Progress Report: Rough Draft Done!

I've just finished the rough draft of The Lady Moons. This story was a little tougher to write than the previous three books. It deals with themes of gray areas, as we are apt to say these days. It isn't quite the straight forward adventure story like the last three.

There is Right, there is Wrong and then there are those areas where you have to use your own conscience about what to do in a "gray" situation. In this particular story, there are things that are good, things we like and recognize as nice and pleasant and then there are other things that we don't like - but they may be just as necessary in life. Some things may at first seem bad but aren't, and then we all know of something that seems good at first but turns out to be anything but. Children encounter this as well and they have to come to terms with it, just like adults.

How do you explain these things to children? I know it isn't easy and I don't have children of my own which makes dealing with these kinds of themes especially tricky. The main character, Anne, must navigate a few of these gray areas, all the while navigating her way through the 'perilous realm', as Tolkien might call it, though he may look askance at my so-called perilous realm and wonder what's with all of these Tinkerbell fairies!

In any case, the first draft is done.All that needs finishing is the sample chapter for the next book in the series and then editing. Lots of editing.

Science Fiction Or Fantasy?

I have a lot of stories that I want to tell. One of them has been brewing in the back of my mind for some years now. I've always thought of it as a science fiction story but the more I think on it, I have to change how I think about the genre it will be categorized in. It really is going to be a work of fantasy with science fiction elements.

Why? Let me explain. Science fiction deals strictly with the natural world, or that is what my current understanding of the genre tells me. Fantasy, on the other hand, deals with myth and the supernatural, be they ghosts, demons, gods, or God - and here is my point: this next trilogy I plan to write most certainly deals with God. He, like the God I worship, is not bound by natural laws and He exists outside of time and space. Although the story will deal primarily with politics, war, social themes, intrigues and rising technology it also deals with prophets, religion and God. There will be no magic, vampires, elves, fairies, zombies, werewolves or the like in this story. Still, that three letter word changes the genre.

Another thing I have noticed is that many fans of fantasy have increasingly become militant about wanting their fantasy to be realistic/historical or set in a more natural world. It is as if they are trying to strip fantasy of the supernatural. According to the popular belief today as I understand it, magical systems are supposed to be explained as if one is dealing in scientific endeavor. Many of these people don't like and don't want to see talking trolls or animals in certain works or any fairy tale elements of any kind. Personally, I'm offended by this. Fantasy, myth and fairy tale will always be entertwined. There is no way to separate the three and to try to do so in some misguided attempt to bring the rational to what is necessarily the irrational, the dream, the myth is silly. If these kinds of things integral to fantasy bother a person, then perhaps they should stick to science fiction. Fantasy by its very definition is supernatural storytelling. It deals directly and engages the creatures and beings that inhabit the supernatural world.

I don't have an issue with rigid, science-like standards for magical systems, if that's what the author has chosen to write about in the story. But ultimately for me scientific laws in fantasy don't make much sense since magic does not follow natural law. That's why it is magic. If it does follow scientific laws, it is no longer magic but mere technology and if things in a fantasy world are explained away through science, it is not fantasy.

Therefore, a book that deals with a supernatural being, no matter how many other science fiction elements are in the story is a work of fantasy. I think I'm finally fine with that. After all, even though I love both, I have always preferred fantasy.

Making Changes

Guess what folks?

It looks like Blogger has finally broken me down! I'm going to be making some changes to my template, finally, after all of these years of blogging. They are slowly pushing those of us on Blogger to update our templates and I see that the time has finally come for me. What will the new face look like? Hopefully the same or very similar. We'll see. But I won't be posting anything here until next week. if you want to catch updates you can see me on Facebook!

See you later!