 Fantasy: February 14, 2007 Issue [#1540] |
  Fantasy
This week: Edited by: zwisis
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Far in the sea, to the west of Spain,
Is a country called Cokaygne.
There's no land not anywhere,
In goods or riches to compare.
Though Paradise be merry and bright
Cokaygne is of far fairer sight....
The Land of Cokaygne, c. 1315
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You may never have heard of this medieval poem, nor the country of Cokaygne. Neither had I, until I began to research Utopia. A concept that has inspired writers for centuries, Utopia is defined as “an imaginary, ideal place where everything is perfect.” The word Utopia is derived from Greek words meaning “no place,” because from a practical point of view a Utopian world or society is a difficult, if not impossible achievement.
For the fantasy writer, however, Utopia is manna, offering unlimited storylines and plots, incredible characters and personalities, vivid detail and description and a place where the only limit is the writer's imagination. While Utopia can be applied to religion, politics, economics and science, in this newsletter we are purely concerned with literary Utopia. Many stories featuring Utopian places have been told from the view of a third party – a time traveller or a foreigner – who will be shown the different features of “the perfect world”. This has proved a very effective way of conveying detail and description to the reader.
In 1518 St Thomas More wrote a book called “Utopia”. Based on the Greek writer Plato’s “Republic”, More created Raphael Hythlodaeus, a Portugese explorer who discovers the perfect society in a place called Utopia. Hythlodaeus spends five years in Utopia, an island south of the equator where urban residents live in 54 cities positioned at least 24 miles apart. Every year three men from each city meet in the capital to deliberate on current issues. The rural Utopians live in farm houses, with no less that 40 people in each house. Every year 20 people are chosen from 30 farms to move to the cities, with the same number of urban citizens moving to the country. Agriculture is an important science, with schoolchildren studying its history and theory. In addition to agriculture every person learns a trade, and the Utopian knowledge of music, mathematics, meteorology, astronomy and geometry is as good as – if not superior – to that of other countries. Utopians work a six hour day, earning enough to ensure they have a comfortable life. This means no time is wasted on buying and using unnecessary luxuries. A group of 30 farm houses is represented by a “philarch”, and ten philarchs and their respective families are the responsibility of a chief philarch. Utopian democracy states that the citizens nominate four candidates, one of whom is chosen as Prince for life by the philarchs.
Sounds perfect? Perhaps, but looks can be deceptive. Read on…
 Family units in the city have the use of dining halls when they don’t feel like eating at home. While female Utopians attend to the preparation of the meals, service in these dining-rooms is performed by slaves. In the rural farmhouse two slaves are assigned to each farmhouse. Utopians who commit heinous crimes are condemned to slavery as punishment. Persons sentenced to death in the neighbouring states may also be procured as slaves by the Utopians. Fortunately a slave’s offspring do not inherit the parents’ miserable status.
Utopians maintain sufficient agricultural supplies for two years; any surplus is traded with neighbouring countries, securing products like gold, silver and iron. Since Utopia has common property ownership currency is unnecessary, but the metals are used to hire mercenaries to fight anyone attempting to destroy the perfect world. The rational behind this rather "un-Utopian-like" behaviour was that the more volatile members of those imperfect societies would probably be killed, leaving behind the more peaceful citizens to gradually embrace Utopian ideals.
Utopia recognises almost all forms of religion, with public worship being general enough to unite all different religions. The exception to this rule is Atheism. In a perfect world where the only laws are those necessary for the benefit of the citizens, a respect for and belief in a higher power is considered an adequate replacement for man-made laws.
Utopians suffering from painful or incurable diseases are encouraged to take their own lives – for the good of the community. Those that do not wish to commit suicide are not forced to comply with this “request”. Utopians who take their lives without the leaders’ consent are give a dishonourable burial, while those who follow their leaders’ advice and meet death with courage and good cheer are cremated as a mark of honour.
Utopian women may not marry before the age of 18 years – for men the age of consent is 22. A lot of effort is made to ensure marital partners are fully acquainted with one another, because divorce is not indicative of a perfect world. Having said that, divorce is rare and permitted for just one reason only, and only the innocent party may remarry.
The reason I've highlighted Thomas More’s book is that there’s so much detail about the fantasy place Utopia. The variations on the concept of the perfect world/society are endless. For if Utopia is indeed a perfect place why do slaves exist? Hiring mercenaries seems to cancel out the ideal of eternal peace, and the fact that Atheism is not tolerated indicates a form of discrimination – surely anathema in a perfect world? Pain? Disease? Advising people to commit suicide rather than offering assistance and comfort might mean mankind has lost all compassion.
Yet there are positives. A world where everyone is educated, tolerant, considerate and kind… where poverty, cruelty, disease, misery and war do not exist…where pollution of the environment and extinction of different plant and animal species is unthinkable… I think most people cherish their own dreams of Utopia. It’s a perfect setting for a Fantasy story, because a writer creates his or her own world, makes the rules and sets up a system of leadership to ensure Utopia thrives – and survives. Here are a few examples of some famous literary “Utopian” worlds:
Atlantis – a mythical kingdom that has been a great source for Utopian fiction, Atlantis was described by Plato as a very evolved, advanced civilisation.
Shangri-La – synonymous with Far Eastern culture, Shangri-la was depicted in James Hilton’s “Lost Horizon” as a mystical, peaceful and harmonious place completely in tune with nature.
The Fountain of Youth – a place reputed to restore youth to anyone who drinks its waters. Some writers believe the fountain to be a variation on Genesis’ “Tree of Life”, which produces fruit that, if consumed, offers immortality.
Neverland – the home of J M Barrie’s “Peter Pan”, an island where children do not age. The promise of eternal childhood, immortality and escapism – a place where the most innocent period of life lasts forever.
Xanadu – the reputed grandeur and splendour of Xanadu was immortalised in Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s poem “Kubla Khan”, and the name is today synonymous with luxury and opulence:
In Xanadu did Kubla Khan
A stately pleasure-dome decree:
Where Alph, the sacred river, ran
Through caverns measureless to man
Down to a sunless sea.
So twice five miles of fertile ground
With walls and towers were girdled round
Cokagyne – in this version of Utopia the place featured at the beginning of this newsletter was a celebration of paradise, idleness and gluttony. Cokagyne offered a medieval peasant the dream of a life free of harsh labour and desperate scrounging for food. The same poem tells of roads paved with pastry, houses built of barley sugar and cakes and shops where every item on offer was free, while references in the New York Public Library offer som "disurbing" detail:
… roasted pigs wander about with knives in their backs to make carving easy, where grilled geese fly directly into one's mouth, where cooked fish jump out of the water and land at one's feet. The weather is always mild, the wine flows freely, free love is readily available, and all people enjoy eternal youth.
All my writing is about the recognition that there is no single reality. But the beauty of it is that you nevertheless go on, walking towards utopia, which may not exist, on a bridge which might end before you reach the other side.
Marguerite Young, US Author.
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Wonderful neighbours, the house of your dreams, interaction with writers and musicians, excellent health care... this place sounds absolutely perfect. Read the brochure, and see what you think.
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This website offers some excellent links for Fantasy writers. There's a list of sites for submission of your work, as well as some workshops and a couple of inspirational links.
Science Fiction and Fantasy are genres that seem to be very similar, and one reader's comment detailed below raises this subject. Here's an article discussing the possiblities of these genres.
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As mentioned in the editorial, there are many different kinds of Utopia. Here's a list of the different types of fantasy fiction, confirming it's a varied and broad genre with something for every writer.
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Here's a great monthly contest for Fantasy writers, offering some excellent prizes for winning entries. Have a peek at this month's prompt, and get scribbling!
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Have an opinion on what you've read here today? Then send the Editor feedback! Find an item that you think would be perfect for showcasing here? Submit it for consideration in the newsletter!
https://www.Writing.Com/go/nl_form
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StephBee 
I loved this wolf orientated newsletter. It was something a little different, which was a nice change of pace!
I really enjoyed writing it, StephBee . I wanted to do something a little different, and I’m glad you enjoyed it. Thank you for taking the time to leave a comment.
werden 
Good letter. I always thought wolves were given a bad rap in most fiction. I always had a laugh at the werewolf stories. I mean a wolf doesn't eat men (unless it is really hungry) a man doesn't eat men (unless he is sick and twisted) so why would a wolf/man eat men? :) I always thought there was a demonic aspect to those stories.
The best use of a wolf that I read is the Belgeriad series where Belgarath becomes a wolf. David Eddings uses the pack mentality to excellent affect.
Thanks for writing on this poor, misunderstood animal :)
Your letter perfectly illustrates the fine line between the Horror and Fantasy genres, werden . A werewolf is a character that really does belong to the Horror genre. I have found that Fantasy writers who cast the wolf as a villain tend to create a creature based on the wolf, but not as stereotyped as the werewolf.
Thank you for the reference to David Eddings’ work.
Strange Wulf 
To be fair, wargs are not wolves, and Tolkien makes this plain in Lord of the Rings (if not The Hobbit). The differences are hard to see, but usually wargs have their own language, are far more intelligent, and they tend to decompose faster. There's a scene in LotR where Gandalf notes the corpses of the wolves they fought the night before have all disappeared, marking them as wargs and not merely starving wolves.
Also, wolves are beautiful creatures, but they are also animals. A wolf pack will think nothing of gutting prey that's still alive and kicking. "Clean kills" are foreign to them; they just kill. Fastest way to eat in the wild.
Wargs are a variation on wolves, Strange Wulf , and that’s one of the most challenging aspects of creating a Fantasy character. Taking a creature that is generally considered vicious, cruel and cunning and making it a complete contradiction to popular belief. I wanted to show that an animal with a negative image is respected by some cultures; what one culture considers cunning another believes is wisdom. Is this why man is such a wonderful basis for any character?
Foxes, hyena and baboons are other animals that will gut living prey. While foxes (like wolves) have featured as heroic characters in the Fantasy genre I can’t recall any stories extolling the virtues of a hyena or a baboon!
Strange Wulf
Any advice for blending sci-fi and fantasy in a realistic way? I've had some ideas in the past, but I'm not sure they're that good... or that they won't resemble some anime or RPG I haven't heard of. They've been known to do that.
I still think you could mix them somehow, though ultimately such stories tend towards one or the other with small elements of the other (e.g. the fantasy world with just-invented steamworks, or the space-faring story with mystical aliens). Anyone seen it done 50/50 and done well?
This is a very interesting question, Strange Wulf , and certainly not one with a simple, straightforward answer! Modern culture means the combination of these genres instantly brings to mind an RPG or Anime. I have to say the first example that comes to my mind is “Star Wars”, and the fact that it is a film rather than a book proves my point. Perhaps Terry Pratchett’s “Discworld” series is a good example of the combination of the Fantasy and Sci-Fi genres – his books are very successful.
This is a good topic for another Fantasy newsletter…
Kiante
First, I just want to say again, I love this newsletter. Second, I could use some help. I don't want to give away too much of my current writing, but in there, I'm going to make a creature that is something like half-elf, half-canine. But I can't think of a name that sounds right. It has to be Something Elf" of course substituting the something for something else. Do you have any ideas?
Thank you for the compliment, Kiante . Your character is an interesting combination, and finding a name for him/her is certainly challenging! My only suggestion is to perhaps research some elfin names, and use one of them as the basis for your name. Traditional names like Rover or Spot are too synonymous with dogs, so I would perhaps look at different breed types and combine one breed name with the elfin name. Interesting and unusual breeds include: vizsla, sheltie, kelpie, akita, tosa, saluki, laika, Lhasa Apso and my personal favourite Ivicene. Look up the different breed types, its speciality (hunting, tracking, guarding, companion) and character. A picture of each breed might be an inspiration too!
If any writer reading this newsletter is willing to share his or her technique for naming a character please write to the newsletter, marking it for my attention. I’ll send you some GPs for your effort, and your letter will be featured in the next issue I edit.
Ric The Woolicane
I really loved this article on wolves. They are certainly among the world’s most misunderstood creatures. I was just wondering if you planned to do another article like this looking at another such animal, the bear.
I’m glad you enjoyed the newsletter, Ric The Woolicane . And yes, I am currently researching other creatures – bears included! Watch this space!
Snow
Great newsletter, but don’t forget the best wolf of all in fantasy, Nighteyes from Robin Hobbs’ “The Farseer Trilogy” and “The Tawny Man Trilogy”.
Now this is a series I’ve not yet read, Snow . Thank you for highlighting Robin Hobbs’s trilogies. Fantasy is such a large genre it’s always when new reads are recommended by someone who’s read and enjoyed the story. Amazon, here I come!
Phoenyx, risen from the ashes
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has released a proposal to strip wolves of crucial Endangered Species Act protections in Idaho and parts of Wyoming. Massive wolf eradication plans are being prepared, and hundreds of wolves could be killed.
I sent a message to Dirk Kempthorne, U.S. Secretary of the Interior, who oversees the Fish and Wildlife Service. I hope you’ll take some time to send a message, too and maybe encourage other members to do so.
Go to the website below to take action:
http://action.defenders.org/rockymountainoutrage2
Idaho and Wyoming have begun planning efforts to kill hundreds of wolves. Over two-thirds of the wolves in Wyoming could be killed. And as many as 60 of Idaho's 71 wolf packs could be eradicated!
The government nearly allowed our Northern Rocky Mountain wolves to be shot, harassed and poisoned into extinction.
Please send Interior Secretary Kempthorne a message about the importance of protecting our wolves right now:
Thank you for drawing our attention to this issue, Phoenyx, risen from the ashes . Man has eliminated so many wonderful species on this planet, and the idea that wolves are now being targeted is heartbreaking. In nature there’s a reason for every single life force, with man supposedly at the top of the pyramid – the Guardian of our world. You’ve reminded me of the saying: “The Earth is not ours, we only borrow it from our children for a short time.”
Ariella
That's a very interesting piece on wolves. Personally I haven't used them in a story but I have read fantasy stories where other authors used them, for good or for ill. Tamora Pierce's character Daine is good friends with a pack of wolves and they are mentioned as good animals throughout the four books that focus on Daine (I believe the first one is “Wild Magic”; I don't remember the titles of the others).
Anyways, thanks for an interesting article. Keep up the good work!
I’ve not used a wolf in any of my stories either, Ariella , and researching that newsletter gave me a lot of ideas. The wolf is a great character because both heroes and villains can be created as a variation of canine lupus! I’ll be “googling” Tamora Pierce in the not too distant future.
darkin
Very informative and interesting newsletter, Forever 
Thank you, darkin. I really enjoyed compiling the issue, and the research was fascinating. Not too mention inspirational – now to get those fingers onto the keyboard!
To conclude this newsletter, I highlight a letter that was written in response to last month’s newsletter. While not strictly focusing on the Fantasy genre it is an issue that affects everyone of Writing.com.
John Meyer
I've been writing for some time now, and here's the thing, I can't seem to get critiques on this site no matter how much I critique other people. Maybe this is a submission for Writing.com, but in as good as the point system is, how about a "I crit yours you crit mine" rule going on? Maybe it exists, but it doesn't seem to get that much feedback for me.
I’m including this letter because reviewing is such an important part of Writing.com. While it is indeed a courtesy to return a review, it’s sometimes not always possible. An example – I owe a number of reviewers to writers who’ve taken the time and effort to read, rate and critique my work, but I’ve spent the last couple of months moving to a new country and setting up a house, with limited access to email and internet. That’s my excuse, and it proves that sometimes life does get in the way of Writing.com. 
There may well be a good reason for someone not to do the polite, courteous thing and return a review. My advice is to press on with your own reviewing, because one can learn a lot about writing by reviewing others’ work. Have you tried plugging your work on the “Review Request” page? There are also a number of review forums on the site who will happily review your work. If you or any other readers send me (please don’t send it to this newsletter) an email I’ll give you a few links.
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