I'm working on a SF/Fantasy story about a alien (non-human) culture and I was wondering are there any big cliches I should avoid? Where can I find some good world building tips? (I'm reading OSC's book about world building already). Are there any good places to find information about anchient cultures and their rituals? (Particulary coming of age) Thanks!
Posted by Bene_Gesserit (Member # 1675) on :
Q: Are there any good places to find information about ancient cultures and their rituals? (Particulary coming of age)
A: Joseph Campbell and the Power of Myth with Bill Moyers Joseph Campbell, The Hero with a Thousand Faces; Joseph Campbell, Oriental Mythology: The Masks of God.
OR
Look for a Syllabus used in a univeristy level course or a book on Cultural Anthropology.
Posted by srhowen (Member # 462) on :
I think the best alien world fantasy tosses out human ideas. Such as murder is wrong ect--if you can write so those things are taken as matter of fact---without the human slant on beliefs, then you have something.
Not easy to do and if you can do it--well it will scare away some readers, and frighten the daylights out of others because they will think you think that way.