This thread is for discussion about writing Ruritanian novels. A thread for discussing Ruritanian novels that you have read is here: viewtopic.php?f=20&t=3412

Ruritanian novels got their name from the kingdom in the novel that first popularized the genre, The Prisoner of Zenda by Anthony Hope. The main characteristic of a Ruritanian novel is that it is set in our world in a fictional country (usually in Europe). It almost always involves an adventure, intrigue within the kingdom, and often romance.

Have you written, or do you want to write, a Ruritanian novel? If so, what draws you to this kind of novel?

So...Ruritanian Novels are set in this world, but in a fictional country?

I haven't really thought about writing any. But I think it would be fun, so once I clear a few thing off my plate I might try one.

Yes. Thanks for asking. I forgot to add that part. I'll edit it in.

However, the protagonist or some of the other characters may be from real countries such as England.

These novels sound awesome - I must get to read some of them

As to writing them... I don't know if I would, actually. It somewhat limits the bounds of fantasy, IMO, but that could be an interesting restriction to work within, if you know what I mean.

eru

Intriguing... never heard this term.

I started a story a while back that would probably fit this category. I wouldn't say I'm drawn to this type of book, though, since it was only the one attempt and thinking about the amount of research I might need to do was a little scary for me.

One thing I like, though, is the ability to have actual Christianity in the story. I don't much like thinking up fantasy-ized versions of Christianity, so knowing I'd be able to use the real thing was nice, especially when things like faith were starting to take larger roles in the story as I thought about it.

That's a good point. In a Ruritanian novel, the author can craft a made up kingdom (or kingdoms), yet still have Christianity depicted realistically.

Yes, since a Ruritanian novel is set in the real world, just in a fictional kingdom. However, it's possible you could come up with a reason why this kingdom has fantastical creatures and the rest of the world doesn't.

*nods * So like the stories I've read when I was a kid about modern day princesses who live in lands that are really real, but are supposed to be in Europe, fit in here, right?:

Yes, if the kingdoms they are from are fictional.

*nods * Thought so.

I've toyed and tossed about the idea of doing this with Lightning Ranger, and I still don't know if I am or not. That story doesn't know where it's set...

Incidentally, all the stories I wrote when I was little were this way. I would use real world places because I knew the names and just made up what went in them. They were usually set in some unnamed, vague typical European location and then I referenced real world locations for all the plot and action.

A dozen thanks to Jonathan for digging up this thread for me. You just saved my life, or at least a part of it.

Peter's Angel (Alaidia) is Ruritanian. Now that I've read this topic, I'm sure of that. And I am SO relieved to find that out!

Hithertofore, Alaidia has been an unclassified cross-genre monster in my mind. It's set in this-world and follows all the laws of this world, so it's too realistic to be fantasy. But the countries and the time period were made up, so it was too inaccurate to be historical! That's because it's both fantasy an historical - it's Ruritanian!

I'd never heard of anything like Peter's Angel, so I'm quite happy to find there is a subgenre of books like it. This will make marketing tons easier because I have SOMETHING in the industry to compare it to.

*tosses cupcakes*

As for the practical end of things, one of the reasons I love writing Ruritanian novels is that you can have this world's religion unaltered, as some people already mentioned. The beauty of Ruritanian is that you can have this world, but you make your own combination of it. (Geography, culture, etc.)

As far as fantasy animals go, my opinion is that you can put unicorns, dragons, and dinosaurs in without explanation. Why? Because according to the Bible, they once existed on this earth, so in your alternate history fictional country, you can still have them.

Personally, my favorite thing about these types of books is the endless possibilities in a still "real" world. It's a good balance of freedom and restriction. Since I personally like writing in the real world better, but find it more "appetizing" to create my own world rather than do research (lazy me ), this is kind of one of the go-betweens for me.

I haven't actually written one out, though. Most of my stories so far have been either in the real world (I usually write thrillers and drama, not fantasy) or, for the couple finished novels that I have completed involving fantasy, have been in completely different worlds that I created.

It seems like it'd be fun though. You could do a his-fic with it involving other (real) countries causing some alternate history; maybe a sci-fi set in the not-so distant future where some countries are kind of the same, but others aren't; even do a "new-found land" kind of story.

Like I said earlier, the possibilities are practically endless It's also--like everyone else said--a nice, solid way to leave Christian a little bit more "un-tampered" with if one's doing fantasy. Opens the doors up a little more. Though I'm personally not usually a fan of writing fantasy in a "realistic" world. That's just me however, since I happen to like reading those types of novels anyway *eyeroll*

Exactly! It's real-world without the need to be historically accurate.

I'm glad it was helpful.

*wonders if she should write a Ruritanian novel next... * *smacks self for thinking about something other than the trilogy! *

This is why I don't look into things I find interesting when they could distract me from my books. I save them for later.

But really... I might could, maybe would, like to try writing one of these....

I'll be quite happy to read it if you do... As long as you write it after the trilogy.

Oh, yes, after.... *erases what she was working on * I wouldn't dream of touching something else.

Seriously, though, I refuse to let myself do that until I'm ready.

*nods* I think you'd have fun with a Ruritanian novel when you're ready for a new project, Airi.

I think I would too.

HA! I FINALLY KNOW WHAT MY NOVEL IS!!!!!!!
(See the link in my signature for the website)

Ruritanian.... Hmmm.... Interesting...



The above is right on the mark. I like this genre so much because of this very reason, the idea being that writing, as an art, is meant to convey truth through story form. (Obviously not all writers see it this way, but I do.) It just seems to me that having a novel grounded in reality makes it that much easier to actually understand the tie-ins. (Plus you don't have to do any historical research! )

And another plus is that you don't have to invent a whole religion.

It's true you don't have to, though referencing real countries that are "nearby" and real historical events could add to the believability of the story.

This is very true. In my main Ruritanian novel, Peter's Angel, right now the only reference I have to real-world locations is language - Italian and English. Peter's Angel is more towards the fantasy end in that regard. In another novel, however, I think I'll have the Ruritanian country send colonists to the Americas. (They don't make it. )

Intriguing.

Thanks. Not sure yet if it will work out (that story isn't in active development), but it's a fun idea.

It certainly sounds like it.