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Worldbuilding for Fantasy Fans and Authors
Worlds can exist without stories, but fantasy stories cannot exist without a vibrant and enthralling world. But what makes a good fantasy world?
Be you a top-down planner, a bottom-up pantser, or a fantasy fan experiencing the worldbuilding from the inside-out, this comprehensive guide has you covered. Adopting a “tools not rules” approach, you will discover dozens of worldbuilding strategies, including:
Ineffective, effective, and inspired worldbuilding.
Designing comprehensive magic systems.
The four Cs of worldbuilding and how to use them.
The ins and outs of immersion.
Enhancing the audience experience with fantasy conceits.
Also featuring:
Case studies from famous worldbuilders.
Map design 101.
Survey results showing what audiences want.
Answers to these questions and more were once scattered throughout the realms, but have finally been compiled and synthesized for fantasy fans and authors alike.
Be you a top-down planner, a bottom-up pantser, or a fantasy fan experiencing the worldbuilding from the inside-out, this comprehensive guide has you covered. Adopting a “tools not rules” approach, you will discover dozens of worldbuilding strategies, including:
Ineffective, effective, and inspired worldbuilding.
Designing comprehensive magic systems.
The four Cs of worldbuilding and how to use them.
The ins and outs of immersion.
Enhancing the audience experience with fantasy conceits.
Also featuring:
Case studies from famous worldbuilders.
Map design 101.
Survey results showing what audiences want.
Answers to these questions and more were once scattered throughout the realms, but have finally been compiled and synthesized for fantasy fans and authors alike.
299 pages, Paperback
Published August 8, 2020
218 people are currently reading
327 people want to read
About the author
M.D. Presley
8 books83 followersNever passing up the opportunity to speak about himself in the third person, M.D. Presley is not nearly as clever as he thinks he is. Born and raised in Texas, he spent several years on the East Coast and now waits for the West Coast to shake him loose. His favorite words include defenestrate, callipygian, and Algonquin. The fact that monosyllabic is such a long word keeps him up at night.
And no, he's not related to Elvis. Thanks for asking though.
And no, he's not related to Elvis. Thanks for asking though.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
October 20, 2020
This review was originally published over at The Fantasy Hive!
A copy was provided by the author for review.
The great works of fantasy draw us back in, time and again. Not because of the plot, experienced and so no longer shocking; not even because of the characters (though they certainly help). It is the quality of the worlds that call back the loudest, and it’s a universal constant in the works of the most accomplished authors of our field: Tolkien and Le Guin, Jordan and Hobb, Erikson and Jemisin, to name a few.
Can you categorize the process that goes into the crafting of a world? M.D. Presley believes so. In Worldbuilding for Fantasy Fans and Authors, Presley first sketches out an ambitious set of goals (“to distill many of the existing worldbuilding theories and philosophies to create a shared vocabulary, to sift through…find the patterns, and compile them here.”), then defines the term “worldbuilding” itself (as verb and noun), and finally sets out the defining philosophy of the work (“tools, not rules”). All of that in the introduction alone.
The short of it is, Presley succeeds in his goals while keeping to a philosophy of offering the reader tools rather than prescriptions.
The book can be divided in two, the first part examining the more theoretical elements of worldbuilding—its nature, aims, and breaking points, to name a few. Why are tropes so popular and how do they function, anyway? What makes worldbuilding efficient, what makes it inefficient, what makes it inspired? Can mathematics ever be used to define an element of fantasy? The answer to that last one is a surprising “Yes,” accompanied by an actual function. Don’t let it scare you away.
Virtually no actionable element of worldbuilding is left untouched in the latter section of the book, whether examined closely (like geography, biology, physics and magic), or merely given a nod at, as is the case with culture, due to the overwhelming denseness of the topic. To write about culture in worldbuilding and cover it in full would necessitate a book even denser than this one. What Presley offers might be better; an introduction to the thinking required in creating and defining a unique society.
I disagreed with Presley on some points – which is natural, healthy, and makes for deeper engagement. The only thing worse than a bland academic text is one so agreeable you might as well stab yourself in the eyeball, if only to break the tedium. A particular annoyance is the use of “consumer” in tandem with “reader” and “author”—the connotations to mindlessly consuming entertainment rather than engaging with art make the term odious; no less so for how commonly it’s spewed from the mouths of entertainers, news anchors, politicians and everyone in-between.
The sheer amount of research done is staggering and a love letter to the process. The “Works Cited” section at the end of the book is a treasure trove of resources; dozens of works for further study and exploration await, some of them familiar to me—Erikson’s occasional essays and fire chats, Diamond’s Guns, Germs, and Steel—much of them unknown.
Presley offers wit, good humour, and unmistakable love for the craft and art of creating worlds; having read the author before, these come as no surprise. The sheer quality of this academic work—now, that was a pleasant surprise. That’s not to say I had low expectations—I didn’t—but what I have come away with is a deep admiration of the work put into this book.
I will be sure to get a physical copy of Worldbuilding for Fantasy Fans and Authors as soon as I am able and I will browse through it often as I write fantasy fiction. Just as often, too, when I find myself lost for words and looking to define what efficient worldbuilding does right in one fantasy novel, what inefficient worldbuilding does wrong in another. It is a book I might very well choose to use in my academic career, going forward.
Recommending it to you, then, is a no-brainer.
A copy was provided by the author for review.
The great works of fantasy draw us back in, time and again. Not because of the plot, experienced and so no longer shocking; not even because of the characters (though they certainly help). It is the quality of the worlds that call back the loudest, and it’s a universal constant in the works of the most accomplished authors of our field: Tolkien and Le Guin, Jordan and Hobb, Erikson and Jemisin, to name a few.
Can you categorize the process that goes into the crafting of a world? M.D. Presley believes so. In Worldbuilding for Fantasy Fans and Authors, Presley first sketches out an ambitious set of goals (“to distill many of the existing worldbuilding theories and philosophies to create a shared vocabulary, to sift through…find the patterns, and compile them here.”), then defines the term “worldbuilding” itself (as verb and noun), and finally sets out the defining philosophy of the work (“tools, not rules”). All of that in the introduction alone.
The short of it is, Presley succeeds in his goals while keeping to a philosophy of offering the reader tools rather than prescriptions.
The book can be divided in two, the first part examining the more theoretical elements of worldbuilding—its nature, aims, and breaking points, to name a few. Why are tropes so popular and how do they function, anyway? What makes worldbuilding efficient, what makes it inefficient, what makes it inspired? Can mathematics ever be used to define an element of fantasy? The answer to that last one is a surprising “Yes,” accompanied by an actual function. Don’t let it scare you away.
Virtually no actionable element of worldbuilding is left untouched in the latter section of the book, whether examined closely (like geography, biology, physics and magic), or merely given a nod at, as is the case with culture, due to the overwhelming denseness of the topic. To write about culture in worldbuilding and cover it in full would necessitate a book even denser than this one. What Presley offers might be better; an introduction to the thinking required in creating and defining a unique society.
I disagreed with Presley on some points – which is natural, healthy, and makes for deeper engagement. The only thing worse than a bland academic text is one so agreeable you might as well stab yourself in the eyeball, if only to break the tedium. A particular annoyance is the use of “consumer” in tandem with “reader” and “author”—the connotations to mindlessly consuming entertainment rather than engaging with art make the term odious; no less so for how commonly it’s spewed from the mouths of entertainers, news anchors, politicians and everyone in-between.
The sheer amount of research done is staggering and a love letter to the process. The “Works Cited” section at the end of the book is a treasure trove of resources; dozens of works for further study and exploration await, some of them familiar to me—Erikson’s occasional essays and fire chats, Diamond’s Guns, Germs, and Steel—much of them unknown.
Presley offers wit, good humour, and unmistakable love for the craft and art of creating worlds; having read the author before, these come as no surprise. The sheer quality of this academic work—now, that was a pleasant surprise. That’s not to say I had low expectations—I didn’t—but what I have come away with is a deep admiration of the work put into this book.
I will be sure to get a physical copy of Worldbuilding for Fantasy Fans and Authors as soon as I am able and I will browse through it often as I write fantasy fiction. Just as often, too, when I find myself lost for words and looking to define what efficient worldbuilding does right in one fantasy novel, what inefficient worldbuilding does wrong in another. It is a book I might very well choose to use in my academic career, going forward.
Recommending it to you, then, is a no-brainer.
August 10, 2020
Worldbuilding: it's hard to define, but we've all heard of books that had great worldbuilding. With this book, the author defines his idea of worldbuilding with a definition that is broad enough to appeal to most, and give fans and writers alike the tools to identify the aspects of worldbuilding that work, with critical theory and vocabulary.
Why should anyone listen to this author in particular? Well, he provides his credentials, having worked in screenwriting for years and with some books of his own under his belt. It's not too informal but not as stuffy as many academic works I've read. He cites plenty of other sources, and includes information gathered from surveys of communities such as r/worldbuilding on reddit, as well as his own personal anecdotes.
The first few parts deal with introducing a lot of concepts and theory, drawing some links to human psychology, while later parts go into detail about worldbuilding topics such as geography, technology, physics and culture. So what is the best way to build worlds? Planner or pantser? Info-dump or not? It depends. Every author has their own personal method, and Presley does a good job of bringing together various pieces of information and providing examples, mostly within five main worlds: Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, Harry Potter, Game of Thrones and Avatar: The Last Airbender. These are all obviously very popular and well-known worlds, but the author encourages readers to use their own preferred world of choice and examine it with the tools provided.
It's a good springboard for thinking about worldbuilding in a more critical light, and many of the non-fiction works cited (such as by Jemisin, Tolkien, Wolf) would be excellent additional reads for a deeper understanding of the topic. Knowing the theories behind crafting a world can help authors make an informed decision when choosing which method to use, although it may end up being another source of procrastination instead of actually writing (but Presley isn't to blame for that).
Why should anyone listen to this author in particular? Well, he provides his credentials, having worked in screenwriting for years and with some books of his own under his belt. It's not too informal but not as stuffy as many academic works I've read. He cites plenty of other sources, and includes information gathered from surveys of communities such as r/worldbuilding on reddit, as well as his own personal anecdotes.
The first few parts deal with introducing a lot of concepts and theory, drawing some links to human psychology, while later parts go into detail about worldbuilding topics such as geography, technology, physics and culture. So what is the best way to build worlds? Planner or pantser? Info-dump or not? It depends. Every author has their own personal method, and Presley does a good job of bringing together various pieces of information and providing examples, mostly within five main worlds: Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, Harry Potter, Game of Thrones and Avatar: The Last Airbender. These are all obviously very popular and well-known worlds, but the author encourages readers to use their own preferred world of choice and examine it with the tools provided.
It's a good springboard for thinking about worldbuilding in a more critical light, and many of the non-fiction works cited (such as by Jemisin, Tolkien, Wolf) would be excellent additional reads for a deeper understanding of the topic. Knowing the theories behind crafting a world can help authors make an informed decision when choosing which method to use, although it may end up being another source of procrastination instead of actually writing (but Presley isn't to blame for that).
September 17, 2020
4.5/5
Well-researched, informative, fun.
Well-researched, informative, fun.
August 17, 2020
The amount of information in this book is incredible and it covers so much more than I expected when I started. Not only did it change the way I will read fantasy books going forward but I also learned quite a bit of information about the real world that I was completely unaware of. Who would have thought?
I guess I always thought that as far as creating a world goes as the author you can just do whatever you want and write it into existence. I never stopped to consider that if your world has even minor differences than Earth you need to make sure your story reflects that change accurately at all times. Even small things can require a whole line of research to make sure your world makes sense.
The primary examples used are all incredibly popular series, Harry Potter, Star Wars, A Song of Ice and Fire, Lord of the Rings and Avatar: The Last Airbender. These work great as references, since I would assume if you are reading this book you are probably familiar with at least one of if not all of these.
The book covers a lot of ground including different types of worlds, methods of worldbuilding, geography, biology, physics and magic, metaphysics, technology and culture. Each of these topics is packed full of information about how both our and fictional worlds work.
This book should appeal to any authors who want to improve their worldbuilding skills and fans that are more interested in how the authors they read go about creating the worlds they love. I personally recommend it to any fans of the fantasy genre, you will probably learn some stuff.
I guess I always thought that as far as creating a world goes as the author you can just do whatever you want and write it into existence. I never stopped to consider that if your world has even minor differences than Earth you need to make sure your story reflects that change accurately at all times. Even small things can require a whole line of research to make sure your world makes sense.
The primary examples used are all incredibly popular series, Harry Potter, Star Wars, A Song of Ice and Fire, Lord of the Rings and Avatar: The Last Airbender. These work great as references, since I would assume if you are reading this book you are probably familiar with at least one of if not all of these.
The book covers a lot of ground including different types of worlds, methods of worldbuilding, geography, biology, physics and magic, metaphysics, technology and culture. Each of these topics is packed full of information about how both our and fictional worlds work.
This book should appeal to any authors who want to improve their worldbuilding skills and fans that are more interested in how the authors they read go about creating the worlds they love. I personally recommend it to any fans of the fantasy genre, you will probably learn some stuff.
August 2, 2020
Got as an eARC in exchange for an honest review. I loved this book. Flew through it. Was in-depth about the entire fantasy worldbuilding topic. Offers great examples of the topics discussed from popular series to help make his points.
August 18, 2020
Find this review at Forever Lost in Literature!
I'll preface this review by saying that I'm not currently much of a writer (well, outside of academic writing, but I'm not really considering that as something that fits with this topic) so I'm coming at this book from the 'fantasy fan' angle (and hey, maybe I'll actually try my hand at writing some fantasy of my own one day!). I found Presley's Worldbuilding for Fantasy Fans and Authors to be insightful, informative, and entertaining on the topic of what exactly goes into worldbuilding and what to expect when creating and exploring your own (or others') worldbuilding.
Worldbuilding has always been one of the most fascinating components of any fantasy to me because it's one of those things that, when done well, can easily blow me away and leave me wondering how an author can go about crafting something so complex and unique. I think something that particularly stands out to me about this book is that it didn't feel like a "guide" or "how-to" on worldbuilding, necessarily. It absolutely gives great ideas and insight into world-building, but it's not written in a way that felt like I was a reading a guide, but rather an in-depth discussion about worldbuilding and all the details and ideas that should be taken into consideration when crafting your own world. Presley provides plenty of great examples of fantasy worldbuilding that he draws from in order to explain ideas, concepts, and what can be done with worldbuilding.
It was a fun experience getting to explore more about fantasy worlds and everything that goes into them from a nonfiction perspective that takes a more analytical approach. Presley utilizes a very casual tone that retains an air of professionalism that gives added authority to his discussions in addition to his background as both an author and screenwriter. I found it easy to follow along with the discussion and his explanations, and I appreciated how much personal experience and effort mixed with examples from outside sources Presley included in order to make this a well-rounded and thorough exploration of worldbuilding.
Lastly, I really loved Presley's exploration of different worldbuilding terms. I feel like those alone sparked a lot of new thoughts from me, and I found it really helpful to go through them in depth in the beginning of the book in order to get the most out of the rest. Presley maintains a strong structure throughout the book by laying out some foundational ideas before moving into more topics.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading through Worldbuilding for Fantasy Fans and Authors! There was a lot of really great content and exploration of the worldbuilding process and everything that goes into it, as well as providing more ideas to spark discussion around the topic. I would say that if you're a fantasy fan who appreciates worldbuilding and is curious to know more about what goes into it, then you should absolutely give this a read--and same goes for authors who would like to have more information presented about worldbuilding.
I'll preface this review by saying that I'm not currently much of a writer (well, outside of academic writing, but I'm not really considering that as something that fits with this topic) so I'm coming at this book from the 'fantasy fan' angle (and hey, maybe I'll actually try my hand at writing some fantasy of my own one day!). I found Presley's Worldbuilding for Fantasy Fans and Authors to be insightful, informative, and entertaining on the topic of what exactly goes into worldbuilding and what to expect when creating and exploring your own (or others') worldbuilding.
Worldbuilding has always been one of the most fascinating components of any fantasy to me because it's one of those things that, when done well, can easily blow me away and leave me wondering how an author can go about crafting something so complex and unique. I think something that particularly stands out to me about this book is that it didn't feel like a "guide" or "how-to" on worldbuilding, necessarily. It absolutely gives great ideas and insight into world-building, but it's not written in a way that felt like I was a reading a guide, but rather an in-depth discussion about worldbuilding and all the details and ideas that should be taken into consideration when crafting your own world. Presley provides plenty of great examples of fantasy worldbuilding that he draws from in order to explain ideas, concepts, and what can be done with worldbuilding.
It was a fun experience getting to explore more about fantasy worlds and everything that goes into them from a nonfiction perspective that takes a more analytical approach. Presley utilizes a very casual tone that retains an air of professionalism that gives added authority to his discussions in addition to his background as both an author and screenwriter. I found it easy to follow along with the discussion and his explanations, and I appreciated how much personal experience and effort mixed with examples from outside sources Presley included in order to make this a well-rounded and thorough exploration of worldbuilding.
Lastly, I really loved Presley's exploration of different worldbuilding terms. I feel like those alone sparked a lot of new thoughts from me, and I found it really helpful to go through them in depth in the beginning of the book in order to get the most out of the rest. Presley maintains a strong structure throughout the book by laying out some foundational ideas before moving into more topics.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading through Worldbuilding for Fantasy Fans and Authors! There was a lot of really great content and exploration of the worldbuilding process and everything that goes into it, as well as providing more ideas to spark discussion around the topic. I would say that if you're a fantasy fan who appreciates worldbuilding and is curious to know more about what goes into it, then you should absolutely give this a read--and same goes for authors who would like to have more information presented about worldbuilding.
October 30, 2020
#16 Worldbuilding For Fantasy Fans and Authors. M D Presley 300 pages
#KUCHALLENGE2020
This is obviously not fiction, yet it is on the KUCHALLENGE list. It is only 300 pages, yet it is 300 pages just packed with great instructional material. I normally chomp through 300 pages in an afternoon. This took me 4 days during which I took copious amounts of notes.
Incredible. Outstanding. Stuffed with data and insights and how to insider knowledge. Even though it is in KU, I bought it. I will be using it for both my own fiction and any writing classes I may teach in the future.
Can we give it a triple 5-star rating?
Of all the writing books I have read and taught from, this is the best! And he has references, and end notes, and clear, concise, complete, and creative examples.
#KUCHALLENGE2020
This is obviously not fiction, yet it is on the KUCHALLENGE list. It is only 300 pages, yet it is 300 pages just packed with great instructional material. I normally chomp through 300 pages in an afternoon. This took me 4 days during which I took copious amounts of notes.
Incredible. Outstanding. Stuffed with data and insights and how to insider knowledge. Even though it is in KU, I bought it. I will be using it for both my own fiction and any writing classes I may teach in the future.
Can we give it a triple 5-star rating?
Of all the writing books I have read and taught from, this is the best! And he has references, and end notes, and clear, concise, complete, and creative examples.
December 24, 2020
A comprehensive primer on worldbuilding for fantasy authors, this book begins with an in-depth discussion of the nature and purpose of worldbuilding before moving on to discuss different realms of worldbuilding (from geography and biology to magic systems and cultures). Presley doesn't go in-depth into any of these topics, instead skimming through them with pointers for further study, and discussing how each area of worldbuilding may build into a vivid fantasy world.
Extremely helpful. Presley's take on the purpose and definitions of worldbuilding helped put the discipline in perspective as a tool to further the story rather than a gaping maw to swallow the unwary. His discussions of specific worldbuilding areas sparked lots of ideas for a current project. The survey results of fantasy fans were extremely valuable, while his opinions on the worldbuilding of Tolkien, Star Wars, Harry Potter, and Avatar: The Last Airbender were by turns illuminating and quite, quite wrong. (Just kidding. OK, maybe I'm a little serious).
My major complaint would be that the book does need a better copyedit, as there are quite a lot of typos (including, consistently, Hemmingway for Hemingway, Kora for Korra, and populous for populace). Otherwise, I found this book very helpful.
Extremely helpful. Presley's take on the purpose and definitions of worldbuilding helped put the discipline in perspective as a tool to further the story rather than a gaping maw to swallow the unwary. His discussions of specific worldbuilding areas sparked lots of ideas for a current project. The survey results of fantasy fans were extremely valuable, while his opinions on the worldbuilding of Tolkien, Star Wars, Harry Potter, and Avatar: The Last Airbender were by turns illuminating and quite, quite wrong. (Just kidding. OK, maybe I'm a little serious).
My major complaint would be that the book does need a better copyedit, as there are quite a lot of typos (including, consistently, Hemmingway for Hemingway, Kora for Korra, and populous for populace). Otherwise, I found this book very helpful.
August 21, 2021
Outside of programming books, I rarely ever read non-fiction books. This year's bingo on /r/Fantasy/ has a SFF-Related Nonfiction square. Substitution is allowed for one square, but there are three squares that'd give me trouble this year. So, I spent a lot of time going through recommendations to pick a non-fiction book that I might be able to finish.
"Worldbuilding For Fantasy Fans And Authors" seemed to fit and it was on Kindle Unlimited. Took me multiple sittings spread over more than a week to finish, but I'm proud that I did it!
Difficult to rate the book based on my enjoyment. However, I can definitely recommend this book to those who are interested in worldbuilding strategies. I particularly liked the examples from popular works and the illustrations were nicely done too.
I got the impression that there's just too many things to consider. This book has given me a newfound respect for authors.
Link to my blog post
"Worldbuilding For Fantasy Fans And Authors" seemed to fit and it was on Kindle Unlimited. Took me multiple sittings spread over more than a week to finish, but I'm proud that I did it!
Difficult to rate the book based on my enjoyment. However, I can definitely recommend this book to those who are interested in worldbuilding strategies. I particularly liked the examples from popular works and the illustrations were nicely done too.
I got the impression that there's just too many things to consider. This book has given me a newfound respect for authors.
Link to my blog post
July 27, 2022
A great read for experienced authors who know how to write a narrative and want to upgrade the nuance and believability of the fantasy worlds they create. Presley gives historical background on how fantasy tropes came to be the standard, useful breakdowns on the different aspects of worldbuilding, and overall, provides a thorough theoretical framework
The survey data presented were completed by people on subreddits r/worldbuilding and r/fantasy (so the data will be representative of users of those subreddits. I'd guess that this means there are fewer women and fewer worldbuildings creating worlds where romance will happen.)
I appreciated the visuals to summarize the main points.
For less experienced authors, who are still in the early stages of figuring out their process for writing a compelling narrative, I think the detail provided could be overwhelming.
If you're looking for a comprehensive guide on worldbuilding, this works well.
The survey data presented were completed by people on subreddits r/worldbuilding and r/fantasy (so the data will be representative of users of those subreddits. I'd guess that this means there are fewer women and fewer worldbuildings creating worlds where romance will happen.)
I appreciated the visuals to summarize the main points.
For less experienced authors, who are still in the early stages of figuring out their process for writing a compelling narrative, I think the detail provided could be overwhelming.
If you're looking for a comprehensive guide on worldbuilding, this works well.
September 30, 2021
As interesting as the topic was, this book took me way longer than I care to admit, considering it’s length. Non-fiction books are my greatest weakness and if it wasn’t for the 2021 r/fantasy bingo I probably wouldn’t have picked this up, which would have been a shame, since the book was highly informative and well put together.
My only issue was (which might be because I simply have a strong dislike against non-fiction) that it was just so… dry at points. I felt like I’m back in school reading a text book on whatever subject, which this actually is. But I just wished if it was less of a grind to read through.
This is why I decided on 4 stars in the end, because the author did a damn good job of condensing every info he could find on the subject and I feel like I did learn some new things at least, even if I fell asleep a few times while reading.
My only issue was (which might be because I simply have a strong dislike against non-fiction) that it was just so… dry at points. I felt like I’m back in school reading a text book on whatever subject, which this actually is. But I just wished if it was less of a grind to read through.
This is why I decided on 4 stars in the end, because the author did a damn good job of condensing every info he could find on the subject and I feel like I did learn some new things at least, even if I fell asleep a few times while reading.
March 24, 2022
M D Presley has written a great guide introducing the audience to is “world building” and what goes into making a cohesive and internally consistent world.
He uses established universes (LotR, Harry Potter, Star Wars, Game of Thrones and Avatar: The Last Airbender) to provide descriptive rather than prescriptive examples of good and bad world building.
What the book lacks in depth, it makes up in breadth. Its by mean a knock against the book - it is meant to introductory by nature, but the author provides some excellent resources to refer to.
Great read!
He uses established universes (LotR, Harry Potter, Star Wars, Game of Thrones and Avatar: The Last Airbender) to provide descriptive rather than prescriptive examples of good and bad world building.
What the book lacks in depth, it makes up in breadth. Its by mean a knock against the book - it is meant to introductory by nature, but the author provides some excellent resources to refer to.
Great read!
March 31, 2022
What I Liked - This was thoroughly researched and had a lot of good information. Very well written.
What I Didn’t Like - I only have two real obstacles to my enjoyment. One is that it was drier than fiction (which is to be expected). The second was that I was expecting more of a ‘how to write fantasy’ instead of a history of fantasy writing or a description of fantasy elements. Not sure where I got the impression that that’s what this would be, but that’s my fault for having incorrect expectations for what this book was about. Overall though it was really well done and very informative.
What I Didn’t Like - I only have two real obstacles to my enjoyment. One is that it was drier than fiction (which is to be expected). The second was that I was expecting more of a ‘how to write fantasy’ instead of a history of fantasy writing or a description of fantasy elements. Not sure where I got the impression that that’s what this would be, but that’s my fault for having incorrect expectations for what this book was about. Overall though it was really well done and very informative.
May 4, 2021
Great ideas for authors
All humans love to categorize things... A true statement! I continue to appreciate author craft books like this on order to put some structure to my writing process. Not to over-engineer the story, but to be mindful of the world building choices I'm making. I learned some new methods of transmitting the feel of my worlds, and also some ideas for cutting back extraneous detail. A great read.
All humans love to categorize things... A true statement! I continue to appreciate author craft books like this on order to put some structure to my writing process. Not to over-engineer the story, but to be mindful of the world building choices I'm making. I learned some new methods of transmitting the feel of my worlds, and also some ideas for cutting back extraneous detail. A great read.
July 12, 2021
Honestly, this book opened my eyes in so many ways. I have two degrees in creative writing, and used to write novels on a regular basis until having a massive writer breakdown earlier this year. I've since struggled to get back into it, but Presley's book has reignited that passion for the craft in me and given me a lot of food for thought!
August 3, 2021
Just eh
Not the worst book on this subject, but not the best. Not so much a guide but a collection of essays. That said, it is well written and the author has a passion for the subject.
Not the worst book on this subject, but not the best. Not so much a guide but a collection of essays. That said, it is well written and the author has a passion for the subject.
February 15, 2022
A great book for the exceedingly meticulous. I’m an outliner, but not to this extent. I tend to worldbuild a bit more organically. It was an interesting read, but a dense one, and it’s usefulness will be determined by your own approach and love of worldbuilding.
March 6, 2022
Quality writing, very informative and well organized while also being entertaining. I'm not a writer but I am a reader and a dreamer, and I feel I have a better appreciation for the work that goes into a fully fleshed out world in a fantasy/sci-fi setting.
February 25, 2022
Interesting read.
June 7, 2023
If I were to ever open up that scary Word file on my desktop, I’d refer back to this book frequently.
July 7, 2022
I sit here today in front of my keyboard pondering Worldbuilding for Fantasy Fans and Authors by MD Presley, bereft of inspiration for how to review it.
The sun shines through the window, warming my forearm. I consider this, as it only happens for a few days every year and today is the winter equinox in the Southern Hemisphere so the sun is sitting at its lowest point in the sky, below the eaves of my house that have been designed to block the usually scorching Australian sun and keep a comfortable temperature inside.
I look out the window. My neighbour from across the street, an elderly eastern European man with the stereotypical moustache, is working in the garden as the moderately affluent retirees in my suburb are prone to do when the sun is shining. He regularly talks about his journey from the old country, and I look at him now considering how different his life would be if he hadn't immigrated to this wonderful country. I picture him bent over and broken, grain liquor destroying his liver, back pain destroying his final years.
A bird flutters down to the potted plant outside, a European Starling. It fossicks quickly in the dirt while our ginger cat Leo, also an introduced species, stares out the window starts moving his mouth up and down in rapid frustration at his inability to consume the oblivious bird. The road outside has been littered with broken branches and berry husks from the roving cockatoos recently, but right now my vision is filled with introduced species - european men, starlings, cats. The cockatoos will be back when the sun gets even lower in the sky. I will know, as their screetching can be heard well before the proud white birds themselves arrive.
Outside the sun continues to shine and the sky is a bright blue. The clouds of a few days past are gone, but the soil is still damp, the temperate local weather being wholly unpredictable in the winter months - from wind and incessant rain one day to the bluest of clear skies the next. "Four seasons in one day" is a common refrain for my home city.
I often dream of moving north, where the weather is less prone to such extremes and is more predictable. But then I think to the south to Tasmania may be more desirable - a quieter life, fewer people to busy my day, wilder sights to explore. The days may be colder, but the fires would be all the warmer for it. My life would no longer be chasing the dollar, navigating the perils of office politics and suburban traffic. Instead my worries would be stopping the possums from eating my quince, and breeding my chickens to make the most golden yolks. Wild mountains, wild rivers, native wildlife (other than the chickens).
For now, these are pipedreams. The cultural and familial chains that bind me are strong, and for now I make the most of what I do.
I continue to stare at my screen. How does one write something worthy for this book which has not just been a clearly labour of love, but also a most definitely intense labour? MD Presley has not just written a reference that covers an astonishingly huge breadth of content, but he has done so in a manner that clearly demonstrates his love for the topic and a devotion to learning as much about it as possible.
For people with even a moderate interest in the subject, Worldbuilding for Fantasy Fans and Authors is a worthwhile investment. He tackles an impossibly wide range of topics yet manages to give each of them enough content - not so little you are left unsure, not so much you are left anxious to move on. It's an impressive feat and something I consciously ignore with my reviews where the irrelevant is central.
To me, Worldbuilding is not about lore or history, about apostrophes in names and obscure cities never visited. The world is not a universe, or a planet, or even a country, it is the setting that the story lives in; the atmosphere, the scenery, the feeling. When we stand atop a hill looking out over the panorama in front of us we can't see to infinity. MD Presley presents a huge range of topics to describe what worldbuilding is, but he also reminds us that the view from atop that hill is not made better by knowing what is on the other side of the mountain range in the distance. Worldbuilding is about painting the vista and putting it in context, not about filling in irrelevant detail.
Which leads me to my final point - Han shot first, and retrofitting the canon to say otherwise was an abomination that tainted everything that came before it.
The sun shines through the window, warming my forearm. I consider this, as it only happens for a few days every year and today is the winter equinox in the Southern Hemisphere so the sun is sitting at its lowest point in the sky, below the eaves of my house that have been designed to block the usually scorching Australian sun and keep a comfortable temperature inside.
I look out the window. My neighbour from across the street, an elderly eastern European man with the stereotypical moustache, is working in the garden as the moderately affluent retirees in my suburb are prone to do when the sun is shining. He regularly talks about his journey from the old country, and I look at him now considering how different his life would be if he hadn't immigrated to this wonderful country. I picture him bent over and broken, grain liquor destroying his liver, back pain destroying his final years.
A bird flutters down to the potted plant outside, a European Starling. It fossicks quickly in the dirt while our ginger cat Leo, also an introduced species, stares out the window starts moving his mouth up and down in rapid frustration at his inability to consume the oblivious bird. The road outside has been littered with broken branches and berry husks from the roving cockatoos recently, but right now my vision is filled with introduced species - european men, starlings, cats. The cockatoos will be back when the sun gets even lower in the sky. I will know, as their screetching can be heard well before the proud white birds themselves arrive.
Outside the sun continues to shine and the sky is a bright blue. The clouds of a few days past are gone, but the soil is still damp, the temperate local weather being wholly unpredictable in the winter months - from wind and incessant rain one day to the bluest of clear skies the next. "Four seasons in one day" is a common refrain for my home city.
I often dream of moving north, where the weather is less prone to such extremes and is more predictable. But then I think to the south to Tasmania may be more desirable - a quieter life, fewer people to busy my day, wilder sights to explore. The days may be colder, but the fires would be all the warmer for it. My life would no longer be chasing the dollar, navigating the perils of office politics and suburban traffic. Instead my worries would be stopping the possums from eating my quince, and breeding my chickens to make the most golden yolks. Wild mountains, wild rivers, native wildlife (other than the chickens).
For now, these are pipedreams. The cultural and familial chains that bind me are strong, and for now I make the most of what I do.
I continue to stare at my screen. How does one write something worthy for this book which has not just been a clearly labour of love, but also a most definitely intense labour? MD Presley has not just written a reference that covers an astonishingly huge breadth of content, but he has done so in a manner that clearly demonstrates his love for the topic and a devotion to learning as much about it as possible.
For people with even a moderate interest in the subject, Worldbuilding for Fantasy Fans and Authors is a worthwhile investment. He tackles an impossibly wide range of topics yet manages to give each of them enough content - not so little you are left unsure, not so much you are left anxious to move on. It's an impressive feat and something I consciously ignore with my reviews where the irrelevant is central.
To me, Worldbuilding is not about lore or history, about apostrophes in names and obscure cities never visited. The world is not a universe, or a planet, or even a country, it is the setting that the story lives in; the atmosphere, the scenery, the feeling. When we stand atop a hill looking out over the panorama in front of us we can't see to infinity. MD Presley presents a huge range of topics to describe what worldbuilding is, but he also reminds us that the view from atop that hill is not made better by knowing what is on the other side of the mountain range in the distance. Worldbuilding is about painting the vista and putting it in context, not about filling in irrelevant detail.
Which leads me to my final point - Han shot first, and retrofitting the canon to say otherwise was an abomination that tainted everything that came before it.
October 19, 2021
As world creation is so central to fantasy, this book is a good primer on the topic, whether one is a fan or creator. It helped me think about the subject critically, which will enhance my understanding of others’ worlds in various media, and maybe inform my own some day.
As this was a lot to digest in the first reading, it’ll be worth reading again with more focus for the tips and insights, like a reference or writing workshop book.
As this was a lot to digest in the first reading, it’ll be worth reading again with more focus for the tips and insights, like a reference or writing workshop book.
August 25, 2021
A helpful systematization of various questions that go into worldbuilding, the art of inventing fictional worlds. Presley has read a range of theorists on the topic, from modern internet forums back to Tolkien, and synthesizes a range of different perspectives into a relatively simple model.
This is one of those books that I think would have been better if it were either 50% longer or 50% shorter. It had more padding than was needed for a purely practical how-to guide, but felt at times a shallower analysis than its author was capable of. To the latter, I felt its reliance on a handful of well-known fictional worlds — J.R.R. Tolkien, George R.R. Martin, "Star Wars," J.K. Rowling, and "Avatar: The Last Airbender" — as examples was limiting, given how small a scope of the potential worldbuilding choices those universes cover (and in many cases similar choices). Additionally, Presley's use of nonfiction history as examples for worldbuilding choices was somewhat limited, with a considerable reliance on "Guns, Germs & Steel" — a provocative bit of pop history, but one which historians have criticized on a number of points.
These critiques don't mean I didn't enjoy the book or find it useful. People who are interested in creating a fictional world for a novel, a D&D campaign, or just for fun will find a lot here to help organize their thoughts and inspire new ideas.
This is one of those books that I think would have been better if it were either 50% longer or 50% shorter. It had more padding than was needed for a purely practical how-to guide, but felt at times a shallower analysis than its author was capable of. To the latter, I felt its reliance on a handful of well-known fictional worlds — J.R.R. Tolkien, George R.R. Martin, "Star Wars," J.K. Rowling, and "Avatar: The Last Airbender" — as examples was limiting, given how small a scope of the potential worldbuilding choices those universes cover (and in many cases similar choices). Additionally, Presley's use of nonfiction history as examples for worldbuilding choices was somewhat limited, with a considerable reliance on "Guns, Germs & Steel" — a provocative bit of pop history, but one which historians have criticized on a number of points.
These critiques don't mean I didn't enjoy the book or find it useful. People who are interested in creating a fictional world for a novel, a D&D campaign, or just for fun will find a lot here to help organize their thoughts and inspire new ideas.
October 27, 2021
This has some good data within the pages, but it feels overly longer than it need be. Graphs without explanations or purpose, this comes across as written by someone very analytical, which is good to me, but also seems to get lost in their own thoughts and take too long to get to the point.
Worth it if you get it under Kindle Unlimited, but maybe not for purchase.
Worth it if you get it under Kindle Unlimited, but maybe not for purchase.
December 30, 2022
I was intrigued by this book having seen it reviewed by a fellow reviewer on the fantasy-hive website.
My own full review will appear there first before being posted here.
My own full review will appear there first before being posted here.
December 5, 2021
This book was actually really helpful for an aspiring author. 100% recommend
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