The New Weird

Via Henry Farrell’s Gallowglass comes a link to a fascinating discussion of the present and future of what is generally known as sf. China Miévlle, one of my favorite new authors, has a particularly good take, also cited by Henry. I’m going to quote a different bit, though:

The problem with lots of modern fantasy isn’t just that it’s repetitive and cliche-recycling, it is that in so being, it is a betrayal of the fantastic.

(emphasis in the original) Yes. YES!

Even my favorite modern fantasy series, George R.R. Martin’s Song of Ice and Fire, suffers from this syndrome; though due to Martin’s excellent characterization and deep setting, it doesn’t suffer much. And Martin does magic right—keeps it magical, and mainly off-stage, going laudably light on the eldritch chants, pointy ears, and green-fireball hurling.

But much as I love it, as fantasy, it’s honestly not very “fantastic”. Put next to Miéville’s Perdido Street Station, it looks sadly bereft of wonder.

Filed under: general