Speculative fiction in its many forms can devolve into a host of one trick ponies and single string banjos. They can land in places that be described as 'because spaceships', 'because vampires', or 'because barbarians and orcs'. In doing so, it becomes an archetype that is more about the manipulation of the trope, that it is about anything else.
I have struggled with this in my own writing. The power of the form is robbed if it only about the management of the form by articulating the archetype in some fashion. The writing becomes a dry read of the thing. The issue is not that the writing is bad at that point, but rather that it can be so much more.
The best analogy is a good steak. There is a huge gap between a good steak that is prepared according to a recipe card and what I call the 'other'. By this I mean a steak that is lovingly cut, trimmed, and seasoned. A steak that is crafted with delicate handling. A steak that is cooked with a laser like focus. It is treated to diligent care as if it is the only steak to be cooked, or cooked for someone for whom the cook has a deep and abiding connection to. Both steaks will be good, but the end results will be vastly different and the 'other' will be significantly better.
So it is with this form of fiction. It must become something genuine. It must become more than the sum of its archetypes. It must transcend its components. It needs to become a fully functioning thing, an entity all its own. Anything short of this is a fail.
In short, I am not arguing against fantastical elements in this form of fiction, far from it. This form of writing in nearly all cases requires it. What I am saying is that the fantastical elements need to be an integral part of either storytelling in general or in advancing the narrative in specific. They need to be more than the eagles of Tolkien's works. They need to be more than an interesting escape hatch that digs the story out of a plot hole.
The story in all cases must come first. The elements selected must be chosen with care. There must be a deliberate sense of purpose for each one. They must be seasoned beyond what they bring from their 'out of the package' stock level. Developing a compelling narrative is more important than the dragon, the orc, the spaceship, the black hole, etc. If the trick, the turn, the artifact is the most vital part of the story, the story will fall flat.
The key thing to remember is that barbarians will get you in the door, but if there is not a there there, the user will walk away. Good writing, and compelling story are just as important when crafting the tale, when seasoning the soup as it were.
I have struggled with this in my own writing. The power of the form is robbed if it only about the management of the form by articulating the archetype in some fashion. The writing becomes a dry read of the thing. The issue is not that the writing is bad at that point, but rather that it can be so much more.
The best analogy is a good steak. There is a huge gap between a good steak that is prepared according to a recipe card and what I call the 'other'. By this I mean a steak that is lovingly cut, trimmed, and seasoned. A steak that is crafted with delicate handling. A steak that is cooked with a laser like focus. It is treated to diligent care as if it is the only steak to be cooked, or cooked for someone for whom the cook has a deep and abiding connection to. Both steaks will be good, but the end results will be vastly different and the 'other' will be significantly better.
So it is with this form of fiction. It must become something genuine. It must become more than the sum of its archetypes. It must transcend its components. It needs to become a fully functioning thing, an entity all its own. Anything short of this is a fail.
In short, I am not arguing against fantastical elements in this form of fiction, far from it. This form of writing in nearly all cases requires it. What I am saying is that the fantastical elements need to be an integral part of either storytelling in general or in advancing the narrative in specific. They need to be more than the eagles of Tolkien's works. They need to be more than an interesting escape hatch that digs the story out of a plot hole.
The story in all cases must come first. The elements selected must be chosen with care. There must be a deliberate sense of purpose for each one. They must be seasoned beyond what they bring from their 'out of the package' stock level. Developing a compelling narrative is more important than the dragon, the orc, the spaceship, the black hole, etc. If the trick, the turn, the artifact is the most vital part of the story, the story will fall flat.
The key thing to remember is that barbarians will get you in the door, but if there is not a there there, the user will walk away. Good writing, and compelling story are just as important when crafting the tale, when seasoning the soup as it were.
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