Fantasy Meme (it's been around LJ)

[author_by_night]

Eleven things I will strive my best never to put in a fantasy novel/fanfiction:

1. One dimensionalism, unless it's the point of a character. Sadly, some people just are. But most people have layers, and I will make this clear in the story.

2. Racist metaphors. They used to be a popular trend in older fantasy, and it bugs me when I notice them.

3. "Girl will die without a guy." There's a reason I didn't like most fairy tales as a kid, and some fantasy that I've seen still has that theme. Yes, love is great, but the girl is competent without one.

4. Sooper gurl. My characters will not fight in a metal bikini, be able to kill with their magcal fingernails, and they won't snog everything that moves.

5. "Well these are BAD BAD people because they come from a BAD BAD town/school/whatever." 100 out of 100 people cannot all be horrible. That's one of the things I actually don't about Harry Potter - the established "fact" that all Slytherins are EVOL. Granted, JK Rowling has said that's not her intention, but that's still how she writes it.

6. A place that's not our place - a different planet - but is exactly like ours with no explanation. This isn't because such plots are bad ;  it's because I simply cannot suspend disbelief that much. There are some exceptions, but not many; my universe, if I ever write it, is going to be in this one, but like in Harry Potter, one "we" simply can't see. I just can't understand how another world altogether could still have the same sort of people, the same class systems, the same type of government... to me, it makes no sense. There has to be some sort of way for the world to fit, even though it does still involve some degree of disbelief suspension.

7. Love triangles, unless it's in character. You can't make a really sweet Princess lead on two men. A cruel one, yes,  even a ditzy one, but one who's simply too nice to choose? Give me a break.

8. Only romance matters plots. Now, I'm all for all-romance, and I'm not saying romance shouldn't matter - it should. But plots where everyone can die, and the lovers are fine, but then one of them breaks a finger and the other lover goes insane... it just baffles me.

9. The character is raped and enjoys it, or forgives her rapist because "he didn't mean it." First, nobody wants to be raped. Second, a rapist can't not "mean it" - that's not possible, and I'm not going to go into detail why (I don't think I need to anyhow), but it isn't possible.

10. The character is flawless. Nobody can be flawless.

11. Rip-offs. Yes, most fantasy stories all have a similar theme, especially in terms of types of characters (the "slightly absent" father/mother figure, the mentor who dies, the companion(s), the reluctant character), but taking from every fantasy novel out there and putting it into my story? Absolutely not right.

Comments

[ehnel.livejournal.com]

That's one of the things I actually don't about Harry Potter - the established "fact" that all Slytherins are EVOL. Granted, JK Rowling has said that's not her intention, but that's still how she writes it.

I don't think she does write it like that. At least, not that they're evil. Slytherins seem to be people who don't hide their contempt for others if they feel it, but they are not written under the blanket tag of evil. It's Harry's POV/perception which makes them look like that - not JKR. I really don't think she does write them as all evil, at all. There's a difference. And in fact, Draco is an excellent example of Slytherins NOT being under the blanket tag of evil. Yes, he's a nasty brat, but, as JKR herself put it, (roughly paraphrased) he's talked the talk and now he's got to walk the walk. And he doesn't like it. That doesn't argue him as pure evil now, does it? And Slughorn - no one could call him particularly lovely, but I defy anyone to call him evil.

Granted, the evil people in the books all seem to be Slytherins. People from that House do have more of a propensity to turn bad. But I think this is in great part because they're rejected by the other three Houses. They don't intermingle, they spend their seven years of their lives fighting the other houses, and in fighting them automatically growing a dislike of their general qualities (bravery/intelligence/loyalty) and a love of their own (cunning). People aren't just born evil - at least, very very few people. Made, not born. Nurture, not nature.

... That was longer than I thought it would be. :D

I like the rest of your list, btw. :)

[author-by-night.livejournal.com]

Well, the thing is though, there are cases where Slytherins have the opportunity to show other sides, and don't. That said, I see your point.

But you're right... some are probably "conditioned" to those feelings. And in fairness, Harry IS the main point of view here, and my Dad was actually telling me about a book he read where this character thought he understood all the things that happened to him, when really, his point of view was wrong.

[ehnel.livejournal.com]

my Dad was actually telling me about a book he read where this character thought he understood all the things that happened to him, when really, his point of view was wrong.

I just love books like that. What was it called? I'd be interested to know. Books that do sneaky things with the main POV are so fascinating. My favourite is A Quantum Murder by Peter Hamilton. Not at all my usual style of reading (it's mid-21st century SF, quite hardcoreish) but dude, the solution is so gob-smacking and sneaky ...

Anyway. [/offtopic]

[valerie-valerah.livejournal.com]

I liked the meme a lot. I won't steal it because I would just end up writing the same thing as you :P I do have to make a comment, however, on this: Granted, JK Rowling has said that's not her intention, but that's still how she writes it.

I think she writes it like that because it's from Harry's very limited point of view. In his mind, all Slytherins are evil, and you can't really tell him otherwise. I would like to see an example of a "good" Slytherin, although I think we did get one in HBP: Slughorn. I actually liked him, although I know a lot of people in the fandom didn't (including Harry, lol). He was a bit obnoxious, but he also seemed like an overall good guy. I would still like to see a "good" example of a Slytherin among the kids, though. After HBP, I don't think redeemed!Draco would be too jarring.

I like the last point you made. In all writing, especially fantasies, there's a fine line between using a well-known archetype and making it your own and ripping off something another author has done. You have a character who is the wise old mentor to your main character? Fine. You have a character called Bumblefore who wears half-moon specs and enjoys eating lemon drops? Rip off.

[author-by-night.livejournal.com]

Believe me, I have read books where they had "Bumblefore" type rip-offs.

For the Slytherin thing, see above. :)

[ehnel.livejournal.com]

Enjoying reading your list again. More comments to add [enthusiastically agreeing with all your points and ranting along with you], because it's 23.11 and I'm in the weird state of being utterly exhausted and incapable of sleep.

The whole wise-old mentor thing annoys me. It's overdone. Even if a writer writes them REALLY WELL, I still clench my teeth and wail, "Why can't someone write a wise mentor who is not old/a prostitute/an alcoholic for once?"

Actually, that's one of the fun things about David Eddings' Belgariad series. Belgarath is the wise old mentor but he's also very fond of his drink, a bit of a thief, and a definite vagrant. Yay refreshing!

Flawless protagonist is TEH YICK. How is a reader meant to empathise with them?! That's the whole point of the protagonist, that the reader connects in some way.

The whole rape thing? So with you. People who write scenarios where the rapist and victim end up as One True Loves just have to be off their nut. Originally I'd have said they'd be more likely to be men, too, but that was before I read a mainstream saga-romance by a very popular author (Meg Hutchinson) which was doing this whole scenario. It was revolting. Can't believe it was published.

Re: Sooper Girl. Oh gods, she should, in ANY incarnation, be murdered at birth. What ARE the practical values of a metal bikini? None. At. All. Plus, nine times out of ten they totally don't fit with the clothing culture of the fantasy world. Sooper Girl is invariably aggravating, not least because she winds up with Noble Hero. I pity Noble Hero. He'll be going around trying to do hero-ish things, and he'll just be upstaged by Sooper Girl.

Also, Sooper Girl, despite her attire, is nearly invariably a virgin. This bugs me for some reason.

Whee, that was fun. I love bitching about fantasy pet peeves. :D

Oh, and I just saw - in your subject line! - it's a meme! Oh, that's awesome. So stealing it! I think it must be my hormones, I'm feeling so prone to ranting this evening. :D

[author-by-night.livejournal.com]

I'll go read your list, and comment there! :)