Many Blends in Epic Fantasy

Genre blending and epic fantasy are sisters in combat. Epic fantasy can include any number of elements borrowed from other genres. Yet the good versus evil and the quest is always there for readers to enjoy. The Lord of the Rings and The Wheel of Time series include ghosts, foretelling and romance. While called different names, they are in essence the same thing.

And that is the beauty of epic fantasy. Ghosts are called spirits and any random word for foretelling can be used for the person who foretells. Of course, romance will always be romance. The number of possibilities for each element is left up to the imagination of the writer. The creative choice assimilates the different genres into good versus bad with the bumps to save the world or obtain the quest item.

The Ringwraiths in The Lord of the Rings are like ghosts. They are turned into apparition by the dark power of the rings. On the other hand (no pun intended), the other wraiths were nothing more than common men who dishonored their peers. Also necromancy caused the dead to rise again. Ghosts and people returning back to the dead are seen in many paranormal novels.

The ghosts in The Wheel of Time series foretold the last battle of Tarmon Gai'don. In this case, they are called ghosts and not spirits. The ability to foretell the future is considered a talent by the Aes Sedai. Those who have the talent are far in between, but they have always existed from the beginning. Foretelling is accepted universally in any genre, just more so in others.

Both fantasy series include romance. Aragon and Arwen are your traditional couple in the Lord of the Rings. They want nothing more to be together, but first, the world needs to be saved. In The Wheel of Time series, Rand is in love with three women - Min Farshaw, Elayne Trakand, and Aviendha. They accept he is in love with all of them. While never in the same bed all at once, this is normally seen in erotic novels.

In a nutshell, epic fantasy can have it all and still let you include a unicorn, or any other outrageous thing, without anyone blinking an eye. If it fits the world the character exists in, then there's nothing that cannot be done. That’s music to my ears.

Now, what other genre blending or bending are seen in epic fantasy? And is there an epic fantasy series that includes so many you can’t keep count?

The Trickster

Predictable? Rule abiding? Nope, only tricksters are allowed in this post. They are one of my favorite types of characters in fantasy for their nature of having a good time even at the expense of others.  TV Tropes words it better than me:

A trickster is a god, goddess, spirit, man, woman, or anthropomorphic animal who plays tricks or otherwise disobeys normal rules and conventional behavior. The Trickster openly questions and mocks authority, encourages impulse and enthusiasm, seeks out new ideas and experiences, destroys convention and complacency, and promotes chaos and unrest. At the same time, the trickster brings new knowledge, wisdom and many An Aesop. Even when punished horribly for his effrontery, his indomitable spirit (or plain sheer foolishness) keeps him coming back for more.

Tricksters can be anything from gods of chaos, bedeviling heroes for a few laughs, to master manipulators who use cruel ploys and sadistic choices. They can also be heroes (or more likely Anti-Heroes) who make up for a lack of strength or bravery with manipulation, planning, or just plain cheating. The trickster is often a Master of Disguise and may have magical or super-powers. They're often found Walking the Earth.

While you can’t love all tricksters, those who fight for the side of good earn a place in my heart. They work within their scope of power to make things happen. They seem ordinary but pull off great fleets or terror when they put their minds to the task before them. They sometimes are not along and there are two tricksters working together. Double trouble as they say.

Now to my top three tricksters in well-known high/epic fantasy novels are:

1. Fred and George Weasley from Harry Potter series.

2. Merry and Pippin from The Lord of the Rings.

3. Mat Cauthon from the Wheel of Time series. (My favorite trickster!)

Who are your top three tricksters? 

Aragorn & Arwen

In honor of Valentine’s Day, I wanted to share this wonderful video I found on my favorite epic fantasy couple. Also, which couple is your favorite from books or fiction.