Arabian Fantasy
Djinns. Flying carpets. Obsidian magic. Gypsies with devil children. Valiant heroes. Arabian and Persian (I am including Persian tales, though it is quite different in some aspects) folktales encompass the very idea of dark fantasy. In the forlorn deserts of the middle east lives a mass of tales uttered in passing whispers. Children are grown up yearning for the adventures of Sinbad, Aladdin, among many other notorious heroes. Reading this, you may have noticed that both of these examples are prevalent in the ever so infamous tale of one thousand and one nights - the one tale that grew to become the very face of Arabian Folklore. It is by no mistake; Scheherazade's tale was one spun not by a single person, but contributed to by a variety of different cultures, ranging from Egypt to Syria, all the way to Asia. It is by these small contributions that the beautiful tapestry of Arabian Nights was formed.
Ancient tales of dark magic, bloodthirsty kings, spellbinding gypsies, and menacing demons are passed on from one generation to the next, each parent adding their own twist into it. Even with its constantly changing plotlines, every Arabian folktale is a classic in its own right.
The realm of Arabian folklore is one filled with treasure, and dreamlike ideas. It combines elements of every genre present, lacing its tales with pieces of Fantasy, Romance, Adventure, Horror, Crime, and yes, even Science Fiction. One great example of this is The City of Brass, a story that speaks of a band of travelers embarking on an archaeological expedition across the Sahara in search of an ancient lost city (something akin to the story of Atlantis). Along the way, the travelers encounter a myriad of different beings, including a mummified queen and humanoid robots. The Arabian Nights (One Thousand and One Nights) is filled with these jaw-dropping tales.
The story of how Arabian/Persian fantasy came to be is one full of wonder and is most likely one you are not familiar with.
It all began in the reign of Caliph Harun Al-Rashid during the Islamic golden age, in the 9th century. This time period in the region became a treasure for scientific research, cultural and religious prosperity, and flourishing arts.
Another guess of why Arabian Nights and Arabian tales, in general, had become such an icon in the fantasy genre is its familiarity with otherwise unknown geographical and historical concepts. Ideas that were marvels at certain parts of the world were nothing more than common knowledge among the people living in the region. Arabian Nights for one has a list of interesting theories that were not proven until centuries later.
What was even more awe-inspiring was Arabian Night's influence on the Fantasy genre in general. Having been born in a land of such artistic opulence, Arabian Nights has embedded a large sum of fantasy writing techniques; some of which are dramatic visualization, and plot devices like Foreshadowing and Destiny. Many works in Arabian Fantasy feature incredible descriptive work, exporting the reader to a world of enchantment.
All in all, Arabian Folklore has had a large influence in the fantasy genre, introducing story elements like genies and magic lamps while implementing many different devices in writing fiction.
Example of Arabian Fantasy on Wattpad:
A Darker Shade of Magic
by MissNutcracker
Synopsis:
A man with no heart. A girl who must battle her darkness. A treasure of mysteries.
The stars held secrets - secrets the young Scheherazade years to know when her father passes away and she is left orphaned and alone. In the cruel world of medieval Arabia, the Persian daughter of a previously esteemed scholar finds herself in a situation where she must use her dark ability of storytelling or die in the ruthless hands of her Sultan.
Through a series of bloodcurdling events, Azade must uncover the mysteries of the Sultan's past in order to survive.
Excerpt:
"Every single one of us has darkness clinging to their soul. Those who are weak can never master it. They are controlled by it. They cannot see the abyss. But it sits there, silently playing them like a puppeteer would a puppet."
Inspirations:
Setting
Characters
Music
https://youtu.be/vtAHvQnZVGU
Bạn đang đọc truyện trên: AzTruyen.Top