Favorite fictional world: it's really hard to pick, but I remember one of the first times I really felt like I fell in love with a fictional place, and that was listening to Rob Inglis' narration of The Fellowship of the Ring, specifically when they made it to Lothlorien. Wonderful place, that.
Also, I wouldn't mind visiting Redwall Abbey, although it's been a minute since I read one of those. Also, Salamandastron, same series. Also, the Jedi Temple on Coruscant, before the Empire and all that. Also... well, anyway.
I like Middle Earth and the meta fiction and mythology around it. The latter of which really shines through when you read works like Beren and Luthien.
Also Alrest from Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is a great setting, with all civilization on the backs of titans in the sky. But titans aren't immortal, so the death of titans with no new ones to replace them is a driving threat of the plot. And what I really love is how that informs the politics of the setting.
The Ardanian Empire is my favorite fictional empire because it's given a nuance that relies on the mortality of titans, as its shown that its conquest of another country was driven by the terror of knowing that their titan, the ground under their feet, is in it's death throes. But the game also has characters who hate the empire for taking over and colonizing their homeland, you can let one of them get off scot free for assassinating an Ardanian politician if you choose.
What I'm driving at is that it doesn't give you a simple easy answer like 'the Ardanians are evil' or 'the Ardanians did nothing wrong.' Things are messy in a way that rely on the distinguishing traits of the setting, Alrest politics are not Earth politics.
Plus there are the Blades, beings born from crystals that resonate with certain people, known as Drivers. When a Driver dies, their Blade reverts to a core crystal, waiting to be awakened by a new Driver. But Blades lose their memories when they revert to their core crystal. And the game explores all sorts of angles on this, with plenty of examples of Blades before and after losing their memory. This makes Blades one of my favorite takes on the 'bond creature' concept.
Lastly there's my own setting of Hybridis, but it'd be odd if I didn't like my own creation. I like all the different things I have going on it, I can tell completely different stories depending on which part of it I use. A little hard to hype up my own world in the same way as other people's because creating a setting is a different form of enjoyment than a story with a great setting.
That’s a tough question. Would have to go with Middle-Earth. Something about the melancholy of a world where magic is fading away and there is nothing anyone can do about it.
As for my own, the first book doesn’t touch on the larger setting much but a few hints were thrown out. Grünwald, TX is at the center of a conflict spanning many worlds. Let’s just say Patient 307 knows more than he his currently letting on. Whether it’s him or Dr. Parce who has lost their mind remains to be seen. And the Stranded Investigator is a major character with a huge stake in finding out what happened to Parce.
Tad Williams' Osten Ard completely captured me. There are other good fantasy worlds and plenty of fine writers: Gemmell, Duncan, Jemisin, Feist, etc. But Osten Ard is a world I would live in.
Any other Chronicles of Prydain fans here? I didn’t read the books until I was an adult, but still, Eilonwy is who I want to be when I grow up...
The Black Cauldron book was absolutely hardcore. Nothing like the movie.
That’s what I’ve heard! I’ve actually never seen the movie and hope to keep it that way
Yeah, don’t bother.
Favorite fictional world: it's really hard to pick, but I remember one of the first times I really felt like I fell in love with a fictional place, and that was listening to Rob Inglis' narration of The Fellowship of the Ring, specifically when they made it to Lothlorien. Wonderful place, that.
Also, I wouldn't mind visiting Redwall Abbey, although it's been a minute since I read one of those. Also, Salamandastron, same series. Also, the Jedi Temple on Coruscant, before the Empire and all that. Also... well, anyway.
Oooo, Redwall Abbey during one of their famous feasts?? Couldn't agree more! ✨
(I genuinely can't read those books when I'm hungry 😂)
YES! The feasts were the best part! (Also the battles and other adventures, but the feasts, oh, those were fun. :D )
I like Middle Earth and the meta fiction and mythology around it. The latter of which really shines through when you read works like Beren and Luthien.
Also Alrest from Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is a great setting, with all civilization on the backs of titans in the sky. But titans aren't immortal, so the death of titans with no new ones to replace them is a driving threat of the plot. And what I really love is how that informs the politics of the setting.
The Ardanian Empire is my favorite fictional empire because it's given a nuance that relies on the mortality of titans, as its shown that its conquest of another country was driven by the terror of knowing that their titan, the ground under their feet, is in it's death throes. But the game also has characters who hate the empire for taking over and colonizing their homeland, you can let one of them get off scot free for assassinating an Ardanian politician if you choose.
What I'm driving at is that it doesn't give you a simple easy answer like 'the Ardanians are evil' or 'the Ardanians did nothing wrong.' Things are messy in a way that rely on the distinguishing traits of the setting, Alrest politics are not Earth politics.
Plus there are the Blades, beings born from crystals that resonate with certain people, known as Drivers. When a Driver dies, their Blade reverts to a core crystal, waiting to be awakened by a new Driver. But Blades lose their memories when they revert to their core crystal. And the game explores all sorts of angles on this, with plenty of examples of Blades before and after losing their memory. This makes Blades one of my favorite takes on the 'bond creature' concept.
Lastly there's my own setting of Hybridis, but it'd be odd if I didn't like my own creation. I like all the different things I have going on it, I can tell completely different stories depending on which part of it I use. A little hard to hype up my own world in the same way as other people's because creating a setting is a different form of enjoyment than a story with a great setting.
I loved reading Tilford. It was one of three ghostly stories and my favorite. Thank you.
I'm so glad you enjoyed it, Sue! Thank you! ✨
That’s a tough question. Would have to go with Middle-Earth. Something about the melancholy of a world where magic is fading away and there is nothing anyone can do about it.
As for my own, the first book doesn’t touch on the larger setting much but a few hints were thrown out. Grünwald, TX is at the center of a conflict spanning many worlds. Let’s just say Patient 307 knows more than he his currently letting on. Whether it’s him or Dr. Parce who has lost their mind remains to be seen. And the Stranded Investigator is a major character with a huge stake in finding out what happened to Parce.
Tad Williams' Osten Ard completely captured me. There are other good fantasy worlds and plenty of fine writers: Gemmell, Duncan, Jemisin, Feist, etc. But Osten Ard is a world I would live in.