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On more of a "meta" level, what makes a fantasy story "gritty" in the first place? Macharius Send a noteboard - 19/12/2011 02:58:57 PM
I ask this because for the most part my observation of such is that "gritty" has meant the inclusion of detailed descriptions of violence, sexuality, profanity, etc (usually all rolled up into one) to enhance "realism" when the effect to me comes across as shock-value entertainment with no real purpose other than the spectactle of itself.

If people want that kind of shock entertainment, that's perfectly fine: indeed, I'm happy they have a source from which to indulge their interests.

For myself, however, the most notorious authors of such works (Goodkind, Martin, Bakker) have been the only authors whose books I never enjoyed and have been the only series I've never finished reading. In particular, I disliked Bakker so much I had to resort to skimming the latter half of the first book just to find out out happens when the description of the book and premise of the series is one I would normally find extremely interesting.
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Violence, rape, and agency in the "gritty fantasies" - 17/12/2011 01:36:54 PM 1739 Views
Hm, ok. - 17/12/2011 10:51:21 PM 1138 Views
I think we largely agree - 17/12/2011 11:23:00 PM 1031 Views
Re: Hm, ok. - 26/12/2011 01:08:14 AM 1022 Views
Martin, Goodkind... - 18/12/2011 01:58:33 PM 1041 Views
More than just those - 18/12/2011 08:15:27 PM 971 Views
Re: More than just those - 26/12/2011 01:13:21 AM 896 Views
Re: Martin, Goodkind... - 26/12/2011 01:11:12 AM 911 Views
On more of a "meta" level, what makes a fantasy story "gritty" in the first place? - 19/12/2011 02:58:57 PM 916 Views
There has to be something more, though. - 19/12/2011 03:47:56 PM 1071 Views
Re: There has to be something more, though. - 19/12/2011 05:29:30 PM 947 Views
Re: There has to be something more, though. - 19/12/2011 09:06:14 PM 923 Views
I agree about Martin - haven't read enough Bakker to judge. - 19/12/2011 09:56:17 PM 976 Views
My problem with aSoIaF... - 20/12/2011 05:16:42 AM 970 Views
The Rhoynish influence pretty much ends in Dorne. - 20/12/2011 06:15:54 AM 951 Views
And that makes sense? - 20/12/2011 08:54:16 AM 1040 Views
Yes and no. - 20/12/2011 03:10:54 PM 1066 Views
Re: Yes and no. - 26/12/2011 03:12:01 AM 930 Views
Re: And that makes sense? - 18/05/2012 01:42:52 AM 1003 Views
Re: There has to be something more, though. - 20/12/2011 12:21:39 PM 879 Views
That's a question for each reader to answer then. - 20/12/2011 03:20:39 PM 782 Views
You appear to have not understood my point. - 20/12/2011 05:59:07 PM 831 Views
Re: There has to be something more, though. - 26/12/2011 03:14:04 AM 848 Views
Re: There has to be something more, though. - 26/12/2011 03:01:34 AM 876 Views
That's my general take as well - 20/12/2011 07:15:51 AM 865 Views
I like violence *NM* - 20/12/2011 07:51:39 PM 370 Views
Re: Violence, rape, and agency in the "gritty fantasies" - 25/12/2011 11:52:41 PM 1061 Views

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