Dear readers, let me take you gently by the hand and say: Not everything in fantasy needs a deep explanation. It’s good to enjoy those things! But a huge part of the genre is the cultivation of wonder and imagination. To promote further pondering and leave a thread of escape when you need it. - ThreadSky

bevtwomey.bsky.social • 88 days ago

Dear readers, let me take you gently by the hand and say: Not everything in fantasy needs a deep explanation.

It’s good to enjoy those things! But a huge part of the genre is the cultivation of wonder and imagination. To promote further pondering and leave a thread of escape when you need it.

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valettefkelly.bsky.social•88 days ago

I'd like to extend this invitation to fantasy authors as well! There's no need to describe things in such excruciating detail that I know for certain how a thing or a place looks. There's no need to say "he paced the floor anxiously." Pacing the floor implies anxiety!

nostalgiaink.bsky.social•88 days ago

It's not just fantasy. The reader was never given a full explanation of what triggered The Walking Dead. And why would we? None of the characters were virologists or had any background in infectious diseases. We vaguely learn how it worked, but never the alpha event or patient zero.

shreemp.bsky.social•88 days ago

But how am I supposed to be immersed without an in-depth dissertation on goblin-mushroom symbiosis?!

lightspoon.bsky.social•88 days ago

In an high fantasy settings (like Wheel of Time) people expect to have a coherent and detailed explanation for almost everything, from how magic works to local costums of the population and races.
For low fantasy instead suspension of disbelif and more vague explanation are perfectly fine.

fabulistapollo.bsky.social•88 days ago

That’s so accurate. It only needs to be internally consistent, not explained

burin077.bsky.social•88 days ago

This is a common thing my players bring up when we run D&D or talk writing. There's a number of us that are very focused on everything having reason, and I have to explain that not everything (especially where magic is involved) has solid meaning. It leaves some up to interpretation.

ellingtonelms.bsky.social•88 days ago

I don't need to know all the details; I just need to believe that the author knows them. It doesn't matter if they do or not, but I need to believe it.

If not, it can feel a lot like being told not to worry my pretty little head about it. Just let me know there's something beneath the text!

moirabairdauthor.bsky.social•88 days ago

One of my favorite phrases for this, which I use often as a DM, is "It's magic, I don't have to explain". Tends to be good enough for my players. Remains to be seen if it's good enough for my readers.

markscarbrough.bsky.social•88 days ago

Also, not every character needs a generational backstory.

donthaveacowman.bsky.social•87 days ago

What will I do if I don't know that the owner of this tavern we'll never see again, The Wayward Mushroom, is from a long line of tavern owners who moved to the town 2 generations back after losing a battle over whether seperated skirts (for riding) are superior to leather pants?

markscarbrough.bsky.social•87 days ago

😳😁

bevtwomey.bsky.social•88 days ago

Oh hey. Glad y’all like this

I just got hit with a $1000 car bill so uh…buy my book? There’s lots of whimsy and wonder inside

https://books2read.com/necromancersapprentice

desmitificador.bsky.social•88 days ago

I'm sorry to disagree, but if the fantasy story is asking you for explanations, there's something wrong with its logic.

bevtwomey.bsky.social•88 days ago

You're allowed to disagree! My point hinges on that the definition is "the faculty or activity of imagining things, especially things that are impossible or improbable."
There is satisfaction in a world that Makes Sense, even a fantasy one. But a story doesn't have to be logical to be Good.

desmitificador.bsky.social•88 days ago

That being said, I do agree with you that there are too many fantasy fans with too much time on their hands, constantly asking themselves questions about even the smallest things.

stinkyswampbeast.bsky.social•88 days ago

It really depends on how well the creator designs and presents their vision/dream to the reader. I will believe anything about your universe if you can keep me in your dream, but that's where the magic of storytelling lies.

petersonchris.bsky.social•88 days ago

Yes but who shot first, Han or Greedo?

chrisprobably.bsky.social•88 days ago

Amen. The old fairy stories I recall explain almost nothing. Emelya the simpleton pulls a talking pike from a river, and it grants him wishes.

We are not told that the fish in this river all speak Russian and draw power from dilithium crystals that must be recharged daily in sunlight...

philathans.bsky.social•88 days ago

I absolutely agree. In my work with authors I ask for less explanation almost every time, and more explanation almost never. If your readers don’t NEED to know something RIGHT NOW to move your story forward, move on. If a good percentage of your worldbuilding never makes it out of your notes, fine.

millennialfair.com•88 days ago

Midi-chlorians.

elmencos.bsky.social•88 days ago

This. In The Way of Kings, I didn't need Sanderson to explain to me how Szeth switch his own gravity in the first chapter. I just needed him to describe how insanely cool it looked. And he did. That's all.

charadeur.bsky.social•88 days ago

I guess I like brief explanations about how a magic system works. I have no supernatural beliefs in the real world so when an author like Jim Butcher gives great explanations it helps me to suspend disbelief and get into the story.

thebananaking.bsky.social•88 days ago

Fantasy is when the technology they use is magic; SF is when the magic they use is technology...

srsly though, I'm a big fan of not explaining everything to death.

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