Tag Archives | The Chronicles Of Narnia

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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What If? The Story Idea as the First Step on the Path to Publishing

Hold a book in your hand.  Where did it come from?  The publisher, of course.  The publisher probably got it from a literary agent.  The agent represented an author.  The author had a story to tell.  But where did the story come from?  Stories start as a spark of an idea.  And a story idea […]

story idea
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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 […]

Narnia
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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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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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