Fantasy Novels + the Theory of Inverse Detail

[TheRebelEye]

If you want to put together a book with me and a group of other people, we could most likely make it pretty good. I do great with combat, combat clothing, weapons, etc. Mostly with that sort of stuff. My last book was like a DnD Campaign.

[ZombieToaster]

Character development is overrated. I mean, not that its bad but that not all books need tons of it. Take 2001 a space odyssey by Arthur C Clarke. Its my favourite book of all time but it has nearly no character development for any of the characters.

[rush20492002]

hmmm, I find it interesting that I like a lot of the books in that list.... maybe I should look for more fantasy with more finely detailed worlds.

[dilinca]

well dang it...rewrite...xD

[shakthemighty]

you are beautiful. i love your insight on all things fantasy.

[TaliesinKyte]

Well, in fairness, playing the protagonist as an everyman DOES tend to appeal to a broader audience of readers. The casual reader wants a stable hero and a world that doesn't confuse them. A nonthreatening read. If things are too frenetic or unclear, the book may be dropped. So to some extent, it's just salesmanship, particularly in the children's books that make up most of your list. I mean, they're hardly marketing it to hardcore, discerning fantasy fans who'll read it anyway, are they?

[drmartinsboots]

less of a theory more of an obvious observation, least you put thought in the name if not the theory itself

[Chad01234]

You bring up fascinating points. As an amateur writer I have to really look into this :) ty.

[EcrireFreeze]

Considering what I can see of what you like--I recommend Anne Bishop (Black Jewels books especially, but all her others are amazing, too) And she beats your theory of inverse detail by, in your words, being awesome.

[ClaudiaVice]

@EcrireFreeze As a matter of fact, I've been meaning to read those!

[ClaudiaVice]

This is an almost 10-minute video of me talking about books. WHY ARE YOU WATCHING THIS lol

[dilinca]

@ClaudiaVice because we love books, of course!

[arashisora]

....and yet you ignored Lord of the Rings? What gives?! That's the only series you could use to sell me your theory! ; P

[ClaudiaVice]

Ha, good point. I don't read a lot of high fantasy, but I feel I should probably give Lord of the Rings a chance considering they're, y'know, LORD OF THE RINGS and all.

[punchyscribbler]

Speaking of fantasies, nice body.

[pharmajoe990]

The first fantasy I read was written by Robin Hobb, the series was the Farseer Trilogy. That was about 9 years ago now, and I still haven't found anything as enthralling since (not to say there isn't loads of other great Fantasy writers out there). Personally I didn't like Harry Potter at all. I agree with your theory, great vid!

[09Teamextream]

if you realy want a good fantasy book get The Night Angel trilogy they are three great books writen by brent weeks. they were great great great reads! if you like them enough brent weeks is coming out with another book The Black Prisim Aug 25 10

[authorgirl87]

You have some interesting theories... But DAMN- how much fantasy fiction have you written? And the Harry Potters and the Tristrams and the Richard Mayhews represent a certain hero archetype- they start out a little weak and ignorant to the ways of a new world and grow throughout the course of the saga. Think King Arthur and Luke Skywalker. Besides Harry Potter was not emo in book 5. The cutting was not recreational self mutilation... I totally agree with you about Bella though.

[metrov123]

check out "falcon lord" here on youtube. Thanks

[DrugsForRobots]

Nothing against LotR, but it sounds like the epitome of your Inverse Detail Theory.

Flat, static characters + massive and detailed world.

[Poisonedbythebeast]

Uhhh...Twilight isn't fantasy...it's a paranormal romance...

[stephen3K]

she obviously doesnt know anything about the fantasy genre. she is putting the harry potter seires in with the likes of a true fantasy writers like raymond e feist and david gemmel, which is a totally different kind of book. very commercial and marketed for kids.watched 3 minutes before to realise how stupid these analogies were detailed through some kind of badly conveyed theory u sucked out of yr thumb.This of course lead to the inevitable, hot air spew that was this video.

[Balthemos]

my favourites;

Sword of truth-Goodkind

Rigante series-Gemmell

Black magician-Canavan

Riftwar-Feist

[theycallmeonion]

You make some good points.

[johnleopoldtwice]

Loved Wheel of Time, wasn't too hot on the Dark Tower but have to put Who is Charlie Keeper? above and beyond everything else :)

[godglock55]

Not a very big fan of epic fantasy???

[ClaudiaVice]

Depends...? XD I don't really know, give me some examples.

[godglock55]

Sword of Truth, Wheel of Time, Belgariad, The Hythrun Chronicles, The Symphony of Ages, Song of Ice and Fire, Farseer trilogy, Boreal Moon, Aiden's Cauldron, Memory Sorrow and Thorn. That kind of stuff

[ClaudiaVice]

Ha, actually I just haven't happened to read any. One of my friends is trying to get me into Song of Ice and Fire though, and everything about it sounds pretty great.

[godglock55]

Well you should read all those books, Aiden's Cauldron in particular; it's amazing, it's what got me into the genre.

[xmiraclemilex]

ASoIaF is actually amazing. If you haven't read them yet, you really should (:

[Annabookgirl]

Some good points.Don't dump on sabriel as a book, I admit the character is slightly bland, but that's a personer sabriel has, if she doesn't remain in control and hide her feelings she would not get very far. Lirael is my favourite though, I think the character developement happens in Lirael and the action happens in Abhorsen, that's why he had time to do a lot of character developing in Lirael, in Sabriel he didn't have very much time for that as he had to get the plot done in one book.

[HarryEtTubMan]

Wouldn't Stephen King's 'The Dark Tower' Epic Saga be considered an Epic Fantasy?? Please do tell, I'm curious.

[godglock55]

Yeah, I guess it would. Although I never particularly liked that series, the writing was great I just couldn't get into the story.

[HarryEtTubMan]

Gosh darn, you should give it one more shot, the first novel is by far the most "ordinary", and it's gets better over the next six novel's, although I enjoy all of the.

BTW, you are a cutie. XD

[PenumbriaBard]

Your Theory of Inverse Detail is very insightful. You doubtless know that main characters should be "round characters." The character must change over time as a result of the effects of the plotline. The change can be physical, emotional, spiritual, ...whatever! Otherwise we can't empathize with the character's plight.

I'm a new author in the Fantasy genre. Check out my "book trailer" for A KING'S RANSOM here on YouTube. Just search for "Penumbria."

[TastingAshes]

Do you ever get into fantay/horror? jw really, you have some pretty amazing insights on protaganist :) Do you write by chance?

[ClaudiaVice]

Ha, you mean do I actually get into them/enjoy them instead of analyzing them? :D In that case, yeah. (I'm a fan of all the books I talked about)

Thanks! I do write, but not as much as I'd like to. :/

[TastingAshes]

I think you should set aside time to write some more then, I think you have the trappings of a pretty good author! >:^p

and I don't think you would waste time analyzing something you didn't enjoy *grins*

[ClaudiaVice]

Aw, thanks!

[soldoutnradical]

What fantasy novels do you recommend?

[ClaudiaVice]

Ha, depends on your taste. :D And if there's anything you especially DO NOT want to read about (e.g. graphic sex scenes, various gay content, violence, etc.) If you named a couple books you do like I'd totally give you some titles, though.

[soldoutnradical]

I have been reading ... Brave New World, 1894, A Picture of Dorean Grey, Not wanted on the Voyage etc...

[soldoutnradical]

Sorry that should be 1984.

[IvanSorath]

harry potter sucks

[DinoLich]

I'm curious to see how Neil Gaiman handles writing a Batman comic. He's not a very static character.

[ClaudiaVice]

Well, it seems like when he's co-writing stuff he does okay (Good Omens, for example) or when he's writing things with characters that aren't is, so really it's just when he's writing on his own...

..Wikipedia just helped me realize that the artist he's working with for Batman = the same artist as Marvel 1602. :0 That's pretty snazzy.