Science fiction is doing good business at this time but there are some situations that have been transferred. So much so that they have become cliches of genre, and everyone knows what to expect next. If you are a writer of fantasy, here are six stories of clichés you should try to avoid
1. Receive lessons from the old.
The move to 'Merlin', as in The Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, Dragonslayer and innumerable usesKing Arthur clones. A stable boy or other similar seemingly low-born is taken under the wing of a local eccentric. There is usually a bit 'involved, and a pair of piercing blue eyes from beneath bushy eyebrows, some spectacular. He will say things like, and "All of a nature ',' The force is" "You have a great destiny, my boy." Do not look for a gray coat and a sword elves. Maybe you could try tutoring the young old to change? Or, more radically, how aboutthe teacher as an old woman?
2. Learn how to fight.
The move 'Galahad'. The boy becomes stable secret training weapon, an experienced warrior who lost his first fight. People say, 'I've never seen it before "and" It' s the best swordsman I've ever seen. "Well, how is it realistic? Radical idea would be to have the groom totally useless weapons. How can he fulfill his destiny, then?
3. The detachment from all that everknew.
The move of 'Dick Whittington'. The complete hand stable, under a GEAS a great quest, must say goodbye to home and hearth. People say, 'I must go and meet my destiny "and" I'll be back when I have avenged my father. " This is usually done with a lot of fat and emotion. Sometimes it is done with violence, the hero of the family by the villain of the piece, which he intended to kill at the end of history, is divorced. In both cases, it has done so often thatThe tears could be expected to cause the rice, the result. Try doing something different. Because the hero must leave his family? What would happen if you took it with him?
4. Being abducted from Earth in a different world.
The move to 'John Carter'. People say: "How did I get here gekommen''und 'You are there when needed" basis. This has been much abused in the early twentieth century and a half by H Rider Haggard and AE Merritt among others. It is not normallymore than a gimmick to get a character the writer is comfortable writing in a situation where fantasy character ever said differently. Edgar Rice Burroughs liked it so much that had happen to Tarzan on occasion. And it happens again, the most obvious examples are modern and Thomas Covenant the various characters that Stephen King has been in his Dark Tower series. Maybe your hero can be someone from another dimension that are transportedEarth? Or remain where he is, but everything changes around him?
5. The multi-race bar room.
The 'Inn at Bree' gambit. It happens a lot in science fiction à la Star Wars, but it is also common in the fantasy genre. Thirsty after a day on the road, our heroic husband and his friends go to a restaurant. be created within it are representatives of different races from the world of history. The host is always bold and fun, it'swill always be a silent stranger in a dark corner, and someone is a stupid song is the writer to show his ability to sing, his invention of a song different world. How about a human attempt to have a drink in a dwarf-only bar, or vice versa? There should be plenty of opportunity to add tension there.
6. Discover hidden family truths.
The "ugly duckling" Gambit. The boy becomes stable for the final battle the final, only to find that his opponents areFather / mother / brother / sister etc. People say: "It 's always been one of you to protect you" and "You can not kill me, I am your father." This became so abused, has also appeared in genres: witness Luke Skywalker Darth Vader face for example. A variation is to detect the hero who has suddenly re a prince, or even. That says more about the desire of the writer, as the action is. wishful thinking, fantasies do not usually make strong stories. But what would happen if the heroalready knew his background, but his opponent does not?
The next time you read a fantasy story, count how many of the above are still in use. I think you'll be surprised. It 'even worse to do in film and television, where you can check them all in a film, and often. Just look at Star Wars - which contained most of them, and still has enormous sums of money.
And that is why the above should be taken with a pinch of salt. Stereotypes still have their place in popularCulture. Just do not take that as an excuse to use it themselves. At least not too often.
