Fantasy, as a genre has its great strengths – new worlds, interesting systems
of magic, sweeping adventure. But it also has its problems. For example, the world tends to end a lot. Think
Lord of the Rings. The Avengers. Stephen King’s Dark Tower series. The Stand. Most Stephen
King novels, actually.
This is especially problematic in
fantasy series. I first started thinking about this while I was reading the
sixth book in Jim Butcher’s Harry Dresden series. I mean, I’m only on the sixth book, and I
think Harry has saved the world from ending about three times so far.
So how do you keep upping the tension and the stakes in a series, without falling
into the end of the world trap? (Or the Anita Blake trap –how many new men will
Anita add to her harem this time??) I think it's important to remember that the world doesn't have to end for people to care about characters or a plot. There are so many smaller things that can end. Our lives and identities can be very fragile - how much would it take for your character's life to end as he/she knows it? Or their loved one's life? That, in my mind, creates as much tension as any global crisis.
It took a lot less space to say that than I thought it would, so to round out the post, here's a picture of some ducklings:
From flickr, shared under a creative commons license. Taken by www.thegoodlifefrance.com
Awww - those ducklings are adorable! You wouldn't believe it, but I was thinking about this same thing just yesterday. I'm searching for a 'pushing-factor' for my new WIP and the first thing that popped into my head was 'destruction on mankind.' But how boring is that? EVERYONE seems to use it. Amazing that the world could exist so long ;)
ReplyDeleteI found a Windows 7 duckling theme for my work computer. I save it for those really, really awful, stressful days.
DeleteIt is amazing how our world persists, isn't it? And people make such noise about small potential changes - that's been on my mind a lot during election season. Perhaps I should spend much more time as a writer contemplating how even tiny changes could end in disaster.
On the other hand, a villain whose evil plan is to make sure that supermarkets no longer exist just doesn't carry the same weight, does it?
It's almost like we were thinking about the same post. Except not. :) Great post, Sabrina!
ReplyDeleteAll stories are about world ending. Perhaps it's only the main characters "personal world" that will end but it's all the same.
ReplyDeleteRight, but it's the physical world ending that can get tiresome. There are so many different ways that our personal worlds can end. Ending of the social life, loss of a loved one, threats to our individuality, threats to our identity... those possibilities don't, to me, get old.
DeleteVery thought provoking post. I know that teens love to feel that they can change the world (I certainly did), and I think that may be one reason why the 'save the world/crush the dystopian government/defeat the evilest evil ever' memes in YA lit resonate so much. It gives power to their dreams.
ReplyDeleteGreat post!
That was certainly true for me as well; I dreamed of changing the world. But I love the way you phrase that, to give power to their dreams. Thinking about it in that way will keep me occupied for the weekend!
DeleteReminds me of a line in Buffy that really stood out to me: one of the characters (I don't remember which) says they never thought they would need to know the plural for 'apocalypse.'
ReplyDeleteOh man, I totally forgot about that. Lines like those have always been my favorite part of Joss Whedon's shows.
DeleteIt's sad when a story is cookie-cutter "protagonist vs antagonist with the fate of the world hanging in the balance," but Adam's right. It might only be the character's world at stake, but ultimately that's what boils down to.
ReplyDeleteBrilliant and timely post, Sabrina.
ReplyDeleteAll problems can be solved with pictures of cute ducks. :)
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you. Sometimes I find saving the world stakes boring. I don't care that much about an imaginary world. Personal stakes are much more interesting, IMO.
I do love how Buffy the Vampire Slayer made fun of all their impending Apocalypses, but all their world endings also contained personal stakes for Buffy and her friends. I love Buffy.