[Warewolf]

We've all seen the posts complaining about how certain elements of fantasy are overused, including the usage of dwarves and elves. Personally, I have no problem with this. As far as I am concerned, they are a staple of fantasy. Not a necessity, mind you, but I disagree that they are overused.

I do, however, think that there are several species that are severly underused in fantasy, things that I would like to see more often. If they are done right, they can add new dimensions to the story. Such things as...


gnomes - If any of you have read the Dragonlance Chronicles, you know that the gnomes in those books are hilarious! Their mechanical "prowess" adds a new, almost technological dimension to the story. Why aren't these guys used in more stories?
brownies - The only fantasy I can remember seeing these guys in is Willow. What's up with that?
orcs - Well, if you count the Gamorreans in Star Wars, then I count a total of one thing I can think of orcs being in. I don't recall seeing them in any Dragonlance or Forgotten Realms stuff, which is suprising. I guess they were in LoTR, but why are their appearances so few and far between in this genre?
centaurs/unicorns - They've been mentioned, but not actually sighted in Wurts' Wars of Light and Shadow. I can't remember them being in anything else that I've read. Why not?
dryads/naiads - These can be very cool if done right. Brooks' has a half-dryad in his Landover series.
fairies/pixies - Another underrepresented race. Why haven't I seen any of these around either?
giants - Not really much that I can think of besides fairy tales, although Williams' had them (I think) in MS&T.


I'm sure there are others, but none stand out in my mind right now. What do you all think? I think stuff like this would broaden the genre in terms of possible themes and at least plot devices. Agree? Disagree? Have any other species in mind?

[Vitriol]

Well Pratchett has gnomes, fairies, pixies and unicorns.

Still, I tend to prefer fewer races, rather than more. For most authors, races are an excuse to have a whole tribe of humans who look different and with a stereotypical attitude of some kind. Plus, it also allows the heros to hack their way through hundreds of enemies, who must be evil because "Look! They have green skin!".

I have no problem with different races, but too often they are the crutch of an unimaginative author.

[Keyoke]

I agree with more traditional fantasy series that certain races are completely over-looked. In particular, I've always been very bitter that they dont focus on Centaurs more..

As to other races, I am not to sure.. Brownies and Pixies wouldnt be to bad, and in Denis Mckiernan Voyage of the Fox Rider, they are the stars of that novel.

[Steerpike]

Thomas Burnett Swann's books are filled with centaurs, nixies, dryads, water sprites, bee women, harpies, and sphinxes,etc

[Warewolf]

I have never heard of Thomas Burnett Swann. What has he written and is he published in the US?

[Steerpike]

He was fairly popular in the 60's and 70's and won a couple of awards. I like him though I think most of his novels are kind of lightweight,both figuratively and physically. Most are under 200 pages. But there are people who really like him a lot.
He died in 1976.


THE FANTASY BOOKS OF THOMAS BURNETT SWANN

Day of the Minotaur (1966) ACE Books
The Weirwoods (1967) ACE Books
Moondust (1968) ACE Books
The Dolphin and the Deep (1968)* ACE Books
Where is the Bird of Fire? (1970)* ACE Books
The Goat Without Horns (1971) Ballantine Books
The Forest of Forever (1971) ACE Books
Green Phoenix (1972) DAW Books
How Are the Mighty Fallen (1974) DAW Books
Wolf Winter (1974) DAW Books
The Not-World (1975) DAW Books
The Gods Abide (1976) DAW Books
Lady of the Bees (1976) ACE Books
The Minikins of Yam (1976) DAW Books
The Tournament of Thorns (1976) ACE Books
Cry Silver Bells (1977) DAW Books
Will-O-Wisp (1977) DAW Books
Queens Walk in the Dusk (1977) DAW Books
* denotes a story collection

[JohnH]

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[Warewolf]

John, who said anything about the races being stereotypical? How can they be stereotypical when they're hardly used. Besides, what's to stop authors from doing what Tad Williams' did with the elves and dwarves and just taking the basic foundation of the species and giving his own spin to them? All I'm asking for is a little variety in the creatures/species we see in fantasy novels. Leave out the dwarves and elves and use something else! Be creative...there is a lot of untapped potential in these races because you never see them...

[Mithfânion]

I like what you're saying WW. I'm am a huge fan of innovative approaches to new races (Erikson does this wonderfully and several other do). I think it's the closest we humans can get to getting in touch with non-human beings. Their extra abilities make it all the more exciting. In fact, in my old Fantasy races thread you'll find that I sometimes read Fantasy just to get an interesting take on magic and other races.

I understand that both JV Jones, Kate Elliott and David Zindell have some great races in them. Perhaps you'd like them http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/smile.gif

I'm always told that Unicorns are an overused cliche like dragons but I'd have to disagree. I've yet to see a Fantasy epic use them. If anyone knows epics that do use them , don't hesitate.

What I'd like to read about is a battle between Dark Elves and Light Elves.

Having said all of this , I do not appreciate other authors taking similar creatures from a colleague. If there are brownies in Dragonlance I don't want to see those same brownies in one of Hobb's books http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/smile.gif

Steerpike, what's a dryad?

[JohnH]

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