So I've been thinking about the standard definition of epic fantasy -- a humongous battle between the forces of good and evil, with the fate of the world at stake -- and noticing that the genre seems to be evolving.
The standard definition works for classic stories like
Lord of the Rings and
Star Wars, but it doesn't seem to apply as well to, say, Brandon Sanderson or Peter Brett's work. Or, for that matter, to George R. R. Martin, and yet I'd definitely consider his works epic.
So I'm trying to pin down what creates the
feel of an epic work. What gives it that sense of sweeping scope and resonating significance?
So far I've got:
- A battle against insurmountable odds
- A sense of impending doom ("Winter is coming")
- Leveling up -- the main character acquires and perfects new skills
- Leviathanic monsters
- Complex and unexpected worlds
What am I missing?