Lawrence Watt-Evans, author of The Wizard Lord and the upcoming sequel, The Ninth Talisman, lists six rules of fantasy by which a reader or writer can understand the genre a little better, as well as get a clearer idea of how to go about writing a fantasy story
- Watt-Evans’ First Law of Fantasy: Stories are about people.
- Watt-Evans’ Second Law of Fantasy: People are never wholly good or wholly evil, and therefore characters should never be wholly good or wholly evil.
- Watt-Evans’ Third Law of Fantasy: The basic human motivations are universal.
- Watt-Evans’ Fourth Law of Fantasy: Everything other than the basic human motivations will vary, depending on the cultural setting.
- Watt-Evans’ Fifth Law of Fantasy: Magic, like everything else, has rules.
- Watt-Evans’ Sixth Law of Fantasy: If a story can be written without a fantasy element, then don’t bother with the fantasy element.
Some of these I read and said, “Well, obviously.” Some, however, I want to argue with, at least in my own head. And since this blog really is an extension of said head, you get front row seats to this feud. No refunds, I’m afraid.
Self (S): Wait a minute, Rule #6! Who says that if a story can be written without a fantasy element, then that fantasy element might as well be discarded?
Devil’s-Advocate Self (DAS): Isn’t it obvious? He explains it right at the end of the page. Why throw in random fantasy plot points just to confuse the issue? The fantasy must be central to the story, otherwise it’s just weird-looking window dressing, and the reader will get the sense that the world in which the story takes place doesn’t even have the potential to be “real,” and so they won’t really care about any of the struggles the characters undergo.
S: But can’t you take a normal story and dress it up with fantasy elements for the sole purpose of making the story more interesting and colorful? Maybe a bit surreal? Spice up Romeo and Juliet by making her a vampiress at the end. A nasty little spin on a boring old romance.
DAS: What’s the point, unless her being a vampiress changes their relationship in a drastic way? Why not just tell the story straight out, so the reader isn’t confused by all the magical going-ons that keep screwing with the protagonist? It’d be a whole lot of trouble for nothing of consequence. It’s more work for the author too.
S: So you’re saying that a good fantasy has to have its magical elements intertwined with whatever decisions the characters end up following?
DAS: Exactly. If the only thing capable of lopping off the evil overlord’s head is a magic sword, then by gosh and golly, that magic sword better be a decisive plot device, and not just some tin toy pulled out of a child’s play trunk right before the final act. Otherwise the hero could grab up any old sword and finish the story by chapter three, instead of having to hunt the world over for the magic sword, while growing up from a scullery boy into a legendary warrior. See? Magical elements can stimulate character growth, but only if they’re essential to the plot.
S: There’s a whole bunch of people eavesdropping on this argument, you know.
DAS: Of course. That’s why it’s so entertaining to see you be proven utterly trashed by my flawless logic.
S: All right. You were okay for being a devil’s advocate, but once we devolve into insults, I think you need to step down.
DAS: Nothing doing.
S: Stop being argumentative for the sake of arguing.
DAS: But it’s what I was made for! Unless I oppose your every position, I’ll cease to exist.
S: No you won’t.
DAS: Yes, I will.
S: No.
DAS: Yes.
S: The sky is blue.
DAS: More teal, I think. Are you sure you aren’t color blind?
S: Can we wrap this up in private?
DAS: Oh, afraid of being proven wrong again?
S: Until next time, folks. If you’ve got some differing opinions on these rules, let me know. I see that smile.
DAS: No you don’t.
S: Oh, shut up.