"Cimmerian Steppes: Chasing Shadows"

Abstract

My creative thesis is an immersive historical fantasy novella. As a novella, my work primarily focuses on character development. Novellas are uncommon to the genre, yet Patrick Rothfuss and Mercedes Lackey have standalone and supplemental novellas. My novella challenges pre-existing genre conventions by introducing the ideas such as the hero’s journey, only dash them. My manuscript is set in an alternate world, and features characters exploring liminal spaces where they struggle with the ever-present tension between monstrosity and humanity. My work is influenced by J. R. R. Tolkien, Guy Gavriel Kay, and George R. R. Martin. Kay’s harkening to ages past influences my setting, as antiquity offers more charm than a well-traversed setting; as such, I do not use the romanticised medieval setting. I aim for realism in a genre where fate is often the central plot, like in Harry Potter, where a final clash is prophesized. Works by critics and theorists such as Farah Mendlesohn, Brian Attebury, Lucie Armitt, and Edward James have assisted me with interpreting fantasy in its various forms, which has informed my writing and allowed me to see the common links and twists in the genre. These insights allow me to build upon, or diverge from, traditional narratives; for instance, I don’t use a destiny-driven plot. Feminist fantasy writing informs my writing, and I explore the idea of gender equality within an ancient patriarchy. My creative thesis adds a new voice to the monstrous body of works that is contemporary fantasy, while also doing things half a step differently than more traditional texts, and I hope this will aid in propelling the genre ever onwards.