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Fantasies that Should be Considered Literary Classics
When we talk about “classics,” we’re usually referring to the ancient tomes we studied (or were at least threatened with) in school. And a lot of those books are pretty fantastic, in the oldest sense of the word, telling stories of magic, monsters, and epic quests, from The Odyssey, to Beowulf, to Macbeth. Yet contemporary epic fantasies in the same vein (and with similar literary merit) rarely get mentioned in the same breath as Cervantes, Verne, or Milton, simply because they’re still too new, or were published at a time when fantasy was considered juvenile, or somehow disreputable.
The classics started off as mere stories; what makes them classics is the way they continue to elude simple analysis and rise above simple entertainment to something that nags at you until you return to the story for further investigation. Using that metric, these 5 books may well be found on future classroom syllabi.
The Book of the New Sun, by Gene Wolfe
Already almost as heavily-studied by fans as any classic in the classroom, Wolfe’s incredible work incorporates dense wordplay and an archaic vocabulary to invoke a strange future language, and tells a complex story told from an individual point of view. The plot can be read as a surface story, a series of allegorical set pieces, or both, with each layer tying back to the others to form the complete narrative. The Book of the New Sun is a work that will be analyzed, argued over, and interpreted for centuries to come, making it an obvious choice for a New Classic.
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The Gormenghast Novels, by Mervyn Peake
Dense, long, and written in language that manages to both crystal clear and frightfully subtle, Peake’s Gormenghast novels are incredible achievements. The Gormenghast family, ancient, dwindling, and grotesque, are trapped by endless rituals, the inspiration for which are almost entirely forgotten. The detail poured into describing the huge castle that has become almost their entire universe is breathtaking, and the themes of oppressive social order versus various notions of freedom invite serious academic consideration. The series was never fully realized, sadly, as Peake died before he could write two planned final novels, but the three that exist, plus a shorter work and the unofficial sequel written by Peake’s wife, have already risen to new classic status.
The Elric Novels, by Michael Moorcock
Elric is possibly the best-known obscure character in literature. Appearing in a wide range of novels, graphic novels, and comic books, Elric, and the universe Moorcock creates around him, is woven from a complex palette of influences ranging from the works of Bertolt Brecht, to Finnish myth, to dime-store detective novels. The complex history and universe surrounding the character, and Moorcock’s concept of “The Eternal Champion,” make these books rewarding to anyone who cares to look deeper and appreciate the subtle themes threaded throughout. Moorcock has created a modern mythology that feels as if it evolved naturally from an ancient culture.
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The Last Unicorn, by Peter S. Beagle
Sometimes wrongfully dismissed as a children’s book, The Last Unicorn combines the surface beauty of a fairy tale with a depth and complexity that challenges and inspires—resulting in one of the more deceptively simple books you’ll ever read. The story of a unicorn that fears it may be the last of its kind, it is filled with incredible fantastical detail and beautiful language, but its themes concerning ephemera and the transitory nature of existence are the fundamental considerations writers and artists have been tackling for centuries upon centuries. Like many classics, it can be read as a simple, beautiful story, or it can be analyzed—endlessly—for its deeper meanings and shadings, enriching and deepening the experience.
Lyonesse, by Jack Vance
Richly detailed, with stories, characters, and places culled from the real world and filtered through Vance’s incredible imagination, Lyonesse is one of the most richly contoured works of fantasy ever created. Its use of the classic quest structure, augmented by the transformation of several familiar real-world historical events, peoples, and concepts combined with recognizable myths (including King Arthur and Atlantis) and foundational stories from world history, take a story that would otherwise be fairly standard fantasy and transform it into something worthy of intense discussion.
What new classics of fantasy are on your shelves?