Fast horses, strange languages, weapons, and world-building. All staples of the fantasy genre, and all nuanced subjects that are easy to mess up. Putting the Fact in Fantasy collects 52 articles from a wide range of real-world experts — along with a foreword by Scott Lynch — to help authors avoid common pitfalls and create more realistic stories.
Contents:
About the Book
Expert Contributors
Sections and Topics
Where to Find It
Blurbs & Reviews
About the Book
| History, languages, and culture have starring roles in a wide range of genres, but they’re often the heart of fantasy stories. Unfortunately, many depictions of fantastical subjects in literature, film, and television are pure fiction. A basic understanding of world history, linguistics, horsemanship, and other topics will help you take your fantasy worldbuilding to the next level.
This book brings together linguists, historians, horse trainers, and other experts to:
Whether writing about epic battles, magic schools, or wild adventures on horseback, Putting the Fact in Fantasy will have something to help every writer craft better fiction. |
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Expert Contributors
The 40 contributors to this anthology represent a wide array of historical, cultural, and world-building expertise. They include linguistic experts, economists, horse trainers, doctors, lawyers, martial artists… everything you need to develop a realistic and compelling fantasy world.
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Though they have different backgrounds and interests, all of the contributors to this book have one thing in common: a love of fantasy. Their articles reference many popular books and movies that illustrate how to (or how NOT to) put the fact in fantasy, with the goal of helping authors create realistic, compelling stories.
Sections and Topics
The anthology leads off with a foreword by bestselling author Scott Lynch (The Lies of Locke Lamora). Then, the main sections include:
- It Already Happened: History as Inspiration
- Speak, Friend, and Enter: Languages & Culture
- How to Make It Up: World-building
- Weapons and Warfare: When In Doubt, Add These
- You Don’t Know Horses, But We Do
- So You’re Going On An Adventure
Where to Find It
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You can also add it on Goodreads, StoryGraph, and other social reading apps.
Blurbs & Reviews
Praise for Putting the Fact in Fantasy
It’s good. No, seriously. It’s really good.”
-Eric Primm, PrimmLife (full review)
This definitely is a resource that I could find myself going back to time and time again.”
–Martin’s View (full review)
These snappy essays were excellent; well-written and with lots of humor. The authors’ enthusiasm comes through.”
–Stephen G, Reviewer at NetGalley
I learned that almost everything I thought I knew about horses was wrong! I can now properly describe a horse’s height, coloring, and gaits without sounding like an amateur.”
–Kimberly P, Reviewer at NetGalley
This is an amazing resource for fantasy story builders.”
–Michaela C, Reviewer at NetGalley
I learned so much, and have not shut up about all the random things in the last week. Would recommend to any and all fiction writers, not just fantasy!”
–AJ, Reviewer
Praise for Putting the Science in Fiction
The entries are brief, knowledgeable, and highly entertaining, like hearing an exasperated friend rant about his or her area of expertise.”
–Booklist.
Every writer should have a copy on his or her bookshelf.”
-Rosi Hollinbeck, Seattle Book Review. Full Review
The basic information is here as jumping off points, some delve into much more detail, and many offer up other resources to dig into the topics more deeply…a useful, well-written resource. Recommended.”
-Bill Capossere, Fantasy Literature. Full Review
This book is a brilliant resource, both for writers and for those with a more general interest in science.”
-Ellie, Books at the End of the Alphabet. Full review
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