Interesting thoughts to apply to fantasy and horror, eh?
Category: fantasy
Need some good books to read this year?
Polygon’s list of the best books of 2020:
https://www.polygon.com/22220762/best-books-2020-sci-fi-fantasy
I think this will be a good start for adding more books to my READ THIS BOOK list! 🙂
‘If the aliens lay eggs, how does that affect architecture?’: sci-fi writers on how they build their worlds | Books | The Guardian
Interesting discussions about world-building, from a diverse collection of writers – Alastair Reynolds, Nnedi Okorafor, M. John Harrison, etc.
Something to keep in mind when creating new cultures
For us science fiction and fantasy writers.
Mary Astell called out ‘bad custom’ centuries ahead of her time
Announcing the 2018 World Fantasy Award Winners | Tor.com
https://www.tor.com/2018/11/04/announcing-the-2018-world-fantasy-award-winners/#more-406625
Obviously some of the authors are winners, but regardless of that, I copypasted the list of winners and nominees into my list of books to read.
And you should, too, if you like fantasy.
Results of a writers block exercise
Tonight’s Sisters in Crime meeting had a ‘writers block’ exercise: take 3 different images and write a story based on them in 10 minutes.
My three photos were all from a small town in Greenland:
- A picture of a hotdog stand owned by a man from Denmark
- A group of girls dancing traditional Greenland dances
- A view of the town’s small fishing port
My results have kind of a Grendel vibe to it, and a noir aspect courtesy of reading some French noir fiction recently:
Tired of his bridge, the Danish troll opened a hot dog stand. Right near the port where tourists came to eat hot dogs and watch traditional dances.
His mother, who still lived in the water of the port, stole crabs and fish from the fishermen, and children from the tourists.
One day, he ran out of hot dogs.
He called to his mother in ancient Trollish: “I need one of your children.”
“No, I’ve eaten the last one. Get your own!”
No threat to any of this year’s Pulitzer Prize winners, but fun. And having fun writing certainly makes dealing with writers block easier!
Ursula K Le Guin: US fantasy author dies at home in Oregon – BBC News
Rest well, Ursula! And thank you for teaching me that great fantasy is never just about the fantasy. It illuminates the real world, too.
Here at the End of All Things
Lengthy read about fantasy maps:
Sad that the author seems to not be aware of maps that have been part of science fiction universes.
Giant space snakes that quote Shakespeare?
Yes, science fiction is still fun!
While you’re there at Daily Science Fiction, subscribe to get a new story via email (Monday-Friday), and check out their submission guidelines. They’re a market for fantasy, science fiction, and a number of similar/related subgenre stories, as well as science fiction art.
Something all of us who create with words should think about
While there is wordless thought, words frame thought.
Words communicate thought.
Words create community.
God created all things with words.
Words are power.
Now go read about words of creation:
Words of Creation at Daily Science Fiction