The Fantasy Novelist's Exam

[khaosworks]

"Ever since J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis created the worlds of Middle Earth and Narnia, it seems like every windbag off the street thinks he can write great, original fantasy, too. The problem is that most of this "great, original fantasy" is actually poor, derivative fantasy. Frankly, we're sick of it, so we've compiled a list of rip-off tip-offs in the form of an exam. We think anybody considering writing a fantasy novel should be required to take this exam first. Answering "yes" to any one question results in failure and means that the prospective novel should be abandoned at once."

Don't necessarily agree with all of its no-nos, but amusing nonetheless.

Comments

[cheshyre]

Have you read The Tough Guide to Fantasy Land?
Sounds like you would enjoy it.

[khaosworks.livejournal.com]

I confess that aside from reading The Lord of the Rings and The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant in my misspent adolescence (and Narnia and Prydain) I've never been much of a fantasy reader. I much prefer send-ups of the genre, like Pratchett.

That being said, I've been told that Tough Guide is a send up of the genre, so I might check it out one of these days. Thanks!

[rimrunner.livejournal.com]

It is. Or, well, it's a send-up of guidebooks as well as of the genre, sort of.

The entry on horses alone is worth the price of the book: "Horses are of a breed unique to Fantasyland. They are capable of galloping full-tilt all day without a rest. Sometimes they do not require food or water. They never cast shoes, go lame or put their hooves down holes, except when the Management deems it necessary, as when the forces of the DARK LORD are only half an hour behind."

It goes on like that. Really funny stuff.