Dark Fantasy

I'm in the process of developing a single title proposal. When I started this project, I had originally conceived it as a superhero novel. Well. . .it's still a superhero novel, but I noticed recently that a certain publisher is actively seeking dark fantasy. Hmmm, I thought, my superhero novel fits into fantasy, but what exactly is dark fantasy? I googled, of course, and this is how Wikipedia describes it, "Dark fantasy is a subgenre that combines elements of fantasy, including marvelous abilities, with those of horror." Okay, my novel doesn't really have horror elements. Then, I thought, since I'm not such a big horror fan (except for movies like The Mummy and The Mummy Returns), what are the elements of horror.

Horror by it's very nature wants to make the reader fearful, repulsed, and feel helpless. Fantasy on the other hand includes supernatural or magic. But horror can also encompass these elements. Just pick up a Stephen King novel.

Dark fantasy is then more stylized. In character, dark fantasy explores the nature of evil and the darker side of human nature, but the characters are heroic. They face the dangers in the novel to save others and possess special skills, knowledge or power. In Setting, the world is fantastic or supernatural. Examples can range from Kim Harrison's Rachel Morgan series to the subtle magic of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the action-comedy of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. If you start out in a world where vampires or ghosts or magic are treated as a "normal" occurance by the characters, it's a fantasy world. In plot, the characters usually don't die.

After studying all these elements, I realized that I had a dark fantasy in the making. My character does explore the nature of evil and has to fight a dark side, she is heroic and cares more about protecting the people under her care, she has special skills, knowledge and power, and, although, she dies metophorically, she doesn't really die. Hot damn, I'd already plotted and planned this whole novel as a dark fantasy.

I can't wait to actually start writing it.