Plot Points #1

Photo by Kourosh Qaffari on Unsplash

I think most of us are interested in what others are reading. That’s why so many celebrity reading lists exist from former President Barack Obama to Reese Witherspoon, to Oprah Winfrey to the command of the U.S. Navy. Did you know that all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces have reading lists? Did you know President Obama has released a reading list almost every year since 2009, missing only 2012 & 2013? The man isn’t just an avid reader, he has rabid reading habits and has since his school days. He reads all sorts of stuff too - thrillers, science fiction, political examinations of democracy, biographies, philosophy, sociology, and history.

Canadian Prime Minister (and chum of President Obama) is a self-proclaimed “massive reader” saying, "I read anything, and everything, in huge quantities.” Here’s an older but still interesting look at some of the things he’s read.

Folks like you and I are curious to know what’s in other people’s TBR piles, and I don’t mean the influencers across TikTok and Instagram. What did Belle read when she got access to Beast’s library? What did Talia reach for when she spent all those hours in the Herald’s Library in Valdemar? Inquiring minds want to know, right? What are Neil Gaiman’s favorite books? Well, that I can tell you. It’s an intriguing list, and clearly, I have to get off my butt and read Jonathon Strange & Mr. Norrell. It’s still being talked about, and I’ve still not read it! Even George R.R. Martin has released a list of what he’s reading.

What am I reading? I read both non-fiction and fiction, but nothing so smart as Obama’s sociology. Since this is a newsletter concerned largely with fantasy I’ll start there.

Fiction

I’ve been happily wandering through an older trilogy by Mercedes Lackey, the Queen’s Arrows. I found Valdemar just last year if you can believe that, when her Founding of Valdemar series began with Beyond in 2021, and continued in 2022 with Into The West. I can’t wait for the third installment called Valdemar (duh) due out in December of this year. I’ve read all the Collegium Chronicles, now I’m nearly done with the Queen’s Arrows trilogy. In fact, I should be finished tonight with the third book, Arrow’s Fall. Then I’m on to an ARC (advance reader copy) of Gryphon In Light.

(Carolyn’s note: I’ve not read Gryphon In Light yet. I got sidetracked into rereading an immersive and absorbing paranormal series by Kory Shrum. More about that in a bit)

Speaking of rereads, I’m also wandering through Middle Earth with Bilbo, Gandalf, Thorin & Co. in The Hobbit. This time in the dead-tree (paper) version.

Non-Fiction

An older, but still interesting article by Christopher Mahon titled, ‘Frodo Is Dead: Worldbuilding and the Science of Magic’ The article is from 2017, but perhaps even more valid today. Mahon discusses how modern magic must have rules and how those rules so often mirror our real world. For decades, fantasy writers have been told over and over that any magic system must have rules, and that the author (and characters!) must adhere to those rules.  

Five Epic Fantasy Conflicts Other Than War is a fascinating examination of conflict within fantasy tales without defaulting to war, as you may have surmised from the title. After reading this piece, it seems clear how much a staple conflict war is - even in our fiction. One of the aforementioned series, Valdemar, utilizes an under-used conflict rather masterfully. Freedom. While freedom is not mentioned in the article, it is the main reason most of the inhabitants of a region wander off beyond their western borders. Beyond freedom though, climate change, famine & drought, epidemics, earthquakes, and material shortages can offer up all sorts of original conflicts. For a writer, the article is a welcome wake-up call.

Because I write fantasy almost as much as I read it, I was particularly drawn to a piece called Choosing A Weapon For Your Hero, (also housed at Mythcreants. What can I say, it’s a great site) This piece talks about the realistic side of fantasy fights - something that drives me crazy. Think of all the fantasy movies that have warrior women running around in chainmail bikinis. Dumb, not realistic, a terrific way to die by exposure, massive wounds in battles are burning in the hot sun or freezing her butt off. And did I mention dumb?

Anyway, this piece discusses the advantages of considering ranges for weapons, the size of the character carrying said weapon, and the sort of damage the writer might want to do. And let’s not forget the weight of the weapons. It makes no sense to have a 5’ tall woman carrying a big sword. This article is a must-read for every writer of fantasy, or even sci-fi.

What have you read this month that stands out? Let me know in the comments section below.

Thanks for spending time with me today!

Carolyn