Good essay. I find WH40K extremely interesting, but really know nothing about it.
In regards to what you describe here, I think we most likely agree on most things, but our definition of what the term Grimdark actually is differs. My issue is with the post modern deconstruction of Western Culture / Tradition that I see at the heart of (most) Grimdark as a subgenre. So, it's not the grimness that is my issue, but the subversion.
I write from a post civilizational collapse position in my fiction, but I would resist the label of Grimdark. I guess, I would need to write something further about it. I'm currently working on an essay on Guénon’s 'Crisis of the Modern World' and how it might be of benefit to writing mythic fantasy, that may better explain what I'm rambling about.
Good essay, I'd say just for formatting reasons space out the paragraphs as they are beasts to read.
Good argument about 40K, I'll throw in that a good example of Grimdark is that of Dragonslayer from 1981 (I love that story).
So there are good Grimdark or 'Dark Fantasy' stories out there. I personally really like Dark Fantasy but am not fond of the 'Grimdark' fare like Berserk and GOT that offer little to the Genre or conversation.
This reminds me I almost wanted to write an article about how Lord of the Rings is actually post-apocalyptic science fiction, and this is what it has in common with most older fantasy rather than modern fantasy and also why people can’t really replicate the success of any of the older fantasy. Maybe I’ll do that.
I’m not confusing it with a series I’ve never read. It’s post-apocalyptic for the elves, and for the hobbits (Scouring of the Shire.) The whole story is about how the age ends and is replaced with the next age, and there’s ruins everywhere and an all-seeing dystopian imperialistic eye. The elves never call what they do magic because it’s basically just technology and skills the lesser-lived races don’t master. People ruin fantasy by trying to make this static world where you can always return when the whole point is you can’t return, that entire world ends. It’s not a story where the good guys save the day and the world returns to normal.
Good essay. I find WH40K extremely interesting, but really know nothing about it.
In regards to what you describe here, I think we most likely agree on most things, but our definition of what the term Grimdark actually is differs. My issue is with the post modern deconstruction of Western Culture / Tradition that I see at the heart of (most) Grimdark as a subgenre. So, it's not the grimness that is my issue, but the subversion.
I write from a post civilizational collapse position in my fiction, but I would resist the label of Grimdark. I guess, I would need to write something further about it. I'm currently working on an essay on Guénon’s 'Crisis of the Modern World' and how it might be of benefit to writing mythic fantasy, that may better explain what I'm rambling about.
Good essay, I'd say just for formatting reasons space out the paragraphs as they are beasts to read.
Good argument about 40K, I'll throw in that a good example of Grimdark is that of Dragonslayer from 1981 (I love that story).
So there are good Grimdark or 'Dark Fantasy' stories out there. I personally really like Dark Fantasy but am not fond of the 'Grimdark' fare like Berserk and GOT that offer little to the Genre or conversation.
This reminds me I almost wanted to write an article about how Lord of the Rings is actually post-apocalyptic science fiction, and this is what it has in common with most older fantasy rather than modern fantasy and also why people can’t really replicate the success of any of the older fantasy. Maybe I’ll do that.
That sounds ridiculous, the post-apocalyptic thing I mean. I think you're confusing it for the Sword of Shannara which ran with that premise.
I’m not confusing it with a series I’ve never read. It’s post-apocalyptic for the elves, and for the hobbits (Scouring of the Shire.) The whole story is about how the age ends and is replaced with the next age, and there’s ruins everywhere and an all-seeing dystopian imperialistic eye. The elves never call what they do magic because it’s basically just technology and skills the lesser-lived races don’t master. People ruin fantasy by trying to make this static world where you can always return when the whole point is you can’t return, that entire world ends. It’s not a story where the good guys save the day and the world returns to normal.