The Problem of World-Building in Grimdark Fantasy. The Case of Michael R. Fletcher’s <i>Manifest Delusions</i> Trilogy

Abstract The purpose of this paper is to analyze the rhetorical aspects of the contemporary grimdark fantasy novel, as understood by Farah Mendlesohn. Michael R. Fletcher’s trilogy Manifest Delusions is discussed in more detail, which is first characterized as one of the most important works of the modern variety of fantasy referred to as grimdark. When confronted with classic fantasy narratives, such as the novels of J.R.R. Tolkien, Tad Williams and Robert Jordan, Fletcher’s novels turn out to be problematic in the context of two basic aspects of classic fantasy – world-building and immersion. This phenomenon is discussed on the example of three specific aspects of the poetics of The Manifest Delusions : the use of German proper names, ironic quotations that open individual chapters of the novel, and a significant modification of the strategy of personal point of view narration typical of fantasy. The use of these treatments turns out to be almost completely destructive to the world-building typical of classic fantasy.