Jones, Diana Wynne - The Tough Guide to Fantasyland

[oyceter]

I feel that every single person who so desires to write a fantasy novel should be forced to sit down and read this book from cover to cover before proceeding. Everyone else should also read this book, because it is freaking hilarious. I think I startled some people because I was giggling so loudly.

As indicated in the title, the book is a guide for tourists of Fantasyland, as compiled by the Management, and has all sorts of handy tips on how to survive Fantasyland, along what will be encountered on the Tour.

One of my favorite entires is:

Capital Letters at the beginnings of words are used liberally by the Management according to Rules that transcend human understanding and may under no circumstance be questioned (see TABOO).

Read "author" for "Management" and "book" for "Tour," and you get a pitch-perfect satire of what's wrong with the fantasy genre. Other hilarious (and particularly biting) entries are "ecology" and "economy," which made me extremely happy for poking giant holes in the shoddy world-building that goes into a lot of the faux medieval fantasy quest books. There's also a special entry for the PanCelt tour.

Later on, DWJ wrote Dark Lord of Derkhelm by pretending Tough Guide was a real guide and seeing the effects the constant tours would have on a country.

Comments

[yhlee.livejournal.com]

I've been muttering the same thing about that book for a few years now. It is, of course, embarrassing to realize how many of those sins I committed in manuscripts that, thankfully, not even I have my hands on right now. *wry look*

[oyceter]

Hee, me too. Luckily my horrible fantasy stories were never written down ;).

[dherblay.livejournal.com]

Is this in print? I spent a couple of seconds looking for a copy about eighteen months back and never found one.

[oyceter]

Amazon says it's out of print, sadly. I just stumbled across a copy in the bookstore and borrowed it.

[oracne.livejournal.com]

I think it was back in print, in an American editiion, for a while, so maybe you can find a used copy.

[oyceter]

You're right, Derkholm. I was too lazy to check Amazon, and someone has borrowed my book for several months now (growl).

[ladystarlightsj.livejournal.com]

Just a quick question -- is it "derkhelm" or "derkholm"? My library system has it under "holm", and while I'm sure it's the same book, it did cause me a bit of confusion. Thanks for the rec, though!!

And here's where I fix my dropped tag, and repost the original comment. It's definately Monday!

[londonkds.livejournal.com]

I adore that book. I think my favourite parts, like you, are the economy entries. Also all the ones about Lowest Common Denominator fantasy writers underestimate the sheer physical labour in a low-tech lifestyle.

[oyceter]

I loved all her commentary on the lack of animal life and bacteria and all that sort of stuff and oh, I forgot. My very favorite part was probably her bit on sex and virgins and all that stuff.