I recently read a great article
about the current trend of gray fantasy, “Is Blackand White Fantasy Dead” by Codey Amprim, published in Mythic Scribes. The
information seemed timely since I’m plotting a new standalone magical realism
book. My current series, which I’ll complete this fall, is high fantasy with
plenty of black and white characters. Shifting to the more literary fantasy subgenre
of magical realism gives me more undefined space to explore, and I’m eager to
work with that bigger canvas. But there are also more decisions to make that I
previously didn’t need to consider. In my new plot, there is no character to
assume the black role of the villain, only a negative energy that never takes a
physical form. I’m wrestling with the characters, most developing as shades of
gray.
My previous works have all had
foundations of more clear-cut black and white characters to define the story
arcs. The struggle between good and evil gave readers something familiar to
cling to when faced with the oddity of new worlds, magic, and frightening
creatures. Readers knew that good would ultimately triumph, and the journeys became
their reward.
However, including more and more
gray characters into the equation lends mystery to the plot, making it less
predictable. Gray characters seem more complex, more real and relatable. They
can be more explosive and wild, keeping readers turning pages to figure out the
characters’ motives. But without black and white characters, readers may have
trouble deciding who to root for among a gray cast. They are left looking for
one they can understand on a personal level. Unless there are clear plot
objectives, gray characters can take the story in meandering zig-zags like a
grand soap opera. Readers expect the satisfaction of resolution for their investment
of time.
What
blend of fantasy characters do you prefer? Mostly black and white? All three
types: black, white, and gray? Plenty of mysterious gray characters?
2 comments:
Grey characters certainly, but I do like a few black and white ones lurking around the edges of the mob.
Black & White characters help to outline the context of the bigger picture, so to speak, by defining the extremes of good and evil. I find them so grounding in my own work. It's the grey characters, however, that allow for exploration and bring about the most intriguing surprises. I believe both are needed for a rich and complex story.
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