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Recommendations for books on worldbuilding

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punkreader Since: Dec, 1969
#1: Mar 17th 2011 at 7:44:07 PM

I've been searching for a while now, and have had a very difficult time finding any good for-writers books about worldbuilding. I bought Ron Rozelle's Description and Setting - which was, while interesting and wide in scope, not quite what I was looking for. I'm not sad I bought it, I like it, for the most part, but I find his writing style to be a bit lackluster and some of his advice off, like about adverbs.

But if you've come across any gems on worldbuilding or setting, what were they, and why would you recommend them? Thanks a bunch!

CrystalGlacia from at least we're not detroit (Living Relic)
#2: Mar 17th 2011 at 8:23:40 PM

Everything that I know about worldbuilding came from Limyaael. Her big focus is fantasy, but her rants give a lot of valid points that can spark a brainstorming session on their own. She also does rants on characterization, plotting in general, conlangs, you name it.

Some people have complained about her being too nitpicky or unpleasable. However, she calls them "rants" for a reason- they have a lot of her opinions. Her rants are still a very good resource nonetheless.

Here's an archive of almost all of them up until May 2008-ish.

"Jack, you have debauched my sloth."
nrjxll Since: Nov, 2010 Relationship Status: Not war
#3: Mar 17th 2011 at 11:51:44 PM

Is there anything out there like that that focuses on constructive criticism? As in, "Do this" as opposed to "Don't do this"? I'm a little tired of all the things out there that Accentuate the Negative.

punkreader Since: Dec, 1969
#4: Mar 18th 2011 at 8:35:40 AM

@ Crystal Glacia: Limyaael? I think I've heard that name before somewhere... I took a look, and all I could think was "Jackpot!" followed by, "Is this woman an older me, or something," because she addresses just about everything that bothers me in mainstream/pulp sci-fi and fantasy, and actually, fiction in general. I stayed up a good portion of the night reading various articles at random (the one on "Whores" was extremely refreshing, especially since my main character/protagonist holds a job as a sex-worker, and has a difficult time both in the moment and later in life when it becomes a Dark Secret, and the villain's knowledge of it gets used for blackmail, oppression, and a justification for Domestic Abuse of said heroine - and a reason for her family to disown her.) Thank you so much! I'll definitely be sending my friends to this woman's rants! I don't mind the negativity all that much to start with - I'm rather sarcastic myself, but I purposely reign it in when I review or edit somebody else's work. Unless it happens to be Twilight or another work of Young Adult Fiction.

@ nrjxll: More positive things on worldbuilding/tips to writers would be nice, certainly, but unfortunately, I don't think too many writers think about that aspect of it when they write those things. Agreed: Accentuate the Negative is definitely a problem today, and not even just in writing - in most things I find it to be very apparent, especially in educational settings (and even more so when a person with a disability is involved, on the part of the other people in the room.)

edited 18th Mar '11 8:38:29 AM by punkreader

MattII Since: Sep, 2009
#5: Mar 18th 2011 at 11:58:30 AM

Never come across Limyaael before, but that is some pretty good stuff, rather like a fantasy version of Atomic Rocket, which I'd recommend to anyone trying to write a sci-fi.

edited 18th Mar '11 11:59:04 AM by MattII

DasSoviet Since: Feb, 2010
#6: Mar 19th 2011 at 2:38:06 AM

Orison Scott Card's "How To Write Fiction and Fantasy" is one I've usually seen suggested, and he does have some great advice on world building, honestly...

I also adore David Edding's "The Riven Codex" and consider it my Bible and ultimate reference when it come to conworlding.

The Magical Medieval Society series by Expeditious Retreat Press are also really fantastic, and their Ecology and Societies book is well worth a look in to.

Likewise, the Complete Guide to Writing Fantasy are great sources to look into - they cover a wide range of topics from characters to themes to tropes, but they do have some good worldbuilding articles as well...

A great, free, online source which deatails a lot of the questions you should be asking in world and culture building can be found here: Patricia C. Werde's Worldbuilding Questions

Inkwell Ideas also has some great advice - though not as broad as some of these other sources.

If you want to go highly technical, I recommend Creating an Earth-like Planet

A Way With Worlds is a series of fantastically-written articles on worldbuilding, well worth a look into.

Finally Dungeoncraft has some great advice - albeit very D&D oriented.

Of course, this is only a sampling of all my bookmarks and books, but it's enough to get you started, eh?

Diamonnes In Riastrad from Ulster Since: Nov, 2009
In Riastrad
#7: Mar 21st 2011 at 7:55:58 PM

The articles on Giant in the Playground (home of Order Of The Stick) ard really quite excellent, especially for fantasy settings (and doubly so for Roleplaying games)

My name is Cu Chulainn. Beside the raging sea I am left to moan. Sorrow I am, for I brought down my only son.
Gvzbgul from Middle Earth Since: Jul, 2010
#8: Mar 22nd 2011 at 1:41:31 AM

Perhaps this is a bit niche but I found Paradise Lost and C.S. Lewis's The Displaced Image to be very usefull in that they taught me western medeival cosmology. Which I use a fair bit, they (medeival people's) were quite different to us, not backward, but reversed maybe. It's an entirely different worldview.

There's some good roleplaying books out there that give systems and ideas for world building.

edited 22nd Mar '11 1:41:45 AM by Gvzbgul

AirofMystery Since: Jan, 2001
#9: Mar 22nd 2011 at 3:47:38 AM

Atomic Rocket is definitely worth a read if you're writing sf, even if it's much softer sf than what the people who are writing it seem to aim for.

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