
Have you ever wondered what a chimera is…and why it’s three times worst than most monsters? Or do you know what a murder hole is? Or how a castle works? And the best way to attack a castle?
The Writer’s Complete Fantasy Reference: An Indispensable Compendium or Myth and Magic (1998) answers all those questions and many more. In his insightful Introduction, Terry Brooks discusses the methods of writing a fantasy novel. Here’s one of Brooks’s tips:
“I happen to favor rather strongly the practice of outlining a book before trying to write it, and I would recommend it to beginning writers, in particular for two reasons. First, it requires thinking the story through, which eliminates a lot of wasted time chasing bad ideas. Second, it profit a blueprint to which a writer can refer while working a a story over the course of months or even years.” (p. 3)
Another bit of advice Brooks provides comes from his editor (and friend), Lester del Rey: “…new ideas did not come along that often and that when they did, they came in disguise. It was better to take old, established ideas and turn the over and over in your mind until you found a new way to look at them. (p. 3)
My favorite chapter in The Writer’s Complete Fantasy Reference is Michael J. Varhola’s detailed “Anatomy of a Castle.” Varhola’s chapter includes all the facts necessary to write about castles: its fortifications, what castle life is like, and what happens during a siege.
I learned a lot about how to write fantasy fiction from this book. It’s packed with useful information both for the writer and the reader. Are you a fan of fantasy? GRADE: A
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
INTRODUCTION by Terry Brooks — 1
Traditional fantasy cultures / Michael J. Varhola — 4
World cultures / Michael J. Varhola — 31
Magic / Allan Maurer and Renee Wright — 64
Witchcraft and pagan paths / Allan Maurer and Renee Wright — 101
Commerce, trade and law in contemporary fantasy / Sherrilyn Kenyon — 132
Fantasy races / Andrew P. Miller and Daniel Clark — 154
Creatures of myth and legend / Andrew P. Miller and Daniel Clark — 171
Dress and costume / Sherrilyn Kenyon — 191
Arms, armor and armies / Michael J. Varhola — 205
Anatomy of a castle / Michael J. Varhola — 235
INDEX — 263