What do you like and dislike about Fantasy?

[Lessien]

They're irritating. They're all beautiful, they all live longer than humans do, they're vegitarians because "they don't want to cause harm to any other living thing," and they're really weird and New Age-y

 

[Mr_Hursh]

Living longer than Humans is a staple of the Elves. Are they immortal?

 

[Lessien]

No, but they DO live for hundreds or thousands of years. I guess it's just so annoying that they live so long, only to get more annoying as the years progress.

 

[NeoScribe]

And they call the dwarves hard-headed.

 

[Mr_Hursh]

Define annoying. Annoying can be many things, whether it is a gnome in Tyrollean garb dancing the macarana or a wisecracking elf who just won't shut up.

 

[Lessien]

Annoying: In this sense, it means A creature who looks like a human, except for the fact that they have pointy ears and are absolutely gorgeous. They are wise, smart vegitarians who have no character flaws, and whenever they appear to make a mistake, it turns out to be the right choice after all. They never quit rubbing it in that they're dripping with wisdom and that, according to them, humans are 'digressing.' They're so dang kind that it seems fake, and they're so mysterious that you can read them like an open book. It's obvious that the writer is trying to make you think "Wow, these elves are really amazing! I wish I knew someone like that!" when in reality, you can't help but think "Wow. This guy is REALLY annoying! I hope he dies a horrible, painful death and while he's dying, I hope he learns that the wisdom he gave out ended up destroying the world or something!"

 

[NeoScribe]

This is why my other characters (excluding the two main ones) go through special pains to show the elves why they arent perfect, shouldnt think they are, and wont be treated as such.

The elves naturally think the others are liars.

 

[Mr_Hursh]

But that all depends on the author.

 

[Lessien]

Yes, I know. That was just my rant about how Paolini's elves were annoying.

And the problem is, is that those elves were probably the result of him reading about so many cliched elves.

 

[NeoScribe]

Everybody seems to base there elves off the person before them. So elves tend to stay on the same line of thought becuase they are the only fantasy race with a set of characteristics and behaviors.

 

[NeoScribe]

So.... Get rid of elves and fantasy is made right again?
Or is there any other cliches that should be brought to our attention. Like: (1) Wizards with seeminly unlimited power who never use it when its really needed. (2) Villians with unclear reasons for world domination. (3) Whiny Heros who complain to much and seem to think saving the world is somebody elses problem. (4) Elves that - wait, never mind.

 

[Lessien]

Well, I don't know about the other three, but all-powerful hippie elves have GOT to go. The wizards need to use their power or have some sort of handicap that makes them powerless; otherwise, they don't really belong in the story. Give the villian a reason for world domination (and the more psychological it is, the better, IMHO), and make the hero less whiney.

 

[Mr_Hursh]

I wonder if the problem with wizards is because writers don't define the limits of their characters' powers enough.

 

[Tariel]

Yes, I know. That was just my rant about how Paolini's elves were annoying.

And the problem is, is that those elves were probably the result of him reading about so many cliched elves.

always nice to hear somebody else ranting about Paolini's elves my family has been getting annoying with me ranting about them

 

[Lessien]

lol. Didn't they make you want to jump into the book, get in front of a crowd of elves and chop down a bunch of trees, then eat beef jerky and say "Mmmm....I can hear its cries of pain from beyond the grave!" jk

 

[Tariel]

lol. Didn't they make you want to jump into the book, get in front of a crowd of elves and chop down a bunch of trees, then eat beef jerky and say "Mmmm....I can hear its cries of pain from beyond the grave!" jk

yes

 

[Lessien]

lol. And to see the look of shocked horror on their faces.... Sadistic, I know. But hey, they're fictional!

Humans are better. My fave chars in the book were Roran and Murtagh because they were complex and fallible.

 

[Tariel]

lol. And to see the look of shocked horror on their faces.... Sadistic, I know. But hey, they're fictional!

Humans are better. My fave chars in the book were Roran and Murtagh because they were complex and fallible.

yeah. Actually, those were my favorite characters too the ones you could relate to

 

[stonetoflesh]

Another peeve about fantasy... I don't like how most fantasy stories these days revolve around "saving the world" in one way or another-- defeating the evil _____, retrieving/destroying the dangerous artifact, fulfilling the prophecy, etc. Of course, this is done by the unlikely hero (who is recruited by the kindly Mysterious Stranger) and his loyal (but diverse) band of companions.

I long for the return of the likes of Conan, Fafhrd & the Gray Mouser, Nifft the Lean, et al. Why did they adventure? Often they had things stolen from them, had geases or other enchantments placed upon them by sorcerous types, were blackmailed by gods, or were hard up for some loot to replace that which they had just squandered; good old fashioned revenge was often a factor too...

 

[Lessien]

yeah. Actually, those were my favorite characters too the ones you could relate to

Yeah. The only mistakes Eragon made were accidentally cursing Elva and making Arya mad. Like ANY of us can relate to the first one!

Roran was very courageous, going after Katrina like that, and his getting mad at Eragon is totally understandable. He seemed sweet, but kind of headstrong--while not always good, his good traits balance out the bad ones.

I kind of sympathised with Murtagh--his joining the Empire and all. In the first book he was my fave, and now, I still like him. You can relate to his turning to the "Dark Side," and even though he's sort of evil, I can still see a little niceness left