The Enduring Appeal of Elves in Modern Fantasy Literature

With his debut novel, The Origin of the Wolf – the first in a planned trilogy – out this week, Welsh author Danny Beeson considers how the elf can serve as a contrasty to humanity in fantasy fiction.

From Legolas to Link, Darkspawn to Dobby, elves are everywhere you look in modern fantasy. But what is it about elves that makes them so appealing? Why do we keep coming back to them time and time again?

Firstly we must look at what exactly is an elf or fae, as they are sometimes referred to. Generally speaking, elves come in two types. The first version is usually a race of small creatures with pointed ears, sharp features and wide eyes. They are often slaves or workers, subservient to humans, wizards or even jolly old Saint Nic. The second type, and probably the more popular version, are tall and ethereal, often pale and thin with enhanced senses and long lives. They still have the pointed ears and the keen eyes, but instead these elves project a sense of mastery and power and are often at odds or even overlords to their human companions.

(Photo by Cassiano K. Wehr on Unsplash)

Elves as a contrast to humans

When I started my novel I wanted to use elves as a contrast to humanity, and many authors have done the same in the past. Elves are often long-lived or even immortal and so have a tendency to see time differently, not rushing into decisions or situations that humans might charge headfirst into. They can be slow and ponderous, debating with each other the merits of every action heedless of the time that passes. This lack of mortality, of a natural end to their days, can create a clear tension when up against their human counterparts and gives the writer a rich theme to explore and exploit.

Their long lives and enhanced senses also allow for them to be super-skilled and many are great warriors fighting against the evil of their worlds. Having hundreds of years to practice with as word or a bow means the characters can achieve incredible things without it seeming unrealistic or out of place in the novel. The writer is given a greater sense of freedom with their action sequences and is able to write complex duels or stunts that human characters would simply be unable to accomplish.

Elves are also renowned for their wisdom and intelligence. With age comes an understanding and expertise of the world around them, a deeper connection to nature than humans could ever achieve. They are almost always at harmony with nature, friendly with animal and plant life, and very caring towards their environment. Again this can create easy conflict for writers to draw upon given humanity’s nature and tendencies to neglect or destroy the world around them.

Magic is the cornerstone of the elves. Rarely are elves without magic – whether it be purely natural power or learnt knowledge passed down through the ages – and this can give a writer huge scope to expand their story and do things that are simply not plausible in our own world. Magic has no limits and often elves are seen as protectors or teachers of this power, hoarding it or sharing it depending on the story and the characters within.

Working with elves

In my own book, The Origin of the Wolf, elves and humans have been at war for several years. Fenrir is the main elf in my story and acts as both a teacher and guide to my protagonist Lyncon on his journey. He is tall and pale with wide, round eyes, flattened ears and incredible senses.

In my world, elves use science more than magic, relying on their smartest researchers like Fenrir to tinker with biology and create powerful creatures like werewargs, which is what Lyncon us. 

Though both old and intelligent, Fenrir is in exile and is questioning the wisdom of his past decisions, the experiments he did, and the affects his work has had on the lives of Lyncon and so many others like him. In contrast, Evanora, an elven sorceress, is ruthless and cunning. She is bent on revenge for past wrongs and wants the world to suffer as she has as she punishes all those that have mistreated her, human and elf alike.

The Origin of the Wolf is published on 28 August.