Where am I?

I've been discussing fantasy clichés on my blog over the past week or so, and the fact that clichés can become original when given the author's own unique twist. So many plot clichés are actually story elements traditional for a lot of fiction, regardless of the genre.

How about a character who finds herself transport to a different world. A space alien abduction might be cliché, but there are plenty of other ways a character can travel from one world to the next, and for a variety of reasons. This is a story element, not a cliché. Calling this plot point a cliché is practically like saying that making villains evil is cliché. Not every story has one, and those that do don't have to be exactly the same.

What are the different reasons a character might find him or herself in a different world?

Quest: This could involve traveling to an alien world or alternate dimension. Lots of fantasy stories feature a quest of some kind, like finding the magic amulet or rescuing the princess. However, I've heard many agents say they'll reject a story with this kind of quest story line, but I suppose if it's different enough, it could pass. It's all about the writing.

Amnesia: Here's an interesting idea, having the MC suddenly find himself in a place he doesn't recognize and has no idea how he got there, or even who he is. The story is spent trying to solve the mystery. There was a television show like that a few years ago, but it didn't make it past the first or second season, so the mystery of the guy's identity was never solved. I've always wondered about that...

Accident: An incantation goes awry and the character doesn't arrive in the destination he'd intended. Time travel stories are good for this, like H.G. Wells' Time Machine. Great conflict potential. I also remember an episode on the Angel TV series where Cordelia is accidentally transported to the demon dimension of Pyleia after reciting an incantation from a book. Turns out it wasn't really an accident because the Powers That Be sent her there on purpose. Great episode (I have all 5 seasons on DVD).

Adventure: A curious character intentionally travels to another dimension, planet, country, or place in time just to see what it's like, and encounters all kinds of fascinating surprises. Maybe she finds love. Maybe she finds the true purpose to her life. Maybe she realizes adventure isn't what it's cracked up to be. Great theme opportunities here, and some interesting character arcs to explore.

I think the appeal of the foreign land or alternate dimension is the sense of awe we enjoy when encountering the unknown. Speculative fiction is all about the unknown, and whether we choose to fear or embrace it. It's one of the most exciting aspects about the genre. Avoiding it because it's misconstrued as cliché would be like giving the entire genre that distinction. If that happened, what would I have to read?

I know this is mostly about fantasy, but it can apply to any genre. When you take a fish out of water, what does she do?

I'm on my way to Eugene to spend time with both my Oregon daughter and my Colorado daughter, who's staying at her sister's house for the next few days. And of course she brought little baby Adam, my grandson, along. Squeee!! I'll be wearing my grandma hat for the next few days as I cavort with my girls to shop, bike ride, stay up late watching movies, and do yoga in the mornings. Now that's heaven! Point is, I may or may not respond to comments right away. Have a great weekend!