Comments on: What Makes A Good Fantasy Book Good http://www.bestfantasybooks.com/blog/what-makes-a-good-fantasy-book-good/ Science fiction and fantasy book reviews, discussions, and news. Sun, 27 Nov 2011 14:03:42 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Abdul Jaafari http://www.bestfantasybooks.com/blog/what-makes-a-good-fantasy-book-good/comment-page-1/#comment-698 Abdul Jaafari Thu, 21 Jul 2011 06:05:33 +0000 http://www.bestfantasybooks.com/blog/?p=22#comment-698 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 It's just as engaging to me to learn about crafts, especially those that are now outdated, as it is to hear the parts about magic.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..." 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 It’s just as engaging to me to learn about crafts, especially those that are now outdated, as it is to hear the parts about magic.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…”

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