Tag: scifi

Categories
Fantasy-Sci-Fi

Pizzanomics and the Economy of Words

In The Picture of Dorian Gray, Oscar Wilde writes that people know the price of everything and the value of nothing. My friend Eric was not such a person. He assigned value to everything in terms of pizza.

You might price a throw pillow at fifteen dollars—he’d say it cost two pizzas. (This was back in the ‘90s.) He counted the cost in terms of the true value it yielded him, and what Eric valued most was pizza.

Nowadays people know the price of everything and the value of nothing.

The Picture of Dorian Gray, Oscar Wilde

His friends called this Pizzanomics. Decisions based on whether sacrificing that much pizza was worth the purchase. Talk about Opportunity Cost!

Opportunity costs means “What else could I have done with my money?”

Adem Selita, chief executive officer at The Debt Relief Company in New York, N.Y.

There is an opportunity cost attached to each word a writer uses. We need to draw readers into new realms where they can connect with and vicariously strive alongside our characters. We need to craft our expressions with intention—be it chapter, scene, paragraph, or word—to ensure our writing is concise but not boring. Remember, our readers are also counting their opportunity cost. Don’t let them wriggle off your hook.

What is in a word? Would that rose by any other name really smell as sweet? What else could we have done on the page? With that description?

Word choice matters. I remember a high school reading assignment where the narrator referred to the scent of bruised gardenias. If he had used “stink” instead of “scent,” what sense would that have conveyed?

Color your world… with words

The genre and setting should color our work. Don’t just close a door. If the story is set in space, let it whoosh. A stone castle door could grate or grind as it moves. Wooden village gates and doors might creak. Clues like this give readers a sense of the world’s setting and reflect the character’s unique POV.

Similes, metaphors, imagery, and expletives are prime opportunities to make strategic word choices.

Sandfly, a debugger in A Star Curiously Singing, book 1 of Kerry Nietz’s Dark Trench saga vents his frustration with an exclamation of “Crichton and Clarke,” two historical science fiction authors.

The amphibian dwellers of my water-covered planet mutter shells under their breath and taunt each other with sea creature insults.

And in Hidden Current, Sharon Hinck introduces the dancers of the Order with this beautiful imagery before she reveals they live on a floating world.

We lunged and poured our bodies forward. We moved like channels of water, divided, as if by an unseen boulder into two streams that circled the room, arching, flowing, reaching.

A ripple disturbed the flow.

Sharon Hink

This passage pours beauty and warmth into my soul. She did that with words.

At a Realm Makers workshop, Sharon said words should serve as double-agents, communicating more than their face-value to the reader.

Make each word earn the space it occupies. If it cost five dollars to use, would you still plug it in?

Don’t use the fanciest words to show off vocabulary prowess (or adept use of a thesaurus). Aim to transport readers, rather than impress them. If they think about the author while reading, we’ve missed the mark. But make sure to communicate all we can with that noun, verb, and article—so readers have a deeper sense of our world.

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.

Proverbs 25:11 KJV

If a spoken word carries that much potential, how much more do words inscribed—utterances recorded to outlast the breath that launched them. Invest wisely in your words to compound the impact for your reader. They will be reluctant to emerge from this story and eager to plunge in to your next one.

Sophia L Hansen is an author and editor with Havok Publishing and loves to write In Other Worlds. She’s lived on a tiny island in Alaska, the bustling cities of New York and Boston, raised kids in Tennessee, and now resides just outside Birmingham, AL. After 30+ years of marriage, seven children, and numerous pets, Sophia still fits into her high school earrings.

You can follow Sophia’s words and worlds at https://www.sophialhansen.com/, Facebook, and Instagram.

Categories
Fantasy-Sci-Fi

Sense Sensibilities

A flexi-tube extended from the airlock and attached to the exterior of the arrow with a dull clang. A moment later, the light turned green, and he pushed the hatch open.

Filtered air wooshed in, wonderfully odourless. He climbed through the double airlock and into the dock itself, then collapsed on the cold floor of the main cabin, his arms and legs spread wide. Sweet relief.

Filtered air wooshed in, wonderfully odourless. He climbed through the double airlock and into the dock itself, then collapsed on the cold floor of the main cabin, his arms and legs spread wide. Sweet relief.

Not a word is spoken in these initial paragraphs of Discernment, but the author has immersed us via sights, sounds, and sensations into an unknown, yet relatable, world. We tag along as her character explores, sharing the experience of his journey.

Next, we are transported planet-side, to a dusty, grease-filled mechanic’s garage, then squeezed into crowded family rides that roar and rumble past orchards, pastures, and plains. We’re introduced to this world’s foods with charred or tantalizing smells, triggering memories or imaginings of what these might be like. Spices and perfumes, musk and manure, all give a sense of the festival market. We can almost hear the hawkers and animals of this off-planet county fair.

Instead of telling us that “Mama’s stew smelled delicious,” make your reader’s mouth water.

“The metal stool scraped across the stone hearth as Mama rose to greet me. The aroma of seared meat and caramelized vegetables traveled with her, wafting from the kettle. Her embrace sent puffs of flour over me, but I ignored the cloud, surrendering as her arms enveloped me. My stomach grumbled. I hadn’t eaten since before sunrise.”

“Mama’s stew smelled delicious,” states a fact. The paragraph that followed evokes an experience, conveying you into the setting. Jerry Jenkins describes the difference between showing and telling here.

Let’s break this down a little more. 

Sight:

This common path for descriptions can be challenging to make immersive without falling into “telling” patterns. There’s a reason we use the term, Point of View (POV) to indicate whose perspective is being described. What is seen, and the reactions that follow, must be consistent with that one character, at least for the scene. The information shared must be limited to what that character can access, as viewed in that perspective.

Sound:

Scrapes and squeaks and the emotions they elicit can convey the feel of your story. Bare feet slapping down stone hallways or magnetic boots connecting to metal walls—these sounds tell us what your world is made of. Your characters’ reaction to them tell us what they are made of.

Touch:

More than hot and cold, rough and soft. Tell us about the grit that embedded itself under the shirt cuffs, leaving the wrists raw at the end of a long journey. Or the itch just out of reach and what must be endured to scratch it. When your MC scuffs their toes—is it in dirt? Moss? Wet sand? Are they frustrated? Embarrassed? Wistful? This is your chance to let your characters be more than talking heads. Don’t limit the playing field.

Smell:

This is one of your most powerful senses. First, it informs the sense of taste and second, it is closely tied to memories. If you can trigger the memory of a smell with your words, you can bring a whole world to life for your reader.

Taste:

It’s a challenge, especially in SciFi and Fantasy, to describe food that is foreign, without using Earth labels and breaking the fictive bubble. On the other hand, it’s a good exercise in “show, don’t tell.” You can’t tell your reader what the soup compares to, but you can touch on its essence—citrusy and sour, or meaty with herbs—and continue on to what feelings are evoked.

In the same way we are encouraged to pay attention to conversations around us to gain insight into dialogue, people-watching, especially around food, is a great way to pick up on sense-related mannerisms and the reactions these sensations evoke.

Engaged the senses. The medley of sights and sounds, smells and substances, whether foreign and familiar, will mesmerize your reader, draw them into your story, and keep them there.

Sophia L Hansen is an author and editor with Havok Publishing and loves to write In Other Worlds. She’s lived on a tiny island in Alaska, the bustling cities of New York and Boston, raised kids in Tennessee, and now resides just outside Birmingham, AL. After 30+ years of marriage, seven children, and numerous pets, Sophia still fits into her high school earrings.

You can follow Sophia’s words and worlds at https://www.sophialhansen.com/, Facebook, and Instagram.

Categories
Fantasy-Sci-Fi

The Trouble with Portals-Laura Zimmerman

Do portals that move your character to another time and place work within modern storytelling? This is the question fantasy and sci-fi writers have been struggling with over the past several years.

Imagine this: You’re reading a book with a great hook, the characters have depth and relationship, and the plot moves at just the right pace. Then out of nowhere, the main character is transported to an entirely new world that needs to be saved. The previous one is forgotten and a new plot begins.

Would you continue reading? Many readers of fantasy and sci-fi complain that, although it has worked in the past, the “portal to a new world” genre is overdone. Here are a few reasons why.

[bctt tweet=”the “portal to a new world” genre is overdone” username=””]

First off, the reader has no investment about what happens in the alternate world. Once you’ve established the main characters and the world around them, it can be jarring to expect the reader to jump into yet another world and begin caring about that one, too. Unless the jump between them is done with care, the reader can feel betrayed for having cared about the original world in the first place.

Also, there’s often not enough at risk. In many portal stories, the fantasy world is in peril, while the one left behind goes on without much thought or threat. The reader might be inclined to wonder why the main character doesn’t just leave the fantasy world to its own devices and go back to the safety of reality.

Another downside is when the reader realizes that without the portal, there would be no story at all. When the main character literally needs to leave reality to find adventure, the story can feel stale and overused. The portal is simply a mechanism to get a character from point A to point B so the “real” story can begin, which can reflect lazy writing.

So, how does a fantasy or sci-fi writer avoid the proverbial “portal trope?”

For starters, take a step back from your story and investigate whether it has a few key ingredients. Is your portal integral to the main plot? Is the portal woven within the threads of the story? How is the real world related or impacted by the alternate world?

Why does the portal appear at that specific spot, at that time, on that day? Who is able to access this portal and for how long? What price is there to be paid for using the portal? (There is always a price to be paid when using magic, otherwise your main character could use magic to fix the problem from page one.) Why must the main character travel to that alternate world, when he/she could just stay in the safety of reality?

Finally, if you take the portal out of the story, how will it affect the plot as a whole?

If you have solid answers to each of these questions—and you can make a strong case for the validity of that portal—then there is no reason a reader should walk away from your story. The reader should be so invested, that they don’t even consider it “another portal story.”

[bctt tweet=”The reader should be so invested, that they don’t even consider it “another portal story.”” username=””]

Do you include a portal within your magical world? Before you move forward with your work, take a few minutes to consider how you can find a balance between the real world and the alternate world. Doing so might keep your manuscript out of that “slush pile” and in the hands of an editor.

Laura L. Zimmerman is a homeschooling mom to three daughters, and a doting wife to one husband. Besides writing, she is passionate about loving Jesus, singing, drinking coffee and anything Star Wars. You can connect with her through Facebook and Twitter and at her website, www.lauralzimmerman.com

 

Categories
Specs: Speculative Fiction

Committed Writer or Dabbler?

Hey guys, I wanted to kick this whole thing off by welcoming you to the ranks. (Though I’m sure some of you have been at this even longer than I, so some could probably welcome me to the ranks.)

Any-hoo, whether your writing is just an outlet, or you’re looking to be published, you are a writer. But there’s a difference—did you catch it?

Sarah Horrigan notebook

Writers fall into two major categories: those who Commit and those who Dabble. Both would argue they’re writers, but the differences are key.

Dabblers weave tales for themselves. To them, writing is an expression, an outpouring the world may never see. Perhaps they want to keep it that way. Or maybe they want to share their words, find a voice through writing, but they’re nervous. What if people don’t like it? Basically, they fill journals and blog for a few friends and family, but their writing is a hobby.

Then there are the Committed—they write for others. Their voice matters, and they want people to hear their stories. They want to impact their audience, and they’ll go the distance. Every day, rain or shine, doesn’t matter how they feel. They don’t quit writing.

BK Brad Paisley quote

What kind of writer are YOU? I, personally, am a Committed Spec-Fic writer. Of course, I’m a teenager, and that makes it challenging as I learn the system. But I’m up to it.

[bctt tweet=”Are you a committed writer? Or a dabbler? #teenwriters #amwriting #YAspecfic”]

If you’re Committed, you’ll find a lot of great resources on this blog, and not just resources but community. If you’re looking to share with others, your stories, then most likely you’re already a committed writer.

Perhaps you wish you were.

Dabblers, to effectively commit, these tips are your best friends:

Set a time. Write every day. Many writers don’t understand how important this is. It may sound like overkill, and there will be days it’s a chore, but this tip can often keep you from drifting back into Dabbledom. The more you write, the better your writing will be. In King Julian’s words, “See how that works?” Even if you’re not working on a manuscript, devoting ten to thirty minutes a day to writing will be quite the asset. What you put in it is what you get out of it.

King Julien kiss

Know your audience. So many writers transitioning from Dabbler to Committed get caught by this guy. For their whole writing career, their audience has been themselves. But without knowing your audience, how can you choose what to write about and how best to communicate it? For this blog in particular, knowing my audience was vital.

Learn the industry. Look, I love shortcuts as much as the next guy, but there are none in the writing industry. It’s imperative that you know what you’re doing. Follow great blogs. Friend your favorite authors on social media. Get information by going to a writer’s conference. For fellow Spec-Fic writers, a highly recommended conference is Realm Makers. A conference is where you’ll make connections, gain opportunities, and most importantly, better your craft.

So who’s with me? Comment and let me know you’re in this for the long haul.

And then find me on Facebook or Google +. Thanks to Sarah Horrigan and BK for the (unaltered) images. And beautiful thanks to King Julien, because he’s my BFF.

Categories
Fantasy-Sci-Fi

Fantasy Flash Fiction 101- Laura Zimmerman

Fantasy Flash Fiction 101

Could you write a story in 500 words? What about 100?

Flash fiction is a genre that has grown in popularity in recent years. Those committed to it enjoy the challenge of creating a complex story in less than 1000 words—some choosing to stick below 500 or even 100 words total. The key to flash fiction is that the story must be complete, encompassing a beginning, middle, and end, as well as a plot twist at the close. This genre can be both fun and challenging. The writer must create as tight a story as possible, while still evoking the same emotion one would experience from a full-length short story.

The positive point to writing this type of work is that the genre itself fits nicely within the fantasy or sci-fi world, particularly because of the twist ending. However, a writer within the fantasy/sci-fi niche will have a few habits they may need to refine if they want to be successful in this genre.

Setting: With a limited set of words and an entire story to tell, there is typically no room for a descriptive setting. This may be difficult for a fantasy writer. Many publishers will allow a higher word count for a novel in the fantasy/sci-fi genre to leave room for world-building. Unfortunately, flash fiction doesn’t give this extra word allowance. The writer needs to choose the perfect word to describe not only the mood of the scene but what might evoke a physical description of the surroundings to the reader. Instead of giving a detailed description of a broken down house that’s been empty for years, the writer might have to limit himself to simply using the word “dilapidated” knowing that the reader will see the shattered windows and chipped paint in their mind’s eye.

Physical Appearance: Once again, there just aren’t enough words to effectively describe your characters. Forget hair and eye color, or other mundane information that isn’t necessary to the story. Choose a single characteristic that will make the character stand out but will also tell a bit about that character’s personality. “Amelia shrank beneath his stare and pushed her glasses back in place.” In this example, the reader knows Amelia is low in self-confidence but what about those glasses? I would imagine they are part of what makes her self-conscious in the first place. She certainly doesn’t stand out as part of the popular crowd. I didn’t need to know if she was fat or thin, tall or short—she clearly sees herself as plain, which will lead the reader to see her in the same way.

Dialogue: Effective dialogue is another challenge you will face when creating your flash fiction in a fantasy or sci-fi setting. There may be unusual language or phrases you wish to insert, but there will be no extra words to give such an explanation. Once more, take your time to word your story so the reader can understand the intent without having to be told the precise meaning. Dialogue is also an opportunity for the writer to establish setting or physical appearance and still keep that word count tight.

The main thing to remember when writing fantasy/sci-fi flash fiction is to make every single word count. Find one word that can take the place of many. It may sound easy to write a story in 100 words, but I find that I take longer to write a single flash fiction story than I do an entire 2000 word chapter!

Flash fiction is a challenge every writer should undertake to help sharpen their writing skills. It will hone your talent to tell an effective story in a limited number of words and can be a great boost to your creative side!

Laura L. Zimmerman is a homeschooling mom to three daughters, and a doting wife to one husband. Besides writing, she is passionate about loving Jesus, singing, drinking coffee and anything Star Wars. You can connect with her through Facebook and Twitter and at her website, www.lauralzimmerman.com

Categories
Fantasy-Sci-Fi

The Secret to a Good Sidekick

 

The beloved “sidekick.” Han had Chewy. Frodo had Samwise. Harry had Ron and Hermione. Captain Kirk had Spock. The Doctor had…well, all of his companions. In the world of fantasy and sci-fi, the main character usually has a loyal helper by his/her side.

But creating a sidekick just for the purpose of being a sidekick can be a trap for even the most seasoned writers. (See: Jar-Jar Binks from Star Wars: Episode I.) Before a helper is created to serve as comic relief, or as the sounding-board for the main character (MC), the writer needs to consider the sidekick’s true role. What is his/her real purpose?

Every MC needs a flaw (or two). This is not only necessary for the direction of plot or to give the journey purpose, it is also needed for balance against other characters—particularly the sidekick. Where the MC is weak, the sidekick is usually strong. The personality flaws the reader may hate within the MC are often the reason the reader loves the sidekick. Sometimes, there is no possible way for a MC to “win at the end” without the aid of the sidekick.

A sidekick is also more than an extra character to help move plot forward; more than a narrator to provide valuable information; and more than the unlucky soul who cleans up whatever mess might be left behind by the MC. A sidekick is often the one person with whom the reader can deeply connect; the person the reader identifies with the most.

Take your time when creating this vital element of your story. Possibly, base specific personality traits from people you already know. Sit down and create a Myers-Briggs personality test for your sidekick character. What makes him/her tick? Get to know this person just as much as you (likely) already know your MC. Plot out the purpose of the sidekick within the story and the reason that person has for sticking around with the MC despite all his/her flaws. Dig deep. Know your sidekick before you begin adding that comic relief factor.

So much of a writer’s time is spent focused on plot, theme, setting, characterization, and other technical points. But don’t miss out on an opportunity to take your story to the next level by creating an extraordinary sidekick. It’s one thing to create a Jar-Jar Binks, but wouldn’t you rather have a Samwise?

Bio: Laura L. Zimmerman is a homeschooling mom to three daughters, and a doting wife to one husband. Besides writing, she is passionate about loving Jesus, singing, drinking coffee and anything Star Wars. You can connect with her through Facebook and Twitter and at her website, www.lauralzimmerman.com

Categories
Storyworld

The End of Civilization

Recently, a friend of mine asked me if western civilization was at the end of its life cycle. It’s a loaded question, and its answer will largely be dependent on how you define western culture. I’ll answer the question in a minute (or because I hate click-bait as much you do, you can skip to the last few paragraphs – I won’t tell on you), but this got me thinking of good storyworld ideas. Specifically civilizations in decline and how to preserve culture.

Cultural Preservation in Fiction

First of all, what I am not talking about is the French Resistance or Napier’s band of anti-Neo sappers in ExoSquad. Those are fine stories of fighting an oppressive government, but preserving culture usually means peacefully (if possible) living in one society, while preserving the spirit of another.

In Asimov’s Foundation, Harry Seldon foresaw the collapse of the Galactic Empire long before it happened. He knew that once that downfall began in earnest, it would take millennia to reestablish the same level of culture and technology. His solution? Create a colony with a massive library of all information necessary to recreate society. The colony of mostly scientists would feverishly work to teach successive generations all of known literature, science, and culture. It worked. The bloated galactic empire fell to the point where nuclear power was no longer known, space travel was rare, and control of different regions was usurped by local warlords. Meanwhile, Seldon’s world of Terminus carried on and even made advances.

The premise was borrowed by the storyworld of Battletech, where a semi-religious cult on earth maintained what was called “losttech.” They were decades more advanced than the other thousands of planets, but not because of scientific breakthroughs, but scientific preservation. The five main houses controlling known space had lost even the ability to create new battlemechs, their principle method of warfare.

 

In various fantasy settings, sometimes the arts of magic are preserved in a similar way. While the rest of the people beat each other senseless, mages will isolate themselves to preserve their craft. And they always seem to do so in dangerously tall and remotely situated towers. I can’t think of any specific novels, but I know I’ve rolled dice in at least one role-playing game with a similar backstory.

Cultural Preservation in History

These fictional tales are believable because they are based on actual events that happened in history. Over a thousand years ago, a man named Benedict created enclaves of culture, science, and literature to preserve the best of Roman, Greek, and Judeo-Christian culture. These little enclaves became known as monasteries, and monasticism was born. And we can all thank God for it, since monasticism effectively maintained a light in the dark ages and allowed culture to rebound once a degree of political and legal stability resumed in Europe.

My wife is currently reading a book called The Benedict Option, which looks at what Benedict did and evaluates if a similar method ought to be employed in present times. I’m not a huge non-fiction reader, (I believe truth is sometimes best conveyed in fiction) but the topic sounds interesting enough that I’ll probably pick it up when she’s done.

Cultural Preservation in Present

In a larger context, Christians know this idea resonates, and not just because of recent law-changes or disruption on college campuses. As Christians, we preserve a way of life – a relationship with God – that was lost soon after creation. Despite my tendency to avoid nonfiction, I’ve been reading Jake McCandless’ book Spiritual Prepper (I mean check out the cover, how could I not?). It is a good reminder that although the world is increasingly antagonistic toward us, we are called to preserve our faith. Each of us are little monasteries that preserve a Christian value system foreign to those around us. One might even call us temples. And in large groups, like at a church or a community gathering, we represent a subculture.

So is Western Culture really dying?

That depends how you define it. Some see western civilization’s foundation as secularism and liberalism. And before my conservative friends balk at that, remember that classical liberalism (the idea of disagreeing politely, discussing rather than shutting down ideas, encouraging freedom as long as it doesn’t impede the freedom of others, etc.) has nothing to do with the Democrat party. Just watch the news to see how the so-called Resistance treats people who disagree with their “open-minded” views. Also see Dave Ruben’s video here.

In modern times, the term “Liberal” has been perverted, but secularism has been reigning for quite some time. If western culture was built on a secular ideal, then I’d say it is reaching its natural conclusion. That’s because secularism holds to no higher authority. One cannot claim that murder is wrong (since there is no higher authority to cite), only that one feels murder is wrong. Or that the largest group opinion is that murder is wrong. Or the most vocal group opinion is such.

As for me, I think Western Civilization is best described as an intersection of Greek, Roman, and Jewish cultures. The Greeks brought the idea of logic and reason over emotion, the Romans provided an evenly enforced set of universal laws, and the Jews had a unique value system which valued life, property (even slaves had rights in Jewish culture), and a respect for a higher power to which all people, even kings, were subject. And Christianity was birthed at this same intersection point. For this reason, Christianity and Western Culture are intertwined, each shaping the other.

Do I think that Western Civilization, as I define it, is falling? Yes. Emotion is far more important to most than logic and reason; FBI director James Comey has proved that we no longer have a set of laws universally enforced between ruling class and commoner; and the only religious part of the constitution that progressives cling to is the line about “separation of church and state.” Never mind that that particular phrase isn’t even in the document.

However, there is hope. As I’ve already said, within each Christian is a preserved culture, different from the world. As long as we continue to meet together, encourage one another, and help each other in the faith, then the best development of Western Culture, one that now transcends all local cultures – the restored relationship between God and man – will be preserved.

 

Battletech Galactic Map from: http://operationbulldog.blogspot.com/2010_08_29_archive.html

Benedict Picture from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benedict_of_Nursia

Wizard Tower image copyright Shaun Williams: https://www.3dartistonline.com/image/10248/wizards_tower

Categories
Fantasy-Sci-Fi

The Fantastical Character of Setting

 

“Murder committed on a dark and stormy night.”

“A grouchy widow lives alone in a broken down cottage.”

“The crazy inventor resides inside a windmill that works of its own free-will.”

Three greatly varied scenes, all enhanced in mood by the setting.

Many writers use setting to influence the reader’s emotion for a particular scene or to foreshadow what is later to come. But what about setting as a character itself?

Many writers strive to go beyond the simple cookie-cutter description of setting at the beginning of the story and sprinkle the emotional elements of that setting throughout the work, creating a deeper connection between the reader and characters. Using setting in this way can take the story to another level and can set that story apart from others like it. However, as fantasy writers, we have the opportunity to get even more creative with setting. Because our stories have the ability to go beyond the laws of physics, we can change or twist the setting into its very own unique character.

In Disney’s newest theatrical release, “Moana,” the fantastical world of demi-gods and magic does just that. While it may appear that the majority of the movie takes place on a small boat with a young girl and a demi-god (named Maui), there are actually three characters in each of those scenes. (If you don’t count the chicken!) Time and again the Ocean comes to the forefront, directing and affecting the final outcome of what takes place between Maui and Moana. In fact, it is the character of Ocean that sets Moana on her quest in the first place, when she gives the young girl the “heart of Tafiti” so she can go in search of Maui.

Once on the boat, Maui repeatedly attempts to leave the quest himself—or to force Moana to leave—but is waylaid when Ocean plops each of the main characters right back in their positions on the boat. How’s that for character? Without Ocean, the story would’ve ended before it even began!

As we write our fantasy stories, we have the opportunity to “think outside the box” with our imagination and take setting beyond what may be allowed in a non-fantasy world. In what way can you use your setting to make your story better? Is there an element missing from your work that could be filled with another non-human character? Take time to explore your setting—and the use of it as character. It may be just what your story needs.

Laura L. Zimmerman is a homeschooling mom to three daughters, and a doting wife to one husband. Besides writing, she is passionate about loving Jesus, singing, drinking coffee and anything Star Wars. You can connect with her through Facebook and Twitter and at her website, www.lauralzimmerman.com

Categories
Fantasy-Sci-Fi

The Many Worlds of Sci-fi and Fantasy

 

In what world does your story live?

Sounds like a strange question, doesn’t it? After all, most bookstores are stocked with tales where the action takes place somewhere on Earth, either in present day, or in a historical setting. Most fiction is based on real-life, so it makes sense that we have no other world in which to experience life, right?

Not for sci-fi and fantasy authors! We are the blessed lot that can choose in which world we want our story to come alive. Chances are, this is one of the main reasons we were drawn to the genre in the first place.

What “worlds” are available to such authors? The most obvious would be the one in which we live. However, just because it’s Earth, doesn’t mean it needs to remain ordinary. Futuristic sci-fi takes place right here on Earth, but much further in the future. Yes, the author is confined to the laws of science regarding our planet, but the world would be greatly different than what we know today. The tale may also take place in the past or present. This kind of story can be found in the “Harry Potter” series, written by J.K. Rowling.

Other “worlds” available to fantasy authors are the ones on planets similar to Earth. The physical characteristics of the land, and many of the setting descriptions may sound analogous to that of a country with which we are familiar, but the location is definitely not Earth itself. An example of this would be “The Lord of the Rings” series that encompasses Middle Earth, written by J.R.R. Tolkien. This kind of fiction would also include stories that may begin in our true “real-world” experience, but where the character travels through a passageway leading them to an imagined world of impossible things. Lucy Pevensie experienced this when she walked through the door of her wardrobe in C.S. Lewis’ “The Chronicles of Narnia” series and ended up in the land of Narnia.

Finally, there are the places that are very much unlike our planet Earth—those that are inter-galactic or clearly defy all matters of nature to which we are accustomed. This would cover a good portion of the sci-fi genre and space opera. In these worlds, “the sky is the limit” when it comes to imagination. Not only can the magic or force behind these worlds be varied, but the creatures and abilities of humans can take a far greater leap than the average story. These would include novels such as the “Star Wars” Expanded Universe books, written by various authors.

What worlds have your characters visited recently? Whether you like to keep them close to home, or send them to galaxies “far far away”, within the genre of sci-fi and fantasy, the possibilities of where you can take them, are endless.

Laura L. Zimmerman is a homeschooling mom to three daughters, and a doting wife to one husband. Besides writing, she is passionate about loving Jesus, singing, drinking coffee and anything Star Wars. You can connect with her through Facebook and Twitter and at her website, www.lauralzimmerman.com

Categories
Storyworld

Christian Fantasy and Science Fiction: Alternate Realities

Christian Fantasy
Where is God?

Last month we looked at writing fictitious, sentient creatures within our own universe. In summary, God has a plan for them, but that plan may or may not be similar to the one he has for us. But what if your fictitious world, whether a Christian fantasy novel or a sci-fi one, is governed by completely different fundamental principles?

No, I’m looking at something more fundamental than physics – God.

What if a different God rules your world …

First of all, this doesn’t make you a heretic. It could certainly present some challenges, but if done well, Christians are willing to suspend their disbelief. Plus, non-Christians may be willing to read about worshippers of a fictitious deity even if they’ve been wounded by God’s representatives in this world.

This is especially true of C.S. Lewis’s Narnia series. If you didn’t know (surprisingly, some don’t), Aslan represents our God in Lewis’s fantasy world. However, there is no Bible in the land of Narnia, and the talking animals interact with their creator is differently than us. Most of what we discussed last month still holds true –God had a purpose for his sentient animals, and they never fell from grace so a pathway to redemption wasn’t necessary. Evil does enter the world, but in a different manner and is thus dealt with according to the rules of that world.

Some allegorical books like Hannah Hunard’s Hinds Feet on High Places or John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress use different names to represent our God, but the difference is in name only – in all other respects, God is very recognizable. Generally speaking, if God is in your book under a penname, this is safe and comfortable for the Christian fantasy and sci-fi audience. And just like historical Christian fiction or any other Christian fiction, the key is representing Him correctly.

What if no God exists in your world …

Can you create a godless reality and still honor God with it?

Yes and no.

Stories communicate ideas, and even a story without religious overtones can share virtues and theological notions. R.A. Salvatore’s Icewind Dale trilogy has a character named Drizzt who overcomes prejudice against his dark elven heritage. This noble figure even risks his life to protect those who would like to see him dead. Sound like Jesus? I’m not saying Salvatore is a Christian (I don’t know either way), but if a Christian wrote a similar novel expressing righteousness, he should be proud, even if a god figure isn’t explicit.

[bctt tweet=”Even a story without religious overtones can share virtues and theological notions #storyworld #fantasy” via=”no”]

Similarly, everyone familiar with Timothy Zahn’s Star Wars trilogy (Heir to the Empire etc.) knows of Mara Jade and her conversion experience. This resonates with Christians and non-Christians alike, but only followers of Jesus understand why.

Of course, the most well-known example of Christian fantasy is J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings. Even though the God we know is not present, there are countless metaphors for Christianity contained in the series, and entire books have been written to unpack them. But fans enjoy the series as a fantastic romp in a richly detailed world whether or not they recognize some of Tolkien’s deeper truths.

However, there is a caveat. Since ethics without divine authority are only a matter of opinion, a truly godless reality has no ultimate source of morality. And a world without any morality will be a very, very dark one. I immensely enjoyed reading George R.R. Martin’s Song of Ice and Fire and I highly recommend it to any budding fantasy writers, Christian or not (I promise it isn’t as graphic as HBO’s Game of Thrones). But I wouldn’t want to live south of the Wall, or even visit. Martin excels at portraying the complete and utter depravity of mankind, but without any source of hope, his world’s inhabitants face a bleak existence. A Christian writer should be careful not to delve too far into the dark without any guiding light.

[bctt tweet=”A Christian writer should be careful not to delve too far into the dark without any guiding light #amwriting #redemption” via=”no”]

In summary, if you are a Christian fantasy or science fiction writer, your novel will have allusions to your faith, because it is a part of who you are. This can take the form of an alternately-named version of our own God or by delivering biblical concepts and ideas in the form of righteous characters.

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Storyworld

Christian Science Fiction and Fantasy: Alien Nature

Atheists believe all creatures evolved over countless millennia of bloodshed, allowing only the fittest members of a species to breed. They therefore imagine all sentient life with the same violent nature as humanity, and the same basic need for governance.

But the writer of Christian science fiction and fantasy has a unique perspective on mankind, and therefore also a unique way to imagine inhuman races. That comes from a biblical understanding of the nature of man.

But the first question the Christian needs to ask when writing a work of Christian science fiction or fantasy is this: Does your world even take place in our universe? If so, you have to take certain things into account. Specifically …

[bctt tweet=”Does your world even take place in our universe? #storyworld #scifi #fantasy” via=”no”]

God is in charge and has a purpose

If the God we know from the Bible exists in your fiction, then we know certain things are true. Specifically: God created man intentionally (not accidentally) to have a relationship with him, man rebelled against God, and God allows man to be forgiven.

Understanding these fundamental aspects of humanity will guide you when writing about non-humans in a biblical universe. Why? Because although God gave all creatures a purpose, an alien’s purpose may be very different from our own. Maybe God didn’t create the space-fairies to worship him, but to punish humanity. Scary thought, but it wouldn’t be unprecedented based on the way He used Cyrus in Isaiah’s prophecies.

God so loved [humans] that he gave his only begotten son

Sin and redemption are so intrinsic to humanity that we forget that mankind may be unique in this regard. But have aliens even rebelled against God like humans? Perhaps they had a test like the one in Eden but passed. Obviously their relationship with the Lord would look very different. A great pair of novels that deal with this theoretical issue are Out of the Silent Planet and Perelandra, both Christian science fiction novels by C.S. Lewis.

[bctt tweet=”have aliens even rebelled against God like humans? #storyworld #scifi” via=”no”]

Even if aliens did fall from grace, redemption may look different. God chose a very awesome way to reconcile man to himself, but a different method could be employed to bring otherworldly people to himself. For example, Ted Dekker’s Circle series (Quadrilogy?) had an unusual redemption story for the characters in his alternate reality/ future/ past/ whatever it was.

A sad possibility is that there is no hope for redemption for an alien race. It sounds cruel, but we know of one sentient alien species in our own reality that has fallen members with no hope for salvation. No, not the Rock People from the Noah Movie. Sigh. Angels and Demons. Angels were created for purposes similar to man’s (worshipping God), but somewhere along the line, a third of the angels rebelled against God (just like Adam rebelled). To our knowledge though, their species has not been offered forgiveness. The mercy He grants humanity gives us a unique and humbling position.

 

Before I completely overwhelm you, not all sci-fi and fantasy needs to have aliens or other species. Examples: The Battletech series by Michael A. Stackpole and others, Joss Whedon’s Firefly (ok it’s a TV show, not a book), and Isaac Asimov’s Foundation. But if you’re writing Christian science fiction in our biblical universe and describing fictitious species , you’ll need to consider which aspects of man’s story are unique and which aren’t. Maybe heaven in your book will contain many different species, or maybe not. You don’t have to describe this heavenly display, but you should keep it in mind as an end-goal for your protagonists. At any rate, God’s eternal plan is of supreme importance in human lives, so it at least bears consideration for nonhumans. And a better understanding of humanity’s own (possibly) unique story will help you craft your own.