Building Fantasy Worlds
Author Jeff VanderMeer has a great post on his blog about how to build good fantasy worlds. As well as mentioning the usual basics about consistency and making up rules and sticking to them, Jeff also takes a different look at world building.
One great point he makes is that the fantasy world shouldn’t be too consistent. The real world is full of mysteries and inconsistencies. If the fantasy world is too pat, it becomes boring. That’s an idea that I haven’t seen expounded on enough before.
Jeff also notes that he (as many other authors do) uses many ideas from our history to flavor his fantasy worlds. Yet oddly readers seem unable to recognize which are the made up and which are the real parts. Which is probably the real test for a great fantasy world.
Great stuff go read it, then buy Jeff’s book City of Saints and Madmen and read that too.
Link: VanderWorld
Eoghann Irving is amongst other things the creator and Editor of Solar Flare. He has a life long interest in all forms of science fiction and fantasy and a pressing need to share this interest with anyone who will listen. Find out more at his personal website eoghann.com..
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