... that the discussion has been so much about the fact that there is violence as it has been about the perceived unnecessary detail and luridity of the descriptions of said violence. It's a position I only partially agree with, but that seems to be the idea.
Anyway, separating your question from its origin, you could easily envision fantasy stories without any overt violence whatsoever, simply by taking non-violent traditional story types and transposing them into fantasy settings.
Random examples pulled out of my ass:
Take a traditional detective story such as Sherlock Holmes, where much of the violence occurs before the story begins when there is even violence at all. Tell a story about a detective solving mysteries in a fantasy setting. As an actual example of this, you could take Neil Gaiman's A Study in Emerald, a Holmesian detective story set in an alternate London ruled by Lovecraftian horrors, a story told without violence.
Court procedurals are the same idea. The violence takes place before the story starts. Have a fantasy lawyer type character who tries to prove people innocent of crimes in a fantastic or medieval setting.
To borrow again from television, a show like House has no violence. Could easily be done in a fantasy settings.
Fantasy travelogue, humorously describing a trip through a made-up world.
Fantasy romance novel, taking a traditional romance story with adultery and passion and melodrama, setting it in a fantastic setting. Maybe the forbidden love between a human and an elf.
Essentially any traditional story type that doesn't use violence, of which there are many, could be transposed into fantasy with very little problem.
Anyway, separating your question from its origin, you could easily envision fantasy stories without any overt violence whatsoever, simply by taking non-violent traditional story types and transposing them into fantasy settings.
Random examples pulled out of my ass:
Take a traditional detective story such as Sherlock Holmes, where much of the violence occurs before the story begins when there is even violence at all. Tell a story about a detective solving mysteries in a fantasy setting. As an actual example of this, you could take Neil Gaiman's A Study in Emerald, a Holmesian detective story set in an alternate London ruled by Lovecraftian horrors, a story told without violence.
Court procedurals are the same idea. The violence takes place before the story starts. Have a fantasy lawyer type character who tries to prove people innocent of crimes in a fantastic or medieval setting.
To borrow again from television, a show like House has no violence. Could easily be done in a fantasy settings.
Fantasy travelogue, humorously describing a trip through a made-up world.
Fantasy romance novel, taking a traditional romance story with adultery and passion and melodrama, setting it in a fantastic setting. Maybe the forbidden love between a human and an elf.
Essentially any traditional story type that doesn't use violence, of which there are many, could be transposed into fantasy with very little problem.
Warder to starry_nite
Chapterfish — Nate's Writing Blog
http://chapterfish.wordpress.com
Chapterfish — Nate's Writing Blog
http://chapterfish.wordpress.com
Fantasy novel without violence - what would it look like?
30/12/2011 06:46:04 PM
- 1237 Views
It's definitely easier for science fiction...
30/12/2011 07:45:21 PM
- 1403 Views
Shall we get into how I don't agree with you about martain again
03/01/2012 12:04:14 AM
- 1158 Views
I don't believe ...
30/12/2011 07:51:34 PM
- 1221 Views
Re: I don't believe ...
03/01/2012 12:06:24 AM
- 933 Views
Fantasy is really just one of three things when you break it down.
05/01/2012 02:53:28 AM
- 1053 Views
It would be rectangular and suck
31/12/2011 07:51:26 AM
- 1022 Views
Re: It would be rectangular and suck
03/01/2012 12:07:27 AM
- 1058 Views
I didn't say it's the acceptable choice. It is the best way, however, to get a definitive resolution
04/01/2012 11:22:02 PM
- 1079 Views
There are lots of good non-violent fantasy novels.
03/01/2012 01:34:09 AM
- 2274 Views