This week we talked to fellow fantasy Substacker Clifford Stumme (Past the Dragon) about his essay “The 8 Eras of Fantasy Literature” and how fantasy can enrich our lives beyond simple hedonistic entertainment.
Coming from a few years of watching BookTok and BookTube, it’s a relief to hear conversation about a different set of authors and ideas than the mainstream and to hear some real takes. Clifford coming in at the end with a dunk on Assassin’s Apprentice…sheeeesh. Hilarious.
You all touched on this, but the dopamine economy and tropes have shaped book trends in a surprising way. I.e. I can’t believe people know going in that the MCs are “enemies to lovers”. It’s like a segment of readers only wants to open a book if it promises the same drug that they’ve tried before. That’s my main complaint with “tropes”, not the actual content but the uniformity of it.
The trend I’ve noticed recently is retellings and mythology (especially non-western) coming into vogue. Relatedly, historically unrepresented voices. I see that everywhere from lit agents and publishers.
Coming from a few years of watching BookTok and BookTube, it’s a relief to hear conversation about a different set of authors and ideas than the mainstream and to hear some real takes. Clifford coming in at the end with a dunk on Assassin’s Apprentice…sheeeesh. Hilarious.
You all touched on this, but the dopamine economy and tropes have shaped book trends in a surprising way. I.e. I can’t believe people know going in that the MCs are “enemies to lovers”. It’s like a segment of readers only wants to open a book if it promises the same drug that they’ve tried before. That’s my main complaint with “tropes”, not the actual content but the uniformity of it.
The trend I’ve noticed recently is retellings and mythology (especially non-western) coming into vogue. Relatedly, historically unrepresented voices. I see that everywhere from lit agents and publishers.