Thoughts on Real Worlds vs Sci-fi or Fantasy

[Matt Tandy]

I've really been struggling lately with my novel The Militia. Here's the deal: All of the plotting is done. I've written quite a bit of the story. But I have run into a problem: the real world.

I know quite a bit about military tactics, interpersonal relations, etc. The problem I am facing is that when writing an Action-Thriller set in modern times, there is an extra level of realism that is needed. This is even more true where military weapons and scenarios are used. You have to really know your weapons, far more than I know. You have to know blast radius of various bombs, specifications of ships, planes, and tanks. Do the people of Morocco use AK-47's or something else? What about the Afghan's? I used to wonder why it was that people like Tom Clancy, Brad Thor, and Vince Flynn seem to end up being asked to consult with various military officials. It turns out, it's because they have become experts in their fields. Brad Thor never even served in the military!

Fantasy and Sci-Fi however allows a lot more freedom. There is still a lot of in depth work. I've blogged in the past about how David Farland/Wolverton lectures regularly on the process of world creation. There is much to do. However, internal consistency and depth is the key, and you create it. In dealing with earth, in today's time, with today's weapons and people and politics, I have to research it. If I think that it would be great for Person X to do Y with Z, I have to make sure that is even remotely possible.

This is no knock on fantasy and sci-fi. I love both! I have a couple very early WIPs for both. But I am so far on my action thriller! ARGH!

It is of course completely possible for me to toss it all to the wind and write what I want set in modern times, no matter how impossible. But then that's what a lot of authors who don't get very far do. I don't know if I will ever be a Brad Thor, but I sure as heck want to put in the effort to at least have the same skills.

Or maybe I should go write that fantasy novel I've been thinking about.:-)

[gohan]

That's been my problem with the scifi novel I've been working on. Trying to more fully the develop the different cultures of the world it's taking place on, at a tech level about 30 years ahead of where we are now...gah!

Not as easy as I thought it would be nine years ago when I started planning this thing in high school...but then again it never is.

Any references or things that have helped you out?

[Matt Tandy]

Gohan, that's a good question. The best source I ever had was some classes from David Farland/Wolverton on world building at the LDS Storymakers 2011 conference. I think though that he may have written about some of it in his "Daily Kick". I'll see what I can find and then see about getting you a link.

Essentially though he says you need to start at the beginning. As in the very beginning of the time of your universe. Even if your story doesn't stretch that far back, you need to create a rough idea of how your universe started, your solar system, and your planet. Are there two sons or one or three? Is it the same size as earth? If it is bigger and heavier, then that affects the size of plants and animals. If it's smaller, things grow larger and the atmosphere may be thinner. Is the core molten and spinning? If not, then there is no to little magnetic shield around the planet. That means more asteroids, etc. What do the inhabitants breathe? What is the religious history (in very general terms) and how might your unique planet's flora and fauna and other events have shaped it? Did life evolve? Was it seeded? Was it transplanted?

All food for thought.

[russellmac]

Hi Matt.

JRR Tolkein was of the view that every work of fiction creates its own "perilous land;" i.e. the setting and everything in it is the author's own creation. Of course, he can make features of his invented world resemble the real world if he wants to, but he is not bound thereby. The blast radius of your bombs or grenades can be whatever you want it to be. Your Afghan rebels can carry whatever shoulder weapons you want them to use. Tom Clancy himself, after all the research he does, still changes reality to suit the needs of the story.

And the needs of the story frequently reflect the emotional needs of the audience.

Best,
Russell

[Matt Tandy]

Russell,

JRR Tolkein was of the view that every work of fiction creates its own "perilous land;" i.e. the setting and everything in it is the author's own creation. Of course, he can make features of his invented world resemble the real world if he wants to, but he is not bound thereby. The blast radius of your bombs or grenades can be whatever you want it to be. Your Afghan rebels can carry whatever shoulder weapons you want them to use. Tom Clancy himself, after all the research he does, still changes reality to suit the needs of the story.

This is true. The point that Farland was making, and which Tolkein himself follows, is one of internal consistency. Tolkien created an impossible world, but one where the history, races, and physics/magic was consistent. It's okay if your military in a modern setting uses something implausible in real life, as long as it's plausible in the book. If you don't have internal consistency, then it can jar people out of the story. Ie, the Afghans can use a frag grenade that explodes with a heavy damage radius of around 5 meters, but if a chapter alter that same one has a blast radius of only 1 meter or of 25 meters, then there is a problem. So for Gohan's Sci-Fi novel, that is the key.

For my novel, in the following books I will have a little more leeway in terms of creating weaponry. Unfortunately, the nature of this particular book is such that the weapons need to be fairly consistent with reality. It sucks, but in the end hopefully it produces a solid work.

And the needs of the story frequently reflect the emotional needs of the audience.

Agreed. But what is the emotional need of your audience... I like to think their emotional need is to worship every word that comes forth from my being. Oh, and pay me for it too. ;D

[gohan]

May 16, 2012 9:09:52 GMT -6 Matt Tandy said:

This is true. The point that Farland was making, and which Tolkein himself follows, is one of internal consistency. Tolkien created an impossible world, but one where the history, races, and physics/magic was consistent. It's okay if your military in a modern setting uses something implausible in real life, as long as it's plausible in the book. If you don't have internal consistency, then it can jar people out of the story. Ie, the Afghans can use a frag grenade that explodes with a heavy damage radius of around 5 meters, but if a chapter alter that same one has a blast radius of only 1 meter or of 25 meters, then there is a problem. So for Gohan's Sci-Fi novel, that is the key.

Indeed, I'll have to keep that in mind. Need to set down and work out and write out some of the background that I've had bouncing around my head for a while. Hopefully I can get the transition from mind to paper to work out all right.

Agreed. But what is the emotional need of your audience... I like to think their emotional need is to worship every word that comes forth from my being. Oh, and pay me for it too. ;D

Also, the need to read about explosions...that's always important...

[stargazer]

For what it's worth, I'm fairly well "up" on military weapons, technology, strategy and tactics. I spent 8 years in the US Army in three different career fields (Infantry, Field Artillery, and Signal Corps), and due to a lifelong interest in military matters I consider myself well-versed. I'd be happy to answer any questions you might have, or perhaps fact-check some things.