Fantasy readers often say they want “simpler” worlds, but is that really what they’re asking for? Maybe the problem isn’t complexity at all—it’s the steep learning curve many modern fantasy novels demand before the story can truly begin. A look at why great fantasy invites readers into its world instead of handing them an owner’s manual on page one.
Do Fantasy Readers Actually Want Simpler Worlds Again? Read More »
Magic systems in fantasy often fall into two distinct categories: hard magic and soft magic. Each offers unique storytelling opportunities, although readers tend to gravitate towards one or the other. What is the allure of each? I know I lean heavily toward hard magic, myself. Magic as technology has a strong appeal for me. The
The Duality of Magic Systems in Fantasy: Hard vs. Soft Magic Read More »
I’ve only recently become aware of a trope in fiction that I have long enjoyed without knowing it was a thing. I absolutely love Competence Porn. And I like it in more than just the novels I read. I often find myself on YouTube, watching diverse people complete projects like cleaning up overgrown yards, building
Competence Porn in Fantasy Read More »
I waited until the whole season of The Rings of Power had dropped on Amazon Prime before watching it, as I do with all TV series I follow. But that doesn’t mean I wasn’t eager to see it. On the contrary. I’m one of those people who watches the extended version of Lord of the
THE RINGS OF POWER and Realism Read More »
Tolkien was brilliant at backstory. Scratch the surface of any of his characters in The Lord of the Rings, and you can’t help but unearth an interesting, unique life story. Sometimes those stories actually played out in the books themselves. Sometimes they were only hinted at, but you could glimpse them and couldn’t help but be
What’s Your Story? Read More »