Tag Archives | Fantasy

Contrary but Similar Motives in Heroes and Villains… Or… Why the Two Dudes Never Play Nice

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 […]

motives
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3 Human Questions Fantasy Novels Face

  In order to connect with us meager humans in the real world, a fantasy novel needs to have at least a few things in common with life as we know it. Your populace could well have tentacles about their mouths or three arms at the top of their heads or hair on the bottoms […]

Human Questions
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Is Magic Necessary in Fantasy?

  Is magic necessary in fantasy?   My first inclination is to say, “I hope not,” because my book Curious Origins of a Restless World has no magic. Before you think, “Well, who would want to read that?”, at least stick with me through the end of the blog.  Why?  Because whether having magic or […]

Magic
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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. […]

Premises
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Do You Find a Literary Prejudice against the Fantasy Genre?

Literary prejudice is an ugly thing. Years ago I took a night course on short story writing.  (And you may say that while I might have taken it, it didn’t take in my writing.  But whatever.) My teacher was very able.  (She would say, “Don’t use that word ‘very’ or have too many parenthetical asides.”  But […]

Literary Prejudice
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5 Essential Traits of Fantasy Heroes and Heroines… Or… How to Relate to Us Simple Humans

We fantasy readers want a champion we can root for, suffer with, struggle alongside, and ultimately cheer on.  If our fantasy heroes too wondrous, too cold, or too inhuman, we are apt to quickly lose interest.  And when you don’t care what happens to a story’s characters, the story’s sunk. Here are five traits with examples […]

Fantasy Hero
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7 Classic Fantasy Novels, Whether You Agree or Not

This is my list of essential fantasy novels.  Don’t like it – make your own list or leave a comment.  I like to hear from you and discuss the wonderful world of fantasy. Here we go: 1.  The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe This book is the classic definition of fantasy.  It takes the […]

Classic Fantasy Drew Ellenwood
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Do Fantasy Characters Need to Floss? Or… Ordinary Needs in an Extraordinary World

Do fantasy characters need to floss? The short answer is yes, they need to floss.  That is, if they want to keep their teeth. Real world necessities.  Fantasy world necessities.  Whichever.  Necessities are… well, necessities. Watching Lord of the Rings I believe it’s no wonder the orcs are so cruel and cranky.  I mean, have […]

Fantasy World Necessities
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Fantasy Theology: Would a Fantasy World Need a Jesus? Or… 4 Theological States of Inhabitable Planets

I wonder about the question of universal redemption from evil.  It’s the question that started me writing my science fantasy Curious Origins of a Restless World.  Here’s my thoughts on the purely theoretical question of fantasy theology… Or is it theoretical? 1.  Non-Sentient Let’s first consider a planet with life but no life that has […]

Fantasy Theology
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