Foundations of Fantasy: The Epic of Gilgamesh
Ryan Howse
More than any other genre, fantasy tends to examine ancient epics. Whether it’s the study of archetypes and ectypes, or a historical understanding of narrative itself, or simply a desire…
Ryan Howse
Setting as a Character
One of the joys of writing second-world fantasy is the ability to create your own world. You can set up spectacular vistas, ancient empires, mysterious ruins, or whatever else you’d…
Foundations of Fantasy: Beowulf
More than any other genre, fantasy tends to examine ancient epics. Whether it’s the study of archetypes and ectypes, or a historical understanding of narrative itself, or simply a desire…
Edward Willett Interview
Edward Willett is the author of over fifty books, including the Aurora-Award winning science fiction novel Marseguro, the sequel, Terra Insegura (now together in an omnibus edition called The Helix…
Foundations of Fantasy: The Odyssey
More than any other genre, fantasy tends to examine ancient epics. Whether it’s the study of archetypes and ectypes, a historical understanding of narrative itself, or simply a desire to…
Foundations of Fantasy: The Iliad
More than any other genre, fantasy tends to examine ancient epics. Whether it’s the study of archetypes and ectypes, a historical understanding of narrative itself, or simply a desire to…
Matthew Stover Interview
Matthew Stover has written twelve novels–four Star Wars novels, including the novelization of Revenge of the Sith, two Bronze Age historical fantasies named Iron Dawn and Jericho Moon, and the…
Margaret Curelas Acquisitions Editor of Tyche Books Interview
This month, I interviewed Margaret Curelas, Acquisitions Editor of Tyche Books, a Canadian speculative fiction small press publisher. Tyche Books can be found online at tychebooks.com or on twitter @TycheBooks.…
Rules? Where We’re Going We Don’t Need Rules
There’s a strong tendency in critique groups, whether online or in person, or in writing guides, or even just in casual conversation between writers, to talk about The Rules of…
Tuf Voyaging by George R. R. Martin
George R. R. Martin is best known for his high fantasy epic, A Song of Ice and Fire. Yet he is an endlessly inventive writer, and long before ASOIAF, he…
The Table Theory of Characterization
So you’ve written a fantasy novel. It’s full of political intrigue and clashing armies, nefarious wizards and heroic last stands. Now strip all of that away. That rollercoaster of a…
The Rise of Ransom City by Felix Gilman
Harry Ransom is many things to many people: a genius, a con man, an inventor, a sorcerer of the East who stands seven feet tall, even a myth. His most…