 Fantasy: April 22, 2020 Issue [#10131] |
This week: Quarantine and Government Control Edited by: Dawn Embers  
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Fantasy Newsletter by Dawn
Inspiration can come from many sources including from the experiences in quarantine and pandemic. Stories in the past have shown examples of government control, worlds uniting together against a threat and there is room for even more.
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Each time disaster struck, in the past, people of the ebony city fought back. That was before the control, before a disease sideswiped half of the population and forced quarantine restricted many others from exposure or freedom. The once busy streets had long faded, with rusting remains as the reminder of the once strong past the people held.
When I created the start of a short story with those words back in 2014, I had no idea what the world would come to face in 2020. I hadn't been planning to write a novel or series as a dystopian with any relation to topics like quarantine and concern over disease influencing a change in government control. In fact, the first part of the series that was written, a short story called Black Sail that starts with those lines, came from a spark of inspiration created by a single song. That was a song by Big Data called Dangerous. It is where I got the initial idea and everything built from there. Now, I'm getting some ideas from the current world struggles and experiences we are facing so it got me thinking about how others might be doing the same.
Now, while I hadn't gotten very far on the series of novels (that started as one short story but I can never stop there), with the current setting of the world I am getting some inspiration and answers to questions I hadn't even thought to ask. Like why might there only be younger people in the group of rebels in the first book? Aside from the ability for the young to survive outside the cities and government sanctions, I hadn't thought about aspects like how disease affects different age groups. Despite having studies within health science and a couple of continued education lessons for pharmacy required for my license that focus on disease within the elderly population. Now, I can see a possible answer. Also, how some can be completely for their sheltered and controlled lives not going anywhere while others have the need for stir-crazy rebellion. Just some things I'm starting to consider with my own dystopian.
Governments controlling actions of their people, fear from sources such as disease, unable to connect to others in a physical or emotional way, and advances in technology used in strict methods are all elements often used in Dystopian novels. This subgenera is one that has room for many new stories and ideas that might be sparked or inspired by our current experiences. Dystopias are often characterized by tyrannical governments, environmental disaster, political distress, dehumanization or other characteristics associated with a cataclysmic decline in society. Dystopian societies for these stories are often depicted as being set in the future or in alternative worlds that might be different but uses that backdrop to reflect against our own world.
There are a number of dystopian novels out there, many of which are well known for the influence they have achieved over the years. A quick google search for dystopian novels will provide lists of books to read and a few are even advertised as books to possibly read during quarantine for those stuck at home and looking for reading material. While there are a fair number of books to read, here are a few in particular to consider:
1984 by George Orwell
Taking place in an imagined future, this story takes place after much of the world has fallen victim to perpetual war, omnipresent government surveillance and propaganda. Airstrip One, aka Great Britain, is a province of a superstate named Oceania that is ruled by the Party who employ the Thought Police to persecute individuality and independent thinking.
Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
YA novel set in the future within a post-apocalyptic nation of Panem in North America. The nation is controlled by a central advanced metropolis knowns as The Capitol. An annual event takes placed called the Hunger Games where one boy and one girl aged 12–18 from each of the twelve districts are selected by lottery to compete in a televised battle to the death.
The Stand by Stephen King
This is a post-apocalyptic dark fantasy novel first published in 1978. The story centers on a pandemic of a weaponized strain of influenza that kills almost the entire world population. A few groups of survivors establish a new social system and engage in confrontation with each other.
These are just three examples of many. While there are stories out there already published and more probably written that doesn't mean every story has been told. There is always room for more and our present certainly has the setting full of potential to provide inspiration. Plus, many people have some time to create as they remain indoors during quarantine. Others face crazy situations at work such as toilet paper shortages, shifts in appearances of those they face and the concept of social distancing. Either way, there are plenty of stories to be written so it's time to do just that. Maybe I'll even work on Team and Quarantine, my own dystopian style novels that relate to quarantine and threats created from risk of disease leading to control. What will you write?
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Has the recent quarantine and world wide struggles inspired any stories?
Last month, I discussed women in fantasy, in particular a few known published novelists. I also asked people who was their favorite female author in celebration of women's month. Here are a few comments sent in for that newsletter:
Comment by Santeven Quokklaus 
Female fantasy authors. Here's my list of under-appreciated books by female authors: https://horrortree.com/wihm-10-books-by-female-writers-that-deserve-more-attenti...
Yes, the last book on the list is by a WdC writer. Read it. It is awesome.
Comment by Quick-Quill 
Zenna Henderson is my favorite sci-fi/paranormal. Her short stories cross genre but her novels The people and the Journey
Comment by Chibithulu (Alyssa) 
Thank you so so much for remembering Women's History Month.
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