“Fantasy.” In terms of a novel, this genre usually provokes one of two responses: a roll of the eyes or a snap to attention (as in excitement). The “eye-rollers” may be all too aware of fantasy novel clichés (namely the typical plotline of the “chosen” hero who stands against insurmountable odds to save a world from domination by an evil foe). Meanwhile, the excitable readers devour every sword-slinging battle and magic-wielding wizard that appears on the page. Not everyone loves a tale of high-fantasy, but to misjudge the genre is a mistake.
Just what is “fantasy”? It’s fiction—the workings of the imagination to create an alternative world that is fantastically different from the one in which we live. There is mystery in this vague power known as “magic,” and magic is the glue that holds this world together. Unlike science-fiction, magic is the basis of creation—not technology or applied science. You can call it escapism if you want, for certainly that is much of the appeal of fantasy, but a good fantasy is also believable. Believable fantasy. Not an oxymoron of a term, but a phrase that connotes quality fantasy-fiction.
The point of any novel is to reach the reader, to somehow allow the reader and the literature to develop a relationship. If the reader doesn’t care, the book is irrelevant. Believability crosses the boundaries of reality and the fantasy world, bridging the gap that brings the reader closer to the fictional characters. The more believable the story, the more the reader becomes a part of the tale (not apart from the tale).
All fiction has some basis in reality. An author can only write what he/she knows, after all. The key to good fantasy-fiction is to merge reality with the fantastical. Do you write your own fantasy tales, or do you simply enjoy reading them? Or are you a skeptic who is willing to be convinced by a good argument that the fantasy genre is worth a time investment?
Good, believable fantasy is not a concoction scrawled on paper directly from one’s imagination. There’s actually a bit of planning involved—more than you might first consider. If you’re willing to indulge in one fantasy author’s opinion, you might find the “Ten Points of a Believable Fantasy Novel” to be insightful—whether you’re a writer, a reader, or a skeptic. Stay tuned for Point #1…
-Stefanie
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
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