tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3242607410560272655.post4931235269746208837..comments2023-11-13T16:43:01.201-08:00Comments on Deborah J. Ross: ROUND TABLE: Animals in Fantasy (Part I)Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3242607410560272655.post-34235108387320218612012-10-03T16:13:02.174-07:002012-10-03T16:13:02.174-07:00One simple reason why animals dunt appear in fanta...One simple reason why animals dunt appear in fantasy unless for functional reasons is the trend in writing and publishing to Lots of Action but Not Much Else. If we had the time to write beautiful ruminative (deliberate!) landscapes where lots of animals and birds and insects hopped about all over the place for no reason but being there, it wd. be great. Except, if you were publishing NYC the editor wd. prob. cut it if your agent didn't, and if you were publishing indie or Smashwords, your readers wd. complain of your wordiness. <br />Otoh, for a fuller animal world, see Robin McKinley's second Beauty and the Beast novel, Rose Daughter, where Beauty brings back the garden creatures around the castle - including toads, hedgehogs and ladybirds as well as the more usual suspects. But they are there for a purpose, narrative wise, also.<br /><br />Sylvia Kelsohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02058556151658368953noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3242607410560272655.post-27097633956560989062012-09-28T21:12:32.242-07:002012-09-28T21:12:32.242-07:00Excelent post, I love to see what other people are...Excelent post, I love to see what other people are doing with animals in fantasy. Lately in my writers group we've been trying to help one of our members to make his horses more believable, but he's stuck on "they are cars" and doesn't care about the details beyond that. I enjoyed the multiple view points from your roundtable format. Thanks.A.M. Burnshttp://www.amburns.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3242607410560272655.post-27920061123727031602012-09-27T22:09:37.042-07:002012-09-27T22:09:37.042-07:00I'm late to the party. Love the comments on ca...I'm late to the party. Love the comments on cats. Our feline overlords approve. Deep irony with those carnivorous sheep--or is it? Theresa Craterhttp://theresacrater.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3242607410560272655.post-14341611616258617272012-09-27T11:10:36.138-07:002012-09-27T11:10:36.138-07:00Although it isn't fantasy, I've always lov...Although it isn't fantasy, I've always loved Robert Chaim Gilman's "Rhada" books -- with sentient clawed horses.<br /><br />Anyone else remember Tanith Lee's "Companions on the Road," with carnivorous sheep? Way spooky!Deborah J. Rosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03062367794652668585noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3242607410560272655.post-83434261756712283722012-09-27T09:29:07.812-07:002012-09-27T09:29:07.812-07:00Nice ruminations about various aspects of animals ...Nice ruminations about various aspects of animals in fantasy. Having been a long-time reader of Mercedes Lackey and Judith Tarr in her various guises I have had no problem finding horse-like animals in fantasy (certainly lots of unicorns), but I guess animal familiars and spirit guides isn't really your average animal in fantasy after all.Estarahttp://www.goodreads.com/user/show/3590834-estara-swanbergnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3242607410560272655.post-52986992219910661032012-09-27T09:11:44.057-07:002012-09-27T09:11:44.057-07:00Robin Mckinley's Deerskin is a fantasy book th...Robin Mckinley's Deerskin is a fantasy book that heavily features dogs. Just regular dogs that need to be let outside to go to the bathroom and drool on your lap. It's a good one.<br /><br />I've really been enjoying reading the Round Tables while I am supposed to be working!<br /><br />-SydneyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3242607410560272655.post-72877386002561223932012-09-27T06:34:04.625-07:002012-09-27T06:34:04.625-07:00Thanks, Andrea! I'm going to check out Dogsbod...Thanks, Andrea! I'm going to check out Dogsbody--can't believe I've never heard of it.Chris Howardhttp://www.saltwaterwitch.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3242607410560272655.post-39132141649593991502012-09-26T15:40:46.999-07:002012-09-26T15:40:46.999-07:00Cats are definitely winning the fantasy appearance...Cats are definitely winning the fantasy appearances stakes. But there's the occasional dog. Diana Wynne Jones' "Dogsbody" is a stand-out for me.Andrea K Hösthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01535131780314094508noreply@blogger.com