The Fantasy Genre

[Timber Wolf]

A Dagget would be sci-fi (and I do mean that in the worst way - sci-fi vs science fiction, that is). Can't you tell, that's Gandalf riding through the sunset on Shadowfax.

[Cymrugirl]

A dagget is a fictional, scientific creature within a mythology based, fantasy/sci-fi setting. BG is based on a major relgion after all. He and Gandalf are not so very different. One just has more springs and buttons.

And oh, wait! You're right. I see Pippin running along behind in the dirt now, Timberwolf. I was blind but now I see.

[Timber Wolf]

A dagget is a fictional, scientific creature within a mythology based, fantasy/sci-fi setting. BG is based on a major relgion after all. He and Gandalf are not so very different. One just has more springs and buttons.

...

hmmmm, oh, very well. have it your way.

[Tarin]

Originality in execution, like the good professor said, is the most important thing. The "prophecy" idea has been done so many times, but we still hear about Harry Potter and others who use this convention. The world-travelling device has been with us since MacDonald and Lewis, and as long as people are interested in putting mere men into the realm of things that could have been and might be, world travelling will remain popular.

That's basically the hope I'm clinging to. Honestly, I love stories that contain those two elements. As far as I'm concerned, they're two of the best elements in fantasy. That and elves, of course. I think, to answer my own question, that I would be able to appreciate a story that included those elements. In fact, if it was done well, I'd probably adore it.

Tarin, you're one of the best writers I've come across, published or not. I have confidence that you can write this story well.

I'll be there to blast you when you start posting in the workshops, and the cliches become to apparent. Don't worry.

Ah, gee. *scuffs toe in dirt* You're very kind. And I'll be counting on you to blast it when I do start posting!

I think people with fantasy WIP's should have fantastical avatars, or else they make me confused. I decided this just now.

There. How's that.

So Tarin, I would ask you the same: have you read the Covenant books? or anything similar where somebody does get transported to another world to fulfill a prophecy? You said you haven't read much. I would say take a look at what you have read, examine it for what you like/don't like and try to go from there.

I've read Narnia, obviously. And Dekker's Circle trilogy (which probably gave me the same unpleasant sensations as the Covenant books gave Ransom ). And the movie The Matrix has some of the same world-switching/prophecy-fulfilling elements. Speaking of the Covenant books, they sound interesting. I'll have to see if can find 'em at the good ol' library.

Can any of you think of any other books/movies that follow the same lines as what I'm trying to do?

So... thanks, everyone! I feel much encouraged. I'll just have to keep hammering at that obdurate wall of "been-done-before" and see if I can't find a few chinks!

[Cymrugirl]

WOW!!! It worked!!!!

....what on earth is that thing? I see a long-armed red man thing looking down into a boiling pot of fire only he has no head. I don't know what it is but we're off to a good start. *laughs*


Other books that sort of follow your own line: The Dark is Rising Series by Susan Cooper immediately springs to mind. Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere - which is a book that proves a million cliches can sometimes work very nicely. Also his Stardust, which is more traditional in that vein that Neverwhere.