Table of Contents
Foreword: The Point Is to Screw Up Better Scott Lynch ix
Introduction: How to Ask an Expert Eric Primm 1
Part 1 It Already Happened: History as Inspiration
World-Building with the Spanish Inquisition Jay S. Willis 9
Five Facts About the American Old West Hayley Stone 14
Female Professions in Medieval Europe Tahereh Safavi 20
Historically Accurate Ways to Die Wanda S. Henry 29
A Quick and Dirty Guide to Feudal Nobility Tahereh Safavi 35
Religious Culture of the Ancient Near East Hayley Stone 47
African and Asian Exchanges with Medieval Europe Tahereh Safavi 54
Religious Fundamentalism in Fantasy Spencer Ellsworth 63
Fomenting Rebellions in Fantasy Colleen Halverson 68
Enchanted Mouras and Miracles: Portugal's Moor and Christian Ancestry Diana Pinguicha 75
A Brief History of Real-World Magic Jay S. Willis 79
Part 2 Speak, Friend, and Enter: Languages and Culture
Archaeology in Science Fiction and Fantasy Graeme K. Talboys 87
The Linguistics in Arrival Christina Dalcher 95
Realistic Translation in Fiction Marie Brennan 104
Developing Realistic Fantasy Cultures Hannah Emery 109
Languages in Fiction Christina Dalcher 115
Legends and Folktales in Fantasy Colleen Halverson 123
Woodworking Myths in Fiction Dustin Fife 129
Witchcraft in Medieval and Renaissance Europe E. B. Wheeler 133
Traditional European Superstitions E. B. Wheeler 140
Part 3 How to Make it Up: World-Building
Health and Wellness Implications of World-Building Olaseni Ajibade 149
Designing Realistic Magic Academies Hannah Emery 155
Prophets, Preachers, and Priests in Fantasy Jay S. Willis
Money Makes the World Go 'Round A. R. Lucas 165
Political Philosophies for Fictional Worlds Kate Heartfield 171
Legal Systems in Fantasy Worlds J. R. H. Lawless 177
Building Credible and Interesting Political Systems Carrie Callaghan 181
World-Building with Food and Drink Crystal King 187
Plants in World-Building Amber Royer 192
Organic World-Building Through Ecology Sarah J. Sover 205
Part 4 Weapons and Warfare: When in Doubt, Add These
Realistic Knife Fighting Eric Primm 211
Medieval Versus Modern Archery Dan Koboldt 216
Writing Realistic Soldiers for Fun and Profit Michael Mammay 224
Realistic Fighting for Authors Eric Primm 230
Building a Fantasy Army Michael Mammay 235
Martial Arts Magic: Building a Fighter from the Ground Up Ember Randall 243
Stabbed in the Chest: Mortal Wounds and Medicine Jen Finelli 248
Part 5 You Don't Know Horses, But We Do
How to Describe Horses in Fiction Amy Perkins-McKenna 257
Horse Terminology: Gaits and Anatomy Amy Perkins-McKenna 260
Horse Terminology: Tack and Riding Amy Perkins-McKenna 267
How to Write Horses Wrong Rachel Annelise Chaney 270
Matching Horses to Use, Setting, and Character Rachel Annelise Chaney 277
How to Injure Horses Realistically Rachel Annelise Chaney 283
Horse Psychology 101 Debby Lush 289
Part 6 So You're Going on an Adventure
Three Ways to Write a Better Hike Victoria Sandbrook 297
Wilderness Survival Rebecca Mowry 302
How to Write Rock Climbing Wrong Michelle Hazen 308
Castles and Ruins Cheyenne L. Campbell 314
Things Authors Don't Know About the Woods Dan Koboldt 320
Writing Realistic Forests Terry Newman 326
About the Contributors 333
