Book Description:
The Liberator’s War has ended. King Landri Altard now reigns in the post-revolution Kingdom of Cordillera. With the unexpected death of his wife, Landri is forced to place his infant sons in the care of his most trusted allies. An early betrayal puts the identities of the young princes into question as well as others’ allegiance to the Crown. This epic tale follows the lives of the princes as they travel across the Kingdom and encounter the different worlds they are destined to rule. Enemies lurk and alliances are strained as the aftermath of the revolution still lingers in the fragile Kingdom of Cordillera.
Guest Post by L. Benedict Dunn IV:
The Challenge of Realistic Fantasy
I love the fantasy genre. Always have. Dragons, elves, dwarves, goblins, trolls, etc. – the fictional worlds created in the genre are some of the most entertaining for me to get lost in. I think most who share this feeling can relate to enjoying reading about places that are, well, fantasies. The genre is built around taking the reader on a journey to places that could otherwise never exist if not for the mind of their creator. The rules of our universe do not apply in the fantasy realm and, for me, that is a big part of what makes it appealing. It is great to ‘get away’ and lose yourself in the fictional world of a fantasy novel.
Yet, at times I find myself being put off by the fantasy genre. While reading I sometimes find myself poking holes in the author’s world just as someone would sit in a movie theatre and point out inconsistencies of a film. There is a double standard that sometimes exists in the fantasy genre that allows the author to bend the rules of the universe when it is not convenient to the plot. Fantasy allows the author the liberty of choosing when and when not to enforce the rules of the universe they created. Then, at times, they use these magnificent rules to get themselves out of a situation that would otherwise be impossible to escape.
What I refer to is called deus ex machina. It is a plot device used where a seemingly unsolvable problem suddenly is solved by an unrelated or otherwise unexpected solution. Think of it as the main character being thrown out of an airplane with nothing to save them and then, out of nowhere, they see a parachute falling through the sky as well. They reach out, put it on, and land safely on the ground. Now, that is an extreme example, but the more you think about it, the more I think you will recall stories where something just as ridiculous happened.
I find that deus ex machina occurs more in a fantasy genre simply because there are no rules to adhere to. Sure, the parachute example could happen in the real world, but in the fantasy genre you need just one explanation: magic. That’s right. When magic exists, everything exists. People can come back to life, implements to save the hero/heroine can suddenly appear, and whenever your favorite character seems like they have no way out they can suddenly have their luck change without explanation.
The concept of dues ex machine is partly what inspired me to write a different kind of fantasy. I wanted to create a fictional world while keeping with the rules of our own. From this, the Cordillera series was born. It’s historical fiction meets fantasy. Everything in Cordillera, in theory, could happen in our own world. There is no magic, no mythical creatures, and everyone plays by the same rules.
In my opinion, keeping with the rules of reality makes it more difficult for an author to create and develop the characters and plot. So often one can ‘write themselves into a corner’ where there is no possible way for the story to continue without the assistance of something supernatural. Having magic or the rule bending of the fantasy genre to fall back on can make it quite simple for an author. In that case, it does not matter where your characters end up because there is always a way to get them out.
As I said, I love fantasy. I will continue to love it. I simply took it as a personal challenge to see if I could create an equally impressive world while staying within the confines of our own. It’s quite a contradiction to limit one’s imagination. Yet, I found it to be an enjoyable process that allowed the story to develop more organically and with more thought behind it. I think most authors can create fictional universes, but it’s the realistic fantasies that are the greatest challenge.
About L. Benedict Dunn IV:
Born in Burbank , California , Leo Dunn grew up in a family of six, with three sisters to call his siblings. He first developed his passion for writing after moving to the small town of Durango , Colorado as a young teen. With the mountains as his playground, Leo was able to explore and develop his imagination and love for rustic culture and ancient history. He continued such passions through college where he graduate with a BA in History from the University of Northern Colorado . His inspirations for the Cordillera series come from the alfresco Colorado life and a love of medieval fiction. He is excited to bring the world he has created to all who share such passions.
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