I loved this essay. That's exactly the problem with HP fanfic, and maybe why i'm a bit bored with it - most of it, with honourable exceptions (Shadow of his Wings comes to mind) don't really even attempt the magical side of things. Hell, they often don't attempt the plot side of things.
I think JKR's world works because it's 3-dimensional and solid, and within that the characters have an incredible psychological reality. As a reader, you think it's easy until you look at something else. and it's the balance of those things plus the mega-plot, I think, that keeps people so involved.
I read an adult novel which could be classed as fantasy in some respects, The Vintner's Luck (http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0099273896/qid=1126081592/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl/202-3917622-7370213), and again it's that balance of the real with the fantastical that's so hard to get right.
PS I don't usually like fantasy art - for all the reasons mentioned - but those are lovely.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2005-09-07 08:30 am (UTC)I think JKR's world works because it's 3-dimensional and solid, and within that the characters have an incredible psychological reality. As a reader, you think it's easy until you look at something else. and it's the balance of those things plus the mega-plot, I think, that keeps people so involved.
I read an adult novel which could be classed as fantasy in some respects, The Vintner's Luck (http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0099273896/qid=1126081592/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl/202-3917622-7370213), and again it's that balance of the real with the fantastical that's so hard to get right.
PS I don't usually like fantasy art - for all the reasons mentioned - but those are lovely.