It’s tricky to balance writing originally while still pleasing readers. If a fantasy author does this right, they’ve made magic.
But it isn’t easy. Fantasy readers generally like more of what they’ve liked in the past, so an author needs to 1) be aware of the genre’s tropes and 2) include at least some of them in their novels.
‘Trope’ is defined variously, but its meanings include a theme or a pattern typical of a literary genre. A trope can be a useful device for a writer to anchor the reader in a story; it’s a touchstone that reassures said reader that what they’re reading contains familiar and treasured elements. As such, tropes needn’t be clichés, but sometimes they are.
We’ve all read fantasies where ‘hunky werewolves chase sexy vampires through the nighttime streets of a darkened city under the diamond bright, pitiless stars’ or where ‘a seemingly normal, yet plucky individual turns out to have wondrous magical powers and is somehow chosen for a horrendous epic quest’. Want more? Google ‘fantasy literary clichés’ and hundreds appear.
Gosh, how does the fantasy writer respect the genre’s tropes and keep an audience while dodging the worst of these hoary chestnuts? It ain’t easy, but part of the answer involves working to develop an individual voice and seeking to be creative about which tropes to use (and which to ignore) and then how to assemble the selected tropes into a compelling narrative. Every fantasy author consciously or unconsciously confronts these choices. And there’s a better chance of success by being conscious and thoughtful in making the selections.
A future post will look at one of my novels, THE LORDS OF THE SUMMER SEASON (Amazon link: https://amzn.to/3dMwB9a ), as a case study to probe what tropes – for better or worse – I used or snubbed.
You’re welcome to use Amazon’s ‘look inside’ function to check out the first 20 pages of THE LORDS OF THE SUMMER SEASON for free. Also, please consider ‘liking’ this post and/or following this blog.
I write modern fantasy novels that are hopefully both exciting and literate. These novels include an on-going series about a near-immortal magician who grew up in Camelot and grew famous in San Francisco's 'Summer of Love'. He's still having adventures to this day described in The Lords of the Summer Season, The Lords of Powder, and The Lords of Oblivion. The books can be read in any order.
As author S Alessandro Martinez has stated about the series:
"Lords of Oblivion
A 1500-year-old wizard. A pair of savage druids raised from the dead. Modern day San Francisco. A wolf that takes no gruff. Blaisdell creates a fascinating world in this magical realism novel with smart writing, complex characters, and clever use of history and mythology. I was sucked in from the very beginning. I look forward to more of Bradan and Tintagel's mystical adventures.
Lords of Powder
Merlin's former apprentice, Bradan, is back! The 1500-year-old wizard, who is sometimes too smart for his own good, returns for another exciting adventure, this time in 70s Miami as he takes on the criminal world of drug trafficking. Blaisdell's smart, fast-paced writing and use of fascinating history and mythology keeps you on the edge of your seat as Bradan uses his wits, charm, and illusions to navigate the modern era and get himself into plenty of trouble.
Lords of the Summer Season
Being Merlin's former apprentice and living for 1500 years is bound to make you a few enemies. Travel back to the 60s with Bradan the wizard and his otherworldly wolf Tintagel. As Bradan juggles careers as a professor and musician, he must defend himself from his greatest threat yet: a literal god. Blaisdell continues with his clever, skillful, and imaginative writing that will keep readers eagerly turning the next page. My favorite of the Bradan books, Blaisdell dives deeper into the Arthur mythology, and brings the reader even more elements of magic and folklore, all the while weaving an entertaining tale of gods, wizards, ghosts, and 60s acid rock. Thoroughly enjoyable!"
Besides the literary side of my life, my background includes membership on a scientific advisory board for a non-profit professional organization promoting the biomedical and digital health business community in the greater Los Angeles area.
I’ve authored both basic research publications and business management articles focusing on the bio/pharma industry. My Ph.D. is in Biochemistry from the University of Minnesota where I also conducted post-doctoral research in microbiology. And my BS is from the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor) with a double major in chemistry and cell biology.
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Blaisdell Literary Enterprises 