I know this sounds vague and I have a specific example in mind, but I thought a more open and general discussion would be more helpful.
On taking requests for my upcoming cultural TL I have run into a lot of people wanting to increase the popularity or cultural legitimacy of certain fictional genres dear to them. Science fiction, Sword and Sorcery, and High Fantasy foremost among them.
I personally would like to see all these, (and add steampunk to the list) however, I feel like there is first of all not enough popular subgenres of each and secondly few opportunities in literary or cinematic history for these to come about earlier and/or with a larger fanbase.
This got me thinking about altering certain subgenres of fiction and examples of said fiction to provide a springboard for them and some interesting ideas came to me that I wanted some feedback on, as well as hearing your own thoughts on alternate genres and more popular subgenres.
Here's my entry:
It seems that Sword and Planet/Science Fantasy could have been a much broader and more inclusive subgenre, and even a bigger genre in and of itself, and could even make way for an earlier steampunk incorporated within it. I thought of having Tolkein become something of a Science Fiction fan and write a very different (but at least equally popular) version of the Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings with combined elements of Space Opera, Steampunk, Science Fiction/Fantasy, High Fantasy, Sword and Sorcerer, and Sword and Planet thus creating a new genre which satisfies all the requests I received and catapulting this new hybrid genre into massive popularity. (Who knows? Lucas may get the bug to direct this Space Opera LOTR instead of Star Wars... hmmm...
)
A. What do you think of this example?
and...
B. What are some other examples of alternate fiction genres and more popular or broader subgenres from OTL?
I think, if this OP was clear enough (and it may not be...) we could have some fun with this subject.
On taking requests for my upcoming cultural TL I have run into a lot of people wanting to increase the popularity or cultural legitimacy of certain fictional genres dear to them. Science fiction, Sword and Sorcery, and High Fantasy foremost among them.
I personally would like to see all these, (and add steampunk to the list) however, I feel like there is first of all not enough popular subgenres of each and secondly few opportunities in literary or cinematic history for these to come about earlier and/or with a larger fanbase.
This got me thinking about altering certain subgenres of fiction and examples of said fiction to provide a springboard for them and some interesting ideas came to me that I wanted some feedback on, as well as hearing your own thoughts on alternate genres and more popular subgenres.
Here's my entry:
It seems that Sword and Planet/Science Fantasy could have been a much broader and more inclusive subgenre, and even a bigger genre in and of itself, and could even make way for an earlier steampunk incorporated within it. I thought of having Tolkein become something of a Science Fiction fan and write a very different (but at least equally popular) version of the Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings with combined elements of Space Opera, Steampunk, Science Fiction/Fantasy, High Fantasy, Sword and Sorcerer, and Sword and Planet thus creating a new genre which satisfies all the requests I received and catapulting this new hybrid genre into massive popularity. (Who knows? Lucas may get the bug to direct this Space Opera LOTR instead of Star Wars... hmmm...
A. What do you think of this example?
and...
B. What are some other examples of alternate fiction genres and more popular or broader subgenres from OTL?
I think, if this OP was clear enough (and it may not be...) we could have some fun with this subject.