Where is the Line

There exists a line. A difference between myth, fable, religion, fantasy, and historical fiction, but where is that line? What makes a work of art one genre and not another? I bring this question up because I started reading a book, Sons of Darkness, the other day. It is described as The Mahabharata meets Game of Thrones. It is a fantasy novel by Gourav Mohanty that is a retelling of The Mahabharata not unlike Western fantasy novels that are retellings of other myths and legends.

However, Hinduism is a major world religion. Mohanty in an inspired bit of creative genius names the character based on Krishna, Krishna. I honestly appreciate this as I don’t need some sort of decoder ring to get through the book. The Greeks are called Greeks and Krishna is Krishna.

It does beg the question of where is the line. Not long ago I read a book, The Book of Longings by Sue Monk Kidd, that was an alternate history of if Jesus had a wife. It was interesting but it is either considered historical fiction, alternate history, or religion depending on which book store you go into. Why is one book with one figure from a world religion fantasy and another not.

I don’t know the answer but I feel like Hinduism is different. Shiva has been a summon in Final Fantasy games for as long as I can remember and I don’t think they could get away with having Jesus, Moses, or Mohamed as summons in those games.

The closest thing I can think of to Sons of Darkness but with Christianity is either The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe or The Chosen. Both are retellings of the gospel with one clearly being fantasy with the role of Jesus being played by a lion whereas The Chosen is a TV show with the role of Jesus being played by an Egyptian actor.

I am certain that if I were to call The Chosen fantasy it would be taken as an insult whereas I am currently reading a book that is very clearly labeled fantasy that has a character named Krishna in a book that is a retelling of a sacred text of Hinduism. I think Christians could stand to learn a lesson here. De-mystify the religion and let it be fantasy, because fantasy is fun.