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<blockquote data-quote="Mercurius" data-source="post: 8151460" data-attributes="member: 59082"><p>I'm not sure that is true - that "most good fantasy and sci-fi...made commentary on real life." Here I would differentiate between fantasy and sci-fi, which have deeper differences beyond tech and magic that are relevant.</p><p></p><p>Sci-fi is (generally) an extrapolation from our world. It is a possibility of what could be. Fantasy is a different creature, and is an <em>im</em>possibility - of what <em>couldn't</em> be (at least according to our current view of physics).</p><p></p><p>One of the disciplines of good fantasy, in my opinion, is resisting the temptation to overly insert real world stuff into the fantasy world. The key being to "let the world speak for itself." It all has to make sense within the internal logic of the world.</p><p></p><p>So if a fantasy writer inserts, say, commentary on contemporary socio-cultural issues, and it doesn't fit the fantasy milieu, it has a jarring effect and breaks immersion. This also applies to other aspects of writing: dialogue that adheres to our own world, say American slang, or figures of speech that refer to real world ideas.</p><p></p><p>I'm not saying that a writer can't incorporate some of those things, whether intentionally or not, and still write a good fantasy. But that it is a matter of degree. I just think this is an element of fantasy that is under-acknowledged, but crucial to creating fantasy worlds and stories.</p><p></p><p>I vaguely remember Tolkien "erring" in this manner more frequently in <em>The Hobbit, </em>which was a far less serious work than <em>The Lord of the Rings, </em>and a much simpler tale.</p><p></p><p></p><p>Yes, I understand that - although, again, I think his commentary was minimal, and mostly unintentional. I would add another point of difference: between intentional commentary and influence through one's life experiences.</p><p></p><p>Tolkien, like most/all great secondary world fantasists, let the world and story speak for itself. As a general rule I don't think he incorporated ideas and dialogue unless it made sense within the context of the world and story.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Mercurius, post: 8151460, member: 59082"] I'm not sure that is true - that "most good fantasy and sci-fi...made commentary on real life." Here I would differentiate between fantasy and sci-fi, which have deeper differences beyond tech and magic that are relevant. Sci-fi is (generally) an extrapolation from our world. It is a possibility of what could be. Fantasy is a different creature, and is an [I]im[/I]possibility - of what [I]couldn't[/I] be (at least according to our current view of physics). One of the disciplines of good fantasy, in my opinion, is resisting the temptation to overly insert real world stuff into the fantasy world. The key being to "let the world speak for itself." It all has to make sense within the internal logic of the world. So if a fantasy writer inserts, say, commentary on contemporary socio-cultural issues, and it doesn't fit the fantasy milieu, it has a jarring effect and breaks immersion. This also applies to other aspects of writing: dialogue that adheres to our own world, say American slang, or figures of speech that refer to real world ideas. I'm not saying that a writer can't incorporate some of those things, whether intentionally or not, and still write a good fantasy. But that it is a matter of degree. I just think this is an element of fantasy that is under-acknowledged, but crucial to creating fantasy worlds and stories. I vaguely remember Tolkien "erring" in this manner more frequently in [I]The Hobbit, [/I]which was a far less serious work than [I]The Lord of the Rings, [/I]and a much simpler tale. Yes, I understand that - although, again, I think his commentary was minimal, and mostly unintentional. I would add another point of difference: between intentional commentary and influence through one's life experiences. Tolkien, like most/all great secondary world fantasists, let the world and story speak for itself. As a general rule I don't think he incorporated ideas and dialogue unless it made sense within the context of the world and story. [/QUOTE]
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