Fantasy readers of the world, unite!

[akashiver]

OK. I start redesigning my fantasy class tomorrow, and since I know there are a fair number of spec fic readers on my f-list, I'm going to stump you with the following questions:

1) What's the best fantasy *short story* you can think of?
2) What fantasy short story / novella would you recommend for freshman students who have little familiarity with the genre?
3) If you're familiar with any of the academic work done concerning fantasy, what article(s) would you recommend for freshman readers?

..and if there are any clips from fantasy tv series or movies that I should definitely show, let me know. :)

Comments

[kniedzw.livejournal.com]

I'm actually rather fond of "Pip and the Faeries," by Dora Goss, but that's the first one that I can think of. If you're talking about speculative fiction in general, then I can come up with a number of others. Favorite short stories:

• "'Repent, Harlequin,' Said The Ticktockman," by Harlan Ellison,
• "Unaccompanied Sonata," by Orson Scott Card (more of a novella, really),
• "I Have No Mouth And I Must Scream," by Harlan Ellison, and
• "Deathbird," by Harlan Ellison

Of course, this is just off the top of my head, and I don't generally read short stories. You might consider looking at the Nebula or Hugo awards for ideas. Also, it's more novella size, but it's certainly appropriate: The Thirteen Clocks, by James Thurber. I'm not sure if it's in print or not, but it's awesome.

I'd also suggest to you that you at least consider speculative poetry. We've been running a sequence on the Rhysling award in Strange Horizons, and I've really gotten a significant amount of respect for the genre recently. I suggest looking over the speculative poetry symposium we ran last year. It's really nifty. Likewise, consider the Rhysling winners, which have been collected in The Alchemy of Stars; I have a copy, if you'd like to look over it.

I'll chip in one last mention of the award-winning stuff that Strange Horizons has run, just in case you might be interested. ...including the 2006 short-form Rhysling winner.

Of course, if you're going with classics of the field, you'd probably want some Poe, some Lovecraft, some Dunsany, some Le Fanu.... I might even grab some Stevenson and Wells. Not sure, though.

As to fantasy TV series and movies, the ones that really jump out to me are:

• Clash of the Titans,
• The Princess Bride,
• The Lord of the Rings movies,
• Nosferatu,
• It's A Wonderful Life, ....

Actually, just look over the IMDB's list of highly-rated fantasy movies. There are quite a few on there I could see.

TV series are problematic, I'd say. You have to start thinking unconventionally to actually get good "fantasy" series: Buffy, The Prisoner, .... Again, it boils down to where you draw the line between fantasy and science fiction. Are you doing strictly fantasy stuff, or are you also opening it up to science fiction?

[swan-tower.livejournal.com]

You do realize that your short story recommendations are really more sf-nal than fantastical?

[kniedzw.livejournal.com]

Yep. I'm aware. Hence the preface to the list.

[swan-tower.livejournal.com]

Which I somehow overlooked.

But still.

[kniedzw.livejournal.com]

You know what I have to say to that?

Neener-neener boo-boo!

*thpbt*!

[drydem.livejournal.com]

um, if you include sci-fi, then I would say "the portable phonograph" and "by the waters of babylon" are some of my favorites. I read them in high school and they were good. Both post-apocalyptic, which I credit partially for my love of genre.

[buzzermccain.livejournal.com]

Fantasy/sci-fi short story: "Schroedinger's Cat" or "The Author of the Acacia Seeds" by UK LeGuin (In fact, the entire collection of short stories _The Compass Rose_ is pretty much awesome) or "Hope Chest" by Garth Nix. Also, I second "Repent, Harlequin".

If you are looking for a collection, _Firebirds_ (edited by Sharyn November)is excellent, and contains both urban and traditional fantasy, plus containing a short story in the form of a graphic novel.

Are you doing sci-fi as well? (I read both, but sci-fi is my true love, so if so, reply and I will give sci-fi specific selections.)

-K