JONATHAN STROUD’S “LOCKWOOD & CO” NOVEL SERIES AS AN EXAMPLE OF PARANORMAL FICTION
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32782/philspu/2025.10.12Keywords:
fantasy, paranormal fiction, paranormal elements, Jonathan Stroud, “Lockwood & Co”Abstract
The article is devoted to the analysis of paranormal fiction defining features. The object of study is the series of novels “Lockwood and Co” by the modern British fantasy fiction writer Jonathan Stroud, which is considered as an example of paranormal fiction. For a deeper understanding of this fantasy subgenre, we have studied works on fantasy genre itself and gave its definition. It has been determined that the fantasy genre has gained very significant popularity in the 21st century. The classification of fantasy subgenres has been studied and its generalized version has been provided. The term of paranormal fiction has been defined. Examples of popular books belonging to the genre of paranormal fiction have been given. It has been studied that elements of paranormal fiction can also be found in other fantasy subgenres. The main features of paranormal fiction have been considered. The series of novels “Lockwood & Co” by Jonathan Stroud (which includes 5 novels) is analysed for its belonging to paranormal fiction. It is studied that the books contain all the inherent features of this genre, namely: the presence of paranormal elements and phenomena, creatures or forces that are notpart of the real world (in this series – ghosts), the actions take place in a modern city (London) in our time, but with fantastic events, the books have a combination with other genres (horror, partly romance), the investigation of unusual phenomena and supernatural events, the focus on the mystery that is a part of the plot (investigation of the ghost’s appearance), and the presence of a psychologicalaspect (main character’s past affects his psychological state and motivation). Examples of illustrative quotes for each of the specified defining features from the series of novels “Lockwood & Co” are given. It is concluded that the series of novels “Lockwood & Co” by Jonathan Stroud is clearly an example of paranormal fiction.
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