Genre Fiction Workshop: Fantasy

Reading List

SES #	TOPICS	READINGS
Week 1: Why do we love fantasy?
1	Why do we love fantasy? Why is it one of the most popular and enduring genres across platforms?	No assigned readings
Week 2: Foundations of Mythos
2	Carl Jung and Joseph Campbell	Campbell, Joseph. The Hero with a Thousand Faces. Commemorative edition with a new introduction by Clarissa Pinkola Estés, Ph.D. Princeton University Press, 2004, pp. 28–36; 227–228; 358–362. ISBN: 9780691119243. Butler-Bowden, Tom. “The Archetypes and the Collective Unconscious.” In 50 Psychology Classics: Who We Are, How We Think, What We Do: Insight and Inspiration from 50 Key Books. Nicholas Brealey, 2006. ISBN: 9781857883862. [Preview with Google Books]
3	Campbell, Jung, and Gaimen	Rauch, Stephan. Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman and Joseph Campbell: In Search of the Modern Myth.Wildside Press, 2003, pp. 13–37. ISBN: 9781592242122. [Preview with Google Books] Gaiman, Neil. The Sandman, Vol. 2: The Doll’s House. Reprint edition. Vertigo, 2010. ISBN: 9781401227999. [Preview with Google Books]
Week 3: Arthur and the Ur-Mythos
4	Concept of the Central Mythos and the Matter of Kingship	No assigned readings
5	Within and Byond the Mythos (Tolkien, Martin, etc.)	No assigned readings
Week 4: Using Mythos
6	Alternative views of Mythos	Bradley, Marion Zimmer. The Mists of Avalon. Del Ray, 1984. ISBN: 9780345350497. [Preview with Google Books]
7	Exercises	Listen to the following songs on YouTube: Group 1: Peter, Paul and Mary. “Golden Vanity.” Pidgeon, Rebecca. “The Four Marys.” Sir Patrick Spens. “Fairport Convention.” Furey Brothers & Davey Arthur. “Gypsy Davey.” Baez, Joan. “Henry Martin.” Group 2: Prior, Maddy. “Hind Horn (Live).” Crooke, Raymond. “Hind Horn (Child #17) - Traditional Scottish.” Steeleye Span. “Thomas the Rhymer (Live).” Crooke, Raymond. “The Unquiet Grave (Child #78) - Traditional English.” Atwater Donnelly Trio. “The Devil & The Farmer’s Wife.”
Week 5: Fantasyland!
8	Warping our world	Carey, Jacqueline. Kushiel’s Dart. Reprint edition. Tor Books, 2015. ISBN: 9780765379726. Bring to class: Jones, Diana Wynn. The Tough Guide to Fantasyland: The Essential Guide to Fantasy Travel. Revised and updated edition. Firebird, 2006. ISBN: 9780142407226.
9	Fantasyland world building, cliché’s and cultures	No assigned readings
Week 6: Fantastyland! cont.
10	Fantasyland 201—Not your Medieval World! Urban, Dark, and Gaslight	Powers, Tim. Expiration Date. Gollancz, 2015. ISBN: 9781473211988.
Week 7: Magic
11	Playing by the Rules	No assigned readings
12	The World and Its Magic	No assigned readings
Week 8: Magic cont.
13	Magic changes History	Novik, Naomi. His Majesty’s Dragon (Temeraire, Book 1). Reissue edition. Del Ray, 2006. ISBN: 9780345481283. [Preview with Google Books]
14	Multiplicity	No assigned readings
Weeks 9–13: Workshops
15–23	Workshop	No assigned readings
Week 14: Mostly Workshop
24	Workshop	No assigned readings
25	Special Topics/Discussion	No assigned readings
Week 15: Finis
26	More discussion of the professional world; other related areas: horror, romantic fantasy, etc.	No assigned readings