Aleya
April 22nd, 2001, 02:15 PM
A comment about these kind of crossover books in another topic sparked off my few thoughts about this.
So far I've really only read a couple of adult Fantasy series which began in the real world and crossed over into a fantasy land of some kind. The Paradise war by Stephen R. Lawhead being the most notable. (I say adult because I remember a bunch of good tales as a child which began this way)
I thought this whole series was absolutely superb (especially the first book) and the real world sections were treated with such atmosphere and sense of celtic myth that despite the fact that I was a little taken aback at first I thoroughly enjoyed them and now re-read the books every few years.
On the other hand, after reading the Pern stories for a bit and then getting to the one where they first arrive on Pern, I was dissappointed. I thought the real world part was boring, if believable, and took away from the wonderful fantasy feeling of Pern.
This then, is my thought:
Lawhead managed to keep me interested in the real world plot even though I read Fantasy to get away from the boring old read world.
I still would have reservations about other books that begin this way though, because, well, the reason above.. the real world is boring, and I imagine that the transfer is often badly handled. For instance I loved the Narnia chronicles, but even as a child I thought the idea of the rings or the wardrobe was pretty unbelievable - unlike my brother who read them and subsequently spent days in his wardrobe! http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/smile.gif
Has anyone read any books like this? What were your thoughts on the real life parts of them, and the transfer process to the fantasy world? Can you recommend any?
Aleya - http://silver-oak.com
So far I've really only read a couple of adult Fantasy series which began in the real world and crossed over into a fantasy land of some kind. The Paradise war by Stephen R. Lawhead being the most notable. (I say adult because I remember a bunch of good tales as a child which began this way)
I thought this whole series was absolutely superb (especially the first book) and the real world sections were treated with such atmosphere and sense of celtic myth that despite the fact that I was a little taken aback at first I thoroughly enjoyed them and now re-read the books every few years.
On the other hand, after reading the Pern stories for a bit and then getting to the one where they first arrive on Pern, I was dissappointed. I thought the real world part was boring, if believable, and took away from the wonderful fantasy feeling of Pern.
This then, is my thought:
Lawhead managed to keep me interested in the real world plot even though I read Fantasy to get away from the boring old read world.
I still would have reservations about other books that begin this way though, because, well, the reason above.. the real world is boring, and I imagine that the transfer is often badly handled. For instance I loved the Narnia chronicles, but even as a child I thought the idea of the rings or the wardrobe was pretty unbelievable - unlike my brother who read them and subsequently spent days in his wardrobe! http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/smile.gif
Has anyone read any books like this? What were your thoughts on the real life parts of them, and the transfer process to the fantasy world? Can you recommend any?
Aleya - http://silver-oak.com