Best fantasy criticism books according to redditors
We found 310 Reddit comments discussing the best fantasy criticism books. We ranked the 78 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the top 20.
6. The Wheel of Time Companion: The People, Places, and History of the Bestselling Series
10 mentions
Here's a couple books to get you started:
The Language Construction Kit, by Mark Rosenfelder
The Art of Language Invention, by David J. Peterson (aka the guy who made Dothraki)
He's made some vids that elaborate on the stuff he covers.
David Day has a bad reputation for just making things up without any basis in Tolkien's work. I tend to not recommend them.
If you want an atlas the gold standard is The Atlas of Middle-earth by Karen-Anne Fonstad
If you want to enhance his reading of LotR, Hammond and Scull's LotR Reader's Companion is the way to go.
If you want an encyclopedia style book, Forster's Complete Guide to Middle-earth is best.
Suggestions: Find yourself a map of Beleriand (Fonstad's "Atlas of Middle-Earth is the best thing ever), also consult the family tree of Finwë when needed.
Get Robert Foster's Complete Guide to Middle-earth then thank me later. Even Christopher Tolkien has admitted to using it. Granted it does not cover materiel outside of The Lord of The Rings, The Hobbit, and the Silmarillion. It is an excellent and complete guide and unlike many others is not full of misinformation.
 
Edit: If the Tolkien Dictionary you have is the one by David Day throw it away immediately. David Day is notorious for making up information and claiming it as Tolkien see here. I'm not familiar with his Tolkien: A Dictionary and any specific errors thererin, though the map, if it's the one in this post, is horribly incorrect. Foster's guide (above) is a much more reliable guide where he cites his sources, although, as I mentioned above, it is somewhat out-of-date.
Check out the Atlas of Middle-Earth by Karen Wynn Fonstad! It's Tolkien Estate-approved and is absolutely fantastic. Besides maps, there's routes of journeys, battle formations, thematic maps and demographic information. It's one of my favourite book investments of all time.
My first piece of advice is to get off of Biblaridion. He's an okay resource, but sometimes get's his facts wrong and has the tendency to make his opinions sound like universal consensus. As for other resources, I would highly recommend picking up some books (which are better than YT videos in every way) such as David J. Peterson's The Art of Language Invention. I'd also encourage you to find an intro to linguistics textbook and also find some good language grammars (you can find a lot online for free), as these can give you infinite ideas for your conlangs.
As for what you've shared... I'll be entirely honest, there's nothing very interesting to me about this grammar. Your vowels are pretty neat, though, and I like the idea of lengthening a vowel to indicate distant past. Your verbs seem fairly cookie-cutter - not that it's unnaturalistic, just not interesting. Also, if your goal is naturalism, I would strongly encourage introducing some irregularity to your verbal and nominal morphology, as well as your syntax. E.g., is your word order always VSO? Or are there instances where it switches to SVO or OSV?
I also strongly encourage taking a few days to think about what all these things mean. For example, what does the "simple" verb do? How do the speakers use it? It what contexts would it be appropriate or inappropriate? Same with the future tense - does it only apply to actions the speaker is sure will happen, or can it be applied if the speaker is unsure? What's the difference between habitual and continuous?
Also, check out your parts of speech as well. How are adjectives and adverbs formed? Are they derived from other words? Should they even exist (because some languages don't have one or the other or either.)? What prepositions are there and how are they used (essentially no two languages are alike with preposition usage.)? How do you mark possessor and/or possessee, if at all?
I'm bombarding you with questions here, but there's no pressure to answer them all right away. Just some things to make you think. The big takeaways here is to expand your pool of resources beyond Biblaridion and to ask yourself what each element of your language really is and how it's used by the speakers of the language.
Start off reading about linguistics and some things which interest you in language.
Learn the international phonetic alphabet ^optional ^but ^it ^makes ^things ^much ^easier
Super useful videos for learning it
In that playlist there are also videos on how to actually start your language, DON'T DO THEM YET.
First you need to decide what your language will be for
Now use either the artifexian video in the earlier playlist or this video which is a bit more in depth to start making a phonetic inventory for your language.
The next things you need develop are:
You can find resources for those yourself
I would highly recommend getting a book like the art of language invention or the language construction kit. I can't speak for the latter but the former was an excellent guide for me through parts of linguistics which I was totally unaware of and how to use them in a language ^the ^author's ^youtube ^channel ^is ^not ^a ^substitute ^for ^the ^book ^more ^an ^expansion
I hope that helps
Christopher Tolkien actually drew the map based on his father's map, so there are at least two versions, the father's and the son's. And then there's this version from Tolkien-approved illustrator Pauline Baynes, which is essentially Christopher's with little illustrations added by Baynes. Karen Wynn Fonstad also published The Atlas if Middle-Earth, in which she created close-up maps of places like Helm's Deep or Minas Tirith, as well as maps of the entirety of Arda. I disagree with some of her maps, but she had to make choices based on incomplete and sometimes contradictory information from Tolkien. Finally, in Unfinished Tales Christopher Tolkien published a revised map of Middle-earth in the Third Age, correcting some of the errors in the original. I believe that replaced the original map in subsequent editions of The Lord of the Rings.
Atlas of Middle Earth by Karen Wynn Fonstad. Buy it.
There's a way, sort of, J.R.R.Tolkien has left all his linguistic writings on the Elvish Languages in 7 big boxes, (thousands of pages per box) and Christopher Tolkien has later referred to them naming as Quenya A, B, up to Quenya G, for they can be specifically identified. Yes, not a couple of boxes, but even 7, my mellyn (PE: 22, p. 141).
Be aware, though, that if you do not have a particular background, these pages will be likely not understandable, sadly...
Regarding what you can hear/read online:
In real life it is simple. If you do not follow the rules of English grammar you are not writing or speaking in English. If you don't follow Tolkien's rules you are not writing his elf! Anyone who visits the websites dedicated to Elvish languages (Eldalie, Quenya.101, Ardalambion, etc.) or reads the books dedicated to them (those of David Salo, Ruth S. Noel, Pesch, Comastri, etc.) trying to learn Quenya or Sindarin, will be baffled by the array of many different and conflicting grammar rules. These sites and books never agree with each other. Why?
Because every author has invented his own rules.
We read from many writers (Drout, Pesch) and on the net that there are many “neo-elvish” languages: the neo-quenya and neo-sindarin. But it is not correct, neo-elvish languages do not exist or rather are not languages. Writing: Something wure mi expectatione [sic] does not mean that whoever wrote it is the creator of a neo-english language, the same with: Alaghioru saranno alboro dormirenene [sic] won’t make you the creator of a new neo-italian language. To create a neo-language one must first of all be a linguist, know the rules of a Tolkien elven language well and from there build a new elven language. What a job! Those who build what they call neo-Sindarin and neo-quenya only rarely mention Tolkien's grammars and almost never explain what they do (for example, I change this thing written by Tolkien, because I invented a certain new rule). What they build are not languages. They distort the little of what they understand about Tolkien's logopoeia at will.
The link /u/LittleLuthien posted is great, I would also highly recommend Karen Wynn Fonstad's Atlas of Middle-earth. It's really helpful to keep track of what's going on especially for the battles.
um, appendix N (the old one is great):
https://www.amazon.com/Appendix-Literary-History-Dungeons-Dragons-ebook/dp/B01MUB7WS6
and the new one in the 5e PHB:
https://www.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/comments/2de2u7/the_new_dungeons_and_dragons_players_handbook/
if you haven't read all the original Conan articles yet, or Fritz Leiber, there are lots of fresh, nearly forgotten ideas buried in the old-style fantasy schtick.
As I play, I like to look up every name I come acress to see if it is canonical. Or, at least find out what it means. For example, there's a Malledhrim by the name of Goldagnir (http://lotro-wiki.com/index.php/Goldagnir). The word "dagnir" means bane, so, this person is the bane of Gol. Which makes me start thinking about who Gol is, or what it pertains to.
Just yesterday I was playing through the Enedwaith quests, and came across "The Huntsmen". He spoke of his Lord from the uttermost West, which is clearly Orome. Which makes this particular entity a Maiar, or at least that was my assumption. The game can't say that, since SSG doesn't have the rights to the Silmarillion, but they can certainly allude to the fact. The lotRo wiki agrees with me, as they have the race listed as Maia: https://lotro-wiki.com/index.php/The_Huntsman_(NPC)
I also follow along with the Tolkien Companion (https://smile.amazon.com/Complete-Tolkien-Companion-J-Tyler/dp/1250023556/) and the Atlas of Middle Earth (https://smile.amazon.com/Atlas-Middle-Earth-Revised-Karen-Fonstad/dp/0618126996/). Lots of interesting information from those source that makes me see things in the game world I might otherwise disregard.
Oh, those are great posters. I visited the Bodelian years ago but didn't even think to check and see if they had a gift shop!
My gift recommendation would be The Atlas of Middle Earth, by Karen Wynn Fonstad. It's comprehensive, covering all of the books (I found the Silmarillion maps particularly helpful), and it is large, physically, probably at least 10"x14" so the maps are pretty easy to read. I received it as a gift myself, and it has become the non-Tolkien work I reference most when reading him.
I thought it was passable until I read the chapter on it in Simone Caroti's book on the culture series. Now, I realize how totally brilliant it is. I'd highly recommend checking that book out.
edit: Here's a link to it: https://www.amazon.com/Culture-Iain-Banks-Critical-Introduction/dp/0786494476 It's a little pricey, but totally worth it.
There's a few resources out there, none perfect.
This is a short little bit by Gaiman on how to read Wolfe. Not specific to Book of the New Sun, and a little joking, but it's completely accurate. Approach Wolfe in that manner and you may get more from the books.
This is a dictionary/glossary that can be useful to link different parts of the series to eachother, and provides a lot of context as to the real world origins of words he uses. Wolfe invents a lot less words that it seems at first glance, almost every unfamiliar word is either just a really rare/archaic word, or is invented, but pulled from a real life reference. Sadly, it's a book and not freely available, but what can you do.
This is a wiki about Wolfe's works, kind of hit or miss, but the list of obscure words is useful, and some of the analysis/discussion is good.
This is the best regarded in-depth literary analysis of the series, but it's super dense and not a straightforward explanation by any means.
There's also a super long running mailing list about gene wolfe's work, but good luck digging anything useful out of it, it's just way too much with no organization.
There's a book about it The Languages of Tolkien's Middle-Earth. It's an interesting read and it includes a pretty cool dicitonary and stuff.
It should be noted that the laguages spoken in the movies are modernized attempts at a complete laguage with proper grammar and everything, seeing as Tolkien never got around to fully fleshing out his languages.
Are the underlined th and sh meant to be vocalized, like dh and zh?
edit: Also, if you don't already own it, I recommend this book. It looks like something you might enjoy.
Ha -- there's even a Gene-Wolfe-specific dictionary out there (Urth-centric, and it's awesome, if you've got the bug for his stuff).
Well "From The Two Rivers" is half of the Young Adult version of "the Eye of the World" that included "Ravens," a short Egwene story. Most printings of this book do not include the original tEotW prologue at all, but instead start with "Ravens" as the only prologue. It also had the font size increased and was split into two volumes.
I'm not certain, but the second half should have similar artwork. Just be aware that those releases were geared at the YA audience. Pretty sure this version came out recently, so it may be that they don't have many of the others yet printed. Although, I really can't see anyone trying to pass off Dumai's Wells as suited for a YA reader, so who knows how far past book three they will even go.
That artwork was also featured on the original release of the Companion.
According to The Wheel of Time Companion she actually survived the Last Battle.
His atlas is worthless, and his "lung map" is widely agreed to be the worst Tolkien-related map ever made. There's a lot of fun artwork in some of his books, and that's their value. Don't read them for the lore, history or descriptions of anything -- he'll steer you wrong. Hammond & Scull are a much better resource for lore and background. Robert Forster's a good source too.
Fonstad is the gold standard and the only source you need for maps, other than JRRT's and Christopher's own drawings, obviously. Her book is also the cheapest, so that's a good deal! As a bonus, it contains not just geography and locations, but also maps of many battles and journeys.
The Complete Guide to Middle-Earth by Robert Foster.
I’d recommend buying Karen Wynn Fonstad’s Atlas of Middle-Earth
Do you have The Atlas of Middle-Earth? It's a great book, full of maps from all four ages.
There is an updated companion book coming this year. Personally, I think you should definitely wait until after you read Path of Daggers (for all the reasons given by others in this thread) but also consider waiting until after the new companion book is out. It could contain a lot of the same information, and maybe ^^(gasp) better art!
Oh, while I'm thinking of it: That link is to the Amazon Smile page for The Wheel of Time Companion, and it is currently spoiler-free. That could change at any time, so buyer beware.
Congratulations! Check out The Wheel of Time Companion, The World of Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time, and the canonical (and non-canonical) short stories! And if you haven't already, peruse http://www.encyclopaedia-wot.org/ - it has good chapter synopses and links between parts of the story.
Abrams pretty much copied this cover exactly for their recent "Steampunk Bible"
http://www.amazon.com/The-Steampunk-Bible-Illustrated-Scientists/dp/0810989581/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1377714519&sr=8-1&keywords=steampunk+bible
This will help a lot.
Here's a book of theories. Some are probably crazy, but some of the stuff in here is surely correct, such as how to tell if a character is human, robot, or alien from their names.
​
If you are really intrigued, there is always, Lexicon Urthus and The Solar Labyrinth both of which explain many of the terms used and have a great deal of in depth analysis. Both are available as ebooks as well.
My friend got me The Art of Language Invention by the guy that invented Dothraki. It's all about inventing constructed languages. It's written for nonlinguists so some parts are boring to me, but I still really like it.
Would she be interested in a more kitschy gift? I've always liked loose lips make bilabial trills in whatever item she might need. Maybe a crocheted wug?
I agree with most of these points and have a few suggestions for a slightly different style.
Number 2. Alternatively, use an existing campaign setting or shamelessly rip off locations from the Dictionary of Imaginary Places. I've just started running a 5E version of the Planescape setting and it is a blast! And there is SO MUCH CONTENT ready for me to use and expand on. Before this, I had only ever ran games in home-brew settings. It's been nice to spend my time adding depth to content, rather that starting from the ground up. If you are like I was and thought you'd never enjoy using an existing setting, give it a try sometime.
Number 3. NPC lists are so helpful. I have just recently started using the NPC List, NPC Builder, and NPC Cards made by R-N-W.net as a convenient, aesthetically pleasing way to keep track of NPCs. Really I love all of their World-Building Kit items.
Number 4. Did you ever play 4th edition? Puzzles can be a great place to use skill challenges, which were one of the best ideas in 4E. Here's a link about using them in 5E.
Number 5. I just say I need a moment to check my notes, and I either flip through my printed pages or scroll for a moment on my laptop.
Number 6. I somewhat disagree with you on this one, more based on my personal style. One thing I've done to keep the story well-paced (and less random) is have the players choose, in general, where they are going to go next at the end of each session. This way I can prepare fully and keep the story beats (and therefore important encounters) on some rails while still allowing for a wide range of choice when it comes to the details of the plot.
I add in quest hooks and clues for them to be interested in a few more specific areas/directions, so it organically feels more story driven than sandbox driven. It also helps create specific end points for each session. Instead of "Well, that's all I have prepared" it's "For next session, where would you like to go?". I add labels to any location they have learned about on the map so they can clearly see distance, general environment, and anything else that might impact their decision that their characters know.
An over-world map really helps with this. It's especially fun when the PCs are in a completely new country/world/plane because they end up picking up on interesting locations the same way humans used to pre-information age: word of mouth, in-game maps, written notices, sign-posts, direct instructions, etc.
This works best for DMs that like to be hyper-prepared and groups that get super into interwoven backstories. If you are more seat-of-your-pants improv style, then this probably isn't for you.
A side effect of running games like this is that I do end up creating a fair amount of content that doesn't get used in a session. Usually means I can recycle it for another though.
Number 7. Absolutely! The stories my players most often tell from my games are either tragedies or overcoming tragedies. Just gotta twist the knife a little bit, even better if it ties into the backstory.
Bonus. Regarding using backstories. I like to go a step further and dedicate entire sessions (or most of a session) to further developing individual backstories. Works best when the campaign is more established and the characters really do care about each other. They're effectively Bioware companion quests.
An Important Addition: FOOD! Always have a plan for food before the day of your session. My players rotate which items they bring. It helps keep the game going instead of having to stop and ask what everyone wants to eat (and saves money).
This book along with careful readings of the book and watching of scenes in Elvish is how I learned. With a few other sites that I cannot remember the names of at the moment >.<
Is it this book?. I seem to remember that book saying stuff like that. It's very wrong.
Sindarin has a thing called consonant mutation where the initial consonant changes depending on preceding words or other syntax related things. Perian is the base word, as in hobbit or a hobbit. I is the in Sindarin, which would change perian to i berian, the hobbit.
-ath is a collective plural suffix, e is a genitive singular article which confusingly is also i in the plural form which gives a different mutation changing p to ph as in Ernil i Pheriannath, Prince of the Halflings. Just Halflings would be Periannath.
(major, major grain of salt on this, I'm at work and can't thoroughly back myself up on all the specifics right now, but most of it should be right.)
Karen Wynn Fonstad's The Atlas of Middle-Earth is a great companion read to the Silmarillion. It covers much of the history as well and is a great read for anyone who loves maps.
https://www.amazon.com/Atlas-Middle-Earth-Revised-Karen-Fonstad/dp/0618126996
The Atlas of Middle-earth is highly recommended; the detail in the maps varies depending on the scale, of course.
I believe that only the first edition was available in hardcover, and I strongly suggest getting the second edition as it makes use of information from The History of Middle-earth that was not available for the first edition.
Kindle typography and interior art is incredibly insufficient to render the full experience of a physical book.
Two very recent examples:
The Steampunk Bible
The Thackery T. Lambshead Cabinet of Curiosities (edit: OK, I checked out the Kindle sample for this one, and it actually does a pretty good job on Kindle for PC.)
These are art/photo/fiction/etc. books and while yes, the Kindle version can capture the fiction, a full 2-page spread color photo doesn't exactly come alive on the Kindle.
edit: though I don't have any e-book readers (other than my PC and iPhone, the latter of which I do not find suitable at all for more than short website reading, Facebook, etc.) I am starting to be sold on the idea that for pure text, Kindle/Nook can be sufficient containers. It's still not nearly as easy to bookmark/flip through e-books as it is in a physical book, skip ahead and back particularly in anthologies and collections, etc. If it's a simple, art-free novel, e-books are becoming more and more attractive to me. As DRM problems (its existence, to start with) and re-gifting "used" e-books gets sorted out, I'll be much more interested.
The easiest way: read the language construction kit, or this book. It will give you the basics.
Other than that, lurk on this sub and read some wikipedia.
As If - Michael Saler
I use this and it works pretty well for that purpose. No maps, but that's what Fonstad's atlas is for. http://www.amazon.com/Tolkiens-World-Complete-Guide-Middle-Earth/dp/0345449762
The Encyclopedia of Arda is fairly decent - in my experience, accurate, but pretty thin on the content/details. This is probably because it's not a wiki and put together by one person. Tolkien Gateway is another one - it's a wiki so it's much more fleshed out than Encyclopedia of Arda. If you're open to non-web works, my favorite resource is Robert Foster's Complete Guide to Middle-Earth. It's a pretty cheap and comprehensive encyclopedia-style work, and I like it being a book because I often write notes in it and add post-its and whatnot.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/0552143243/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1420490260&amp;sr=8-1&amp;pi=AC_SY200_QL40&amp;dpPl=1&amp;dpID=51Ts-SC85pL&amp;ref=plSrch#
There is an official map available, here's a link to it on Amazon UK
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/0552143243
I have the map of Ankh Morpork and it's pretty interesting
Atlas of Middle Earth
Unfinished Tales - Extra info on Gondor, Arnor, Rohan, Numenorean history, the Wizards, the Nazgul, Galadriel and Celeborn, etc. NB - This is actual Tolkien writing, not some amateur summary.
The Silmarillion - The complete history of setting, from the Creation, to the 'gods', Morgoth (Sauron's boss), the origins of the Elves, Humans and Dwarves. Has a great chapter called "Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age, which is basically the major points of the 3000 years leading up to LotR. NB - Actual Tolkien writing, but edited by Christopher Tolkien.
and of course:
The Lord of the Rings ! - Check out the appendices at the back of RotK for a bunch of extra lore material.
Thought I'd provide some Amazon links to these fine suggestions, along with a few of my own.
J.R.R. Tolkien Companion & Guide US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0008214549/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_Jc.DCb1A3J8V6
&#x200B;
Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/000755690X/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_Qe.DCbHG7HWXM
&#x200B;
Art of the Lord of the Rings US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0544636341/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_3f.DCbB8Y2ZNZ
&#x200B;
Art of the Hobbit US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0547928254/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_ng.DCbCX2CT65
&#x200B;
Tolkien: Maker of Middle-Earth US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1851244859/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_Vg.DCbSEH99RE
&#x200B;
Rateliff's History of the Hobbit US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CF6AZWK/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_Dj.DCbGWY7970
&#x200B;
Fonstad's Atlas of Middle-Earth US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0618126996/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_Kk.DCbC2XF6NT
&#x200B;
Letters of JRR Tolkien US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0618056998/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_ml.DCbREBRZH4
&#x200B;
Carpenter's Tolkien: A Biography US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0618057021/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_xm.DCbY976PAE
No problem!
I'm guessing you have, but have you seen The Atlas of Middle-earth by Karen Wynn Fonstad?
In addition to what /u/Willie9 said, I highly recommend Karen Wynn Fonstad's The Atlas of Middle-Earth. It's got all of the maps in that post as well as many others detailing various battles, journeys, and other historical events in Tolkien.
!!! MAPS !!!
I have lots of maps and took pictures. I saw this post earlier but just got home and had time to dig everything up. Note that I'm not an expert and haven't looked at some of this stuff in a while, and haven't actually read much of the 12 books of The History of Middle Earth (yet...).
Here's a picture of Beleriand from The Maps of Tolkien's Middle-Earth.
--> Beleriand
This is pretty much the map in the back of The Silmarillion. You can see there's basically a big desert at the top. To the north of that is the Iron Mountains behind which are Angband and Utumno. Middle Earth is to the south (or kinda south east I think) of this whole thing, and as others have said this was all destroyed long before the events in LOTR. If you look at any map of Middle Earth, eg. the one at the back of FOTR, you'll see some mountains, Ered Luin, at the top left. These are visible at the bottom right of the above map of Beleriand, so you can see where Beleriand and Middle Earth used to connect.
Here's a picture from The Shaping of Middle Earth which is the 4th volume in the 12 volume The History of Middle Earth.
--> Beleriand north showing Angband
This is a draft by Tolkien and is similar to the above map from the Silmarillion but it extends farther north, and you can see the Iron Mountains (called Mts. of Iron in red print near the top), above which is Angband.
This last one is from the same book but is poor quality but I found a better version online. It's from the Ambarkanta section. It was also by Tolkien and I think is even more preliminary than the above map.
--> Ambarkanta map IV showing Utumno
To get you oriented, Valinor is on the left over the sea (the liney/squiggly bits are water). The middle section is Middle Earth (a rough draft of it anyways). At the very top is the Iron Mountains and above that is Utunmo, though it's hard to read. This may not match perfectly what's in the text as Tolkien may have changed in his head where things are in relation to each other without redrawing maps. There is some text in the book that says Tolkien's original idea was that Melkor rebuilt his fortress of Angband on the same site as Utumno which is why the sites seem so close in the 2nd two maps above. It says that Tolkien later revised this idea so that Angband was at a separate location, which I think is why the 2nd map above (Beleriand north) which is more complete than the Ambarkanta map shows Angband near the Iron Mountains but not Utumno.
A lot of The History of Middle Earth contain a lot of this type of stuff that describes how Tolkien's ideas about Middle Earth and such changed over time.
And lastly, just because, here's the map I have on my living room wall. It's a Middle Earth foil map that I got at a campus poster sale about 7 years ago then got framed and put behind glass (which cost significantly more than the map itself, but was so worth it :) ).
Yes
A buddy of mine wrote a series of essays on the inspiration for DnD listed in Gygaxs appendix N. He goes in depth about where a lot of the DND stuff comes from. I found it excellent and a great jumping point for some great reading. The big thing that I always disagree with a lot of people is the DND and LOTR connection was not original, DND is a lot more pulp and planetary romance inspired.
His book is great imho but not popular around these parts due to the authors conservative leaning views
www.amazon.com/Appendix-Literary-History-Dungeons-Dragons-ebook/dp/B01MUB7WS6
To Construct a Language: http://www.lulu.com/shop/dan-gaynes/to-construct-a-language/paperback/product-23167868.html
https://www.amazon.com/Art-Language-Invention-Horse-Lords-World-Building/dp/0143126466
https://www.amazon.com/Language-Construction-Kit-Mark-Rosenfelder/dp/098447000X
https://www.amazon.com/Advanced-Language-Construction-Mark-Rosenfelder-ebook/dp/B008XTOV8C
https://www.amazon.com/Conlangers-Lexipedia-Mark-Rosenfelder/dp/1493733001
There are also lots of conlang books at Lulu: https://www.lulu.com/shop/search.ep?keyWords=conlang&amp;type=
There's a book my my shelf that my grandfather got me many years ago called The Dictionary of Imaginary Places. If you don't already have it, I think you'd love it. 😊😊
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0156008726/
Unfinished Tales.
Also, I really recommend Robert Foster's Complete Guide to Middle-Earth. It's nice to have as a supplemental resource. It's essentially a handy encyclopedia of LotR/Hobbit/Silmarillion. Very easy to pick up and read a section here or there if you come across a name or place you can't quite recall
I can't speak to hardcover editions of LotR as I still haven't committed to those myself, but I would recommend that whatever version you get, get an ebook version too - being able to search the text is absolutely wonderful, particularly if you also have a copy of The Complete Guide To Middle Earth by Robert Foster.
As an aside, this version of the Silmarillion is very nice.
My suggestion for WoT gifts is to either hand create something, go to Etsy, or go to Ta'veren Tees. http://www.taverentees.com/
I've read the whole series and thoroughly enjoy seeing the merch up on Ta'veren Tees. But if you really wanted to get him something, you could always either get him the book he's on (if he hasn't finished) or possibly the Wheel of Time Companion. https://www.amazon.com/Wheel-Time-Companion-History-Bestselling/dp/0765314614
Awesome. I hope you enjoy it.
When you take the plunge, consider picking up a copy of Lexicon Urthus, it is an encyclopedia of words, characters and terms used in the Urth Cycle.
Most of what you encounter is easy to find with a simple google search but the reference book collects it all in one place and puts things in context for you. It can be a little spoilery if you look-up characters and read the full entry but if you stick to looking-up words I think it will be a great help.
The Urth List is a valuable resource as well. When you're done (or while reading) if you have theories or questions -- as you undoubtedly will -- you can search there and find a lot of old discussions and thoughts.
Still, now that I've written all of that I am not sure...looking back some of my enjoyment was not knowing what the hell was going on half the time.
The Atlas of Middle-Earth, an essential for anyone looking to expand their Middle-Earth collection and IMO an almost required necessity companion when reading The Silmarillion.
It depends on your goals with the project. It is okay to do literally nothing for creating a fictional language, beyond saying that some people in your world speak it; or you can go all out and design a language according to linguistic principles. There is a real art to this. This book is a pretty cool entry point into the art of conlangs (constructed languages).
If it's something you're interested in, definitely do some more reading on conlangs, but recognize that it is a huge time commitment to do it well. For most stories, you can get away with a superficial gloss of constructed languages. But once you have signaled to your reader that you are taking it seriously, they will expect you to do it well.
From the perspective of overall story execution, this is an issue of managing reader expectations. Readers will not expect writers to craft full functional languages with their own linguistic rules and etymological history. But if you promise them that you are going to--by presenting your book in such a way that gives rise to this expectation--then you either deliver or you disappoint.
You could read his book if you're actually interested in conlanging. There's also /r/conlangs
La culture, probablement pas (il me faudrait peut-être des détails sur quels aspects de cette culture vous avez en tête), mais les matériaux à disposition oui. Prenez les runes germaniques, scandinaves ou anglo-saxonnes, elles ont des tracés anguleux car on les écrivait surtout en les gravant dans du bois ou de la pierre, graver des courbes est plus dur.
En revanche, les écritures d'Asie du Sud comme le cinghalais, le birman ou le javanais sont souvent très rondes car elles s'écrivaient traditionnellement avec un stylet sur des feuilles de palmier, que des lettres anguleuses risquaient de percer.
Des livres, je ne saurais pas trop dire, car j'avoue que mes sources sont surtout des articles universitaires sur Internet ou des sites comme Omniglot. Si vous préférez les livres quand même, The World's writing systems est une sorte d'encyclopédie des alphabets anciens et modernes, il y a donc pas mal d'informations historiques dedans.
Pour inventer une écriture, je peux vous recommander The art of language invention de David J. Peterson (le créateur du dothraki de Game of Thrones), qui possède un chapitre bien fourni sur l'histoire de l'écriture, ses différents types et comment en inventer.
David J Peterson used GRRM's basics of Dothraki to create the language we see in the show, complete with syntax, tense variation, etc. etc. He wrote a book called The Art of Language Invention. He had an interview with Trevor Noah not to long ago where he gives a very brief interview.
I just bought this - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0143126466/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1
The art of language invention
It's super good
There are Tolkien encyclopedias which I find helpful whenever I forget who certain characters are. Here's the best one in my opinion. It is also useful for lord of the rings, and when you just want to check up on some facts about the world of tolkien.
I got this as a kid when I started reading the books so I could look up stuff I didn't understand helped alot.
Tolkien's World from A to Z: The Complete Guide to Middle-Earth https://www.amazon.com/dp/0345449762/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_i_5h0SDb6T5C6YF
Those are common suffixes and prefixes. Nothing in that rule saying there aren't other suffixes or prefixes, or that some common suffixes can be uncommon prefixes and vice versa. Don't read too much into this.
Unless you have a desire to be super strict about naming conventions, just do something that sounds about right. My Rohirrim Cappie has the name of "Eorsplittr Addldottr". If, on the other hand, you wish to be absolutely faithful to the lore, grab a copy of Ruth Noel's "The Languages of Middle-Earth". (Crazy prices for new copies, but cheap for used).
https://www.amazon.com/Languages-Tolkiens-Middle-Earth-Complete-Fourteen/dp/0395291305
Yes, more or less. It's actually a kind of fiddly matter sometimes. There are some English sounds that just aren't perfectly represented in either the Quenya or Sindarin modes of pronunciation for the Tengwar.
If you look at the title page of LotR, you can actually see an example of the Cirth (a runic alphabet similar in appearance to the Furthork) across the top and Tengwar across the bottom which collectively spell out an English phrase. These give some good hints at Tolkien's preferred mode for English, but there are still some omissions. (I have a copy that I worked on way back in high school. Please excuse the quality of the images. The bit that is left undone on the one page was from the Silmarillion, I believe.)
A good example of something that looks a bit off to most English speakers when just directly transliterated based on the consonant values given in Ruth S. Noel's book The Langauges of Tolkien's Middle Earth, the word "the" is represented just as "dh", because "dh" is commonly used to represent the voiced dental fricative (as opposed to the voiceless dental fricative, such as in the word "thing" or "thin"). So it's still the right sound patterns, just not represented in latin letters the way we're used to it. (At least according to the equivalents she gives.)
There are some other writing samples, too, as well as a multitude of posts on the internet proposing best-fit solutions for an English mode of writing for Tengwar based on evidence and some interpolation and guesswork.
More information can be found by reading the excellent book I mentioned (and linked) above or by reading Appendix E of Lord of the Rings.
TL;DR: YES
You can't get more official than this one.. http://www.amazon.com/Discworld-Mapp-Terry-Pratchett/dp/0552143243
You might want to use Karen Wynn Fonstad's [Atlas of Middle Earth] (https://www.amazon.ca/Atlas-Middle-earth-Karen-Wynn-Fonstad/dp/0618126996/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1510527162&amp;sr=1-1&amp;dpID=51OtLVeyEmL&amp;preST=_SX198_BO1,204,203,200_QL40_&amp;dpSrc=srch) to do your research. Maps of the earlier Ages and of regions outside the Western portions of the continent are sketchier than that of the Third Age, but there is still some good information to be gathered and that book is a major reference in that field. Wish you good luck in your endeavour. Your map is truly gorgeous!
This one and this atlas are really good. The atlas would easily be worth it as a read on its own. The guide is kind of an encyclopedia with pretty much every name or place you could want to look up.
Well, there are already a couple of concordances, plus Fonstad's atlas, Christopher Tolkiens' books, and countless others, some more scholarly, some less so. I really like the idea of an iOS app, but what sources are you going to draw from?
I would like one that shows the paths of the characters and battles. Similar to this but for ASoIaF. However I wouldn't want this till the series is finished.
I believe many of these graphics are from the Atlas of Middle Earth. It is a great book if you want to geek out on maps.
Any one who is a fan of the LOTR maps should check out The Atlas of Middle-Earth.
Here's one possibility: https://www.amazon.com/Maps-Tolkiens-Middle-earth-Brian-Sibley/dp/061839110X
It sounds like each of the four poster maps included is 28"x28", and is folded in the box; you'd need to get your own frame. I'm not aware of any other options, for better or worse.
It came in a little set called "The Maps of Tolkien's Middle Earth" by Brian Sibley and John Howe. The one I have has the famous green door artwork on the slipcase. There's also this edition though.
https://www.amazon.com/Maps-Tolkiens-Middle-earth-Brian-Sibley/dp/061839110X
Obviously, reading the entire series several times isn't a practical idea. And, there's far too much breadth and depth to the world to give you a useful crash course in a reddit comment or two. So, here are a few suggestions:
Some other resources for you to consider:
Hope this helps!
Here!
There's an entire book dedicated to the words in The Book of the New Sun.
http://www.amazon.com/Lexicon-Urthus-Dictionary-Urth-Cycle/dp/0964279517
I happen to like Lexicon Urthus, which helps organize the material. I happen to hate the Solar Labyrinth, which I think is a lot of silly imagining of things that aren't there.
The truth is that there aren't a lot of straight-forward answers with Gene Wolfe. We want there to be; we want Dr. Talos's play to make perfect sense, if only we had the answer key. But Wolfe's work thrives in ambiguity, and while there are some clues hidden, I think there are far fewer clues, and far fewer real answers, than most people do. The point isn't to understand in a conventional sense; I think it's to experience a kind of wonder.
As for your spoiler question: [Spoiler](/s "The woman wasn't actually ever harmed during the festival, and there's no evidence she was a robot. Actually, this is one of the rare places where Wolfe leaves some pretty credible clues: there's good evidence that that lady is Severian's mother.")
I've reread up to 8 twice to date. Then I found The Wheel of Time reread series. They are fairly detailed summaries of the books that describe chapter to chapter. It brought me up to speed in about a week's time. I just ignore the author's commentary at the end of every summary.
>There's also a great little book that's dedicated to using the books to make a full atlas of Middle-earth, and the author's very knowledgeable about geography and geology. She even explains the theories pertinent to Middle-earth's shift from flat to round.
To add on to this a bit, the book you would be looking for is called The Atlas of Middle Earth (revised edition) by Karen Wynn Fonstad.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KEWAP1I/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&amp;btkr=1
Under NO circumstances should you ever buy, look at, or read An Atlas of Tolkien by David Day.
David Peterson, who makes the conlangs for Game of Thrones and a number of other movies and TV shows, just published a really great book called The Art of Language Invention – it's really entertaining, and a great introduction to how to start making a conlang. Also, he has a tumblr.
For the most realistic results, I would reccomend purchasing these two books:
The Language Construction Kit by Mark Rosenfelder and The Art of Language Invention by David J Peterson
Just some basic suggestions, you can do with it what you will :)
https://www.amazon.com/Mythic-Bestiary-Illustrated-Fantastical-Creatures/dp/1844834840
https://www.amazon.com/Dictionary-Imaginary-Places-Updated-Expanded/dp/0156008726/ref=pd_sim_14_6?ie=UTF8&amp;dpID=518h-D4AR8L&amp;dpSrc=sims&amp;preST=_AC_UL160_SR123%2C160_&amp;psc=1&amp;refRID=8C817F7QAQJ2BTBRMV4H
https://www.amazon.com/Illustrated-Guide-Mythical-Creatures/dp/B006QS5XAC
https://www.amazon.com/Giants-Monsters-Dragons-Encyclopedia-Folklore/dp/0393322114/ref=pd_sim_14_2?ie=UTF8&amp;dpID=51mZJ7gzjvL&amp;dpSrc=sims&amp;preST=_AC_UL160_SR122%2C160_&amp;psc=1&amp;refRID=8C817F7QAQJ2BTBRMV4H
https://www.amazon.com/Monsterology-Complete-Book-Monstrous-Beasts/dp/0763639400/ref=pd_sim_14_4?ie=UTF8&amp;dpID=61GBdkOSy3L&amp;dpSrc=sims&amp;preST=_AC_UL160_SR136%2C160_&amp;psc=1&amp;refRID=8C817F7QAQJ2BTBRMV4H
https://www.amazon.com/Spirits-Fairies-Leprechauns-Goblins-Encyclopedia/dp/0393317927/ref=pd_sim_14_5?ie=UTF8&amp;dpID=61H%2BqteBZML&amp;dpSrc=sims&amp;preST=_AC_UL160_SR123%2C160_&amp;psc=1&amp;refRID=8C817F7QAQJ2BTBRMV4H
>But Tolkien's most important contribution by far, and what is at the heart of the real revolution he effected in literature, was his construction of a systematic secondary world. There had been plenty of invented worlds in fantasy before, but they were vague and ad hoc, defined moment to moment by the needs of the story. Tolkien reversed that. He started with the world, plotted it obsessively, delineating its history, geography and mythology before writing the stories. He introduced an extraordinary element of rigour to the genre.
>This type of project is often mocked by those critical of fantasy. However, it allows for a unique and - at least potentially - uniquely engaged kind of reading. Readers can inhabit these worlds, and become collaborators in the process of constantly creating them, suspending their disbelief.
I'm glad that Mieville, a former Dungeons & Dragons nerd who's talked about his love of reading role-playing guidebooks like the Monster Manual, thought to focus on this as Tolkien's biggest innovation. I'd also recommend the book As If: Modern Enchantment and the Literary PreHistory of Virtual Reality to anyone interested in the history of how "world building" caught on in genre fiction, it focuses on the trio of Tolkien, Lovecraft and Arthur Conan Doyle (and their early fandom).
https://www.amazon.com/Languages-Tolkiens-Middle-Earth-Complete-Fourteen/dp/0395291305
I had this book years ago and it's really good! Very comprehensive.
"Hey buy me that book you lost, you can probably find it on ebay or amazon."
That might work.
Here you go!
http://www.amazon.com/Languages-Tolkiens-Middle-Earth-Ruth-Noel/dp/0395291305
It's on sale too!
From what I have seen, there are many dictionaries out there you can use. I would recommend going here and checking out the resources. Pretty useful.
Here's another, I find, useful resource for sale on Amazon.
I hope this helped!
Awesome, thanks for the info and props for including the Tolkien! I'm ashamed I didn't recognize it, I actually spent a few years learning Elvish from this book when I was a kid.
It's from Karen Wynn Fonstad's wonderful The Atlas of Middle-earth. Highly recommended! It's not strictly canon, but very faithful and almost entirely free of conjecture.
They are as accurate as you want them to be. Personally, I like having this book by Karen Wynn Fonstad inform my headcanon.
The mysteries of Tolkien's universe are what make it so special. For example, I don't want to know where the Blue Wizards went. But I like to speculate that Oromë sent them to Middle Earth to find the Elves that remained at Cuivienen.
If he's a big fan of the books he might enjoy the Readers Companion:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lord-Rings-Readers-Companion/dp/0007270607
The Atlas of Middle Earth:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Atlas-Middle-Earth-Karen-Fonstad/dp/0618126996
or the LOTR related volumes of The History of Middle Earth:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_History_of_Middle-earth
You may be interested in this Atlas of Middle-Earth
I can't get enough of the maps. Last time reading through LOTR i broke down and bought The Atlas of Middle Earth. I refer to the maps in any book both before I begin and constantly as I read.
Not in medical school so I suppose I'm "normal".
My best advise would be to skip the Ainulindalë and Valaquenta, the first part of the book. This is the section that reads like The Bible, and move onto The Quenta Silmarillion. After the Quenta Silmarillion, you may find Ainulindalë and Valaquenta easier to follow. As well as the encyclopedia that coolaswhitebread recommended, I found The Atlas of Middle-Earth to be both fascinating and essential to understanding where everything was taking place.
The books should include Tolkien's maps.
This is also a good book.
As for the characters it probably won't be as complicated as you think for The Hobbit and LotR. Both stories are travelling narratives so the relevant characters kinda come and go, such that when they're not around, you don't need to worry about them.
For maps and characters both it's really only The Silmarillion that's very complex. The others are novels, but the Sil is a history book.
Yes, this is the immensely researched (and Tolkien estate-approved) Karen Fonstad map from the Atlas of Middle Earth. The other map of Arda that sal30 linked to is actually derived from J.R.R. Tolkien's own early conception sketches, but Karen's maps can be consided the most up-to-date 'canon' representations.
"The Atlas of Middle Earth" has literally every LotR map you could want. http://www.amazon.com/The-Atlas-Middle-Earth-Revised-Edition/dp/0618126996/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1346212024&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=atlas+of+middle+earth
We world-building fans are hoping for another one at the end of the second series.
Thought of some other things you might enjoy. Not strictly appendices, but they are world-building addenda I think.
Wheel of Time Companion.
World of Ice and Fire
I missed the whole two souls thing on my first read through as well. Slayer was a very confusing character.
As for a “history” there is the Wheel of Time Companion book which has a loooot of really cool info. It’s basically an encyclopedia but it has stuff like all the old tongue words translated and it mentions the power levels of every Aes Sedai.
There’s also the World of Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time which might be closer to what you’re looking for. It doesn’t include as much info, and it came out before the series was finished I think. But it gives a really good overview of Randland and the past. It breaks down the different nations, factions, age of legends, etc. i highly recommend both if you love WoT (though the artwork in the latter book is... questionable. I do like some of it, but some is horrendous imo).
Edit: I have both btw so feel free to ask any questions or if you want a little sneak peak I can pm you some pics of them.
https://www.amazon.com/Wheel-Time-Companion-History-Bestselling/dp/0765314622
&#x200B;
Something like this?
You definitely should!
Pick up the recently published Wheel of Time Compendium and it will make researching everything you need to know as easy as reading 10 little entries and 10 big entries (which looks like a lot but really isn't, especially since you've already made the time comittment to DMing and Homebrewing all this).
The Trolloc Wars setting gives lots of room for deviation from "official history" because it led to a near-collapse of civilization 2000 years before the books, and there was also the Hawkwing era 1000 years before so history could have been confused in countless ways even after that. Your players might know roughly what happens but throw in a Foretelling NPC to give them confused-prophesies of one-half red herrings (but maybe things they could MAKE happen) and other-half confirmations of what they know and they'll be uncertain all over again.
The Trolloc Wars were the greatest and most widespread use of the Power for martial purposes since the Breaking of the World, and really the biggest until the books themselves. The fact that Ishamael is working for the Dark means they might know any "forgotten" weave or talent you want to include--in a VERY limited elite group--and same for Aes Sedai, who would naturally be secretive as they grow to suspect that there are Darkfriends among them... It was during this "wandering the world" time that Ishamael founded the Black Ajah. Even without millions of Trollocs rampage across the land and the Ways becoming corrupt and whole civilizations which had very nearly regained the heights of the Age of Legends falling into ruin, that would be plenty of campaign material.
I bet there were more than a few False Dragons too.
Take a look at the book's Introduction on Amazon where actually it states this!
-
I found a few on my first go through—the most famous is 'Bela' which is deliberate!(it was kind of a tongue in cheek joke for the fans)—but I did not bother to make a list of them.
-
Though it is very far from the thoroughness of the extravagant 'Tolkien's World from A to Z: The Complete Guide to Middle-Earth', as a lot of stuff is left out—Aiel 'bridal wreath' for example—of tWoT's version, while Tolkien's includes—everything—including the kitchen sink.
-
I say that it is still worth getting. But, like pointed out, some entries need to be taken with a grain of salt.
Asdfjsdhj omg you two are sooo cute. What an adorable contest ;_;
Hope I'm not too late to enter!
Morthy demands:
Akeleie demands:
Its a collection of essays
Some of the essays in Dune and Philosophy might interest you.
Try here
Be sure to check out some of the volumes (yes volumes) of literary review written about A Book of the New Sun.
I recommend Lexicon Urthus and Solar Labyrinth.
The essays therein really helped me reach a new appreciation for Wolfe's work and let me enjoy them on a new level.
There are actually a couple of books that try to piece together what actually happened in The New Sun: Solar Labyrinth: Exploring Gene Wolfe's "Book of the New Sun" and Lexicon Urthus: A Dictionary for the Urth Cycle. The latter is a dictionary, but a lot of entries have observations about plot developments, as well as etymology that sheds light on the intended (hidden) meaning. For example, did you know that the character of Baldanders is borrowed from Germany myth via Jorge Luius Borges' The Book of Imaginary Beings? The dictionary also has a plot summary. Solar Labyrinth is an in-depth analysis, which among other things posits that Nessus is a future version of Buenos Aires, and that [Spoiler](/s "Father Inire is Severian's father") (if I recall correctly). Of course, you already figured out the stuff about [Spoiler](/s "Dorcas (the 'dead' girl from the lake) being Severian's grandmother").
There are no copies with glossaries or appendices to my knowledge. However, there is something almost as good: Lexicon Urthus.
It's an entirely separate book which contains all the of places, people, and strange objects and creatures mentioned in the books.
You may have been reading about one of his other books. Book of the Long Sun and Book of the Short Sun both have character lists in the front of the book.
TOR reread also available as an ebook.
Leigh Butler wrote a great chapter-by-chapter summary that reads like a condensed version of the books. It's free online or you can buy it on amazon.
Buy your mum a copy of one of my favorite nerd books:
The Atlas of Middle Earth
For getting upt to speed with the old books without re-reading them, I highly recommend Larry Ketchersid's re-read. It's a 10th of lenght and you'll know everything necessary. It is a self published ebook on amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Re-reading-Williams-Memory-Sorrow-Thorn-ebook/dp/B01I8GIWQ6/
There's an intriguing book about Appendix N, which I thoroughly enjoyed.
Here's a book resource for you:
Amazon link: The Art of Language Invention: From Horse-Lords to Dark Elves, the Words Behind World-Building by David J. Peterson
>i wanna make one based on Finnish, Hungarian and ice/Greenlandic with Slavic influences
Greenlandic and Icelandic are very very different, Icelandic is a north germanic language which is more closely related to Slavic languages than it is baltic or Inuit languages. You're looking at merging three language families.
also, you'd best learn a tonne about conlanging before making a conlang, I recommend this book:
https://www.amazon.ca/Art-Language-Invention-Horse-Lords-World-Building/dp/0143126466
and/or these youtube channels:
https://www.youtube.com/user/Artifexian
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgJSf-fmdfUsSlcr7A92-aA
also, check out the resources on the side bar.
You could use awkwords.
Though if you want to do it well, I'd recommend, as others have, visiting r/conlangs. Also, check out the work of seasoned conlangers, like the Language Construction Kit, or David J. Peterson's The Art of Language Invention. I used David's book mostly, and found it really helpful. He's also super responsive to emails and has a supplementary video series on his youtube.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_J._Peterson
The dude made High Valerian for GoT, as well as a bunch of languages for Syfy's Defiance, the 100, and a whole heap others. If you enjoy conlanging i highly recommend his book The art of language invention
/r/conlangs !!!
Here's a good podcast.
Book from the guy that created Dothraki (he's also on the podcast every now and then) about constructing languages
The language construction kit. Gives you a general overview of how languages do things and how you construct languages
Second part of the LCK. Highly optional
After you're done with either the podcast or the fist LCK, you might as well get into the grammar of other languages instead of using language construction things.
Don't do auxlangs, though.
Edit: There's also a planet construction kit in case you want to get straight into world building as well
David Peterson, who develops conlangs for TV shows like Game of Thrones, has a youtube series that I find really interesting and helpful. It's made as a companion to his book. I haven't read the book yet, but if it's anything like the video series, I'm sure it's worth a buy.
you could consider this book from 2000 (you can peek inside on Amz): https://www.amazon.com/Dictionary-Imaginary-Places-Updated-Expanded/dp/0156008726/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1484468189&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=imaginary+places
I mean, Element Encyclopedia has books on everything for that. Not my particular favorite brand (mostly because I am a huge mythology nerd and have better books on monsters) but their selection should work for you.
But my two personal recomendations for any fantasy are
[Giants, Monsters and Dragons] (https://www.amazon.com/Giants-Monsters-Dragons-Encyclopedia-Folklore/dp/0393322114)
and
The Dictionary of Imaginary Places
Have you tried The Dictionary of Imaginary Places? That's fun.
Technically reference, I suppose, but amazing.
Have this at hand whenever you're reading it and you'll be much better off.
If any one is looking to buy it, you can get it on amazon.
This is probably the best-Robert Foster's guide was even approved by Tolkien:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0345449762?pc_redir=1413709814&amp;robot_redir=1
Also this is probably the second best by J.E.A. Tyler:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0312339127?pc_redir=1413174325&amp;robot_redir=1
Hope this helps
Well reading the books is the best and fullest way to learn about the world, but if you want something more concise and organized, there is the World of Shannara book that is a guide to the setting.
There is also a wiki
If you're familiar with those systems, why not just grab a world book about Shannara, (http://www.amazon.com/The-World-Shannara-Terry-Brooks/dp/0345480686) use say Pathfinder, and tweak stuff as needed?
Shannara is essentially heroic fantasy, and that's the one thing Pathfinder and 3.5 do well. Use the world as is, set up characters based on Shannara archetypes, and chance the particulars to fit the fiction (together with your players). Should work fine!
Although this isn't an rpg system, this book is The Shannara companion book which could serve as a guide to the setting and the background information that you could use to build a campaign from:
Shannara Book
If you want a city map, there's this monstrosity
https://www.amazon.com/Compleat-Ankh-Morpork-Terry-Pratchett/dp/0385538235/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=guide+to+Ankh+morpork&amp;qid=1563332828&amp;s=books&amp;sr=1-1
I got this for 5 bucks at a meijer a year or two ago. I plan on using this as plot city for a city campaign. It has an awesome map of the city.
John Howe's maps of Middle-earth (available in a big box set) are pretty good, and his map of Middle-earth is definitive as far as I'm concerned.
Jonathan Roberts created a set of maps for A Song of Ice and Fire/Game of Thrones called The Lands of Ice and Fire which are excellent. I have the big map of the entire world on my wall.
Terry Pratchett has a whole set of maps for his Discworld books, including the entire Discworld itself and the city of Ankh-Morpork (both twice, in fact, in The Streets of Ankh-Morpork, The Compleat Ankh-Morpork, The Discworld Mapp and The Compleat Discworld Atlas).
You can buy a map of Roshar from Brandon Sanderson's website and one of Temerant from the Worldbuilders Store.
For the sake of some differentiation on the list:
The Languages of Middle-Earth" for the Scifi leaning people or vaguely interested folks who enjoyed the movies. Tolkien was a language fiend and created some extensive lexicons, syntactic systems, and phonology for every language in his universe.
"In the Land of Invented Languages" All on manufactured languages and the weird people who make them. Klingon, Elvish, Esperanto, etc.
William S Burroughs "Electronic Revolution" (a bit occult, though) on the power of language as a transmittable virus
I think this is the (or one of the) go to resource, or at least it was for me 30-some years ago...
https://www.amazon.com/Languages-Tolkiens-Middle-Earth-Complete-Fourteen/dp/0395291305/ref=sr_1_1?crid=25CX7M0NEA1JH&amp;keywords=languages+of+tolkiens+middle+earth&amp;qid=1568950805&amp;sprefix=languages+of+tol%2Caps%2C134&amp;sr=8-1
This book Is quite good and covers several of Tolkens languages, it's not a comprehensive guide but is a brilliant starting point.
Oh no, sorry, I wrote the wrong book. It's The Languages of Tolkien's Middle-Earth: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0395291305/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_eo9TzbDEFDE21
I got The Languages of Tolkein's Middle Earth for Christmas a few years ago. Its not a teaching book per se, but it has all the vocabulary and grammatical rules that can be found or determined from context for Elvish, plus some stuff on Khudzul and a bunch of other languages.
http://www.amazon.com/Languages-Tolkiens-Middle-earth-Ruth-Noel/dp/0395291305
This is the one she highly recommended. I have yet to look it over.
I have a poster of a book cover, but I got it at a museum.
There are Discworld Mapps, too!
The Discworld Mapp
The Streets of Ankh Morpork
A Tourist Guide to Lancre
My Mapp from Tourist Guide to Lancre
discworld mapp
although 15 dollars? WTF
If you ever decide to read Tolkien's Silmarillion, I'd heartily recommend getting The Atlas of Middle Earth to accompany it. A well-researched and comprehensive, it really helps to visualize the places Tolkien describes so eloquently. The Atlas is rather plain and straightforward, and tends to understate the mythic grandeur that Tolkien describes, but for me it renders the geography concrete and in a fairly realistic manner.
Take it in small steps and re-read if you have the time. I'm someone who always comprehends better when I re-read things. Also having some maps handy is always a good thing. Plenty of maps available online but I also recommend getting The Atlas of Middle Earth.
I think as far as maps go the Atlas of Middle-Earth is a good reference.
http://www.amazon.com/Atlas-Middle-Earth-Karen-Wynn-Fonstad/dp/0618126996/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1372237375&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=the+atlas+of+middle+earth
Even the "well known" part of middle earth doesn't look right on this map.
Maybe:
http://www.amazon.com/Atlas-Middle-Earth-Revised-Karen-Fonstad/dp/0618126996
My first instinct was a volume of This Histories of Middle Earth (I think one is even pink), but it could also be something like The Complete Guide to Middle Earth or The Atlas of Middle Earth.
Here is a link.
The Silmarillion Primer is an excellent blog that summarizes each chapter in a humorous way and puts everything in context with what you learned in other chapters.
The Atlas of Middle-Earth has great maps that show the movement of characters.
My first time reading through it (I was 13 a the time) I couldn't follow what was happening. I then read this and the maps and summaries helped a lot. Alternatively there is Tolkien Gateway for more specific questions.
Highly recommended and one of the most accurate atlas's out there!
http://www.amazon.com/The-Atlas-Middle-Earth-Revised-Edition/dp/0618126996?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1&amp;redirect=true&amp;ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00
There are a few good books about on specific subjects. I'd recommend the Atlas of Middle Earth, I found it an excellent geographical companion a longside the Silmarillion, Hobbit and LotR.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Atlas-Middle-Earth-Karen-Fonstad/dp/0618126996
If you like this, you'll love this. Even more maps!
The Looming Tower and The Atlas of Middle Earth
Actually it's from The Atlas of Middle Earth.
It's called The Atlas of Middle-Earth by Karen Wynn Fonstad (Revised Edition). [See here] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0618126996/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_1?pf_rd_p=1944687722&amp;pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&amp;pf_rd_t=201&amp;pf_rd_i=026110277X&amp;pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&amp;pf_rd_r=1BFD9T9QP2679T2QKX4Q) looking inside should give you a taste. Thank you again though as I realized I should be using mine in my Fellowship of the Ring read.
Nice, I have
this one.
I found Sibley's The Maps of Tolkien's Middle-Earth to be quite helpful. Poster sized maps of Beleriand, the Hobbit area, and the LOTR area.
I did it by reading slowly and multiple times. Nowadays people can cheat.
Book.
https://smile.amazon.com/Wheel-Time-Companion-History-Bestselling/dp/0765314622/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2TISOVRPQVWMO&amp;keywords=the+wheel+of+time+companion&amp;qid=1570485976&amp;s=books&amp;sprefix=the+wheel+of+time+companion%2Caps%2C308&amp;sr=1-1
The paperback is the large size, not the small mass market pprbk. And if you're a fan of Daniel Greene's you tube channel, he has it in his Amazon store and will help support his channel.
There's literally a whole book for that.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0765314622/
Green Planets has a bunch of very good essays on ecology & world building in science fiction.
Narrower focus, but if you are a fan of Iain M Banks' Culture, Simone Caroti's book is very good.
Too late for your course, but a book of critical essays on Adam Roberts' science fiction is being released next year. He's the best "1 big idea per novel" writer right now.
There are 3 critical studies of Banks' writing that can be ordered from Amazon, and might be suitable?
Not read any of them personally, but I think the Kincaid one is the highest profile one - Hugo Award finalist last year, and IIRC Kincaid knew Banks personally. Both Kincaid and Hubble live in the UK, so you might be able to contact them to get a copy signed?
Once my interest was piqued I read this book and found it a great starting point. Also look for steampunk meetups and groups in your area. Most of all, have fun!
http://www.amazon.com/The-Steampunk-Bible-Illustrated-Scientists/dp/0810989581/ref=wl_it_dp_v_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&amp;colid=1FABDSFSGERJM&amp;coliid=I3B53H3ZWY5H6Z
That is what you should get yourself. Cause I mean steampunk and you seem like an artist so this would be prefect and if it wasn't higher than 10 it'd be my item too (though it's now on my wishlist as well). For me the closest thing that I could find was this:
http://www.amazon.com/Kikkerland-Casino-Cubes-Cube-Trays/dp/B004RBJR9I/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pd_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&amp;colid=3R8RM38IHOWPY&amp;coliid=I57H78GSLQGQ9
I know playing cards and those sorts of things have a lot to do with steampunk so I feel like they'd fit well together. Either that or my batman knife that I want.....hmmm. Yeah I know it's not very funny......but I tried right?
Not exactly a Novel, but The Steampunk Bible is my go to book for inspiration. A truly amazing book.
http://www.amazon.com/The-Steampunk-Bible-Illustrated-Scientists/dp/0810989581
I'll answer as best I can. If you decide to use any of my answers, my name's Tabitha Hastie.
In your own words, what is steampunk? What isn't steampunk? Feel free to give examples.
The idea of a past society that uses steam as their main source of power, as well as things like clockwork and maybe electricity. Usually set in Victorian Britain, specifically London, but the basic idea can extend to other cultures. A key theme is industry and how this affects a rapidly changing society (as seen during the industrial revolution). As for what isn't steampunk, I guess anything that doesn't fall into that category.
What made you come to these conclusions/definitions?
Because that's pretty much every definition of steampunk I've ever seen.
What is the purpose of steampunk?
Maybe some people would have some deep answers for this, I'd just say it's for fun.
Why did you get into steampunk? Do you like alternate history, writing fiction, do you enjoy making costumes, or something else?
I'd vaguely known of the genre for a while, then I saw a woman in a steampunk outfit at a convention and fell in love. I was already into cosplay so loved the idea of making my own outfit.
What do you like and dislike about steampunk and/or the people who participate in the subculture?
I wouldn't say there's much I dislike about the genre itself, and most of the people within it are great. But it is annoying that /r/steampunk seems to have a deep hatred of glueing gears on things and will link to the song at any opportunity, when the song is about glueing gears on something completely unrelated then calling it steampunk because of those gears; not glueing gears on something already clearly steampunk as decoration. I've even seen someone complain about something and use that song as an argument, when the song commended exactly what they were arguing against.
How do you think steampunk handles issues of identity, gender roles, nationality, etiquette, religion, morality, racism, class systems, or other topics? Which topic is most important or relevant to you and why?
I've never really seen any issues like this come up. I wouldn't really say any of them are particularly important or relevant to me as I've never had any problems like that.
Why do you think so many people are nostalgic about the Victorian period, or other genres that have -punk followings for that matter?
I guess there's a sort of nostalgia about it; when people look back they tend to forget about all the bad things of an era and romanticise it. Personally, I love the look of the Victorians. They put so much more effort into how they looked and wore amazing outfits - beautiful dresses, suits, top hats - now it's all jeans and t-shirts.
We live in a very digital age. Is there something about this that deters people from digital-looking art, items and clothing, and makes people yearn for these aesthetics from the past (even if they are from an alternate past like a steampunk/Victorian age)?
I don't really get the question. I don't think so, I don't think people generally have anything against digital stuff. Sorry I don't really know how to answer this.
Is steampunk "just a trend" that will eventually die out? Why or why not? Is it becoming too mainstream? Is that a bad thing?
I'm sure it will eventually die out just as anything will eventually die out, but I think it'll be around for a while. I wouldn't say it was just a trend, it's existed since the 80s under the term steampunk (I think it was the 80s, anyway), and has technically existed since Victorian times, even if not under that name. I once saw someone compare it to goth, saying that years ago goth was relatively unknown and was very similar to steampunk, then it gradually became more mainstream until it became what it is now. I could see this happening to steampunk, it's certainly way more mainstream now than it was when I first got into it. There are steampunk clothes and accessories in high-street stores, musicians are doing steampunk music videos (such as Justin Bieber...), and it continues to get more and more popular. I think it's kind of sad in a way since part of what makes steampunk steampunk is the idea of making your own outfits and gadgets, coming up with your own ideas, and if it becomes too mass-produced then everyone's outfits will start looking the same. Plus, manufacturers put the steampunk label on anything and everything. But with it becoming more mainstream also brings more people to the genre. So there are pros and cons, really.
Have you seen steampunk art exhibited in a gallery, museum, or other public venue? Was it intended by the artist to be steampunk, or did it just fall into your categorization of what steampunk is to you?
I was in Oxford in 2010 and saw a steampunk exhibit at a museum. A class from the local school did a project on steampunk, and all their creations were in the museum. That was definitely intended to be steampunk. Other than that, not particularly. The closest I can think would be steampunk art/merchandise being sold at places like Camden Market in London.
Are you a steampunk artist? Have you exhibited any work in galleries or other places? Can you explain and describe some of your pieces? Can you provide links to the exhibit or gallery review articles?
I do make my own steampunk stuff, but certainly haven't had it exhibited anywhere! You can see what I've made here: http://demorafairy.deviantart.com/gallery/24638457
Are there any books, scholarly articles, or videos you found that could answer and elaborate on any of the above questions?
The Steampunk Bible has a lot of interesting reading.
I think that's just about the longest comment I've ever written. Hope this helps!
Have not read it but have it: https://www.amazon.com/Dune-Philosophy-Weirding-Popular-Culture/dp/0812697154
Have read most of it, it is a collection of essays. For example, there is an assay by a chemist and biologist if sandworms are theoretically possible...stuff like that:
https://www.amazon.com/Science-Dune-Unauthorized-Exploration-Psychology/dp/1933771283
Wolfe claims that he only uses obscure English words, but his definition of the English language is very broad. I love language and word play and really liked leafing through Lexicon Urthus, which is a dictionary that was specifically made for The Book of the New Sun. My library happened to have a copy, so I used it, but it was by no means necessary.
There's actually a dedicated lexicon published to define the words used in that series. It's a worthwhile purchase because it also gives insight on the plot, but for that reason it can also occasionally reveal some spoiler elements.
It was deep enough that it inspired others to write their own. That does not happen too often.
I think this is a good recommendation because the Book of the New Sun is so dense, like you said. But you're cruel for not suggesting he bring the Lexicon Urthus along with.
Enjoyment will be increased by having a copy of the Lexicon Urthus to hand.
(http://www.amazon.com/Lexicon-Urthus-Dictionary-Urth-Cycle/dp/0964279517)
This: https://www.amazon.com/Wheel-Time-Reread-Books-Boxset-ebook/dp/B00BIV2332
Re-reading Tad William's Memory, Sorrow and Thorn is now available in eBook form.
Tad Williams' Memory, Sorrow and Thorn is the fantasy series cited as a major influencer of George R. R. Martin, Christopher Paolini, Patrick Rothfuss and many others. With the publication of The Last King of Osten Ard, the new series set in the same world, readers of the original series may need a re-read or a refresher.
This eBook goes through each chapter in all three massive books, and includes additional chapters on the series place in fantasy genre history, the three great swords, conjecture on the new Last King series (and the additional new books set in Osten Ard) and a list of additional resources for information about this deep and expanding place.
Get ready for The Heart of What Was Lost (which takes place immediately after the end of To Green Angel Tower) and The Witchwood Crown (occurring 30 years after To Green Angel Tower) with Larry Ketchersid's thorough and sometimes humorous re-read notes.
Many thanks to Deborah Beale and Tad Williams for their support on this project.