way ahead of you, Anne, already looked and oggled.

 

[Anne Lyle]

I know - I just couldn't resist mentioning it

 

[chongjasmine]

I really don't like vampires/werewolves and romantic fantasy series, so I am not quite happy about the trend. I prefer the sword and wizard kind of fantasy.

 

[Anne Lyle]

There's plenty of swords and wizardry still around - it's not like Twilight has eliminated all other forms of fantasy, thank the gods!

Angry Robot has several of that kind of book out next year. As well as The Alchemist of Souls by yours truly, there's Giant Thief by David Tallerman and The Hammer and the Blade by Paul S Kemp - lots of lovely swashbuckling fun!

 

[Montero]

For an interesting take on Sword and Sorcery try Juliet McKenna. Start with The Thief's Gamble and the four subsequent books. Not heavily political, not a romance. Quite complex magic going on.

Also like her Aldebreshi books, which are set in a different part of the same world.

 

[Coragem]

i don't know about paranormal romance, but I'm glad that fantasy often has a love plot thrown in!

In terms of trends, I'd point out the way the "3rd person limited" narrative is used these days (last 20-30yrs). It's so closely tied to the character POV (in many cases) it's almost 1st person.

Which I like!

There's also the swift to moral shades of grey (always associated with GRRM), which again, I like!

Coragem.

 

[Anne Lyle]

i don't know about paranormal romance, but I'm glad that fantasy often has a love plot thrown in!

...

There's also the swift to moral shades of grey (always associated with GRRM), which again, I like!

Heh. One of my "elevator pitch" lines for my book was "Scott Lynch for girls" - I think the world needs more morally grey fantasy with a) women who aren't stereotypical kick-ass warrior babes and b) a dollop or two of romance

 

[Montero]

Agreed.
You know what, I'm getting rather tempted by your book, Anne. Will it be electronic only, or also paper?


On the romance side of the discussion, there are two ways it can be done. The main reason for the story, or something that happens during a story about something else. I rather prefer the latter.

Would also prefer the curtain to come down before anything physical gets particularly detailed! I like some of the werewolf stories, where the up and down side of the physical condition can be explored, and also their interaction with other forms of supernatural. Ditto some vampire stories.

Then there are the ones that to my mind get well pornographic. I think once words like "cervix" make it into the text, that is too far.

 

[Anne Lyle]

Agreed.
You know what, I'm getting rather tempted by your book, Anne.

Ah, my evil schemes are working

Will it be electronic only, or also paper?

Both - and hopefully audio too, in time. Angry Robot are out for world domination, you know

Full details are on my website - at the moment you can only pre-order paperbacks or the US Kindle version, but the ebook will be available worldwide and in multiple formats come publication day.

I think once words like "cervix" make it into the text, that is too far.

Eww, yes!

I think the most graphic sex in my writing is not much more anatomically detailed than you'd see in a mainstream (i.e. non-porn) movie. I try to keep the focus on the characters, not their body parts!

 

[Ökuþórr]

For an interesting take on Sword and Sorcery try Juliet McKenna. Start with The Thief's Gamble and the four subsequent books. Not heavily political, not a romance. Quite complex magic going on.

Also like her Aldebreshi books, which are set in a different part of the same world.

I've read the Aldabreshi books and liked them. Its a nice change from your European guy in the world of Northern Europe land. Fantasy on tropical islands. Hope she does more.

 

[Anne Lyle]

I guess the European bias is at least partly down to "write what you know". I've always lived in England, have never been to the tropics and dislike hot, humid climates, so the chances of me writing something set in a jungle are minimal!