Here there be Monsters
With the previous article concluding on the nature of good and evil, it felt appropriate to follow that discussion with one on monsters. There is a growing trend in epic…
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Here there be Monsters
To Be Aestari
[The Aestari] are tall, taller even than the Humans or the Ie’dhae who came after, and slight of frame with long features, sharp noses, angular cheeks, and pointed ears. To…
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To Be Aestari
They’re Just Elves, Right?
One of basic components of fantasy is the blending of the familiar with the fanciful. But sway too far one way or the other and the majority of readers will…
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They’re Just Elves, Right?
A Tale of Too Many Tales
How long should a book series be? Is there really even an answer to this question?I believe there is an ideal length for a series… somewhere between three to six…
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A Tale of Too Many Tales
Is Combat Boring? Jordan’s High Lord Turok and Dumai’s Wells
Today marks the conclusion of this four-part revisiting of the theories of combat in literature. I had begun by positing that combat is boring for a myriad of reasons. The…
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Is Combat Boring? Jordan’s High Lord Turok and Dumai’s Wells
Is Combat Boring? Lloyd Alexander’s Taran Wanderer
After last article’s break to look at the potential impacts of COVID-19 on the future of fantasy, it is time to return to the current series on the potentially boring…
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Is Combat Boring? Lloyd Alexander’s Taran Wanderer
Corona, Or the Future of Fantasy
With a perniciousness matched only by the disease itself, it seems that Corona has infected all of our communications as well. Fortunately, this particular variety of the contagion is far…
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Corona, Or the Future of Fantasy
Is Combat Boring? Tolkien’s Pelennor Fields
Last article I revived the claim that combat in literature is boring. I talked about the tainting effect of movie special effects which have prompted authors to futilely chase after…
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Is Combat Boring? Tolkien’s Pelennor Fields
Combat is Boring – Revisited
In one of my first articles on this blog, I proclaimed that combat (in literature) is boring! Combat, in and of itself, often adds less value to a novel than…
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Combat is Boring – Revisited
The Cartography of a Novel
In the last article, I mentioned that I do a lot of visual work when I prepare to write a novel, particularly maps. Ever since I was a child, I’ve…
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The Cartography of a Novel