Genre question

[marydell]

I have a story about a monster who eats people. Well, it's about the people, who then band together to kill said monster and eat him.  I've been thinking of this as a fantasy story, because it's essentially a pretty traditional dragon story.  Except there is not actually a dragon; it's a different monster.  And there are some fairly stabby bits, and people are woeful at times about all the death.  Is a fantasy with a lot of woe and stabbing maybe a dark fantasy or horror-ish fantasy?  I'm not ready to sub it yet (since half of it is still in my brain instead of on paper) but I'm wondering if I should try some of the horror-ish venues first instead of sending it to a bunch of fantasy editors who will think it's nasty.

I am also thinking my satire about a shop where you go to commit suicide neatly might also be more welcome at horror-ish venues than the SF/F places I've been sending it, but I know nothing about horror fiction (because it's scary, and I scare easily) so I dunno.

Thoughts?

Comments

[notodette.livejournal.com]

Yes, I think horror fiction would be better!

[cucumberseed.livejournal.com]

Eh, I say let the editors figure out what it is. I would like to read it, though, and I hope one of them decides to publish it. Sounds like my kind of story.

[readinggeek451]

It sounds like a pretty standard fantasy to me. (I mean that in a good way!)

[ashnistrike.livejournal.com]

Dark spec-fic markets sound like good places to try those--maybe some place like Apex? It might be easier to say if I could read the finished one (hint, hint).

[haddayr.livejournal.com]

I always try SF/F first as they reject with blinding speed and then move my way down, based on how much they pay.

I think this sounds cross-genre-y enough that you should send it to straight-up fantasy places, too.

LOTR was bloody as fuck.