Fictional universe explained

A fictional universe (also called an imagined universe or a constructed universe) is the internally consistent fictional setting used in a narrative work or work of art, most commonly associated with works of fantasy and science fiction. Fictional universes appear in novels, comics, films, television shows, video games, art, and other creative works.^{[1] [2]}

In science fiction, a fictional universe may be a remote alien planet or galaxy with little apparent relationship to the real world (as in Star Wars); in fantasy it may be a greatly fictionalized or invented version of Earth's distant past or future (as in The Lord of the Rings).

Fictional continuity

In a 1970 article in CAPA-alpha, comics historian Don Markstein provided a definition of fictional universe meant to clarify the concept of fictional continuities. According to the criteria he imagined:^[3]

1. If characters A and B have met, then they are in the same universe; if characters B and C have met, then, transitively, A and C are in the same universe.
2. Characters cannot be connected by real people—otherwise, it could be argued that Superman and the Fantastic Four were in the same universe, as Superman met John F. Kennedy, Kennedy met Neil Armstrong, and Armstrong met the Fantastic Four.
3. Characters cannot be connected by characters "that do not originate with the publisher"—otherwise it could be argued that Superman and the Fantastic Four were in the same universe, as both met Hercules.
4. Specific fictionalized versions of real people—for instance, the version of Jerry Lewis from DC Comics' The Adventures of Jerry Lewis, who was distinct from the real Jerry Lewis in that he had a housekeeper with magical powers—can be used as connections; this also applies to specific versions of public-domain fictional characters, such as Marvel Comics' version of Hercules or DC Comics' version of Robin Hood.
5. Characters are only considered to have met if they appeared together in a story; therefore, characters who simply appeared on the same front cover are not necessarily in the same universe.

Collaboration

See also: Shared universe.

Fictional universes are sometimes shared by multiple prose authors, with each author's works in that universe being granted approximately equal canonical status. For example, Larry Niven's fictional universe Known Space has an approximately 135-year period in which Niven allows other authors to write stories about the Man-Kzin Wars. Other fictional universes, like the Ring of Fire series, actively court canonical stimulus from fans, but gate and control the changes through a formalized process and the final say of the editor and universe creator.^[4]

See also

• Alternate history
• Alternate universe
• Constructed world
• Continuity
• Diegesis
• Expanded universe
• Shared universe
• Fantasy world
• Fictional country
• Fictional location
• Future history
• Index of fictional places
  • List of fantasy worlds Mythical place
• Paracosm
• Parallel universe
• Planets in science fiction
• Setting
• Simulated reality
• Virtual reality
• Multiverse

Further reading

• Alberto Manguel and Gianni Guadalupi: The Dictionary of Imaginary Places, New York : Harcourt Brace, c2000.
• Brian Stableford: The Dictionary of Science Fiction Places, New York : Wonderland Press, c1999.
• Diana Wynne Jones: The Tough Guide to Fantasyland, New York : Firebird, 2006., Explains and parodies the common features of a standard fantasy world
• George Ochoa and Jeffery Osier: Writer's Guide to Creating A Science Fiction Universe, Cincinnati, Ohio : Writer's Digest Books, 1993.
• Michael Page and Robert Ingpen : Encyclopedia of Things That Never Were: Creatures, Places, and People, 1987.

Notes and References

1. Book: Schult . Stefanie . Subcreation: fictional-world construction from J.R.R. Tolkien to Terry Pratchett and Tad Williams . Tolkien . J. R. R. . Pratchett . Terry . Williams . Tad . 2017 . Logos Verlag Berlin GmbH . Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-Universität Greifswald . 978-3-8325-4419-5 . Berlin.
2. Book: Pavel, Thomas G. . Fictional Worlds . Harvard University Press . 1986 . 9780674299665.
3. https://archive.today/20190531164542/http://toonopedia.com/universe.htm "THE MERCHANT OF VENICE meets THE SHIEK OF ARABI"
4. Book: [[Eric Flint|Flint, Eric]] and various others . Grantville Gazette III . Thomas Kidd (cover art) . 978-1-4165-0941-7 . . 26 December 2006 . 311–313. The print published and e-published Grantville Gazettes all contain a post book afterword detailing where and how to submit a manuscript to the fictional canon oversight process for the 1632 series..