G.R. Matthews's Blog, page 6
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November 29, 2013
Do we, as readers, prefer the solid, comfortable, fantasy ground of middle age Europe to other settings?
I posed the title question on Fantasy-Faction (on my own Stone Road thread) and the insightful C. Hill replied thus:
"I think depth is key. No matter what setting your throw your story in (sounds worse that way) you have to have depth. A book with strong atmosphere should be good regardless of whether it's set in middle age Europe or Far East Asia. I read for some kind of depth, anyway"
And it got me thinking and responding thusly:
"A good point. But still we must buy the book to read the depth - do you think that people choose a book that conforms, or at least appears to, the genre staple of middle ages Europe?
I have been trying to think of books I've read (not urban or modern age fantasy) that step outside this expectation from the very start and am hard pushed to do so. There are many that subvert it as they progress - The excellent Prince of Thorns (M Lawrence) for instance.
I'm currently reading
The The Emperor's Knife which is one such book that takes place outside of this European setting - a thoroughly intriguing book it is too!
But, other than that, my Kindle is full of European fantasy set books... I'm not complaining - many of them are bloody good (and some even better) :) I've enjoyed them all.
Just idle thoughts, of an idle mind."
So, do I not give other settings a chance? And yet, why set my own book (The Stone Road) in ancient, mystical, mythical China?
http://fantasy-faction.com/forum/adve...
"I think depth is key. No matter what setting your throw your story in (sounds worse that way) you have to have depth. A book with strong atmosphere should be good regardless of whether it's set in middle age Europe or Far East Asia. I read for some kind of depth, anyway"
And it got me thinking and responding thusly:
"A good point. But still we must buy the book to read the depth - do you think that people choose a book that conforms, or at least appears to, the genre staple of middle ages Europe?
I have been trying to think of books I've read (not urban or modern age fantasy) that step outside this expectation from the very start and am hard pushed to do so. There are many that subvert it as they progress - The excellent Prince of Thorns (M Lawrence) for instance.
I'm currently reading
The The Emperor's Knife which is one such book that takes place outside of this European setting - a thoroughly intriguing book it is too!
But, other than that, my Kindle is full of European fantasy set books... I'm not complaining - many of them are bloody good (and some even better) :) I've enjoyed them all.
Just idle thoughts, of an idle mind."
So, do I not give other settings a chance? And yet, why set my own book (The Stone Road) in ancient, mystical, mythical China?
http://fantasy-faction.com/forum/adve...
November 19, 2013
FF - What do you look for in a hero?
(My answer on Fantasy-Faction.com)
Showing my age: Raistlin and/or Garion.
Raistlin for, as I suspect many people would say, his inherent weakness, his desire for power, his sacrifices and his pitying love for his brother. Though Sturm (from the same series) could also be picked here. Perhaps, in this modern age, we see Raistlin as an overdone character type but, when I was young and reading these books, he stuck out like a gold skinned, hour-glass eyed, red (then black) robed thumb. (Dragons of Winter... etc)
Garion for the journey. I read those first when I was 14/15 - Garion's age through much of the first series. The innocence of youth, the wide world opening his eyes, the realisation that all you knew as a young man is not the way the world is, the faith in friends, the love of family (even though they are 1000's of years removed), and despite the power - the moral fortitude to do what is right. (The Belgariad)
Now, some may say, what about modern characters - Jorg? Black Dow? Calder? Dresden? Royce and Hadrian? Silk? Rincewind? The Librarian? Zhou and Hsin? (Ok, they're mine and I am cheating) But all of those are other favourites of mine.
I think it is the case, that those books and those characters kick-started my greedy devouring of books. But, what do I want in a hero? - someone who struggles, sacrifices, overcomes, and is morally (by their standards - and broadly mine) firm. The ultimate expression of this? Spider-man? :)
(I haven't grown up and don't intend to start now!)
Showing my age: Raistlin and/or Garion.
Raistlin for, as I suspect many people would say, his inherent weakness, his desire for power, his sacrifices and his pitying love for his brother. Though Sturm (from the same series) could also be picked here. Perhaps, in this modern age, we see Raistlin as an overdone character type but, when I was young and reading these books, he stuck out like a gold skinned, hour-glass eyed, red (then black) robed thumb. (Dragons of Winter... etc)
Garion for the journey. I read those first when I was 14/15 - Garion's age through much of the first series. The innocence of youth, the wide world opening his eyes, the realisation that all you knew as a young man is not the way the world is, the faith in friends, the love of family (even though they are 1000's of years removed), and despite the power - the moral fortitude to do what is right. (The Belgariad)
Now, some may say, what about modern characters - Jorg? Black Dow? Calder? Dresden? Royce and Hadrian? Silk? Rincewind? The Librarian? Zhou and Hsin? (Ok, they're mine and I am cheating) But all of those are other favourites of mine.
I think it is the case, that those books and those characters kick-started my greedy devouring of books. But, what do I want in a hero? - someone who struggles, sacrifices, overcomes, and is morally (by their standards - and broadly mine) firm. The ultimate expression of this? Spider-man? :)
(I haven't grown up and don't intend to start now!)
