This week: Methods of Travel Edited by: Dawn Embers  
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Fantasy Newsletter by Dawn
A look at some methods of travel and reasons why characters in speculative fiction need to go other places. Conflict, flying, magic and even the chance at a vacation are all things to consider when writing. It's world building and beyond. |
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It's a big world out there and even bigger when it comes to the ones we imagine. This genre in particular is known not only for having extensive worlds but also characters who get to see different parts of them. In order to accomplish this, along the way of developing plot and character we also have to show where they go and how they get there. Each story will have its own reason, world and thus method of travel but there are common ways in which we use to get things to happen in this particular genre.
When it comes to how the characters travel, we have a number of options at our disposal. Some are going to be modern, others may seem a bit archaic and some walk in the realms of beyond certain people's range of imagination. Let's look at a few ways the characters might travel in a story.
Land
The is probably the most common method of travel when it comes to fantasy novels and one readers can relate since most of us have to travel in some way across land. Sci-fi might have a different result for most used method but when it comes to the classic fantasy story, we get a fair amount of this kind of travel for their adventures. This does also come with some questions because writers have been known to force characters to travel in struggled ways that would be hard for many to actually accomplish. By this I mean with how often we have characters walking or what we put horses through in order to get characters across the sometimes far too long of distances. I'm guilty of it too because I have a fantasy story where the main source of travel is walking, though some wheeled carts and horses are used as well. Still, it is a method and most of the worlds we create involve land so it's a big one to consider when having travel in a story.
Air
Another fun travel and one we are familiar with though the method of travel through air may be different in a fantasy world depending on how you create things. At this point in technology, we are very used to planes and still trying to find ways to make different things fly. In fantasy, however, the planes and flying items might look a little bit different and can include even ones that might look more at home on the water than in the air. Sci-fi is the king of the flying ship, in regards to travel, with the common use of the space ship in order to get anywhere.
Water
This can be done over or within as options for travel though boats on top of the water is probably more common. At least from the books I've read, this is less common compared to some of the other methods of travel because not as many characters may need to get across water in order to reach their destinations. Some stories can be told within the same continent or even same country/state so the use of boats aren't always needed, though we could remember the option of spending a day by a lake and being on water even if they aren't going any where in particular but that's under the topic of recreation, not travel. While it might not always come up for a character, there are times and ways we can use travel across, around or through a large body of water in order to get them places.
Reasons to Travel
Finally, something we can think about when developing a story is the reasoning behind the travel. When it comes to having a closer connection to the plot, a character might have to travel from the very beginning. The call to action or whatever causes the main characters to move away from their general homeostasis (basic current state of being) towards having to do other things in order to get what and where they want, it might involve a fair amount of travel. However, things may come up when they are traveling for other causes as well. Maybe the character took a vacation. Does the world even have vacations? Something to consider. Or it could be work related. Even in fantasy their are jobs and vocations that require going to different places in order to make a living.
Whatever the reason or method, travel is something we can often use in a story to not only help create action but to also show the world our characters live within. It can be a useful option. So, how are your characters going to travel? Where will they go? Is it like Dr Seuss with Oh the Places they will go? It's all up to you.
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What method of travel do your characters prefer? Is there such thing as a vacation in their world?
Last month, I wrote about finding ways to balance with a couple of different elements when writing fantasy. Have no comments from the previous newsletter. Instead, let's look at some possible books to read. I love reading speculative fiction so here are some I've read that I enjoyed that also include travel.
Beyonders series by Brandon Mull
- Middle Grade epic fantasy that involves travel to a different world along with having to go around the magical world the characters find themselves as an important part of the plot. Long for middle grade but worth the read though I still need to read book 3.
The Floating Islands by Rachel Neumeier
- Interesting take on world building with both sea and air travel. Some of the character names can be easy to mix up because most use similar sounds but the main ones stand out and have quite the story to share.
What book would you recommend that involves travel?
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Fantasy: May 22, 2019 Issue [#9562]
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