Afinidades ficcionaleslo fantástico policiaco y lo policiaco fantástico

Abstract

Fictional territories of the fantastic and detective fiction exhibit common features which promote their interaction in certain works, a trait which has been analysed in some literary theory studies in passing and is specifically addressed in this one. Hence, the analysis of possible relations between the fantastic and detective fiction from a theoretical characterisation of each fictional territory is complemented with the definition of two categories describing several relationships: detective fantastic fiction, wherein the fantastic predominates, with detective fiction playing a secondary role; and fantastic detective fiction, wherein the relative relevance of each fictional territory gets inverted. This characterisation is applied to the analysis of four stories, two belonging to detective fantastic fiction —Unique Item, by Milorad Pavić, and «The invisible murder», by Catherine Crowe—and two belonging to fantastic detective fiction —The hound of the Baskervilles, by Arthur Conan Doyle, and «The dagger with wings», by G. K. Chesterton—, in order to complete the characterisation of both categories, theoretically sketched, with other features specifying structural, thematic and pragmatic aspects.