What Makes A Good Fantasy Book Good
How to tell what makes a good fantasy book good
In my last post, I gave some tips on how to find a good fantasy book. But how do you know what actually makes a good fantasy book, well, good? Read on to find out!
1: Fantasy Books Must Scream Originality
In this day and age, fantasy is so derivative, so cliché, that it’s an odious process to find compelling works of fantasy fiction. You literally have to dig through tons of mud to find a flake of gold.
I can’t tell you how many dark lords and village boy tales I’ve read, but it numbers in the hundreds at least. A good fantasy book these days must be original in some way – the definition of “original” is left up to the author, but the book must in some way differentiate itself from the pack. The story can use “cliché” fantasy conceits (village boys, dark lords, orcs, elves, fairies ,vampires, etc), but there better be some sort of twist on the conceit somewhere – the last thing someone wants to read is a re-write of the last book they read…
When you pick that novel up, pay close attention to the plot summary on the flap jacket (or back). Does the story scream originality? The greatest fantasy books will literally be oozing originality from the moment you pick it up. If you don’t get this impression, well, you may very well do best to move on to the next book.
2: Fantasy Books Must Draw You Into Their World
The whole premise of fantasy is to bring you draw you into an imaginary world where you can easily suspend your disbelief. The world drawn by the author must be interesting. Various fantasy subgenre’s have certain “tricks” to accomplish this. For example, Epic Fantasy authors usually create a vast world with conflicting people and cultures and mysterious places – something that keeps you, the reader, guessing what’s over the horizon. A good fantasy book will have a vividly realized world with internal rules that restrict rampant deus ex machina.
3: Fantasy Books Must Have a well-drawn, unique magic system
Some fantasy books are a lot of magic and others choose to minimize magic presence in favor of plot (George Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire for example). But fantasy books that do engage in rampant magic usage (such as Wheel of Time), must have a well-drawn, preferably unique, coherent magical system. I can only think of a couple books off the top of my head that actually have a unique magic system: Dave Farland’s The Runelords
4: Fantasy Books must have strong characterization
One of the signs of a great novel is the strength of characterization. Fantasy and science fiction have a bit more leeway (especially science fiction) in this regard as some authors focus on presenting an idea or notion; the book then becomes a medium to express the author’s ideas. Isaac Asimov, famous science fiction author, did this with his Foundation Novels
A book with a good characterization will draw the author the reader more deeply into the story, make the reader care more about the story and characters. What do I mean by characterization? The characters should have realistic relationships with each other. Readers don’t want to read about cardboard characters interacting with each other on a two-dimensional plane. We want to read about real people with real conflicts and problems – issues that mirror our own reality.
A fantasy book can be set in some fantastical place not aligned with our own daily reality, but as long as the people in the book seem like real people with real relationships and a real connection to their world, it’s believable. Books that lack this better have a damn impressive concept or idea, otherwise the book is as boring as mowing the lawn.
So, now you know what makes a good fantasy book good. Now go out and find a good fantasy book to read!
If you have any more suggestions on how to tell what makes a fantasy book good, I’d love to hear from you in the comment section.
1) agree
2) agree
3) I don’t agree. Examples that come to mind are Perdido Street Station and Gemmell’s Troy series. Magic can help to give the word a bit of mystique but ultimately a strong story can come over that. Mieville is a prime example where his story encapsulates us….which leads to my next point….
4) I felt that Perdido didn’t have strong characterizations, I never really cared too much about the characters or dis/liked any of them, but I really loved the story and the world he created. However in saying that, strong characterization is a major plus
p.s.
It’s Brandon Sanderson, not Brian
Comment by Jon Snow — January 17, 2009 @ 5:39 pm
I am very interested in systems of Magic! Thank you for those suggestions. I think characterization is more important than people think. However, I feel that in F&SF (both genres), people can really easily absorb oblique characterization and be more or less satisfied with it as long as the rest of it, (theme, plot, description, technology, magic, etc.) is intriguing enough. As you’ve pointed out, one of the greats does poorly in one area. I find that many authors in the F&SF genres often omit some part of the craft. But this doesn’t necessarily destroy them as authors. Additionally, many people, greats included, show an evolution, or at least a dabbling in, different writing styles.
So while, many people are going to favor some craft over another part: I think the consensus among the editorial readership is that new writings need characterization. However, in the others, the writing just needs to succeed in other areas, more or less. In short, I agree with both Mr. Snow, and you Mr. admin. Thanks for the article, and discussion.
Comment by O. M. — January 17, 2010 @ 8:31 pm
I pretty much agree with you, although I don’t necessarily think that you need to use a lot of magic. I think that people turn to Fantasy just for a little escapism, but the place you escape too still has to be at least similar to the reality you know.
I suppose any fantasy is going to have some sort of a mystical element however. Sort of like how Batman is a super hero even though he doesn’t have super powers necessarily.
Comment by Walter Rhein — November 10, 2010 @ 5:15 pm
I agree, mostly, but wanted to add this observation. One thing I feel is often neglected is the reality of the world. It’s just as engaging to me to learn about crafts, especially those that are now outdated, as it is to hear the parts about magic.
My favorite authors treat magic as though it’s another craft like any other.
One thing I love about L. E. Modesitt, Jr’s work is that he takes into account the commonplace occupations a person would have. There’s magic, but there’s also a story beyond the magic. One of his characters becomes a great wizard, but before that he was a cooper. Others include work in a lumber mill, a scrivener, woodworking, smithing, and being in a Roman-style military.
I think you’re overlooking something that Robert Jordan and David Drake both did, which I hated. They have endlessly meandering stories. Drake was worst, with doorways to alternate dimensions always opening at random and ensnaring his characters. I’ve said the series should just be called, “And then this happened…”
Comment by Abdul Jaafari — July 21, 2011 @ 1:05 am