DETAILS

Title: Dark fantasy

Categories:

Fantasy

Speculative Fiction

Location: Orson Scott Card, Lost Boys Tanith Lee, A Bed Of Earth Graham Joyce, The Tooth Fairy Annette Curtis Klause, Blood And Chocolate

Pagination: 0

Illustrations: - themes of horror and battle between good and evil - supernatural creatures (e.g. vampires, werewolves, changelings) - contemporary setting

Document Type: Graffiti

Notes:

"Dark fantasy" is more of a mood descriptor than a set of plot elements or features. Dark fantasy is often a component of contemporary fantasy, featuring supernatural creatures in the modern world - often the beings are the protagonists themselves. The TV series Buffy the Vampire Slayer is an excellent example of the mood and style of dark fantasy. This genre should be seen as distinct from horror, however; in fantasy stories, the discovery of supernatural or magical elements in the world must give the protagonist a sense of wonder or joy. The unnatural is treated with greater sympathy, paradoxically bringing out stronger human elements in the characters and narrative.