Fictional universe
A fictional universe (also fictional world, fictional place or fantasy world ) is a fictional reality, which is characterized by more or less different large deviations from reality. These differences may, for example, only in the existence of fantasy characters like Sherlock Holmes to the fundamentally different worlds such as Narnia or Discworld, where sometimes there is magic or natural laws are otherwise overridden or varied. In the broadest sense, thus playing every TV series, every movie, every novel, every comic or the like. in a fictional universe that is called in TV shows and series universe. In a narrower understanding, however, especially extensively deviating from reality fictional universes are perceived as such. Such a fictional universe may comprise a plurality of fictitious places, but may also consist of only one or no fictitious place exist.
The invention of fictional universes or fictional worlds is a popular item not only in science fiction, fantasy and utopia plants, but also of political philosophy. In role-playing games, especially in pen & paper role-playing games, the fictional worlds form a central point. Such fictional game world then serves as a background and Handlungsort a game. The term is used mainly in pen & paper role-playing games and computer games. A fictional game world includes in principle the description of all aspects, which also has the real world, so among other things, the geographical, sociological, political, economic and climatic conditions. As Fantasy and Science Fiction are among the most popular genres for game worlds also come often added cosmology, religion and magic. Some role-playing game worlds are so extensively developed, that their description is beyond the scope of the base game. Additional publications describing the world are referred to as source books. Often, fictional worlds of literature or other media are taken as game world. It is similar with computer game worlds. However, these are usually described only implicitly by the events in the game, sometimes there are also computer game worlds extensive information, such as novels for the game or detailed texts that can be discovered in the game.
The activity of inventing such fictional universes and places and worlds is also known as worldbuilding or world building.
- 5.1 In the classical literature
- 5.2 In science fiction literature
- 5.3 In the fantasy literature
- 5.4 In pen & paper role-playing games
- 5.5 In computer role-playing games
- 5.6 In Comics
- 6.1 Literature
- 6.2 See also
- 6.3 External links
Connection to the real world
Fictional worlds do not differ significantly from reality itself. Basically, corresponding to each story of intensive fiction of an independent reality. But supernatural elements are eingeflochen often, especially in science fiction and fantasy field. Fantastik often plays in a mythologized past. Even fairy tales, legends and myths fall into this category, as well as modern works thereof ( " The Mists of Avalon " by Marion Zimmer Bradley or the cycle "Winter Solstice " by Susan Cooper ). In addition, there are as worlds that are reached by a transition modeled in a reality a reality. A classic example is Alice in Wonderland.
However, many fantasy worlds are independent. As a pioneer of fantasy literature applies Middle-earth from the pen of JRR Tolkien, on which many later fantasy worlds and role playing games have oriented. Tolkien has also written to the process of the invention, a fantasy world, the worldbuilding, which he described as Subcreation.
Backgrounds and function of fictional worlds
Especially in the philosophy and classic science fiction are such worlds as a parable to real social problems (see also utopia, dystopia ). In the case of Terra Australis by Ptolemy, a thought experiment has been found in retrospect even as reality.
Especially in the field of science fiction and fantasy literature, much emphasis is often placed on a coherent background. Even in the development of game systems such considerations are necessary, but as an author has to deal mostly with the areas that are relevant to its history, must give the players the freedom of a role playing game author to explore the wide range of areas. Role Play Worlds therefore tend to be more focused on the wide area. It is through sharing on the Internet, there are now individuals who are using the " forms" of fictional worlds as an end in itself in their spare time.
In the commercial arena elaborate realities often also serve the customer loyalty. In the 60s, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby of Marvel Comics justified by a variety of guest appearances of superheroes by their comic series until today the continued success of the publisher. Also in film and television such cameos are often used to refer to new formats.
Some of the " Construct " of worlds is also operated scientifically and even experimentally in the laboratory. So researches about NASA alternative conditions and developments to the emergence of life on other planets or trying to figure out could be such as life forms in other ecosystems. This forms the exobiology its own branch of science. The necessary thought processes are very similar to the worldbuilding.
Worldbuilding
A world hobbyist invents - or tinkering - fictional worlds to any degree. These sometimes include inventing languages , designing maps, peoples and racial descriptions, legal texts and much more. In this way, villages, countries or even whole parallel world complexes may arise. Especially in the role-play and fantasy field a world is in this case less developed associatively from one idea to another, but clearly structured planned. Many world hobbyists start drawing a card or writing a story. The following two approaches are explained it. In the following lists you will find many examples of fictional worlds that were largely devised by individuals.
From general to specific
It begins with a general overview of the world. It starts with a basic world map and basic information on geography, climate zones, inhabitants of the world, a commonly held world history or the general state of the art in the world. Starting from here continues to evolve, across continents, civilizations, nations, to cities and villages, until finally know all the necessary details of the interesting regions.
Many science fiction planets form in this way, in the first characteristic values such as hydrographics, average temperature, atmosphere, population and other are elected and is then transferred to the regional details.
With this method, we can create a total of coherent and consistent poor worlds. In part, much emphasis is placed on compliance with the presently known physical laws, but also contradicted them aware. However, this approach from general to specific needs much time until a region is as far worked out that you can use them for a novel or a role play.
From particular to general
The other approach is to first carry out a region in order to describe them in great detail to determine facts about local geography, cultures, social structures, politics, economics and history to introduce the main characters appearing and explain their relationships. The surrounding areas are described on a less highly detailed level. The further the region described above is removed from the described site, the smaller the details. Only when the world hobbyist needs other parts of his world, this will be expanded and described as required.
Frequently one finds this approach in fantasy authors that describe first what is for their hero and his story of immediate importance, as they suggest the rest of the world only roughly and other regions only and also describe only as far as needed for the dramaturgy is important.
The advantage of this approach is that the region is available very quickly, for example as a background for novels and role playing games. The disadvantage, however, often makes a disjointed overall structure of the world felt. For example, are often to be found on many different cultures to a confined space.
A typical example of one created in this kind of world is the world of Elric of the author Michael Moorcock Melniboné
Film and Television
One of the earliest and most popular examples is George Lucas ' Star Wars, which has spawned a variety of comics, literature, television programs or video games early in consequence of the three original films. As Lucas himself has the canonization of the individual extensions reserved, some contradicts " more official " movies in Expanded Universe later. With the theatrical release of Iron Man 2008, Marvel Studios began to structure their often linked comic world to be transferred to film and television. This they call themselves Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Usually, there are no comprehensive ( external ) descriptions to the worlds of film and television, so they are usually limited to what is shown there also. Versatile, there are guest appearances by characters from other series (see Crossover ( media) ) or characters from a series are transferred to a new one (see spin-off (media), backdoor pilot ). This is usually done to make the public aware of an already established program a new one. As a thought experiment, you can link the two fictional realities together, what's in the American television creates huge coherent world due to extensive guest appearances, ranging from Bewitched on Star Trek to The Wire and expanded over the years.
Examples
To illustrate the structure and diversity of fictional worlds, some examples follow in chronological order. A list of other places and fictional worlds can be found under the additional information.
In classical literature
The earliest examples constitute philosophical utopias, classical myths, and the children's literature of the 19th century.
- Atlantis from dialogues Timaeus and Critias the - Plato
- Island of Thule - Pytheas of Massalia
- Island of Utopia - Thomas More
- Island of Lilliput from Gulliver's Travels - Jonathan Swift
- Oz - L. Frank Baum
- Shangri -La in the novel Lost Horizon - James Hilton
In science fiction literature
- Trantor - Isaac Asimov
- Eden, fictional planet in a novel by Stanislaw Lem
- Darkover - Marion Zimmer Bradley
- Arrakis - Frank Herbert
- Pern - Anne McCaffrey
- Tralfamadore - Kurt Vonnegut, Slaughterhouse 5, or The Children's Crusade
- Ringworld - Larry Niven
- River World - Philip José Farmer
- Rama - Arthur C. Clarke
- The Culture - Iain M. Banks
In the fantasy literature
Using the model of Tolkien's Middle-earth, the world is here often inspired by a mythologized European Middle Ages, fortified with classic fantastic elements like mythical creatures or magic
- Arkham, Innsmouth - H. P. Lovecraft
- Earthsea - Ursula K. Le Guin
- Midkemia - Raymond Feist
- Fantastica - Michael Ende
- Mid-World - Stephen King
- Discworld by Terry Pratchett
- Westeros - George R. R. Martin
- Zamonien - Walter Moers
In pen -and- paper role-playing games
- The world of The Dark Eye
- The Worlds of Dungeons & Dragons ( Forgotten Realms or similar)
In computer role-playing games
- Morrowind, Cyrodiil and Skyrim on the continent of Tamriel in the world Nirn - The Elder Scrolls
- Azeroth - World of Warcraft
In Comics
- Dragon Ball - classic manga by Akira Toriyama, implemented in television, movies and a video game
- Duckburg - Various Disney comics based on Carl Barks
- Marvel Universe - since 1961 consistently expanded comic world around Hulk, Spider -Man or similar
- DC Universe - stories about Batman, Superman or similar, characterized by a large number of reboots and parallel worlds
- Syldavien and Bordurien - Tintin series by Hergé