In reality and fantasy, individuals act out of differing motives and backgrounds. But all people have a core they are striving for, an inner itch they seek to scratch. Villains Our contemporary culture has given us some amazingly complex fictional villains, ones with overlapping motives and obtuse back stories. This is because real villains of […]
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Contrary but Similar Motives in Heroes and Villains… Or… Why the Two Dudes Never Play Nice
Starting a Fantasy Novel: The Moment That Is Different
Starting a fantasy novel? Where to begin? It’s in your head; you can see the scenes, the characters, the settings; you’ve even envisioned the ending. Now, where to start it? A friend told me a hint: Start on the day that is different. That will grab your attention and your reader’s attention. Let’s look at […]
3 Family Halloween Movies
When time gets near Halloween, I want to see some appropriate Halloween-flavored movies, but no horror. I don’t like that. Light entertainment, not dismemberments. You might ask what do Halloween movies have to do with fantasy. And I would say, “Halloween is fantasy.” So here follows three movies that might be suitable for […]
Andrew Niccol Has Something to Say about Reality
First, who is Andrew Niccol? Andrew Niccol is the writer and sometime director behind the three movies about reality I discuss below. Then you’ll understand why I chose the title above. The Truman Show Truman Burbank. His first name gives the hint. He is the true man in contrast to the fake around him. His last […]
Lesson Learned from Dona, Part 1: We Meet
The Fantasy World of Narnia
Let’s talk about fantasy worlds from various sources. I’m going to start, of course, with C.S. Lewis’s Narnia, a world simple enough for children and complex enough for adults. Magic Magic infuses Narnia from the beginning when Aslan sang it into being. But for the reader magic starts from the time Lucy hides in an […]
3 Human Questions Fantasy Novels Face
Is Magic Necessary in Fantasy?
The Pill to Swallow in Fantasy and Science Fiction
In any fantasy or science fiction story, whether literature or film, there’s always at least one premise… One pill to swallow, if you will. Too many pills forced down the reader’s throat and they’ll choke. A person can take one, maybe three, premises, but too much more than that and the story simply gets silly. […]