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Fantasy stories!
15 years ago
General
OK, so I admit, I haven't done a very good job of cultivating a fan base filled with fantasy genre buffs. I haven't drawn a single picture of an elf, dwarf, orc, or even a dragon! I don't have any comics that dabble in the fantasy genre, I've only seen the Lord of the Rings films twice, and my collection of fantasy books is a bit on the small side. In fact, I think it's just Redwall and a Whisper of Wings, both of which are considered part of the anthropomorphic fiction sub genre than overall high fantasy. I'm poorly versed on the conventional aspects of fantasy writing or what fantasy fans expect.
Granted, I don't let that worry me too much. Like with Fred Savage, I try to keep things technically and logically in the ball park, but I reserve the right to create, rather than neatly fit my content into certain expectations. I've found that even when people claim that they want to see something fresh, exciting, and unusual they actually just want a few tweaks on the conventional model. Conversely, I've also found that when some people say their favorite part about fantasy is 'dat elf's azz', they truthfully have a longing for more complex characterization and depth than what they're getting from Azeroth porn.
Regardless, I'm genuinely curious to see what most people want when they pick up and start to read a piece of fantasy fiction. Are there common themes? Is the realm itself more or less important than the characters? What elements make a good quest? Should a quest be the core of the story, or simply a means to an end? Can I use a 20-sided dice to grind pepper? These are good questions... well, at least they sound good to me.
Granted, I don't let that worry me too much. Like with Fred Savage, I try to keep things technically and logically in the ball park, but I reserve the right to create, rather than neatly fit my content into certain expectations. I've found that even when people claim that they want to see something fresh, exciting, and unusual they actually just want a few tweaks on the conventional model. Conversely, I've also found that when some people say their favorite part about fantasy is 'dat elf's azz', they truthfully have a longing for more complex characterization and depth than what they're getting from Azeroth porn.
Regardless, I'm genuinely curious to see what most people want when they pick up and start to read a piece of fantasy fiction. Are there common themes? Is the realm itself more or less important than the characters? What elements make a good quest? Should a quest be the core of the story, or simply a means to an end? Can I use a 20-sided dice to grind pepper? These are good questions... well, at least they sound good to me.
Nine Princes in Amber - Roger Zelazny
Gormenghast - Marvin Peake (BBS did this as a Mini series as well)
Elric of Melibone - Micheal Moorcock
Chronicles of Thomas Covenant - Stephen R. Donaldson
Spell Singer Series
Wheel of Time Series
It was the first time I remember shouting "Bewbies!" at a cartoon!
It was the first time I remember shouting "Bewbies!" at a cartoon!
For me, one of the best fantasy romans ever written!
My 36c (accounting for inflation), for what it's worth.
Is the realm itself more or less important than the characters?
I would say the characters are the driving force. A realm should simply be a means to test their *ahem* character.
What elements make a good quest?
Quests are made by extraordinary events, in moderation. You of course want to include things that are impossible in this universe, otherwise it's not really fantasy. I do think one needs to create a careful balance though. Too much action and impossible (n.) and people loose sight of how impossible (adj.) it all is. If you have too much characterization, and not enough action you will likely loose readers before they have finished the first story (unless you are an exceptionally gifted and/or dead author). That being said, I don't give a crap what the quest is. I'm sure a story about a young messenger delivering a deposit slip from one bank to another in a large fantasy city could be quite interesting.
Should a quest be the core of the story, or simply a means to an end?
Yes. See - 'delicate balance'
Can I use a 20-sided dice to grind pepper?
No, but given a sufficiently leveled character, you can use them to grind dungeons.