The Architecture of Fantasy

What do you imagine when you think of your favourite fantasy world?

Growing up, my favourite was Lord of the Rings, and my imagination was helped along by the beautiful illustrations in my Mother's copy of the book. Tolkein did these illustrations himself, and they are beautiful and distinctive. I always quite fancied Rivendell, even though I think I knew even then that I was probably more of Dwarf stock than Elvish.

Of course by the time I started university, Peter Jackson had created his own vision, often using Tolkein's drawings to fantastic effect. And it was then that I realised my actual place of abode in Middle Earth was probably most likely to be Mordor. Black goes with everything.

Incredibly, in the course of my work, I do come across some real places that just make me fell fantasy worlds have crossed over into ours. Real-life buildings and places (and events sometimes, suitably described) are often an inspiration to me.

So here are some of my favourites:

1) Calascibetta, Sicily

I love a hilltop town, and Italy/Sicily definitely have the best I've come across. Some I've visited cannot be adapted for cars, and so people still us donkeys to carry goods up and down the lateral stairs which stand in for towns. Towns were of course built on hilltops mainly for defence (see also: castles), but there were added benefits near flood plains. Also, good views. I can see Calascibetta featuring as either a target or a place of refuge in some of my writing.

Excuse me, but your town appears to be leaning somewhat.

2) Rila Monastery, Bulgaria

The Bulgarian painted monasteries are incredible treasures, every one, and Rila may just have the best setting. Surrounded by verdent mountains and the towering legends of vampires and conquerers. Bulgaria, like its neighbour Romania, is steeped in myth and tradition, and even now is not visited as much as it should be by those seeking new wonders.

One story of colennade is not enough. Rila has FOUR. Practical and decorative.

3) Sky Caves, Mustang, Nepal

I just love the name of these - Sky Caves. They are carved into the crumbling yellow mountain cliffs of Mustang, symbols of a long-departed world which we now know almost nothing about. Many of the caves are tombs, but others show that people lived there seven hundred years ago. A mysterious people who live their lives in inaccessible caves? Sounds made up, may just be true.

4) Neuschwanstein Castle, Bavaria, Germany

THIS IS A REAL PLACE. Every time I see one of these Bavarian Castles I am convinced they are some sort of joke, photoshopped in to fool tourists. These confectionary castles would not hold you well if someone really wanted to lay siege, but that was never the point. Neuschwanstein was built on the ruins of a much earlier fortification, in the 1850s.

Captive prince/princess in tower optional

5) Machu Picchu, Peru

An obvious choice, perhpas, but when I visited there earlier this year I was amazed at the structures. The walls are famous for having no mortar, just incredibly finely cut stones which fit together without a single gap. We still don't know how the Inca's did it. People have suggested mirrors to focus the sun's rays into a cutting beam. Probably it was just a phenomenal amount of hard work with other stones, smoothing out appropriate grooves and notches. But I like the idea of some sort of pre-mechanical laser beam too.

The Sun Temple shows the incredible shaped stones, built into the bedrock

I'm not suggesting that fanasty writing is all about the places, but a big part of it is creating a world people can imagine for themselves. Often the places I come up with are influenced by places I've seen, or been, or researched for work. The real world can be a great starting point for a fantasty world, and you can bring things from all across the globe, and all through time, into the place you are creating.

The sky's the limit!