Firlefanz
Lady of the Land
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Registered: 05-2003
Location: Germany
Posts: 2511
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Elves - was that all?
Usually, they are the stereotypical slender, long-haired, fair good guys. That has become somewhat boring.
What other ideas have you met? Are people "playing" with that stereotype? What would you love to read?
--- - Firlefanz
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3/25/2009, 7:53 pm
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David Meadows
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Registered: 09-2003
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Re: Elves - was that all?
In my (unfinished) children's story, I used *proper* elves -- the kind of elves I read about in my own childhood. They are three feet (90cm) tall, don't have long fair hair, and don't use bows. And they are not all good and wise and mystical (they are not all not stupid and bad, either... they're just generally grumpy  ). But they do live in the forest.
---
"All the good music has already been written by people with wigs and stuff."
Frank Zappa
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3/26/2009, 10:05 am
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Reythia
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Re: Elves - was that all?
Yeah, whatever DID happen to the "elves are short" thing? I mean, Santa's elves are still depicted as short, but fantasy elves aren't. Odd, that.
---  -- YAR! |
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3/26/2009, 6:50 pm
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JkdssjKaos
Initiate
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Registered: 01-2004
Location: Zen
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Re: Elves - was that all?
I think santa's "elves" are actually, more likely misnomered gnomes. the description matches them much closer than actual elves.
for what it's worth (as its not always the most reliable source), as an afterthought i checked wikipedia and is has a section as follows:
quote:
According to a convention of modern fantasy (not always followed in common language), the 'v' in elven or elvish refers to human-sized elves (who correspond more closely to those of the old Germanic paganism), whereas the 'f' in elfin or elfish refers to tiny-sized elfs (who correspond more closely to the folklore of the Renaissance and Romantic Eras) (See elf for more historical background). Christmas elfs are closer to pixies, gnomes and tomtes than modern fantasy elves.
- jk
---
Reading: Night Watch by Sergei Lukyanenko
Writing: Scion (Novel)
“Writing is a socially acceptable form of schizophrenia.” - E. L. Doctorow
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9/15/2009, 2:27 am
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JessieLong
Journeyman
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Registered: 01-2004
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Re: Elves - was that all?
My elves basically look like the classic Tolkien ones a la Lord of the Ring. Now, behavior... Scion's elves are pretty much lazy, no-gooder drunkards. (most of how you would see orks). The Nettaverse's elves fall in love for a lifetime, and the only elvish paladinette I ever created acts a lot like your average macho man...
---
Reading: Mostly comic books...
Writing : Marla Fleetwood and the Magic iPod
Backburner: Electric Ladythief, Scion and Ratface; The Rose and the Sword (books); Seekers (comic book series); Grey Submarine (series)
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9/15/2009, 7:13 am
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David Meadows
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Registered: 09-2003
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Re: Elves - was that all?
quote:
According to a convention of modern fantasy (not always followed in common language), the 'v' in elven or elvish refers to human-sized elves (who correspond more closely to those of the old Germanic paganism), whereas the 'f' in elfin or elfish refers to tiny-sized elfs (who correspond more closely to the folklore of the Renaissance and Romantic Eras)
That comes directly from Tolkien (as you might expect). He explains his reason for choosing the spelling for elves and dwarves in the introduction to The Hobbit.
---
"A good idea will keep you awake during the morning, but a great idea will keep you awake during the night."
Marilyn vos Savant
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9/15/2009, 10:37 am
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Corvus
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Registered: 12-2003
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Re: Elves - was that all?
My "elves", called talvi (the Finnish word for "winter"; "talv" in the singular) are what result when you take a basic human template and shift it away from an affinity with elemental Fire to an affinity with elemental Air. They live in the cold north, their mages have control over Air and the mind, and they believe in the supremacy of thought over emotion -- not that it's bad or wrong to have emotions (they're quite passionate), but that one should never let emotions be one's sole driving or guiding force. They are no more haughty or arrogant as a species than humans, and in fact the talv male lead's family and various hangers-on are quite friendly with the human female lead's own household.
Physically, they're generally the size of humans, a bit less bulky, with coloration shaded toward blacks, whites and blues (pale skin, hair of blue-tinted black or snow white, sodalite blue eyes, etc.) The female human lead character thinks of the talv male's eyes as "a bit unnaturally large" and finds their ever-so-slight "tilt" to be curious.
Talvi and humans cannot interbreed. No half-elves, thanks.
Last edited by Corvus, 9/15/2009, 2:53 pm
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9/15/2009, 2:49 pm
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