 Fantasy: May 24, 2006 Issue [#1048] |
  Fantasy
This week: Edited by: Colin Back on the Ghost Roads  
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This newsletter is for everyone who enjoys the magic and mystery of a good Fantasy, be it Tolkien, Jordan, Rowling, or a host of others. I will also be attempting to give some time to other types of fantasy, as written by the likes of Asimov, Wilson, Clarke and a galaxy of talent.
I hope to present some information that will be useful to other fantasy authors on site, and entertaining to all our subscribers.
So, let the wonder and glory of all that is fantasy engulf you.
The Fantasy Editors:
Colin Back on the Ghost Roads
billwilcox
John~Ashen 
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The Long Pale Road (Which May Be More Than One Way)
In most fantasy stories, death is a fact of life. People and things die. If they didn't the world would be a pretty crowded place, after all. In fantasy stories, however, death may not be as final, or even as permanent is it is in the real world and most fictional genres. It all depends on how you decide to handle it in your story. The following are some different ways death and the afterlife could be handled. They are not an exhaustive list by any means.
1) Death is the end. In a world where this is the reality, you get one life and one life only. Once you're dead by any means, you are gone forever. There can be an afterlife in this sort of world, but there is no way to cross over to it except by dying. As such, any concept of the afterlife will be pretty much unprovable.
2) Death is pretty much permanent, but temporary returns may be possible. This is similar to the above, except it is sometimes possible to either return to the world of the living, although in a limited fashion. A world where ghosts exist, or certain magical beings or magic users can communicate with the dead would be such a world.
3) The afterlife accepts visitors. In this world there is an afterlife, and it is even possible for the living to go there and come back out again. Many mythologies have this sort of structure, where the afterlife is a physical place. An alternative is that the afterlife is in another plane of existence, but one the living can, with access to the right secrets, travel to. This can allow people to get the advice of the dead, and find out facts they might not otherwise have been able to find out. Generally, the dead can be removed from the afterlife and brought back to life, but it is normally exceptionally difficult to do, and there are often terrible consequences.
4) Death has a gatekeeper. This is also true of many mythologies. A god of the dead may allow certain mortals a second chance under certain circumstances. Usually it requires some sort of legendary task be performed. It could also be that someone living be willing to trade places, or that a powerfully worded petition may be sufficient.
5) Death can be beaten. Usually through powerful magic, it is possible to prevent or even reverse the course of death itself. Usually, there is again some price to pay, but it's not something negotiated with a great power, it's simply a magical law. Perhaps the only way to cheat death is to become a barely living husk, kept alive by magic alone. Maybe bringing someone back from the dead allows something to come back with them. There can be any number of possible bad consequences, or possibly the only reason everyone doesn't do it is cost and complexity of the magical formula.
6) Reincarnation. This can be factored in to any of the other systems, except under this, death, while potentially long term, is not generally permanent. You will get another chance eventually.
7) Ascension/Declination. Here death is the beginning of a new life. Everyone who dies goes to some after life where they are changed into something else. Angels, demons, perfect forms, or just screws for the gods to mount their pictures with. In this system it would be pretty much impossible to bring someone back from the dead, but it might be possible to contact them.
So, there are seven general ways you can handle death in your stories. Of course, you may all have your own ways to do it too, and I'd love to hear about them. Until next time. |
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From The Knight Has Found Romance
I am so pleased to receive this newsletter! I hope I might someday be able to contribute once again. Is there any way to know the topic before being sent, so I might be able to prepare some work?
Well, in my case, I usually only decide on a topic when it's time to write the article. I also showcase the newer authors on the site, so I dpn't showcase items that are thematically similar to my newsletter topic. You may want to contact the other editors, although they will most likely read this edition and possibly get back to you as well if it is possible.
From JoshCham
'd like to comment on the super power that characters possess. It is based on human desire, so it can be endless, even though it can be limited to certain categories. Element control, Mind Control, Time control, space control, death control, etc...
But also, is the power inherited by the character, or is it learned, like Magic. If it is inherited, is it in the genes, is it in the blood, or is it by a possession of the super being. If it is learned, is it by one master, or through a school? Can it be learned through an object. Can it be a "borrow" from another being?
Can it be combined with the new technology?
Naturally the answers to all those questions depend on the needs of the writer and the story. They are all good questions and the answers to them can all suggest new and interesting ways old and stale abilities could be used. Ansers to those questions could also form parts of the plot, as the characters try to determine the answers for themselves perhaps in relation to some new threat. Any questions about the nature of magical power in a fantasy story are very central to the world they are in and answering them as part of the story can be a lot of fun.
From lyrian
I like the article on powers...and, being a big comic book fan, I've seen powers aplenty. The twists one puts one the standby's are what tranforms them. For a fantasy setting, any power can be 'borrowed', so I'd suggest picking up a comic or two.
If you want to create a fantasy world with atypical magic, comic books are a great place to start. Most super hero comics are fantasy stories, so the powers from them would fit right in. Definitely read some comics if you want to add innate powers to your fantasy stories.
From Sir Michael
Wow! I'm going to go ahead and say that those were probably the worst suggestions I've ever heard. A super strong pacifist? Not only has it been done numerous times, but its just plain stupid. That kind of guy should just put a bullet in his head. Of course, fabricating flowers out of nothinhness was pretty cool. Hey look fellas, she's leaving a trail of flowers. Instead of abducting her let's just kill her! And what about that awesome power to shatter glass. I could do that you ignoramous, glass is not particularly resiliant stuff. And perhaps most asinine was the gold to lead idea. Get rich quick?! Hah! Gold is more valuable than lead. Good call though. Maybe you could turn all the treasure into lead, and make the enemy real upset before he kills you.
You are free to say anything you like about anything I write. And I'm sorry you didn't enjoy it. Hopefully you'll find this months more to your liking.
If you are looking to only write things that have never been done before, it's too late. I've yet to read anything that is not a variation on something else. The key to writing original fiction is finding something different in your variation on a previously done theme.
As for the strong pacifist, well physical strength can be used for a lot more than war. A writer might want to explore those themes and ideas.
The trial of flowers was used as a guide to rescuers, and killing the maker would have completely disrupted the plans of the villains who needed her alive.
Shattering glass, helpful if the glass is far away, even better if the glass is surrounding a potion the enemy is trying to drink.
Gold to lead? The dark mage prepares for the final incantations to bring the netherdemon to full life under his control. But as he raises the gold chalice to his lips, he notices it has lost its sheen. The chalice has turned to lead, and now his spell cannot be completed.
The trick with any of those abilities is to think of ways they can be used in a story and then logically create a situation where they can be used.
Of course if you choose not to do that, that's fine too. Great fantasy can be written without any of these things. No author should feel compelled to write in anything just because someone else said it was a good idea. Write the stories you want to read, that's really the best guideline to follow.
From Izkata
boycott coca cola! might also want to look at the Everworld books - a second world, Everworld, was created by the gods and goddesses of our world, which they then fled to. The main characters got "split" into two parts, and whenever theur Everworld counterparts sleep, they merge back in our world.
Anyway, the main reason I'm responding - unusual powers. In one webcomic I used to read, called the Psychic Dyslexia Institute (pdi-comic.com), almost every character has a power that appears useless - but helps in strange ways.
The newest member's power, for example, causes everyone within 3 feet to want to beat him up. Another makes plants wither, and another has "strong illusion and mind control linked with Musical Theater". 'Course, then enter Reverso, who reverses the power of anyone he comes into contact with.....
I'll look into Everworld. Of course it's hard to get books in English here, but someday I'll make a trip to Seoul just to visit the book stores there.
I've never read PDI, although I;ve seen ads for it on occaision. Sounds interesting. And yes, the trick to making good use of odd abilities is to find ways they can logically help. Just be careful to set things up in advance. It's poor writing form to have a power save the day when there was no indication that anyone had the power before it had to save the day. (For example, the making flowers thing came up in issue one of the comic, and she used it as a trail for her rescuers in issue four or five.)
From Strange Wulf
Always a good idea to use different magic powers. The "useless power" idea is execellent, because a resourceful person can figure out how to use that power in all sorts of ways. I'll have to try it sometime.
Oh, and btw... you're right about dreams giving excellent story ideas. However, you have to be careful when they start to turn risque... *coughs and blushes* <.<;; Those dreams might provide good ideas as well, but you're probably better off keeping them hidden from your family. I know I have a few I'd think twice about showing 'em...
Yes, there is no piece of writing advice that is appropriate for all circumstances. And it's probably not a good idea to be writing anything you wouldn't want your parents or children reading.
From nebroc
I hate it when they make a movie or write a story that is too typical! Like one of the main characters can turn invisibile, one has super strengh and one is a liveing tourch.
When you plan to write a story, just remember, try to keep it as original as you can, Put YOUR ideas into it, and whatever you do, do not copy a copy of a copy!
I love the way you phrased that, a copy of a copy of a copy. As I stated above, I haven't read a single original base idea for a story. What makes a story original is how the author handles the ideas she or he uses from elsewhere. And I agree, it's best not to use completely borrowed ideas unchanged (since you can run into copyright problems as well as problems with being dull). But that doesn't mean you can't use powers that have been used before. If you couldn't, fantasy would get old fast. How many wizards can lob balls of fire from their finger tips? Does that make all the latecomers boring? Of course not. The interest lies in how they use their powers and what innovative new uses they come up with. And as you say, always put your ideas and as much of yourself as you can into the story. No one else can do that.
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