Science Fiction Themes: World Building (Part I)

» Brian Tubbs - Great article

A very informative article, Alissa. And let me add my welcome as well. I've enjoyed both of your articles to date.

I actually have a question for you on the subject of world-building. When writing a fantasy sci-fi novel, is it possible to simply create your world as a copy-cat of Earth? I suppose "possible" is not the right word here, as arguably anything is possible and permissible in the world of fiction. I should phrase it this way: Is it acceptable in today's literary market to write a fantasy novel (say a sword-and-sorcery type story) in a world that is not Earth, but is pretty much exactly like Earth?

The world I envision would have a similar diversity in climate, cultures, etc. It would have a different geography, but would still be predominantly oceanic. The major difference is that dinosaurs would still be about, and there would be dragons and many other creatures. The human race would be viable, but not as dominant as has been the case in the last few thousand years on Earth.

Has this been too over-done to be marketable? Or is it not imaginative enough? Is it too flat?

Also, I suppose it's acceptable - even necessary -for the main characters of such a world to speak English (or at least for the author to present their words in English). Can it also be credible that the characters in this imaginary world use the same calendar as we do? Can they speak in terms of "weeks," "months," and "years"?

As you can tell, I'm new to this genre.

What are your thoughts?

Thanks,

-Brian Tubbs
Contributing Editor, Suite101.com
American Revolution & Founding Era

-- posted by Brian Tubbs

Permalink Print Discussion Join the latest discussions

» alissa23 - Re: Great article

In response to message posted by BrianTubbs:

Brian,
This sounds like a very interesting setting for a story. I really like the idea about the dinosaurs still being around (Have you ever read "Dinosaur Summer" by Greg Bear? It's actually a story about an earth where the dinosaurs and humans coexist.)

While I am by no means the authority on the subject, I think a different world that was very much like earth would make a great setting for a story. Chances are if people were to live elsewhere in the universe they would try to find a planet as much like Earth as possible. The presence of the dinosaurs, and maybe a few other quirky differences here and there should make your setting alien enough.

As for the calendar being the same . . . for this to work it would need to be planet the exact same size as earth, with a sun of the exact same size that it was the exact same distance from. This is possible of course, but would be a really big coincidence. There are different ways you could go about this, maybe the coincidence could be incorporated into the story, so that this planet is seen to be the destiny of the human race because of this uncanny similarity to Earth. You could also take a completely different route and have the people on this new world stick to the Julian Calendar out of tradition even though it doesn't match up with their current world. The biggest problem would be that the days would be different lengths and it would be very confusing to measure eighteen hour days using the Earthian twenty-four hour standard.

Good luck working on this story. It sounds interesting so far. Let me know how it goes.

-- Alissa

-- posted by alissa23

Permalink Print Discussion Join the latest discussions

» Chipka001 - World Building

Hi.
I am somewhat new to this whole Suite101 thing, but I must say that I am deeply impressed. I am a science fiction writer--not yet known/published, but this will change, in time.

I just wanted to say that I enjoyed the article, especially since I am in the process of not just building a world, but an entire interstellar society based on various sociological and philisophical influences, and it's refreshing to see others out there thinking along the same lines.

As for Brian's question: there are a ton of stories out there that take place on "surrogate Earths" as I call them, and there is definitely a call for such works, as new twists can always be made on a general topic. The best Non Greg Bear science fiction novel/series I have read, incorporating Human and dinosaur-derived cultures are the Eden novels by Harry Harrison. In this alternate universe trilogy, he shows us Stone Age Humans living (and hunted by) a reptilian species evolved from a common ancestor with dinosaurs. Dinosaurs themselves exist in this world, but their descendants/offshoots are the ones who go around carrying the big guns, so to speak.

I happen to have a weak spot for anything with dinosaurs in it, so it sounds as if your idea is a good one, one worth running with. As for utilizing references to THIS world...well, your readers will expect that, especially since you probably don't want to slow the story down by constantly explaining that the characters aren't speaking English, etc. The best way to do this, however, is to follow the idea of other writers and just make it known to your readers that they are reading a "translation."

One of the things I would like to point out to you is the fact that you are undoubtedly in the process of coming up with a very workable and more than casually intriguing idea. I would love to be of any help (not that I am an expert) and if possible to hear updates on your project.

Best regards.
Chip

-- posted by Chipka001

Permalink Print Discussion Join the latest discussions