Kill The Elves! | #essay #writing #fantasyauthor
Why It Matters
The piece underscores a growing demand for original fantasy ecosystems, signaling opportunities for authors who can break the Tolkien mold and for publishers to diversify their catalogues.
Key Takeaways
- •Author grew weary of Tolkien‑style worldbuilding in early essays.
- •Seeks to make his fantasy more human‑focused than creature‑driven.
- •Attempts to invent original races beyond elves and dwarves.
- •Finds creating truly novel fantastical beings extremely challenging.
- •Ultimately concedes to using dragons as a familiar, powerful element.
Summary
The video recounts an essay titled “Kill the Elves,” in which the creator expresses fatigue with the over‑reliance on Tolkien‑style worldbuilding that dominates much of contemporary fantasy.
He cites influences such as Sword of Shannara, Thomas Covenant, and The Eye of the World to illustrate the genre’s familiar tropes, then explains his ambition to make his own work more human‑centric and to invent fantasy races that feel genuinely new.
He admits that designing a creature with the gravitas of a dragon “without being a dragon” proved nearly impossible, leading him to embrace dragons as a pragmatic shortcut while still striving for originality.
This candid reflection highlights a broader industry trend: readers and writers alike are pushing back against derivative mythos, prompting publishers to seek fresh voices that balance classic appeal with innovative worldbuilding.
Comments
Want to join the conversation?
Loading comments...