Actually, there's a brilliant book by the even more brilliant Diana Wynne Jones that's just a big spoof of stereotypical fantasy. Unlike Piers Anthony's Xanth series (a never-ending spoof series set in a world called Xanth, in which the author uses every single element of fantasy), however, it is a guide. The Tough Guide to Fantasyland. A work of genius. It's basically an encyclopedia to all things fantasyland, complete with the occasional gnomic utterance.
And then she apparently liked the idea so much that she turned it into a novel.
It's set in a fantasy world, but everything is so...practical. That's the great thing about DWJ--it's fantasy, but it makes so much sense. None of this mystical nonsense that you're supposed to instinctively understand. An example that comes to mind is from Howl's Moving Castle, when the main character has a rant at a suit of clothing she's mending, and the suit then gains magical powers and does exactly what she was accusing it of doing. It just seems such obvious and no-nonsense way to do magic.
DWJ is brilliant that way. Perhaps my favorite line of hers is "He left the room like a very long procession of one person." I believe that's from Howl's Moving Castle, although it may be from The Lives of Christopher Chant. If anyone cares.
DWJ will forever be a master of fantasy. She knew when to take it seriously, and how to make a complete fool out of it! I didn't know she wrote the tough guide first - that's awesome!
ReplyDelete