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Intentionally Blank

The Fantasy Quorum feat. Holly Black — Intentionally Blank Ep. 175

Oct 9, 2024
Bestselling author Holly Black joins fantasy titans Brandon Sanderson and Dan Wells for an engaging discussion. They dive into the classification of Beowulf as fantasy and debate the best fantasy films, including an enthusiastic nod to 'The Lord of the Rings.' The trio explores the blurry lines between fantasy and sci-fi, tackling genre perceptions and the evolving landscape of storytelling. With wit and insight, they also address how younger generations shape modern fantasy narratives.
35:58

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • The podcast discusses the fluidity and evolving nature of genre definitions in literature, particularly in categorizing works like fantasy and science fiction.
  • The panel debates the subjective nature of ranking fantasy films, emphasizing how personal preferences shape perceptions of what constitutes fantasy cinema.

Deep dives

Is Beowulf Considered Fantasy?

The discussion explores whether Beowulf qualifies as a fantasy work, given that the author may have believed they were recounting historical events. There are arguments surrounding the author's intent and understanding of reality, as well as the nature of the fantastical elements such as Grendel and dragons. It is noted that many genres, including ghost stories, are accepted in literary fiction without being labeled as fantasy, based on the author's belief in the supernatural. Ultimately, this raises questions about how genre definitions can shift over time and influence the categorization of classic texts.

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