When is fantasy really fantasy?

[NaokoSmith]

I write stories set in a swashbuckling lace-cuff-tossing fantasy world and I would really like to find any others who write like that (kind of Georgette Heyer with schlongs). I googled erotic fantasy romance but when I found that 50 Shades of Grey is listed as this on Goodreads I felt rather discouraged. Anyone any suggestions for names for this genre which might help me find stuff that actually is fantasy not just ridiculously unrealistic?
xxx

(because I can).

 

[Lien_Geller]

I think that's an interesting question. It's a subgenre that I've never actually come across (except on Lit) and it's one of my personal faves. I take it that you mean fantasy in the sense of sword and sorcery/other worlds.

That being said, there's a lot of romance/erotica being written about monsters these days. Erotic horror is a term that's thrown around but I think dark fantasy is a better description since these stories are often about as scary as a kitten playing with a ball of twine.

I've seen a lot of historical romances though that could be called erotica. The lady of the manor gets swept away by a handsome prince or what-not based in some renaissance world. I couldn't name any off the cuff but those types of stories seem to fill up the shelves in book stores.

More grandiose and traditional fantasy stories are much rarer in erotica though. Again, I'm only drawing from my experiences here, but sex in high fantasy is an interesting topic by itself. I read a lot of the fantasy genre and the only significant sexual scenes I can think of off the top of my head are in Patrick Rothfuss's Wise Man's Fear. Even then, it's hardly explicit, though it does have a large impact on the story and the protagonist which is why I mention it.

I think that the patriarchal society's that are usually a staple of the fantasy genre can often subdue good erotic writing. It's not impossible but the focus tends to be on classical ideas and attitudes towards sex rather than any interest in integrating the act into the plot. I mean, the fantasy bible that is the Lord of the Rings barely features any women at all. Though, then there is Game of Thrones which features sex but isn't really what I'd call erotic in nature. (Sidenote: Operating on what I've heard there. I'm waiting until the last book comes out before I even start reading GoT.)

So yeah, am I wrong? Am I missing a lot of awesome fantasy erotica too?

 

[ms.read]

umm... just on lit, there's an author by the name of Darkniciad, (Sp?) that does something with princess, evil magician type thing...that's erotic mixed with a little humor. and it's a loooooooooooooooooong story, split up into parts.
hope this helps.

 

[Darkniciad]

I didn't reply because I don't think Naoko is actually looking for high fantasy stories, but rather something along the lines of swashbucklers. All of my stuff has magic involved, and doesn't really fit that bill. Can't really think of anything posted here that does, either.

 

[JackLuis]

I didn't reply because I don't think Naoko is actually looking for high fantasy stories, but rather something along the lines of swashbucklers. All of my stuff has magic involved, and doesn't really fit that bill. Can't really think of anything posted here that does, either.

Or is he looking for "Swishbucklers?"

You know the a gay pirate stuff.

 

[sr71plt]

One of my pen names writes GM versions of these. They get published as erotica historicals. Allromanceebooks.com breaks these down by period. (One of them is "Pirates"--my Dirk Hessian as a swashbuckler in that category on the Barbary pirate wars period.) There are straight romances in this category as well.

 

[NekoParks]

Swishbucklers? You have to read Swordspoint.

I write stories set in a swashbuckling lace-cuff-tossing fantasy world and I would really like to find any others who write like that (kind of Georgette Heyer with schlongs). I googled erotic fantasy romance but when I found that 50 Shades of Grey is listed as this on Goodreads I felt rather discouraged. Anyone any suggestions for names for this genre which might help me find stuff that actually is fantasy not just ridiculously unrealistic?
xxx

(because I can).

Have you read any Ellen Kushner? Here are some titles: The Privilege of the Sword, The Fall of the Kings, Thomas the Rhymer, and Swordspoint. Start with Swordspoint-- it's my favorite.
You can find all these titles on Amazon and other book store websites.

 

[Cruel2BKind]

I write stories set in a swashbuckling lace-cuff-tossing fantasy world and I would really like to find any others who write like that (kind of Georgette Heyer with schlongs). I googled erotic fantasy romance but when I found that 50 Shades of Grey is listed as this on Goodreads I felt rather discouraged. Anyone any suggestions for names for this genre which might help me find stuff that actually is fantasy not just ridiculously unrealistic?
xxx

(because I can).

I have one story with a half-pixie girl who has sex with a demon... does that count?

http://www.literotica.com/s/the-half-breeds-journey

 

[NaokoSmith]

Mmm these all sound great although not quite what I meant. As Lien_Geller says, historical romance tends to be set in patriarchal worlds which bores the knickers off me - not in a good way. That's why I made up my own lace-cuff tossing, lots of horse-back riding, how-dare-you-look-at-my-brother-that-way kind of world. I like the pirates and duelling aristos, lace and luscious looks at lovely lads and lasses. I just like my ladies with a bit more character than tendency to swoon about the place.
The Ellen Kushners sound good. I will sample Pilot's pirate story too (no safe sex I suppose? then I could pretend I'm reviewing it for my blog but I guess condoms are rather hard to come by on the high seas). I've been meaning to check out Darkniciad too as soon as I get a free moment (ie not the weekend when my preternaturally literate child comes and hangs about reading my netbook over my shoulder, the nosy brat.) I'll scoot about and see all these.
I got onto an erotica writers' group on Facebook and had the luck to hit their fantasy day so I shall go back and see if anyone-else posted any romantic lacy knicker type stories.
Here's hoping!

 

[voluptuary_manque]

It seems to me that a lot of more recent Restoration Romances have gotten pretty steamy and they'll all full of the stuff you mention. I'm just gleaning this info from the lurid covers and cover blurbs, of course. People get worried if they see a bear reading that stuff when he's grocery shopping.

 

[Handley_Page]

This might be considered inspirational:

 

[NaokoSmith]

Ooh the comparison to Baroness Orczy sold Ellen Kushner to me. I lurve the Scarlet Pimpernel and this edition appears to have charming black woodcut pictures in it, I've always been a sucker for little illustrations incidentally decorating the text.
Thanks for the above two more suggestions! Bears in regency, now there's a fantastical thought. Although I fear they were treated even more badly than women back then.
xxx

 

[Bramblethorn]

Mmm these all sound great although not quite what I meant. As Lien_Geller says, historical romance tends to be set in patriarchal worlds which bores the knickers off me - not in a good way. That's why I made up my own lace-cuff tossing, lots of horse-back riding, how-dare-you-look-at-my-brother-that-way kind of world. I like the pirates and duelling aristos, lace and luscious looks at lovely lads and lasses. I just like my ladies with a bit more character than tendency to swoon about the place.

If you don't mind BDSM you might find some interest in "Kushiel's Dart". Fantasy setting, Europe with the names changed and significant religious/historical divergence, lots of political intrigue. Strong female characters - the heroine is a bit of a Mary Sue, but in the first book it's not too bad.

Most of it is a sex-positive setting: the only sexual immorality recognised in Terre d'Ange is nonconsent. (However, not everybody respects that rule.)

 

[sr71plt]

I will sample Pilot's pirate story too (no safe sex I suppose? then I could pretend I'm reviewing it for my blog but I guess condoms are rather hard to come by on the high seas).

I think there's some safe sex in the pirate one--but some "in-your-face" not safe as well to emphasize the rough, tumble, nastiness of a pirate's life. But I don't suggest that you read Dirk Hessian. I was just trying to respond to your pretty fuzzy explanation of the category name you were looking for.

 

[NekoParks]

Ooh the comparison to Baroness Orczy sold Ellen Kushner to me. I lurve the Scarlet Pimpernel and this edition appears to have charming black woodcut pictures in it, I've always been a sucker for little illustrations incidentally decorating the text.
Thanks for the above two more suggestions! Bears in regency, now there's a fantastical thought. Although I fear they were treated even more badly than women back then.
xxx

Ellen Kushner can really write. I love The Scarlet Pimpernel too. I've read a couple of Dirk Hessian books too. They're GM with a nice sense of history. You can buy them on Smashwords.

 

[Darkniciad]

Well, if you go to check me out, start with "To Catch a Merchant Princess"

May as well put my best foot forward *laugh*

 

[MSTarot]

but I guess condoms are rather hard to come by on the high seas).

Nonsense, that's what Squid were for. Just grab behind the eyes and pull out the tentacles. Slip one on dance all night then just throw it back into the sea.

Squid were the glass slipper of that generation.

It's what kept Rodger Jolly.

M.S.Tarot

 

[NekoParks]

Well, if you go to check me out, start with "To Catch a Merchant Princess"

May as well put my best foot forward *laugh*

Just added you to my favorites. Fun.

 

[Darkniciad]

Just added you to my favorites. Fun.

Wow -- all three pen names. Thanks Hope you find some stuff you like.

 

[NekoParks]

Wow -- all three pen names. Thanks Hope you find some stuff you like.

I think I will.

 

[NaokoSmith]

I think there's some safe sex in the pirate one--but some "in-your-face" not safe as well to emphasize the rough, tumble, nastiness of a pirate's life. But I don't suggest that you read Dirk Hessian. I was just trying to respond to your pretty fuzzy explanation of the category name you were looking for.

See, now I'm supposed to say: My category explanation was not fuzzy blahdiblah and you can have a fight here with me. And I would like to oblige but I know it's a fuzzy category, I have to post in it and now I find it includes ELR James! Grateful though I am to her for making erotica something mums can talk about surreptitiously while the piglets have their swimming lesson, I feel fantasy is not lack of realism. I would really like if someone said: Oh you mean the genre called Lace-cuff-tossing-banana-dancing-safe-sex fantasy, then I could go there and post and get someone to read my story for me who might tell me whether it is worth a 2 because the subplot is distracting or a 5 because convoluted sub-plot is what fantasy fans like. (I get a mix of both of these votes.) I really appreciate the feedback I get but I haven't yet found a swords and swishy skirts reader who could tell me if it's OK in the genre to have a lot of sub-plot.
I don't mind that much, though, there are such a lot of fun people here and some EXcellent stories. I'm looking forward to downloading the Barbarian pirates on Smashwords the BDSM political intrigue and the Merchant Princess .
Excuse me for a moment; since there is no squidicon I'm going to attempt to fit this frog on the banana.

 

[CWatson]

I wrote something high-fantasy a while back--magic, swords, romance, the whole caboodle. It's only available on my website because people hit "adulthood" earlier than 18 back then, so it can't be posted here, but it's called "A Love for the Ages". God, I am bad at titles.

I also have to take a moment to just shill A Song of Ice and Fire. It's neither erotica nor regency, but simply put, it has characters to die for.

 

[MSTarot]

Excuse me for a moment; since there is no squidicon I'm going to attempt to fit this frog on the banana.

ribbit...,ribbit...,ribbit...RIBBITTT!


I did a Google search for Pirate Erotica and got several that seem to fit the bill your looking for. They are on other sites and on Smashwords and Amazon so I wont post links here but I saw one series by Julianne Reyer that, if covers mean anything,looked interesting.

"Riding the Sea Bitch" and "Taking his Booty"