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Keeper, your definition of fantasy is narrower than Paris Hilton's waist (for all of you living under a rock, that's pretty durn narrow).
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I'll admit, that it was a pretty narrow definition. I realise there's a lot more to fantasy. The reflection of yourself in varying extremes expressed and showcased in their sort of incarnate races seems to be a part (take dwarves, as an example of the greediness and selfishness people are capable of, although not as the absolute example of it, just an extreme form. The same can be true of orcs and their representation of hatred, etc...). Also, fantasy does seem to be in the mindset of discovering the ability in yourself to overcome something, whether mental or physical. And there's a lot more to it, clearly. While Tolkien didn't want to use it in any allegorical sense, fantasy can be used in that way very, very effectively (although the same can be said for more than just fantasy, naturally).
Anyway, it just seemed to me that (which ties in to another reply) it's the mythic races and creatures that are repeated over and again, but a lot of people have a lot of different things to express with those characters. (and when Tolkien's ideas and themes are re-used, that's when it's wicked, wicked noticeable).
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Great idea, Keeper! Do it!
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Already did, I wrote a 12 page (which is still unfinished) short story called "Beneath Every Cover" that got be some credit in high-school anyway, and got me into a writer's convention. That's nothing huge, but it goes with my suggestion; all the fantasy I write is to point out society's problems on a small scale. The entire setting of BEC was in a Prancing Pony-esque tavern (there were huge differences ... it was in the seedy side of a port town, and the whole of the patrons were crooked captains of the guard and thieves. My only elf was a bigot).
Anyway, it was a breath of fresh air for me to write it, and I plan on doing more.
Anyway, I have read some good fantasy that really put different spins on our tried and true elements and alluded to different themes. Weis and Hickman's "Death Gate Cycle" was good, it was about a warmonger named Haplo who thought he was a demigod coming to grips with the fact he was no better than a mere human or dwarf, or his mortal enemy and equally powerful rival, for those who haven't read it. I recommend it, since the world is split into different worlds in it, and each place he visits has completely different interpretations of elves, humans, dwarves and dragons ...
And who is the real enemy is the biggest surprise ...
That's my recommendation for those of you who want less cliched fantasy, because I think that's where the problem lies - the cliches.