Spotlight List: Fantasy Worlds

Spotlight List is a totally awesome meme by Small Review, and its actually one of the things that grows my TBR every week. Every week, we create a theme and then we do a top list on it. Small Review already has Spotlight Posts about Fantasy, Gothic, Historical Fiction, Retold Stories you might want to check out.

Every week, one of us will pick a theme and create the list. Then everyone will comment on this list!

The guys only know the comments from the person who picked the theme and did the choices. They haven't seen the rest.

Before you start with this week spotlight i would like to tell you that's part of a big series of Spotlight i have scheduled. Cause it's really nice to Spotlight stories in general, but there are some times that we just love some certain parts of those stories so much that we enjoy them again and again only cause of those things. So prepare for Spotlights on characters, scenes, battles, worlds, second characters, romance, fun stuff and much much more to come!

Fantasy Worlds

by Yiota
*After some threatening e-mails from Johnny and Silvestro i had to replace Warcraft with Heroes of Might & Magic*

It's nice when stories have cool characters but if the world is not strong enough to support them, the story will not really worth our time. And some people out there managed to create worlds, that even the ones who haven't try them still know what they are. It's like our parallel worlds, that we all know but we didn't get the chance to visit them. Which are for me? Enjoy! 


Middle Earth ( by Tolkien )

Yiota: I'm not obsessed with LOTR if that's what you are wondering. It's just how someone can leave out Middle Earth? Probably one (if not the best) well created worlds ever. With imaginary places, languages with full grammar and everything, myths, history, etc. Tolkien did an amazing job, and if there is anyone out there who don't believe it, i will come and kill you XD Do it, if you can! Wanna try it? I say read Hobbit. It's an easy read and fun and you learn a lot about Middle Earth. Plus, will be a movie soon so why not?

Johnny: I agree with almost everything on the above. I think there are better fantasy worlds out there, but Tolkien's world is by far the most well created and down to earth'ish. It somehow feels more easy on the mind. I can easilly imagine the people's lives in it.
Silvestro: Yes I agree. Tolkien is a natural in creating worlds, especially because DnD borrowed many elements from his world I find LOTR really original and beutiful.
Nina: This world is so pretty. It's basicaly a total new world, created from scratch. No modern gadgets, no parallel worlds. It's really good. The pic makes me want to stay there....


Harry Potter Wizards World ( by J.K.Rowling)

Yiota: Harry Potter! It might not be the most unique idea of world (wand wizards are known like forever) but it's still a world that everyone knows and most also enjoyed! I think it's probably the school or maybe all those little magical things around, but for sure i spent a lot there. And i'm still waiting my letter! I'm sure the owl died but it will come...eventually! Anyway...it feels weird that everything will end this summer. It's like leaving a part of myself behind.

Johnny: Agree with everything above, however the whole, wand thing was annoying. What is the point of being a wizard if you cant throw a fireball in the enemy's face.Or raise the dead? (Necromancer ftw)
Silvestro: the world in Harry Potter isn't so great as I would expect it to be. I expected a world full of magic and floating cities and dragon canyons but instead we got an enchanted forest and a cool castle and that's all ( in the movies at least ). 
Nina: I agree with Yiota, it's a shame it's going to end. But the school is so cool. The gothic architecture is my favourite and I loved every piece of it....


Narnia ( by C.S. Lewis)

Yiota: That's like Tolkien for kids! Another world that i really enjoy. I haven't read the books but i love the movies. And i totally loved what i saw there. Talking animals, mythical creatures, dragons (yeah they are special category!) and a whole world with history and everything. I don't know oif was Tolkien or C.S Lewis who started first (i know they were friends) but i know those guys did a pretty good job with it! My kids will definitely read the books!

Johnny: I will buy a collective with all the books NANANANA
Silvestro: Narnia rules. It's my second favorite world after LOTR and it is very good made. The writer covered every aspect, from the plantlife to the political system of the land. 
NIna: Well, I read the books, but there were not many details to discribe you the world the movies saw you. But I love the stories and winter and the places were great in the movies....






Midkemia ( Raymond Feist )

Yiota: Last my personal favorite. The world i have spent more time in (even more than HP). Midkemia by Raymond Feist books (also a game). It's also one of the oldest fantasy worlds and we still get books from it. I know all its history, all the races and i even know most of the map without looking at it. Some slight ideas from Tolkien (as always) but still is a prototype world of its time.

Johnny: I dont know it
Silvestro: Never visited this world but if boss is spending more time there than Harry Potter it could be a bit interesting... 
Nina: For one more time, I have no idea, for one more time, I trust the others....






Heroes of Might & Magic

Yiota: I haven't play this one as well but Johnny made to sure to inform me of anything about it. Another one of the big game worlds. It's amazingly how many different things people can think of. (Plus, Johnny get on my nerves to put the game on the list! So here! Happy now? :P)

Johnny: you should seriously be ashamed of not placing this instead of Warcraft. 2 main reasons, first of all its older, meaning it has less influences, 2nd of all its probably the second most epic world after...well I dont know, Epic incarnate? For starters, it has everything in it. (I mean it, I have studied a lot on mythology and those dudes had pretty 80% and much stuff I didnt even know :P). The only downside is that it is not down to earth-ish meaning that when the average soldier in Middle earth fights orcs and he trembles when he sees a troll, the average soldier of Heroes universe trembles when he sees an ArchDevil that is easily the size of a troll with a flaming scythe while covered in fire.
Silvestro: Loved the games and their world. They have many many types of monsters and races of humans and they are in a constant fight for territories and dominance. This is the chaotic world in which heroes are born and weaklings die and get forgotten.
Nina: Well, I don't know that either....But it looks good....It has only dragons or other mythological creatures as well??