In this special issue on the Nature of Fantasy, we have a fecund
cross-section of scholarship and discussion. Alongside our Regular
Features, where Oliver Holingdale discusses the creation of his short
film, The Green Knight, I explore eco-activism and 'The Art of Revolt'
through the form of the graphic novel with the help of the remarkable
talents of Luke Oram in our special preview strip 'The Gest of Lob
Barleycorn and the Guizers', we have Special Features on how tabletop
roleplaying games provide a ludic, democratic space for exploring
environmental issues through the rise in ecogames in Chlo Germaine's
article on 'Fantasy, the Anthropocene, and Tabletop Gaming; and in
'Fear's Messenger: Monstrous Nature' by Eil s L. Phillips we look at
how the increasingly frequent extreme weather events of anthropogenic
Climate Change are 'monstered'. Embracing the full spectrum
of Fantasy in all of its myriad forms, we go to the theatre to discuss
the development of the play celebrating the neglected figure of Mary
de Morgan in 'The Vegan Tigress' by Claire Parker. In 'Awakening
the Goddess: Neo-Animism, Eco-Spirituality, and Ritualistic Care
in Harvest Moon' by Sam Campbell, we look at how an example of
ecoFantasy can explore resonant themes and belief systems. Finally,
in our Reviews we focus on primarily works that have a green aspect
of some kind: Tiger's Work by Ben Okri, Scuttler's Cove by David
Barnett, Silver in the Wood and Drowned Country by Emily Tesh,
The Vegan Tigress by Claire Parker, Flyaway by Kathleen Jennings,
and The Chronicles of Future Earth Player's Guide by Sarah Newton.
Among our other Regular Features Anna Milon looks at filming
in LARP, Katy Soar delves into the ancient roots of Horror, Alexandra
Beaumont considers the ecological aspects of Folk Horror,
Lauren McMenemy takes a bite at the vampire in the first of a
3-part series, and PS Livingstone considers the hag, the crone, and
the monstrous feminine in folklore, popular culture, and fiction.
We also have some other 'miscellaneous' features: one on the
biography of Conan author, Robert E. Howard; and another of what
I hope will be a regular series: In Conversation With, where I inter-
view writers of Fantastika. This issue we meet the amazing Grimdark
author, Anna Smith Spark.
Customer Reviews
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