The Thirteenth Hour Podcast #23: What is Fairytale Fantasy?

The Thirteenth Hour Podcast

Originally published January 18, 2016

https://13thhr.wordpress.com/2016/01/18/the-thirteenth-hour-podcast-23-what-is-fairytale-fantasy/

In this episode, I attempt to explain what fairytale fantasy as a genre is. My take on it, anyway.

At some point, I'll have to delve more into this, but based on what other people have told me after they read The Thirteenth Hour and its spin-offs is that there are a few titles in the same genre (fairytale fantasy) that I should check out, as they're similar in style. All are very established, classic titles, so comparisons to such giants make me uncomfortable, but based on what I know, I think the tone and overall feel is similar (I use the term 'title' since in many cases there's a movie and a book, and it becomes hard to separate the two):

-The Neverending Story by Michael Ende (read the book, watched the movie) - I've spoken about this one a lot and can say it directly influenced the writing of The Thirteenth Hour - though probably moreso the movie than the book.

-The Last Unicorn by Peter Beagle (recently listened to the audiobook read by the author; still need to watch the cartoon)

-The Princess Bride by William Goldman (saw the movie in college for the first time; in the process of going through the book, which starts quite differently from the movie and seems a bit more cynical than the movie so far)

-The Discworld series by Terry Pratchett (on the list to read)

-Stardust by Neil Gaiman (about halfway through the book; never read anything by him before aside from maybe a few Sandman comics as a kid which I don't remember well and probably didn't understand)

With the possible exception of the Discworld books, which I haven't read and can't really speak to, all fit into the genre of fairy tales aimed primarily at adults.

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On an entirely different note, thank you to everyone who helped support The Thirteenth Hour in it's recent 3rd edition re-launch, and thanks to everyone who helped to support the Thunderclap, which was success - so many thanks for helping me spam the hell out of social media!! :)

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More about ⁠⁠The Thirteenth Hour⁠⁠⁠

An impossible quest to the ends of the world. An unlikely hero. And ... a little magic.

If an optimist sees opportunity even in disaster, then Logan, the sole surviving member of an ill-fated military expedition to the ends of the world, is most definitely an optimist. You’d have to be to continue on without supplies, ship, or crew. But to someone who’s daydreamed of seeing the world since childhood, perhaps disaster actually hides freedom. And, besides, who ever said adventures were supposed to be easy?

Of course, every hero on a “desperate quest against incredible odds” can use a little help. Enter Aurora, Logan’s best friend from childhood, whose fate collides serendipitously with his, a magic collapsible hover board, three bumbling wizards, and the elemental forces from the lands of wind, water, fire, earth, and dreams.

These characters and many more collide in an illustrated fairy tale fantasy inspired by enough 1980s fantasy, scifi, and teen movies that an original retro 80s synthesizer soundtrack, ⁠⁠Long Ago Not So Far Away⁠⁠, was created to accompany the novel.

Enter a whimsical world of what reviewers called “creative, fast paced adventure” best “described as a fairy tale for anyone who grew up on old school fantasy movies in the 80s.”

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