 Fantasy: May 11, 2011 Issue [#4383] |
  Fantasy
This week: Transportation Edited by: Robert Waltz  
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In the United States three new methods of transportation made their appearance at almost the same time - the steamboat, the canal boat, and the rail car.
-John Moody
It's been argued that of all the animals humans have domesticated, the horse is the most important to our history. For thousands of years, horses were our most reliable mode of transportation.
-Elton Gallegly
The mastery of the turn is the story of how aviation became practical as a means of transportation. It is the story of how the world became small.
-William Langewiesche
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Transportation
As I'm writing this, I'm preparing for another leg of Waltz World Tour - this time, a hop across the pond to England, which I'm sure with its history and scenery will give me ideas for another Fantasy newsletter.
Meanwhile, though, I got to thinking about the journey itself, and then about the very idea of a journey, and how it's undertaken. Which led me to today's topic, which is about how to get from Point A to Point B, and whether there are points in between to ponder.
Just 100 years ago, seven years after a fateful first flight at Kitty Hawk, the idea that we could step into a giant, heavier-than-air flying machine in Philadelphia, PA (for instance) and, eight hours or so later, land in Manchester, UK (in my case) would have been - if not unthinkable, then the stuff of science fiction. Something, perhaps, that H. G. Wells might have written about. Wells, known for prototypical science fiction stories such as The Time Machine and The War of the Worlds, at one point was unconvinced that aircraft and submarines were even feasible. Apparently he had no problems with time travel or Martian invasions, though.
But commercial air travel is not only a reality, but for many people a boring and uncomfortable one - the most exciting part being the strip search at the beginning. It makes one wonder what the modes of transportation will be in 100 years. Personally, I'm rooting for flying cars, but then, we were supposed to have them by now anyway.
The point I'm going for, though, is this: Transportation shapes perception of the world. I've never been to Bangkok, which is almost exactly 180 degrees of longitude away from me, but knowing that I can get on an airplane and be there in less than a day brings that distant city closer. In theory, a suborbital booster could get you from Washington, DC to Bangkok in something like two hours - not quite all the way across the globe (that would put you in the middle of the Indian Ocean), but close enough.
It's not the world that's smaller. The world has always been the same size. It's our perception that's different, and that's, in part, a function of travel time. A journey that took Christopher Newport five months - from England to Virginia - I'll accomplish in less than half a day. (Incidentally, there's a significant difference in perception of distance between your average American, used to living in a geographically enormous country, and your average Briton, who lives on an island. We Americans don't think much of driving four or five hours to get somewhere; in England, as I've been told, this is considered a long journey. Of course, there are differences in perception of time, too, and I've heard it put thus: "Britons think 100 miles is a long way. Americans think 100 years is a long time.")
Fantasy (and its cousin, science fiction) also relies heavily on transportation. From the simplest modes of travel - walking, beastback, rowboat, having your slaves carry you, and the like - to instantaneous teleportation via science or magic, the way people get around in your world is going to shape their culture, beliefs, and even society, because a mobile society is more open to cross-pollenization from other cultures. And, of course, there's the time-honored story about transportation, where the journey is more important than the destination and, in fact, sometimes doesn't have a destination. Star Trek is probably the most visible of that genre, but there's plenty of examples.
So think about your transportation choices in whatever world you're writing. A culture that relies on low-tech methods is going to be significantly different from one where people hop across continents - or galaxies - in a relative blink of an eye. |
Some writings from around the site, some about travel:
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Last time, in "Fantasy Newsletter (April 13, 2011)" , I talked about SF and Fantasy fans, and fanfiction.
ember_rain:
Your right. Fanfic can help people who are new to writing learn how to develop story lines. But, put yourself in the writers shoes for a moment. You spent months if not years perfecting a character and someone else comes along and makes that character do something that is so completely against what you intended for that character. It has to be frustrating for wriers. I mean Imagine someone writing that Hermione fell in love with Malfoy. Sure, the good girl goes for the bad boy is a common them, but if I was their creator I would be hugely upset by that.
So perhaps as a writing exercise Fanfic has its place. But, at some point in time, you have to let go of the safety net and think about the author
Yep, that's true. There's also a difference between wishful-thinking fanfic (Snape and McGonnagal getting it on, e.g.) and fiction set in a shared world that conforms to canon. Writing the latter may actually get one published, as in the Greg Bear example I noted. Writing the former can be a fun exercise, but it may also be seen as a copyright violation, depending upon the circumstances.
Sticktalker  :
Robert, I'm one of the few who can remember the Fandom of the early 50's (I was in high school then). Cons were exclusively SF, NOT fantasy. We looked down on those folks too. Yes, some fans dressed up, some didn't. Most were too poor to attend the various regional cons. Oh, and we drank "Near Bheer" at them! About 1970 I attended ONE con in Sacramento, CA. After an hour I had had my fill...it was all fantasy and no "science".
Ahhh. Memories.
Was this before or after you walked barefoot through the snow to get to school? 
Maryann  :
LOL Thank you for including a clip of William Shatner's "Get a Life" promo. You made my day!
~~Maryann
For such a well-known skit, it's sure hard to find. Copyright issues, I'm sure. I remember seeing it when it was first aired on SNL, back when I used to watch SNL. Before the internet. Right after I got back from walking home from school barefoot through the snow.
Ladyoz  :
OMG - HNBF? I adore Firefly but GMAB!!!
Any more acronyms?
J. A. Buxton  :
Years back, I wrote a handful of fan fiction stories about the characters in my favorite show, CSI. At the urging of friends, I eventually converted them to the first few entries in my forensic series, The Best and Worst of Times.
However, one story I couldn't change, even though it portrays Grissom in an unlikely way. Maybe this hesitation had something to do with that little, blue towel. (big grin)
Unfortunately, the item you submitted exceeds newsletter content rating guidelines - but I'm sure interested parties can find it if they wish to look.
L. Stephen O'Neill :
If I could have some other life
I'd wish for pointed ears
To read and write and cogitate
At least a thousand years.
L. Stephen O'Neill
Elf, or Vulcan?
Loreli :
I loved the newsletter, and I don't even care it's off topic. I have been to many a gamer convention (GenCon most notably for 7 years) and have seen these people you are talking about. Write on, Loreli :)
Life would be less interesting without them.
LJPC - the tortoise :
Hi Robert!
I enjoyed the newsletter on fandom, particularly all the details about SF/Fantasy cons, Trekkies, and Firefly fans. I must admit to being a big SF fan and that includes Star Trek. With a few exceptions, most SF/F is very moral; the good guy always wins and yet seems like a regular Joe. I think we're idealists with a cynical streak, like a Moral Majority without being too moral or the majority. 
-- Laura
I prefer to think of myself as cynical with an idealistic streak, but hey, what do I know?
Thanks for the comments, all! Until we meet again in a few weeks, safe travels and...
DREAM ON!!!
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