Description
Book SynopsisThis companion provides a definitive and cutting-edge guide to the study of imaginary and virtual worlds across a range of media, including literature, television, film, and games. From the Star Trek universe, Thomas Moreâs classic Utopia, and J. R. R. Tolkienâs Arda, to elaborate, user-created game worlds like Minecraft, contributors present interdisciplinary perspectives on authorship, world structure/design, and narrative. The Routledge Companion to Imaginary Worlds offers new approaches to imaginary worlds as an art form and cultural phenomenon, explorations of the technical and creative dimensions of world-building, and studies of specific worlds and worldbuilders.
Table of ContentsAbout the Contributors
Preface
Acknowledgments
Part 1 Content and Story
1. Locations and Borders Gerard Hynes
2. The Hero’s Journey Lily Alexander
3. Invented Languages Dimitra Fimi and Andrew Higgins
4. Invented Cultures Mark J. P. Wolf
5. Backstory Benjamin J. Robertson
6. Narrative Fabric Mark J. P. Wolf
7. Saviors Mark J. P. Wolf
8. Portals Jennifer Harwood-Smith
Part 2 Form and Structure
9. World Design Mark J. P. Wolf
10. Ontological Rules Marie-Laure Ryan
11. World Completeness Benjamin J. Robertson
12. World Consistency Rodrigo Lessa and João Araújo
13. Geography and Maps Gerard Hynes
14. History and Timelines Benjamin J. Robertson
15. Mythology Lily Alexander
16. Philosophy Edward Castronova
17. Transmediality Lars Konzack
18. World-Building Tools David Langdon
Part 3 Types of Worlds
19. Island Worlds Ian Kinane
20. Underground Worlds Peter Fitting
21. Planets Jennifer Harwood-Smith
22. Utopias and Dystopias Peter Sands
23. Uchronias, Alternate Histories, and Counterfactuals George Carstocea
24. Virtual Worlds Mark J. P. Wolf
25. Interactive and Participatory Worlds Matthew Freeman
Part 4 Authorship and Reception
26. Subcreation Lars Konzack
27. Authorship Jessica Aldred
28. Reboots and Retroactive Continuity William Proctor
29. Canonicity William Proctor
30. Escapism Lars Konzack
31. Genre Lily Alexander
32. Fandom Matt Hills
33. Worlds as Satire George Carstocea
34. Worlds as Paracosms Jeremiah Piña
35. Worlds as Experiments Edward Castronova
36. Worlds and Politics Dan Hassler-Forest
Part 5 Worlds and World-Builders
37. More’s Utopia David Glimp
38. Cavendish’s Blazing-World Anne M. Thell
39. Swift’s World of Gulliver’s Travels David Alff
40. Holberg’s Nazar and the Firmament Peter Fitting
41. Paltock’s Sas Doorpt Swangeanti Edward O’Hare
42. Defontenay’s Starian System Irène Langlet
43. Baum’s Oz Michael O. Riley
44. Wright’s Islandia Michael Saler
45. Tolkien’s Arda Dimitra Fimi
46. Roddenberry’s Star Trek Galaxy Mary McAuley
47. Lucas’s Star Wars Galaxy Christopher Hanson
48. Linden Labs’s Second Life Astrid Ensslin
49. Persson’s Minecraft Lori Landay
50. No Man’s Sky Kevin Schut
Index
