Tag Archives | J. R. R. Tolkien

A Non-Nerd Primer to Fantasy & Science Fiction

With the new Star Wars movie hitting big, people unfamiliar with fantasy and science fiction may feel out of their depth.  For you normal folks, I offer a short introduction – a non-nerd primer so to speak – of accessible examples from fantasy and science fiction in four different media. Movie:  Star Wars Recently my […]

primer
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Science Fantasy? What Hybrid Is That?

I’ve been blogging about science fantasy for a time now but have never sat down with you and defined what science fantasy is.  Hold onto your hat, here we go: Science fantasy is a work of fiction that has elements of science fiction mixed with fantasy. O, now that helpful, wasn’t it? I think not.  […]

science fantasy
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Where’s My English-Elvish Dictionary? Languages in Fantasy and Science Fiction

This blog is from my son-in-law Matt Wright, a bona fide linguist.  He’s also a fantasy/science fiction fan.  But who isn’t?  Languages are rich treasures for us fantasy and science fiction geeks.  This is where alien cultures get good; this is where another world pulls you in! Let’s get Matt’s professional view. Language is a […]

languages
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Romance in Fantasy and Science Fiction

Face it:  As genres go, fantasy and science fiction do not lend themselves well to romance. Now before you protest by citing examples of book covers, let me say that romance is more than a buxom vixen next to a muscle man riding a dragon.  That’s not romance; that’s just sex. Sex is not romance.  […]

romance
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Is The Lord of the Rings Really a Story of Samwise?

I’d like to give you a short thinker blog. Have you ever wondered if the epic tale of Frodo and the Ring of Power is actually the frame for a much more intimate tale of the value of friendship and loyalty? What if when stripped down, the real crux of the three books is perfectly […]

samwise
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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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