Optron #23 19 января 1999

Likbez - Without card or step: tips for future writers.

[] Infarh


  Here we meet again, mnogouvazhaemy readers' Optron! But do 
not panic! In during the New Year we're a little rest on the 
intricacies of coding: a visit to our section - Andrzej 
Sapkowski! 

  Pan Andrzej - one of the most prominent
contemporary writers in the genre of "fantasy"
author of the famous series "The Witcher" (Wiedmin). Born in 
1948 Education - "Handlowiec zagraniczny". The first 
publication - 1986 

  I hope the tips will be useful Pan Andrzej
not only those who write fantasy, but also
all the fans of this genre, as well as numerous creators of 
everything from "brodilok" and "strategies" and those who play 
them. 



            Without a map or step

{} Andrzej Sapkovski,

  Journal "Nowa Fantastyka" 4 / 95

  Translation - Marchenko

  Obtained from:

  HarryFan SF'F Laboratory:

  Fido 2:463 / 2.5


  Before writing the book in the fantasy genre, the author is 
obliged to create peace. But the creation of world - not an 
easy thing and requires a hell of a lot of work. Again, time. 
In this regard, the record is six days, still not been broken, 
and I do not think to attempt to beat him were very reasonable.


  Fortunately, instead of peace we can simply
create its equivalent, namely the map. AND
Not only can we. Required. In the fantasy map
- A required element, the condition sine qua
non. In general, it should be there.

  Firstly, the card reader is required
in order to make a decision: to buy
or not to buy. For the experienced reader
card - a card of the book. Cover a business card can not be - 
quite the contrary, the skilled reader honors covers more than 
one glance, not wanting to book in advance sick and tired 
because of the instinctive and baseless content identification 
with the drawn on the cover koshmarikom. 

  An experienced reader is not looking at the back
cover page, as well aware that the proposal "The best fantasy 
ever written! "," Smashing bestseller! "or

there, "New Tolkien!" There on the cover
absolutely all the fantasy books that are
result entirely razglupilis and lost some valuable information.
Such statements play a role solely ornamentatsionnuyu or are
expression of sympathy for the publisher to the author.
In addition, the cover itself, and these
from the rear quotations are usually made by people,
do not have a clue either about the author, nor on the product 
- it's artists, critics and publishers.


  Map - is another matter. It has developed itself
author. Looking at a map, the reader gets
information proven - at first hand.

  Thus, the skilled reader will always view the map. Skillful 
eye, he immediately calculates the hidden Kingdom of the West

Good and an OK and then professionally evaluates the distance 
separating this region is located on the east of the Empire of 
Evil. 

  He then critically examines the scattered between East and 
West all spatial interference on the basis of which

instant-versed in the complexity of the route that will have to 
go to the hero. Complexity route and recommended adventures

way the reader lightning counts in
index (enticing plot) / (book value). After that either buys
or not.

  The second important person, for which the map is drawn - the 
critic. Critic of the book in the fantasy genre is not read - 
however, that from him and no one expects. Limiting the scope of

Action to reviewing only books read for the critic would be a 
titanic plowing for symbolic pittance, and like can you ask for 
only an idiot or same inveterate enemies. Reasonable critic

leaves such a kind review lovers, authors of letters to the 
editor. After These write exclusively for the naked enthusiasm, 
they do not have to pay. 

  But the eye of a professional critic always catch hold of the 
card. Typically, this is enough to evaluate "created by the 
author the world. "Unfortunately, there's nothing I can

advise the young followers of fantasy. I
I have no idea what should be a map,
that the review was positive. More donedavna I cherished belief 
that the best effect is achieved by placing the mountains to 
the north, the direction of flow of the rivers to the south and 
relapsing last at sea in the form of very upset delta. But the 
illusions have been dispelled by recent negative 'reviews it on 
a map, while at the same time, there was a positive review on a 
map where the river was not at all! Truly, it is shrouded in 
mystery. 

  The view that the best reviews received
maps, where the Shire is located in the north and
Mordor in the southeast, I believe demagogichnym.

  But move on to practical exercises.

  Draw a map is very simple. Grab a blank sheet of paper and it 
appears that this sheet - the sea. Slowly and a few decent

just repeat the words of Scripture
(Genesis, 1.2): "The earth was without form, and
empty, darkness was over the abyss and the Spirit of God was 
hovering over the waters. "Then he says:" AND let the dry land 
"(Genesis 1.9), and with the help of pencil apply a sheet of 
landforms. Watch closely, that it is not

square. It's not the fact that the continent can not be of such 
shape, but should be creative and unbanal -

For every other continent in the books of fantasy reminiscent 
of the square. 

  Do not worry if the first try get something resembling a 
stain on the sheet was in a boarding school for boys. This is 
normal. Later it all Adjust. But if you spot stubborn stains and

does not wish to become a continent
Then proceed as follows: traceable on the sheet
outlines of the Netherlands, Sichuan Province
or the Franz Josef Land, and then turn the sheet with a view to 
establishing another "North" and change the scale. The result - 
in especially if you add a little peninsulas and fjords - 
superior to all expectations.


  Having the continent, should be applied to it
mountains and rivers. It's easy, just need to
must be remembered that the river is always flowing
from the mountains to the lowlands and flow into the sea rather 
than vice versa. It should be remembered that the current river 
always cut in the soil of the valley, are tributaries of the 
watershed and create, which should be realistically reflect on 
the map. Once I not bow you follow purists, koi 
giperrealistichno create their hydrography, urinating in the 
yard brought a handful of sand. This is too much, especially 
since no one of the readers of such work does not appreciate, 
and criticism and even laughed at.


  And now, when our continent has
There are mountains and rivers and everything else -
only cosmetic. Here I am not giving any guidance, and why? 
Cosmetics - especially intimate thing, here everyone can poke 
his nose into personal favorite place. 

  Understandably, the card must be accompanied by "a legend". 
It is a tradition, it should not interfere. Each sea, river, 
mountain range, plateau, desert - should once called.


  Important - and, in principle, the only -
rule of thumb: never forget about the reader, puzzled: "To buy 
or not fly? ". So we should not interfere

him to this decision, forcing the suspect
that the tedious way from the Castle of the White Tower to
Black Citadel of Evil will be made through Smolyarnyu, the 
Great Luke Small Vasyukov Kharkov, Perdkov and goats Gorka. We 
make doubting reader voluminous

ukolchik adreanalina and give ponyushechku cocaine: let the 
road from West to East pass through the vampire Meadows, Rotten 
Swamp, dusty plains, thicket knocking Bones, Misty Cleft Death 
Mountain of Tears, Hills of gnashing of teeth and Ravines of 
typhoid Typhus. Let the reader knows what awaits him,

and what fun you can count,
wandered through the woods "zipper" Jaws, Cave
Shelob (male), Dragon Pushcha, Snake
Pits, holes and terrible - it is a must!
- Grove Charming, desirable and lacking
All sorts of prejudices nymphs.

  Do not think it should be added that the names must 
correspond to reality. The reader does not quite likes to be 
cheated. Vampire Luga MUST be hunting territories whole gang of 
ghouls, not the center of silkworm breeding, or there, the 
stadium for the race Quadriga. The "Forest" zipper "Jaws" must 
be heard loud and ominous flipping, someone must be 
prischelknut. Of course, the Mountain of Tears could become a 
region for the breeding of onions, but it not necessarily! The 
reader of such jokes can not stand. He ambiguity

dislikes.

  And because the same absolutely - I repeat - absolutely! - 
Contraindicated ambiguity relatively Hardcore Holes and Amazing

Nymphs.