Description
This 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 More窶冱 classic Utopia, and J. R. R. Tolkien窶冱 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 Contents
About the Contributors
Preface
Acknowledgments
Part 1 Content and Story
1. Locations and Borders Gerard Hynes
2. The Hero窶冱 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窶冱 Utopia David Glimp
38. Cavendish窶冱 Blazing-World Anne M. Thell
39. Swift窶冱 World of Gulliver窶冱 Travels David Alff
40. Holberg窶冱 Nazar and the Firmament Peter Fitting
41. Paltock窶冱 Sas Doorpt Swangeanti Edward O窶僣are
42. Defontenay窶冱 Starian System Irène Langlet
43. Baum窶冱 Oz Michael O. Riley
44. Wright窶冱 Islandia Michael Saler
45. Tolkien窶冱 Arda Dimitra Fimi
46. Roddenberry窶冱 Star Trek Galaxy Mary McAuley
47. Lucas窶冱 Star Wars Galaxy Christopher Hanson
48. Linden Labs窶冱 Second Life Astrid Ensslin
49. Persson窶冱 Minecraft Lori Landay
50. No Man窶冱 Sky Kevin Schut
Index
