Susan’s Rules of Contemporary Fantasy

There’s been many attempts to put down the “rules of magic” as they manifest in various fantasy novels. My favorite went around Twitter a while back and summarized how magic works in fifty different fantasy series. But those are the rules for other people’s fantasy books. As I finish up my MFA, I’m also finishing up the last revisions of my own book, a contemporary fantasy set in the redwood empire of California. As part of this effort I wrote down how the rules of magic work in my world. I have two more contemporary fantasies in the works as well, and I want to maintain some consistency in my work, so setting this down was a useful exercise for me.

What follows here is not how YOU, or anyone else, should do fantasy. I dearly love dozens of books that violate half of these rules. This is how I am doing fantasy, in my own work, at the moment, and I present this list of rules as food for thought.

The main character cannot have magic powers or a magical destiny that is pre-ordained. Her uniqueness must come out of human traits, not magical traits.
Magical characters can only be supporting characters.
1. All magical characters must have severe limitations that are obvious early on. They cannot be omnipotent. They should be frustrated in some way by their limitations.
No psychic knowledge
1. No character, including magical characters, can know something without physically observing it or having someone else physically observe it.
2. Any dreams must be regular dreams, and must not inform the plot. They must only be there to establish thematic, character, or tonal elements. Characters must never learn or figure out anything new in a dream.
3. Though some characters know more than others, none are omniscient. See #1.
No magical transportation can occur that furthers the plot. If a character needs to get from point A to point B, she will thumb a ride or take a bus. She will not ride Pegasus over the trees.
Animals cannot talk.
1. Monsters can talk, but only offstage. Nobody likes a chatty monster.
There should be one primary magical object and its magic must be bounded by strict rules and limitations.
1. Other magical objects must be associated with the primary object, be used sparingly, and be driven by the rules associated with the primary object.
A magical object should not acquire substantial new abilities over time. A pocket watch that lets you stop time shouldn’t suddenly allow you to change into an elephant late in the story. However, properties of such objects can be revealed over time, as long as these properties progress logically and thematically from the original premise.
No magical object should be used to get around #3 (no magic mirrors, pensieves, etc).
When magic occurs, it should not be directly observed; only the result of the magic should be observed.
1. Magical characters should never be witnessed casting spells.
10. A “spell” (an incidence of magic) should not last forever.
1. Magic is not infallible. There should always be a way to defeat or subvert or influence it.
Magic is violent and powerful. Magic leaves physical scars.
Magic is strange. Magic is noticeable and interrupts the ordinary world. Magic is not casually accepted (Note: this is one aspect of my work that differs strongly from much of magical realism).

Anyone out there have rules of your own?

A Walk to Roughlock Falls – The Black Hills Travelogue

Roughlock Falls can be approached two ways: from a brand new parking lot ten feet Northern Word Travelogue away, or from a dirt lot a mile away, which you will find because you aren’t paying attention. If you are lucky enough to park in that further spot, you’ll get to discover the falls, rather than having them fall into your lap. And that’s what makes a vacation better than watching television. In this episode of T he Black Hills Travelogue, walk the path with me.

The parking lot, as best I can describe it, is a dirt area near a hotel, and is not far off the main road through Spearfish Canyon (Highway 14a). There were a couple of portable toilets nearby. We parked there simply because we saw trail signs, not realizing the lot next to the falls was a mile further up the road. After we got on the path, nature took over.

Trail to Roughlock Falls, South Dakota

We were there in mid-May, early spring for the Black Hills. Rain clouds came and went overhead, with breaks of sun here and there. The path was empty, and we marveled at having the place to ourselves, not realizing most of the others who went to Roughlock Falls did so the easy way. After a short time we came upon a small dam:

Dam along the trail to Roughlock Falls, South Dakota.

On either side of the dam the canyon walls rise up steeply. Rain sputtered as we walked. Birds flitted about. A little further on, the dam faded into memory and the natural stream emerged again.

Stream near Roughlock Falls

But not long after that, we discovered the falls themselves. And having walked a little ways to get there, the surprise was all the better.

Approach to Roughlock Falls

The sound of the falls quickly overtakes the senses. We encountered a sudden crowd of people, and that’s when we realized there was another entrance to the falls. Though disappointed to no longer have the place to ourselves, heavy rains from the last few days poured over the falls.

Roughlock Falls, in Spearfish Canyon, South Dakota.

Newly renovated trails snake up the side of the falls, and you can stand at the very top and look down, as well. As we left we took a look back at the cascade, and though he didn’t pose for the camera, we did see a Water Ouzel playing in a lower section of the falls. Look for these unusual birds if you visit. They frolic in the rushing water and are quite entertaining. It’s a good sign to see them – they’re snobbish about water quality.

Distant view of Roughlock Falls, South Dakota.

After leaving Roughlock Falls we toured the rest of the Spearfish Canyon byway (14a). Highly recommended – the walls of the canyon rise up dramatically. By then it was pouring, though, so I have no good pictures of the rest of the trip. This drive is an easy day trip from Rapid City or the Sturgis area, and is close to Deadwood, Lead, and several other small towns in the northern Black Hills.

Don’t miss the rest of T he Black Hills Travelogue! The hills, the parks, The Badlands, and more.

The Sorcerer’s Apprentice – Open Eye Figure Theater, Minneapolis – Theater Review

I’d never set foot in a “figure theater” before this week, though venues of this type have existed in some form in numerous cultures for hundreds, if not thousands of years. The Open Eye Figure Theater is purpose-built for performances involving puppetry, and this production of The Sorcerer’s Apprentice uses gorgeous marionettes for the task.

Born from the vision and craft of artist Michael Sommers, inspired by Goethe’s original text (Goethe’s poem was also the inspiration for Disney’s Fantasia sequence of the same name), this production has a visual design that is both striking and incredibly clever. The set itself becomes a character, morphing in both purpose and scale and rebuilding itself as if by magic into various scenes, ranging from a kitchen to Dali-like staircase. Mischievous wizard hats pop out of cupboards and tease the young apprentice. A venerable old sorcerer appears to float against an inky blackness. Every scene contains a visual surprise or delight. And throughout, the apprentice’s unexpected friend, the Scrat, pops in to prod him along and check on his progress.

Honestly, it’s hard to imagine a more delightful way to spend an afternoon. The set is a moving sculpture containing dozens of hand-fashioned pieces in a rich, earthy color palette. At any given moment I could have frozen the frame, taken a photograph, and had a nice piece of art to hang on my wall. But of course I didn’t. I couldn’t look away.

The story is straightforward; anyone familiar with Fantasia, or the Goethe text, will be fine, but so will everyone else. The narrative is not cluttered with unnecessary steps, even though I might have been tempted to draw the story out myself, just to extend the wonder. As a result the piece is exactly the right length. As the apprentice’s skills increase, so do the visual surprises.

My advice for those who want to catch this production before it ends March 11th is to arrive at least 45 minutes early to get a seat close to the front. When I was there the theater was packed and I was a little too far back.

One last thing: I never thought I would be so fascinated to watch someone write on a chalkboard. Backwards.

Extended through March 11, 2012.

Other Resources:
Open Eye Figure Theater (Minneapolis) Ticket info, Directions.
City Pages review of Sorcerer’s Apprentice at Open Eye
Twin Cities Daily Planet review of Sorcerer’s Apprentice at Open Eye
Star Tribune review of Sorcerer’s Apprentice at Open Eye (may require subscription)