Dark Fantasy: sub-genre or marketing ploy?

In recent years a new sub-genre has appeared in UK bookshops. Always located close to the Science Fiction & Fantasy shelves, the proudly labelled "Dark Fantasy" section contains a somewhat strange mix of books, mostly written by women.

But what IS Dark Fantasy? Is it a bona fide sub-genre? Or is it a marketing term, used to cover the range of paranormal romance/urban fiction/young adult titles that have proliferated since the success of Twilight, aimed at the post-Harry Potter generation of female readers?

Wikipedia gives a definition of sorts, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_fantasy] but starts by stating

"A strict definition for dark fantasy is difficult to pin down."

The entry goes on to say that

"The term itself may refer collectively to tales that are either horror-based or fantasy-based."

but what DOES seem clear is that there is a supernatural element, be it monsters, magic or a combination of both. Classic books such as Dracula by Bram Stoker or Grimm's Fairy Tales fall into this definition as they straddle the divide between Horror and Fantasy. They contain elements of both and have sinister undertones, as do the works of Edgar Allan Poe and H.P.Lovecraft. By the same definition, Stephen King - particularly his early novels, like Carrie and Salem's Lot - could be classified as Dark Fantasy; so too many books by Neil Gaiman, Angela Carter, Clive Barker, Tanith Lee or Anne Rice. Yet these authors are not to be found on the Dark Fantasy shelves.

So what do the booksellers and publishers classify as Dark Fantasy? Well... from recent browsing in my local Waterstones [one of the last remaining UK chain of bookshops] it seems to be a combination of Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy, light Horror and Young Adult books - mostly written by women and largely aimed at women too. I sometimes wonder if this section has been created in the light of the Twilight phenomena, a marketing ploy to capture the (mainly) teenage readership of the popular Stephenie Meyer series.

The feisty, 'kick-ass' female protagonist protecting the world from the 'evil' supernatural beings is a popular theme. There are a number of long-running series that fit in this category - the Sookie Stackhouse books by Charlaine Harris, the Anita Blake novels by Laurell K. Hamilton or the Women of the Underworld series by Kelley Armstrong for example. Another series that is similar is Jim Butcher's Dresden Files, however, the protagonist here is a male wizard and you will find these books shelved in the general Science Fiction & Fantasy section, not under the heading of Dark Fantasy!

A high proportion of Paranormal Romance books can be found in the Dark Fantasy section. Sherrilyn Kenyon's Darkhunter series, J.R. Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood novels and Christine Feehan's Carpathian series are some of the more well known examples, all involving some form of the vampire mythology. But it isn't all 'sexy vampires'. P.C. Cast's Goddess Summoning series draws from Celtic and Greek mythologies. Atlantis is the basis for the Lords of the Underworld series by Gena Showalter. But in all of these series romance is a central theme, with the the mythology and worldbuilding providing context. However, it is fair to say that the background and history of the central characters, whether they be ancient Greeks converted to Dark Hunters by Artemis or Atlantean warriors, is worthy of any speculative fiction novel. It is the emphasis on romance that places these books firmly in the marketing section 'Dark Fantasy' thus keeping them well away from the sword and sandals aficionados and the space opera fanboys!

So, in conclusion, it seems clear that what is now labelled 'Dark Fiction' in UK bookshops today is a marketing construct, catering for the current fashion for vampires (mainly of the non-sparkly type, thankfully!), werewolves, shape-shifters etc. with a loosely romantic plotline. The publishers and booksellers are keen to feed the appetites of the older teenage/early 20's women, now that the Twilight series is complete. Five years ago this section didn't exist, now it commands 4 or 6 columns of shelves in my local shop, albeit tucked away around the corner from the 'real' Fantasy and Science Fiction. Dark Fantasy is quickly becoming speculative fiction's 'dirty little secret' and is dismissed (or completely ignored) by many  genre commentators. Yet there are some very good writers tucked away there. One thing I would suggest, however... if Gail Martin, Poppy Z Bryte, Nancy Collins or Tanith Lee were starting out today, would their books be classified as Dark Fantasy?

REVIEW: A Darkness at Sethanon by Raymond E Feist

A Darkness at Sethanon by Raymond E Feist
Publishing Information: Paperback; 464 pages
Publisher: Spectra; 1 January 1987
ISBN 10: 9780553263282
ISBN 13: 978-0553263282
Series Volume IV in the Riftwar Saga(US) Volume III (UK)
Copy: Out of Pocket
Reviewer: Tyson

Synopsis: "An evil wind blows through Midkemia. Dark legions have risen up to crush the Kingdom of the Isles and enslave it to dire magics. The final battle between Order and Chaos is abotu to begin in the ruins of the city called Sethanon.

Now Pug, the master magician sometimes known as Milamber, must undertake an awesome and perilous quest to the dawn of time to grapple with an ancient and terrible Enemy for the fate of a thousand worlds."

The final book in the original Riftwar Saga was a disappointing read and very predictable. Last week I reviewed Silverthorn, which felt like a giant prologue for this book. Darkness At Sethanon takes place roughly a year after the events in Silverthorn and really is two stories in one. The first story focuses on Arutha as he decides to take the battle to the enemy and hopefully, through faking his death, be able to surprise the legions of darkness that is preparing to destroy the realm. The other story is of Tomas and Pug as they must travel between worlds and find the one person that can help them defeat the evil before it gains a foothold in Midkemia and then spreads through other dimensions and worlds.

Arutha's story takes him north where he meets a former enemy that he never expected to encounter. I really liked this portion of the book. It was the first time I enjoyed reading about Arutha since the Magician. The action was done really well and with an old favorite returning made for some great dialogue. With the hordes of darkness preparing to overwhelm everyone in the city there was a bit of strategy used in the conflict. While not very in depth it was written very vividly and I found myself turning page after page to see the outcome.

The other story in A Darkness at Sethanon is regarding Pug and Tomas. Pug has received all the instruction he can from the ancient elves and with luck he will be able to face the coming darkness. There was a lot of build up to all of his education in Silverthorn and while he does become far more powerful than he was previously, I don't see where he ever really used it. He was basically used as a battery for another famous magician to use to perform magic. On top of that, his role was not all that instrumental in the final conflict. For that Tomas was needed. Pugs year long training and education was never really utilized. I felt cheated. The entire quest that Pug and Tomas undertake felt like filler to stave them off until everybody else was in their proper position for the final conflict to take place. When we get to the final act the battle that Arutha was engaged in and all the time Pug and Tomas put in on their quest was a huge let down. It was over far too soon and the end result was not that satisfactory. Of course, it sets things up for later Riftwar novels but I was hoping for something epic in scope, a roar, what I got was more of a whimper. The epilogue was also very predictable.

While the origianal Riftwar Saga is a classic, if I could do it all over again I would have stopped at Magician (Magician:Apprentice and Magician: Master). Magician feels like a complete story. Silverthorn and A Darkness at Sethanon feel more like a sequel as they start nearly where Magician ends but the focus shifts away from what made Magician such a great book(s). While I did set out and attain my goal of finally reading Feist, I was a little disappointed with how the original Riftwar Saga ended. I am not sure if I will read another Feist novel as the last two books in the series were bitter disappointments and the way in which it ended left me unsatisfied.

Plot 7
Characters 6
Style 5

Overall 6.5/10

REVIEW: The Waste Lands [The Dark Tower III] by Stephen King

The Waste Lands [The Dark Tower III] by Stephen King

Publishing Information: 1991 (first publishing) 2003 (current edition)

Publisher: Signet, Mass-Market Paperback, 590 pgs

ISBN-13: 978-0-451-21086-9

Series: The Dark Tower, Book #3 (of 7)

Reviewer: Andy

Copy: Out of Pocket



Synopsis: (from inside cover): Roland, the last gunslinger, moves ever closer to the dark tower of his dreams and nightmares as he travels through city and country in Mid-World - a macabre world that is a twisted image of our own. With him are those he has drawn to this world: street smart Eddie and courageous wheelchair-bound Susannah. Ahead of him are mind-bending revelations about who and what is driving him. Against him is arrayed a swelling legion of foes-- both more and less than human.

There is something about The Dark Tower series that seems very piecemeal. Considering that there were long stretches between each book. this isn't surprising. The first installment, written by a young King still finding his inspiration in a fog of drugs and alcohol, was very vague and uncertain, and it was clear that King was still wrestling with an amorphous idea still nascent in his imagination. Despite its lack of shape. the mysteriousness of the book led to some genuinely eerie moments such as Roland's visit to Tull and his meeting with the barmaid Alice. King was adding a healthy dose of horror to his dark fantasy, and the result was an ominously disturbing novel. But, it was certainly unclear where exactly King was taking us in Roland's journey to the shadowy place known only as the Dark Tower.

In the second book, King's story began to take shape. Roland met some unlikely companions, and a link was established between our world and mysterious Mid-World, the home of the gunslingers. While giving his story some direction and being less obscure, King was able to maintain a bit of the dark tone of the first book, as the characters wrestled with addiction, mental illness, and the loss of bodily extremities. King demonstrated that he not only had a talent for creating a dark and disturbing world, but he could also construct a plot in that world, and this was indeed a recipe for success.

King had admitted in the meantime that he didn't exactly know where this story was going as he was writing it, and he must follow his characters to see where they would lead him. In the early 90's, King entered Mid-World once again for the third installment of this series. The eerie style that characterized the first two books has been taken down a few notches. Instead of weed-chewing drug users and cannibalistic mutants, where have been introduced to a giant cyborg bear and a talking train. It felt as if King was trying to make his story less of a horror story and more of a fantasy adventure. The book suffers somewhat for it. At other times, I question King's understanding of human psychology and human relationships. One female character, after battling a mental illness where she continually put herself in dangerous sexual situations, agrees to regress to her old behavior. The result is a rape scene that demonstrates a very shallow understanding of the seriousness of rape. Other times, King's characters seem to develop their relationships and conduct themselves in unintuitive ways, leading to a generally unnatural feel. Its times like this where I find it difficult to suspend my disbelief.

Still, there is plenty to like here. The recipe of Western, high-fantasy, and post-apocalypse is somewhat unique and King balances the flavors nicely. King definitely has a handle on the Western, as fans of the genre will recognize many familiar conventions here. King is able to write plenty of quality action/adventure scenes, leading to a very Hollywood-ready feel. Despite King's apologies in the afterword for what might be interpreted as a cliffhanger ending, I found it to be a natural stopping point. But though the book wasn't a complete disappointment, it certainly did not live up to the standard set by its predecessor.

Plot……….8.5/10



Characters………6.5/10



Style……….6/10







Overall……….7/10

REVIEW: Silverthorn by Raymond E Feist

Silverthorn by Raymond E Feist
Publishing Information: Paperback; 343 Pages
Publisher: Batnam Books; 1 December 1993
ISBN 10: 9780553270549
ISBN 13: 978-0553270549
Series: Book 3 in the Riftwar Saga
Copy: Out of Pocket
Reviewer: Tyson

Back of the Book: "A poisoned bolt has struck down the Princess Anita on the day of her wedding to Prince Arutha of Krondor.


To save his beloved, Arutha sets out in search of the mytics herb called Silverthorn that only grows in the dark and forbidding land of the Spellweavers.


Accompanied by a mercenary, a minstrel, and a clever young thief, he wil confront an ancient evil and do battle with the dark powers that threaten the enchanted realm of Midkemia."

Not long ago I reviewed the first two books in the Riftwar saga, Magician: Apprentice and Magician: Master (One book if you live outside the US) and enjoyed them very much. It can be hard to find English books in South Korea so I ordered the remaining two books in the first Riftwar series. After finally receiving them it didn't take me long to pick them back up and complete the series.

Silverthorn takes place not long after the events in Magician: Master, things are finally slowing down and the kingdom is preparing for a wedding. Within a few pages a dark and sinister plot is uncovered and the quest begins. The book has the feel of a quest and that is exactly what we end up getting. The only problem is that most of the intriguing characters from the previous novels are shifted to the back of the book. Pug, who I really like, has very few pages dedicated to him although he is a key player in the series. Instead we follow Prince Arutha and his friends as they hunt down the antidote for his soon to be bride Anita.

We do have Jimmy the Hand, a young thief to keep us entertained. Unfortunately, even he has trouble keeping the book interesting. Thankfully the book is not that long. The pacing was decent but the fact that you have invested two books with Pug and Tomas and then start to read Silverthorn only to find second rate characters is hard to swallow. However as you read the book you realize that it is just one gigantic prologue that sets up the final book Darkness at Sethanon.

Silverthorn, is a bit of a let down since the first two books in the series were excellent. I know that it is just a large build up to the final confrontation in the last book in the first Riftwar series.

Plot 5
Characters 6
Style 7

Overall 6/10

REVIEW: A Dance With Dragons by George R.R. Martin

A Dance With Dragons by George R.R. Martin

Publishing Information: 2011 (first publishing) 2011 (current edition)

Publisher: Bantam, Hardcover, 959 pgs

ISBN-13: 978-0-553-80147-7

Series: A Song of Ice and Fire, Book #5

Reviewer: Andy

Copy: Out of Pocket



Synopsis: (from inside cover):

In the aftermath of a colossal battle, the future of the Seven Kingdoms hangs in the balance--beset by newly emerging threats from every direction. In the east, Daenerys Targaryen, the last scion of House Targaryen, rules with her three dragons as queen of a city built on dust and death. But Daenerys has thousands of enemies, and many have set out to find her. As they gather, one young man embarks upon his own quest for the queen, with an entirely different goal in mind. Fleeing from Westeros with a price on his head, Tyrion Lannister, too, is making his way to Daenerys.. But his newest allies in this quest are not the ragtag band they seem, and at their heart lies one who could undo Daenerys's claim to Westeros forever. Meanwhile, to the north lies the mammoth Wall of ice and stone-- a structure only as strong as those guarding it. There, Jon Snow, 998th Lord Commander of the Night's Watch, will face his greatest challenge. For he has powerful foes not only within the Watch, but also beyond in the land of creatures of ice. From all corners, bitter conflicts reignite, intimate betrayals are perpetrated, and a grand cast of outlaws and priests, soldiers and skinchangers, nobles and slaves, will face seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Some will fail, others will grow in the strength of darkness. But in a time of rising restlessness, the tides of destiny and politics will lead inevitable to the greatest dance of all.

Its been a long wait. For years until this book was released, I often encountered bitter A Song of Ice and Fire fans. There was always a certain pessimism that was characteristic of Martin fandom (much like Chicago Cubs fans)- though they loved the books, they weren't holding their breath that Martin would ever complete the series. Some even believed, that Martin had lost his grip on the story, introducing too many new characters and tangent plotlines, leading to a consensus that the books were going seriously downhill. The fourth book, A Feast For Crows, had been the worst received ASoIaF book yet, and many fans had sworn that they would abandon the series rather than put their time and energy into a ship that was sinking fast (or not very fast). However, a hit show on HBO reminded former fans what they loved about the series, and the timely release of A Dance With Dragons - just a month after the end of the first season, propelled the book to the very top of the bestseller list.

But when it comes to gritty fantasy, ASoIaF is still one of the best things out there. Martin's ingenious blend of historical fiction and low-magic epic fantasy helps endear fans who wouldn't normally read the genre. Not only that, Martin's unflinching use of realism and Machiavellian treachery finds its influence in real-world history, and the series is evidence that some of the best characters and stories have already been played out in reality. Martin employs magic sparingly, leading to him utilizing genuinely clever plot devices rather than the ad-hoc deus ex machina rubbish so often utilized by less talented storytellers. There's a reason why Martin is still one of the best out there - and it most certainly is related to the time he takes between novels. Constantly writing and rewriting is part of Martin's craft, and other writers could take a lesson from his attention to detail and willingness to perfect his language.

Even though I agreed with the majority opinion that AFFC was in fact the weakest book of the series, I still thought it was still an interesting installment. Martin was still evolving as a writer, and there was especially a lot of attention paid to world-building and character development. It did not contain as many of the heavy hitting big moments of previous books, but I trusted gratification would come eventually, and characters still needed to transition from point A to point B before that could happen. A Dance With Dragons, on the other hand, was the perfect synthesis of the old Martin and the new Martin. Westeros and Essos are more richly imagined than ever before, and there are plenty of big highlight moments from characters we haven't seen in over 10 years.

Although many fans still remain pessimists - this book renewed my faith in Martin. Isolated plotlines are beginning to converge and there is indeed a light at the end of decades-long tunnel. ADWD proves also that Pentos is just as fascinating of a continent as Westeros, and that the Wall is still one of the greatest architectural wonders in all of literature. The iconic characters we love and hate are just as interesting as before, and one former bastard turned lordling with a sadistic passion for flaying his prisoners might be the most despicable villain yet. I have few complaints here. Some fans will find the pacing and long voyages frustrating, but a series I once read about a hobbit carrying a magic ring contained plenty of long voyages as well. If instant gratification is what you are seeking, wait for Season 5 of HBO's Game of Thrones. However, if you want to read one of the masters of fantasy continue his excellence, read this book.

Plot………8.5/10



Characters………10/10



Style………10/10





Overall………9.5/10

REVIEW: The Metalmark Contract by David Batchelor

The Metalmark Contract by David Batchelor
Publishing information: Kindle, Paperback; 250 pages
Publisher: Black Rose Writing; 3 March 2011
ISBN 10: 1612960111
ISBN 13: 978-1612960111
ASIN: B004Y60T3E
Series: Book One
Copy: Provided by author
Reviewer: Tyson

Synopsis "The alien Metalmark offered mankind a starship and its advanced technology in a trade for the rights to planet Mercury and moon Triton. What could go wrong? But his appearance sent the nations of Earth into turmoil as many people suspected danger and a trick. Our dreams of futuristic breakthroughs made Metalmark a celebrity in the West, but inflamed the Islamic world. A scientist with the space agency and a CIA spy became two of Metalmark's defenders. Our chance to join superior beings and travel the stars depended on the clash of futurists with ancient traditions. Could he sell us the means to a quantum jump in progress? But . . . he wanted Mercury and Triton for habitats where his species could spawn . . . what did that mean?"

It has been a while since I have read a first contact novel. So, when presented with the chance to read the latest first contact novel by David Batchelor, I jumped at the chance.

The Metalmark Contract is a frustrating book. Not so much because it is poorly written, but due to the fact that many of the decisions made by mankind in the novel makes you want to stand up and shout that they are making a terrible mistake. When the alien named Metalmark comes to Earth requesting to meet with the United Nations to engage in trade, he asks for the planet Mercury and the moon Triton for spawning grounds. While our leaders first question why he requires those two heavenly bodies it is soon forgotten. They ask for as much information on the two space bodies but then quickly forget it when events start to spin out of their control. I would like to have seen some more discussion or details on the two planets and their advantages to keeping them, but once Metalmark shows Earth his amazing technology they forget that they may need Mercury or Triton. It really frustrated me as I am not sure that a contract like this would have been ramrodded into law so quickly. China seems to be the only country who is leery of what Metalmark is asking for and what he is giving in return. The President of the United States is true to form and plays the part of a puppet only it seems that the alien has managed to play the strings to perfection.

Metalmark is very interesting, without giving away too much about him (you will have to read it to find out more about him). He is very charismatic and has definitely done his homework on humanity. His true motives are hidden from everyone, he also does a great job of deflecting any and all information that humans try to glean from him about his origins or his species. It probably helps that he has a CIA agent and NASA scientist doing their utmost to shelter and protect him from any real negative publicity. While there is a medium-sized cast in this novel, they are juggled quite well and Batchelor does a great job of introducing them and keeping them interesting throughout the story. They also do a decent amount of growing as the novel continues.

The end of The Metalmark Contract leaves many questions to be answered and everyone's fate is left up in the air. But for a first novel it is quite good. It only lagged in one or two places and that was to set things up for the next event. The Metalmark Contract is an interesting premise as first contact is based on a need of commerce instead of friendship or the advancement of knowledge. There is also a lot of mystery involved in the novel as we are never fully told what "spawning" means and what it implies. Metalmark's physiology is also interesting and much different from what we usually encounter in science fiction novels. The Metalmark Contract is a fun read and sadly a quick read. You will also have to wait until the next novel is completed before you find out more about the implications of the contract forged between mankind and its latest neighbor. Recommended.

Plot 7/10
Characters 7/10
Style 7/10

Overall 7/10

REVIEW: The Magicians by Lev Grossman

The Magicians by Lev Grossman

Publishing Information: 2009 (first publishing) 2010 (current edition)

Publisher: Plume (Penguin), Trade Paperback, 402 pgs

ISBN-13: 978-0-452-29629-9

Series: Standalone (sequel recently released)

Reviewer: Andy

Copy: Out of Pocket



Synopsis: (from back cover): Quentin Coldwater is brilliant but miserable. A high school math genius, he's secretly fascinated with a series of children's fantasy novels set in a magical land called Fillory, and real life is disappointing by comparison. When Quentin is unexpectedly admitted to an elite, secret, college of magic, it looks like his wildest dreams may have come true. But his newfound powers lead him down a rabbit hole of hedonism and disillusionment, and ultimately to the dark secret behind the story of Fillory. The land of his childhood fantasies turns out to be much darker and more dangerous than he ever would have imagined…. The Magicians is one of the most daring and inventive works of literary fantasy in years. No one who has escaped into the worlds of Narnia and Harry Potter should miss this breathtaking return to the landscape of the imagination.





           One of the most significant characteristics of much of contemporary narrative art (including both fiction and film) is the self-awareness of the storytellers and the readers. Since we've all grown up reading genre fiction, we understand the conventions of genre and as authors we can play with these expectations in hopes of avoiding the tiresome and cliche paths worn by earlier writers. Some authors and filmmakers take it so far as to be self-referential, making the very characters in their books knowledgeable about the the kind of stories in which they themselves exist. The most familiar examples are in cinema/ In Wes Craven's Scream the characters identify a set of rules to follow if they find themselves victims in a slasher film and the killers are trying to reenact the horror films that they were raised on. In Gary Ross' Pleasantville, the idealized 1950's nuclear family sitcom life, such as Leave it to Beaver are infected with the technicolor realism of the modern world. In HBO's the Sopranos, the strip-club owner and gangster Sylvio is always trying to mimic Pacino characters, usually leading to very poor results.

           Lev Grossman's The Magicians, is an attempt to create a postmodern, self-aware, self-referential story about fantasy. The "hero" Quentin is a dreaming escapist, still fantasizing late into his teens about falling into a rabbit-hole like the children in the Fillory books, a direct reference and imitation of C.S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia series. Instead he finds himself in a Hogwarts-style school for the magically gifted - leading to serious disappointment. Quentin finds that studying magic isn't that much different than studying much of any other discipline and there are no evil wizards to vanquish or epic quests to embark on. This school for magic is given of a heavy dose of realism - fights between jealous students, casual sex, and partying creates a more realist University type atmosphere than the family-friendly adolescence of Hogwarts. Fantastic elements like ridiculously childish anthropomorphic characters are juxtaposed against a jarringly harsh pessimistic realism to often hilarious results. I don't want to give away specifics here, but a giant bunny chasing after a character with knives was a wonderfully absurd moment.

           The story itself is not always as shallow as its privileged rich-kid characters - much of it revolves around how long we should follow childhood fancies, as they often come at the expense of loved ones - and how even the fantasy worlds in which we wish to escape can disappoint us with their own particular realism. This is a fantasy for people who grew up reading fantasy and now are cynical about fantasy. Reliance on magic is even sometimes symbolic of addiction - just another way Grossman brilliantly thwarts our escapist daydreams. The concept here is brilliant - my only gripe is with some of the execution. The post-grad second-half of the book, which should be the more interesting half feels rushed and shallow, as if Grossman himself doesn't want to spend time in the world he has created. Fantasy fans should tread carefully - this isn't as much of a nostalgic tribute to your childhood favorites as it is a quasi-satire. This might explain why popular magazine-critics tend to favor it more than hardcore fantasy fans. Despite this, I thoroughly enjoyed the book and if you don't take the genre too seriously, it certainly shouldn't be avoided.







Plot……….8.0/10



Characters………8.5/10



Style……….8.0/10







Overall……….8.0/10