There has been a lot of discussion of the subject of “Grimdark” fantasy around the blogosphere of late. Mostly I’m ignoring it, because I know how such things tend to degenerate, but I did want to point you to this fine essay at the SF&F Novelists blog. It is by Marie Brennan, and it blames the whole thing on the infamous Thomas Bowdler. I find Brennan’s argument quite compelling.