So I have a theory, and I'm curious what you guys think:
Theory: In the early 20th century, two great literary figures constructed what we now regard as the architecture of Fantasy.
J.R.R. Tolkein Crafted what's referred to as 'High Fantasy' circa 1936 and before him, across the atlantic in a small Texas town, Robert E. Howard perfected what is referred to as 'Sword and Sorcery' circa 1932.
The union of these two genres later spawned the near entirety of 20th century fantasy derivitives, whether in comic books, pulp novels, film, or computer/arcade/console gaming.
I was discussing this with a friend the other day, and while tracing the history of fantasy to these two great men, we realized that nothing had been written in the west for hundreds of years prior that resembled their work. The only exceptions we could think of were Arthurian Legend, Norse Legend, Beowulf, fairy tales and the like...most of which date to before Christ.
I'm sure there's someone in these forums who could point out a western writer from say...the 17th to 19th centuries who wrote what might today be considered fantasy? If not, it would seem that Tolkein and Howard are the true architects of modern Fantasy. Conceived, independently of one another's influence, roughly eighty years ago.
What do you guys think?
Theory: In the early 20th century, two great literary figures constructed what we now regard as the architecture of Fantasy.
J.R.R. Tolkein Crafted what's referred to as 'High Fantasy' circa 1936 and before him, across the atlantic in a small Texas town, Robert E. Howard perfected what is referred to as 'Sword and Sorcery' circa 1932.
The union of these two genres later spawned the near entirety of 20th century fantasy derivitives, whether in comic books, pulp novels, film, or computer/arcade/console gaming.
I was discussing this with a friend the other day, and while tracing the history of fantasy to these two great men, we realized that nothing had been written in the west for hundreds of years prior that resembled their work. The only exceptions we could think of were Arthurian Legend, Norse Legend, Beowulf, fairy tales and the like...most of which date to before Christ.
I'm sure there's someone in these forums who could point out a western writer from say...the 17th to 19th centuries who wrote what might today be considered fantasy? If not, it would seem that Tolkein and Howard are the true architects of modern Fantasy. Conceived, independently of one another's influence, roughly eighty years ago.
What do you guys think?