On "Cihai", there is an entry for "science fiction novels", but "fantasy novels" and "fantasy novels" cannot be found. This shows that "fantasy novels" and "fantasy novels" are new terms that are popular nowadays and have not yet been included in the entries of "Cihai".
Fantasy literature is divided into two major categories, namely fantasy novels and fairy tales. As far as fantasy novels are concerned, they are divided into three major categories, namely science fiction, magic novels and fantasy (fantasy) novels.
Science fiction is well known, and its fantasies are based on science. The world's first science fiction novel was "Frankenstein" (also translated as "Frankenstein") published in 1818. The author was Mary Shelley, the wife of the famous British poet Shelley. Since then, France's Jules Verne, Britain's Wells, America's Asimov, the Soviet Union's Belyadev, Japan's Komatsu Sakyo and Hoshi Shinichi have created many excellent science fiction novels and become world science fiction masters. Science fiction has a long history and has become a mature genre.
The fantasy of fantasy novels is based on magic. Magical novels use magic wands, magic rings, magic, magic, and spells to create endless changes and boundless magic, fully displaying the charm of magic. The British writer J.R.R. Tolkien is generally recognized as the father of modern fantasy novels. In 1937, Tolkien completed his first work, "The Hobbit." Although this is a fairy tale, it is also suitable for adults to read. Due to the good sales of this work, the publisher (Allen & Unwin) persuaded Tolkien to write a sequel. This encouraged Tolkien to complete his most famous work, the epic trilogy The Lord of the Rings. The writing of this work lasted nearly twelve years and was supported by Tolkien's close friend C.S. Lewis.
The beginning of "The Lord of the Rings" resembles a children's novel, but then the writing style quickly becomes serious and dark. "The Lord of the Rings" is one of the most popular literary works of the 20th century, both in terms of sales and readership. Tolkien's important influence is that after the success of "The Lord of the Rings", the literary genre of fantasy novels developed rapidly.
"Harry Potter" written by the contemporary British magical female writer Rowling is one of the representative works. The mysterious "Philosopher's Stone" in "Harry Potter" vividly demonstrates the magic of magical novels.
Besides science fiction and fantasy novels, there is the third category of fantasy novels, which have the most names and the most vague definitions, but are the most popular and popular in China today. This third type of fantasy novels has three most common names: "grand fantasy novels", "fantasy novels", and "fantasy novels", commonly known as "fantasy novels". The term "fantasy novel", as far as I know, comes from Hong Kong, China. The earliest fantasy novel I have seen is Huang Yi's "Moon Demon" published by "Juxian Museum" in Hong Kong in 1988. At that time, "Juxian Pavilion" was also preparing to publish my works, and the publisher Mr. Zhao Shanqi gave me a novel by Hong Kong writer Huang Yi. Mr. Zhao Shanqi wrote in the preface: "A new genre that combines metaphysics, science and literature was announced. This novel genre we call 'fantasy' novels." This was the first time the term "fantasy novels" appeared, and With a clear definition.
Huang Yi’s fantasy novels form a series, all with a character named Ling Duyu as the protagonist. Ling Duyu has a legendary experience. He grew up in Tibet, then studied in the United States and obtained two doctorates. He also practices Tantric Buddhism and has superhuman spiritual awareness. Therefore, many supernatural mysteries in the world invite him to participate in the exploration.
Huang Yi's series of fantasy novels, each containing 100,000 words, is printed into a compact pocket book. Because Huang Yi's fantasy novels emphasize suspense, have twists and turns in the plot, and display various strange and mysterious realms, his series of fantasy novels quickly became popular in Hong Kong and Taiwan after their publication.
Huang Yi's fantasy novels are said to "combine metaphysics, science and literature", but it is unknown how much scientific content they contain. However, metaphysics runs through the novel. Zhao Shanqi said that "Huang Yi is a master of metaphysics, and he is expert in Feng Shui, numerology, and divination."
Of course, Huang Yi's so-called metaphysics is only a shallow level of "feng shui, numerology, and divination astrology". It is not the "Three Books of Changes", "Laozi", and "Zhuangzi" that are called "Three Books". The "metaphysics" established by the "Xuan" books is also metaphysics.
Huang Yi's concept of fantasy novels that "integrates metaphysics, science and literature" not only does not accurately reflect the contemporary Huang Yi's works themselves, but is also far from the popular fantasy novels in China today. It can be said that today's Chinese fantasy novels represented by "The Legend of Xiaobing" not only have no science at all, but also no metaphysics!
I think that China's current fantasy novels only use the shell of the fantasy novels founded by Huang Yi, while abandoning its core. In today's Chinese fantasy novels, the "mysterious" in it no longer refers to metaphysics, but can be interpreted as fantasy.
Our ancestors endowed the word "Xuan" with a magical and mysterious color. Xu Shen's "Shuowen" explains: "Xuan means deep and far away. The word 'Xuan' comes from Laozi's Tao Te Ching, 'Mysterious is mysterious, the door to all mysteries', which means the way is deep and subtle." It is "Xuan" that means "deep and subtle" ”, so it gives fantasy novels a world of unlimited fantasy!
In "Ye Yonglie Comments on the Fever of Fantasy Novels", I once said: "Fantasy novels are a contemporary rise. They are based on fantasy, emphasizing the word 'mysterious', and the content is more advanced than fantasy." Novels go further. From a creative perspective, authors of fantasy novels have more freedom in creation than authors of science fiction novels. They do not need to be bound by scientific evidence and have more room for development."
Except for "Legend of Little Soldiers". , fantasy novels such as "Douluo Dalu", "Fight to Break the Sphere", "Treading the Ancients to Punish the Sky", "Holy King", "Proud God of War" and other works are also springing up like mushrooms after a rain. In October 2004, I attended the "Chinese Market of Fantasy Literature" seminar in Beijing. At the seminar, the Oriental Publishing Center of the China Publishing Group launched 20 kinds of fantasy novels signed "Huotianche". The popularity of fantasy novels was due to This is evident. I noticed that "Legend of Xiaobing" and "Story of Grace" are also often called "fantasy novels". The terms "fantasy novels" and "fantasy novels" are used interchangeably. This shows that in today's term "fantasy novels", the "mysterious" can also be interpreted as "strange", which has nothing to do with metaphysics.
Fantasy novels are not limited to China. Fantasy novels are also found in foreign countries, and are often confused with magic novels. Even "Harry Potter" is included in fantasy novels. People trace the history of fantasy novels back to the early 19th century and even earlier to Greek mythology. The representative work of foreign fantasy novels is the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy by British writer Tolkien. Taiwanese translator Zhu Xueheng first coined the term "fantasy novel" when he translated "The Lord of the Rings" into Chinese. Since then, the term "fantasy novel" has become popular in the Chinese-speaking world. Zhu Xueheng founded the "Fantasy Culture and Art Foundation" in Taiwan.
There is no strict definition of fantasy novels so far. In the opening statement written by Taiwanese Xu Qingwen for the "Muse Fantasy Museum", she said: "We need imagination, not to instigate escaping reality and drowning in nothingness, but to encourage changing horizons and stretching the mind. Fantasy stories are unique The mysterious nature and infinite fantasy space are the source of imagination. "This passage was once considered to give a broad definition of "fantasy novels". In my opinion, the characteristics of fantasy novels are "strange" and "strange". Magical, strange, bizarre, and peculiar fantasies are present throughout the novel. This fantasy has nothing to do with science.