1. Introduction
2. Geography
3. Architecture
   1. Functionality
   2. Sustainability
4. Culture
   1. Cultural Influence of Terrain
   2. Symbiotic Relationship with Architecture
   3. Technological Adaptations:
5. Writing Exercise: Crafting Culture from Terrain
6. Conclusion

Introduction

In science fiction and fantasy writing, fictional environments are the composite elements of civilization that contribute to the overall richness of the story. You want to look at this as you work through your world-building because it will focus on what acceptable norms are, what would be strange to the people/aliens/creatures from your world and what they would take for granted.

A few weeks ago, we covered the importance of map making, how it affects your story, and how you can use it to add depth to your story. This week we’re going to dive deeper into three aspects of fictional environments. Geography, architecture, and culture all tie together in the creation of what defines a civilization.

Geography

If you remember from previous conversations, geography is a great way to add natural conflict to your plot and to set physical obstacles for your character to travel. Here, we’re going to focus more on various geographical landmarks and how they’ll impact the civilization you’re building. Remember that technology/magic is largely derived from the land that it comes from. Some places are “ahead” of others solely because their geography required different levels of survival adaptation. If you’ve been following along, and you’ve built your map, then look at what natural features you have.

Every choice you made on the map will impact the climate, natural resources, and topography. Each of those topics will drive the conversation we’ll have on architecture and culture, but let’s focus on the geography aspect for the moment. Climate is the long-term reflection of weather patterns within a region. If you’ve created a map full of mountainous regions, then you’re likely to see more storms of varying severity as the cloud systems hit the side of the mountain. Elevation will also play a role in what type of weather (Snow, rain, hail) will appear, and it also affects where things grow. The tree line, or the elevation that is the highest trees can grow, is very clear on a high enough mountain. Wide spaces of open lands can be vast deserts or rich fields of wild plants, depending on the natural resources available.

The second aspect of geography focuses on the natural resources available. This one may take some research on your part, or if you’re creating a fantasy world, you can have a lot of fun with this. This part may feel a little bit like a science class, but trust me, it’s worth noting in your world-building. Natural resources can be categorized in many ways. I’m going to keep it to the two overarching categories of natural resources you want to consider in your world: renewable and nonrenewable. Now, those can be broken down further into the following categories: Renewable-wind, ocean currents, geothermal, biomass, solar energy, and falling water; Non-Renewable-oil, natural gas, nuclear energy, and coal. Each of the natural resources forms under its unique conditions.

Looking at the land you’ve drawn out in your map, what natural resources can you identify readily available? Are there some that won’t play a part in your world because they don’t exist? Or is there an alternative unique to your world?

With those in mind, the way your geography affects topography is more of a 2-dimensional way to look at your map. There are many possible layers of a map, and not every story will require the understanding of topography or topographical representations. You’re more likely to see topographical maps associated with military sub-genres. Topographical maps show a more detailed appearance of how steep an incline is as your character climbs the mountainside, it can also show cliffs, cut-aways, draws, spurs, and all the other fun lingo associated with map-reading from a tactical map. I may do a special on this at some point for those writing military fiction, so let me know if you’re interested.

That should tie up the talk on geography, and once you’ve established that portion of your world-building, you can add the next layer, architecture.

Architecture

Architecture is one of the most defining things of a society. Historians often use a civilization’s architecture to figure out, or guess, what the cultural norms, expectations, and realities were. Buildings are a reflection of the time they were built. I remember when my wife and I were looking for homes, there was a constant build theme, paint job, and layout of the 90s and 2000s homes compared to the new builds. Often in those homes there were the split level homes where the entry floor was often a living room where guests were meant to sit and visit. With the way culture is now, visitors are less common unless it’s family. The houses have started to reflect that where it’s mostly two level homes being built, the living rooms and kitchen areas are often connected without walls or half-walls physically separating the areas. Everything is kind of built for the efficiency of the people living in the home.

Now, I’m no design expert and the above are just my opinions on the matter. But that’s how I like to begin thinking about architecture. But often, the architecture that is remembered as defining a culture is much larger and can be tied to the main values of the culture. By using architecture to add depth to your world, you’ll be able to convey what their values are by showing and not telling.

Depending on where you’re building, the structures may have physics to contend with or not. The important part is really that the designs make sense and fit in with your fictional society. Designing distinct architectural styles for fictional societies. You’ll want to look at the functionality, aesthetics, and sustainability of the architecture you build into your world.

Functionality

When envisioning the functionality of a building in the realm of science fiction and fantasy, it’s essential to consider how the space will be used by otherworldly beings and creatures. The layout should be crafted to optimize the use of space and establish a seamless flow within the structure, taking into account the unique needs and abilities of diverse inhabitants.

Accessibility remains a crucial aspect of functionality, ensuring that the building is accessible to beings of varying capabilities, including those with extraordinary powers or unconventional forms. This encompasses features such as teleportation portals, anti-gravity pathways, and other futuristic elements that facilitate effortless movement throughout the space. Additionally, adaptability is of utmost importance, as these fantastical spaces must be versatile and capable of adapting to ever-changing needs and environments within the realms of science fiction and fantasy.

Functionality also means protection. In worlds full of monster, alien, and evil human being attacks, what protects the structures you’ve built? What kind of damage would completely destroy a structure and what kind would leave a few patches to be mended? Consider this as you are another step closer to filling your world with the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Aesthetics

Aesthetics can be interesting, as most would say it’s required to be pleasing to the eye and fit in with the world, but as world-builders of fantastical worlds, we’ve seen plenty of buildings that are intentionally an eye-sore. As long as you create the aesthetics of the building/structure with intent, your readers won’t complain. The aesthetic details are often the ones the readers remember, especially when they’re tied to key events. Work with the aesthetics that fit your society and subgenre. If you’re writing a cyberpunk you’re more likely to write in dark shades of the city highlighted by bright neon and fluorescent lights, whereas in a fantasy you’re more likely to have structures built from the same nearby stone, wood, or whatever building material is native to that land. The flow of the buildings for both examples will also contrast greatly. What are some structures that came to your mind as we started talking about aesthetics?

Sustainability

Science fiction and fantasy authors have the freedom to imagine worlds where sustainability is not just about minimizing the impact on the natural environment, but also about the very existence and perpetuation of the world itself. This can include exploring the sustainability of magical ecosystems, the long-term survival of civilizations in space, or the balance of power and resources in alternate realities. By delving into these themes, writers can add more depth and possible conflicts to their stories as the sustainability factor is destroyed or completely removed.

Culture

In the post World-Building 101, we talked about culture and language. The focus of that conversation was to create a language and develop subcultures and common interactions. Today, I wanted to focus this portion of the conversation more on creating a culture based on the geography and architecture you’ve developed.

Cultural Influence of Terrain

Terrain plays a major role in shaping the cultural fabric of a fictional world, offering writers opportunities to craft immersive and authentic narratives. The geographical features, such as mountains, deserts, or oceans, have an influence on the lifestyle, beliefs, and customs of the inhabitants. This relationship not only adds depth and realism to the world-building, but also serves as a driving force for conflict and character development.

You can delve into how the unique challenges posed by the environment have molded the architecture, daily routines, and even the core values of a society. In a mountainous region, for instance, the inhabitants may have developed a resilient and self-sufficient culture, adapting their vertically built structures to withstand the harshest storms and embracing a communal spirit to weather the toughest of times. Conversely, a desert-dwelling civilization might prioritize resource conservation and strategic mobility, while a maritime society could have evolved intricate seafaring traditions and a deep reverence for the waters that sustain their way of life.

The cultural influence of the terrain can manifest in many ways, from the practical considerations of architecture and daily rituals to the deeper realms of belief systems and ideological clashes. Writers can explore how individuals and communities interact with and adapt to their environment, offering insightful commentary on real-world issues and inviting readers to reflect on their own relationship with the natural world. By weaving these intricate threads into their storytelling, science fiction and fantasy writers can craft worlds that captivate and resonate, where the landscape itself becomes a character, shaping the destinies of those who call it home.

Symbiotic Relationship with Architecture

Writers have a fascinating ability to capture the intrinsic connection between architecture and a culture’s identity and beliefs, intertwining them in intricate and compelling ways. For instance, imagine a world where architects deeply interweave mystical beliefs with architecture, resulting in structures adorned with elaborate symbols and carvings, and cities meticulously designed based on ancient rituals or celestial configurations.

The modern-day impact of evolving value systems is also clear in the architectural landscape, influencing the construction of certain buildings while decreasing the emphasis on others. Often, a civilization places the utmost significance on the most meticulously maintained structure, making it the focal point around which larger structures are built. Writers can skillfully combine physical and metaphysical aspects in a fictional world through the interplay of architecture and societal values.

Technological Adaptations:

The union of advanced technology and architecture in a science fiction setting presents a captivating prospect for writers. Envisioning futuristic cities that seamlessly harmonize with the environment through the use of sustainable materials and innovative construction techniques can unfold a rich tapestry of possibilities. This integration of advanced technology with architectural design could emphasize the coexistence of nature and urban development, highlighting the importance of environmental preservation and sustainability in a futuristic society.

Moreover, exploring how an alien species has cultivated bio-engineered structures that not only serve functional purposes but also evolve in tandem with their culture introduces a compelling narrative dimension. The concept of bio-engineered architectures that grow and adapt alongside the evolution of an alien civilization can offer a unique perspective on the intersection of biology, technology, and societal values. This symbiotic relationship between an alien species and their architectural creations can serve as a springboard for delving into themes of adaptation, symbiosis, and the intrinsic connection between a species and its built environment.

By intertwining these elements, you can create rich, immersive worlds where the geography, architecture, and culture form a cohesive and captivating narrative.

Writing Exercise: Crafting Culture from Terrain

• Choose a geographical feature (e.g., mountain range, desert, archipelago) as the foundation for your fictional world.
• Describe the climate, natural resources, and topography of this region in detail, considering how these elements might shape the daily life and challenges faced by the inhabitants.
• Design a distinct architectural style for the civilization that has developed in this environment, taking into account the following aspects: a. Functionality: How does the architecture cater to the unique needs and abilities of the inhabitants? Consider features like teleportation portals, anti-gravity pathways, or other futuristic elements. b. Aesthetics: What are the defining aesthetic elements of this architectural style? How do they reflect the cultural values, beliefs, and subgenre of your story? c. Sustainability: Explore how the architecture addresses sustainability concerns, whether it’s minimizing environmental impact, maintaining magical ecosystems, or ensuring the long-term survival of a space-faring civilization.
• Develop the cultural aspects of your fictional society, considering how the geographical features and architectural styles have influenced their lifestyle, beliefs, and customs. Consider: a. Daily routines and rituals shaped by the environment. b. Core values and belief systems rooted in their surroundings. c. Potential conflicts or ideological clashes with other societies adapted to different terrains.
• Describe a specific event, ceremony, or ritual that exemplifies the interconnectedness of geography, architecture, and culture in your world. How do these elements intersect to create a unique and immersive experience for the reader?
• Introduce a character who embodies the values and adaptations of their society, and describe how they interact with the environment and architectural structures around them. How does their perspective and behavior reflect the cultural influences of their world?

By completing this exercise, you can practice crafting a coherent and immersive fictional world that blends geography, architecture, and culture, creating many storytelling possibilities.

Conclusion

As you craft your fictional world, remember that geography, architecture, and culture hold immense power in shaping a captivating narrative. By considering the influence of terrain on societal norms, belief systems, and architectural styles, you can develop a rich, multi-layered civilization that resonates with readers. From the resilient mountain-dwellers to the nomadic desert tribes, each society will bear the mark of its environment, offering a wealth of opportunities for conflict, character development, and thought-provoking commentary on real-world issues. Embrace the challenge of incorporating these elements together to create new authentic worlds and civilizations.

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