Worldbuilding for Fantasy Fans and Authors

Forging Fantasy Realms, Book 1

By: M.D. Presley

Narrated by: Zac Katz-Stein

Length: 10 hrs and 52 mins

Publisher's summary

What does it take to make a great fantasy world?

Be you an established planner, pantser, or unsure new author, this comprehensive guide has you covered. Adopting a "tools not rules" approach, you’ll discover dozens of definitive worldbuilding tricks and strategies, including:

• Surveys showing what audiences want
• Identifying ineffective, effective, and inspired worldbuilding
• The ins and outs of immersion
• Enhancing audience experience with fantasy conceits
• The four Cs of worldbuilding

©2020 M. D. Presley (P)2020 M. D. Presley

Critic reviews

"Quite simply, it's brilliant. It's got the depth of research of a PhD dissertation, with the scale and readability of an epic fantasy novel. This will appeal as much to readers of fantasy as it will to authors who are either just getting into fantasy writing or who'd like to sharpen and expand their skill set." (Dyrk Ashton, The Paternus Trilogy)

Stick to storytelling, not audience reaction

Pretty good until he gets into things like the Star Wars sequel trilogy. At that point, he starts sounding like he didn’t pay a bit of attention to why the backlash existed. For example, he thinks some of the backlash came from Rey being female. No. Only idiots think that. The backlash came because she’s a poorly written character that becomes more boringly powerful with each film. Those that would have absorbed hints from the movies, aka fans, would have been able to figure out just from Leia being Luke’s sister that there could be female Jedi. Apparently the author completely missed all the comics, games, and books full of female Jedi and other Force users that fans that actually would care what Jedi are would have consumed, and that’s before you get to the prequel trilogy and its associated media. Yes, this might seem like overfocusing on something minor, but I always have issues with anyone acting like an authority on something I’m trying to learn then saying something so hilariously incorrect on a subject I am incredibly well-informed about. However, since he hasn’t screwed most of his references to other media to my knowledge (I can’t speak for Harry Potter), he might just have a strange blindspot.

Useful and a great jumping off point

I enjoyed this audiobook despite having only tried worldbuilding once before, and as I listened my brain began making connections between the parts of old world I made and older books I’ve read. Heartily recommend this to anyone who wants to get started worldbuilding.

Fantastic research

Absolutely the best researched, the most systematic interdisciplinary exploration of the craft of worldbuilding. The author knows just about everything worth reading on the subject and incorporates it into the book magnificently. The best and most comprehensive book on worldbuilding.

A very good resource

The author is well read and it is obvious that this is a topic he is passionate about. If you are at all interested in world building, this is a great book.

I will be buying a hard copy as well.

Great listen about what it takes…

I have been a Tolkien The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings and C.S. Lewis Chronicles of Narnia during my mid 1970’s Thru the 1980’s childhood years. Included Star Wars, Willow, Indiana Jones, The Lost Boys, Dragonslayer, Lady Hawke, etc….Loved & appreciated how the author M.D. Presley describes what the great ones like Tolkien, Lewis, Martin etc put into “World Building” to make the landscapes, locations, races, cultures, and creatures for the story lines so many of have enjoyed. I played D&D from 1980 to 1990 with amazing DM that had fantastic stories (adventures) for us to embark on. After too many years away - started back up again in 2018 and will not stop playing at least once a week. Like the author M.D. Presley describes - the new D&D adventures like the Lost Mines of Phandelvin, Storm Kings Thunder, Secrets of the Saltmarsh, Tales from the Yawning Portal, and Out of the Aybss - all stories with World Building aspects for all of us adventures to be part of. Loved this book. The narrator Zac Katz-Stein did a great job. Easy and clear as well as entertaining & enjoyable to listen to.
Please listen if you ever read any Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, George R.R. Martin or ever played D&D or Pathfinder.
Thank you author M.D. Presley & narrator Zac Katz-Stein.

world building is hard.

loved it narrator reads with passion and knowledge.
the PDF would be handy to keep with you while listening, I unfortunately walk and work while listening.
author obviously has a huge knowledge of subject.
I'll check out more.