Mythic Fiction Horror
Explore books, themes, and recommendations in Mythic Fiction Horror.
What is the Mythic Fiction Horror Subgenre?
To understand mythic fiction horror, the reader must first be familiar with mythic fiction. Mythic fiction is any modern story that has its roots in legend, mythology, or folklore. Often, mythic fiction will either be inspired by or contain elements of a particular myth or legend, similar to fairytale horror. Mythic fiction, itself, is often compared to urban fantasy or dark fantasy because these subgenres share common fantastical elements. Additionally, mythic fiction often, though not always, takes place in a contemporary setting.
One rule of mythic fiction that distinguishes it from fantasy is that the work will always take place in the human world as opposed to fantastical realm. In this way, mythic fiction could also be compared to magic realism. Mythic fiction horror contains all of the elements and tropes of mythic fiction, with one obvious difference. Mythic fiction horror uses these elements to disturb and terrify. This subgenre is the dark side to mythic fiction's light fantastic. Elements used will often reflect the darker elements and themes found in various myths and legends. Regardless of its darker nature, mythic fiction horror, and mythic fiction in general, will often be conscious of the well-worn territory that the subgenre explores. Scares will be minimal to moderate for those who are familiar with the folklore or mythology represented in the work.
Mythic Fiction Horror Characteristics
Level of Plot: Plot level varies in this subgenre depending on how closely the work aligns with its source material.Some types of mythic fiction horror draw elements from myths and legends, while others are retellings of a particular myth or legend. Generally, however, plot levels will be low.
Level of Characterization: Characterization will be low to moderate in mythic fiction horror as the aim of the subgenre is to draw parallels to plots and characters in already familiar myths and legends.
Level of Supernatural: Using folklore and myth for source material means that a high level of supernatural will be found in this subgenre.
Level of Scary: Because mythic fiction horror consciously incorporates familiar myths and legends, the scares will be moderate to low for those familiar with the source material.
Level of Violence; Violence in mythic fiction horror is variable, depending on the level of violence in the source material.
Typical Setting: The typical setting of mythic fiction horror is the human world, often during modern times. Some works may be set in the past when a particular myth or legend has taken place.
Related Horror Subgenres
Dark fantasy and urban fantasy are related to mythic fiction horror because they share many of the same fantastical elements. Another easily related subgenre is fairytale horror, which, like mythic fiction horror, draws inspiration from folklore. Similarly, religious, satanic, Lovecraftian, and media tie-in horror, which all rely on drawing from some sort of source material can be related to mythic fiction horror. Because of some of the elements involved in the myths and legends used in the subgenre, supernatural and creature horror can also be related to mythic fiction horror. Finally, because of the feeling of well-established traditions that mythic fiction horror evokes, it can also be related to comic horror.
Don't Read Mythic Fiction Horror If You Dislike…
Myths and legends. If folklore and mythology do not appeal to you, this subgenre which uses this material as its basis is probably not for you.