Josiah Lebowitz: So You've Landed in a Fantasy World

Host Mark Perzel sits down with Josiah Lebowitz to discuss his book, "So You’ve Landed in a Fantasy World: How to Survive and Thrive." Do you know what a Fantasy Verse is? Basically, it's like a huge, interconnected universe where all your favorite fantasy stories and worlds live! From Tolkien's Middle-earth to the world of Final Fantasy, Lebowitz breaks down how these worlds are linked by similar themes, tropes, and styles. He even identifies four distinct types of fantasy worlds within this verse: Standard, Comic, Video Game, and Dark Fantasy. Plus, he shares his own epic journey into the world of fantasy. Get ready to dive deep into the fascinating world of fantasy with us!

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FEATURED TITLE & DESCRIPTION

So You’ve Landed in a Fantasy World: How to Survive and Thrive. McFarland, softcover (2022) ISBN: 9781476685274 mcfarlandbooks.com/product/so-youve-landed-in-a-fantasy-world

DESCRIPTION OF THE BOOK.

Today, it seems as if everyone from heroic-yet-angsty teenagers, to giggling schoolgirls, to middle-aged businessmen, to bored moms are finding themselves whisked away to save distant worlds from some kind of unspeakable evil. But how do you prepare for such an amazing adventure? And, more importantly, how do you make it through without getting horribly maimed or killed along the way? Fortunately, this handbook has analyzed the accounts of numerous heroes who have traveled to magical lands and returned to tell the tale in order to create the definitive guide to survival and success no matter where in the fantasyverse your adventures may take you. In these pages, you’ll learn how to increase (or, if you prefer, decrease) your chances of successfully being chosen, what types of preparation and training you should undertake beforehand, and how to hit the ground running on arrival and become the legendary hero that you were always destined to be.*

*Makes no guarantees of destined heroism and cannot be held liable if it turns out that you are instead destined to be eaten by a giant toad.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Josiah Lebowitz is a professor of Game Design and Writing at George Mason University and co-leader of their popular Japan Game Studio Tour. He specializes in both game and narrative design, with a particular focus on the integration of plot and gameplay as described in his textbook, Interactive Storytelling for Video Games. In addition to teaching, he does indie and contract design and writing, with credits including EverQuest Next, Aurora’s Nightmare, and The Verities Silex trilogy. His other passions include travel, cooking, and Japanese culture.

Interactive Storytelling for Video Games https://a.co/d/8TC61GG 

The Verities Silex Trilogy https://a.co/d/12GUEBz

Aurora's Nightmare (a visual novel game, like an extra long and complex Choose Your Own Adventure book with full visuals and audio; currently in development, but a free demo is available) https://penandswordgames.com/AurorasNightmare/get-the-demo/

https://soyouveguides.com

ABOUT MCFARLAND

McFarland, a leading independent publisher of academic and general-interest nonfiction books, is perhaps best known for the serious treatment of popular culture. Founded in 1979, McFarland is recognized among authors and readers as adventurous in r