The Hobbit Films TANJA VÄLISALO…………………………………………………………………………… 12
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NORDIC JOURNAL OF SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASY RESEARCH Volume 4, issue 3–4, 2017 journal.finfar.org The Finnish Society for Science Fiction and Fantasy Research Suomen science fiction- ja fantasiatutkimuksen seura ry Submission Guidelines Fafnir is a Gold Open Access international peer-reviewed journal. Send submissions to our editors in chief at [email protected]. Book reviews, dissertation reviews, and related queries should be sent to [email protected]. We publish academic work on science-fiction and fantasy (SFF) literature, audiovisual art, games, and fan culture. Interdisciplinary perspectives are encouraged. In addition to peer- reviewed academic articles, Fafnir invites texts ranging from short overviews, essays, interviews, conference reports, and opinion pieces as well as academic reviews for books and dissertations on any suitable SFF subject. Our journal provides an international forum for scholarly discussions on science fiction and fantasy, including current debates within the field. Open-Access Policy All content for Fafnir is immediately available through open access, and we endorse the definition of open access laid out in Bethesda Meeting on Open Access Publishing. Our content is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial 3.0 Unported License. All reprint requests can be sent to the editors at Fafnir, which retains copyright. Editorial Staff Editors in Chief Bodhisattva Chattopadhyay Aino-Kaisa Koistinen Jyrki Korpua Managing Editor Jaana Hakala Advisory Board Merja Polvinen, University of Helsinki, Chair Sari Polvinen, University of Helsinki Paula Arvas, University of Helsinki Liisa Rantalaiho, University of Tampere Stefan Ekman, University of Gothenburg Adam Roberts, Royal Holloway, U. London Ingvil Hellstrand, University of Stavanger Hanna-Riikka Roine, U. of Helsinki Irma Hirsjärvi, University of Jyväskylä Johan Schimanski, University of Oslo Urpo Kovala, University of Jyväskylä Sofia Sjö, Åbo Akademi University Frans Mäyrä, University of Tampere Peter Stockwell, University of Nottingham Jerry Määttä, Uppsala University Sanna Tapionkaski, University of Jyväskylä Cheryl Morgan (publisher and critic) Päivi Väätänen, University of Helsinki Supported by the The Finnish Society for Science Fiction Research and Fantasy (FINFAR) (Suomen science fiction- ja fantasiatutkimuksen seura ry) ISSN: 2342-2009 (online) journal.finfar.org Cover Photo: Arthur Rackham (illus.), "Siegfried Kills Fafnir," 1911, on Wikimedia Commons ISSN: 2342-2009 Fafnir vol 4, iss 3–4, pages 3–4 Fafnir – Nordic Journal of Science Fiction and Fantasy Research journal.finfar.org Table of Contents Editorial 3–4/2017………………………………………………………………………………….. 5 Preface Two Paths to Fantasy Studies IRMA HIRSJÄRVI & URPO KOVALA…………………………………………………………... 7 Peer-reviewed Article Engaging with Film Characters: Empirical Study on the Reception of Characters in The Hobbit Films TANJA VÄLISALO…………………………………………………………………………… 12 Essay Thinking and Theorising Disappointment: A Report from the World Hobbit Project MARTIN BARKER…………………………………………………………………………… 31 Conference Report 100 Years of Estrangement at Worldcon 75 in Helsinki, 9–13 August, 2017 ESKO SUORANTA…………………………………………………………………………… 49 © 2017 Fafnir – Nordic Journal of Science Fiction and Fantasy Research (http://journal.finfar.org) 3 Preface My Time with Science Fiction GEOFFREY C. BOWKER……………………………………………………………………... 52 Peer-reviewed Articles Violence, Politics, and Religion: Cosmic War in Game of Thrones KATHERINE TUCKER……………………………………………………………………….. 54 “Exhaust my wagon horses today, you won’t eat tomorrow”: Exploring David Eddings’ Application of Military Logistics in The Belgariad MATTHEW LARNACH……………………………………………………………………….. 67 Snaphot Welcome to The Monster Network INGVIL HELLSTRAND, LINE HENRIKSEN, AINO-KAISA KOISTINEN, DONNA MCCORMACK & SARA ORNING……………………………………………………………………………… 80 Interview Merril Collection of Science Fiction, Speculation and Fantasy: Interview with Sephora W Hosein BODHISATTVA CHATTOPADHYAY…………………………………………………………... 84 Book Review Gender Identity and Sexuality in Current Fantasy and Science Fiction PÄIVI VÄÄTÄNEN…………………………………………………………………………... 87 Call for Papers 1/2018……………………………………………………………………………. 89 4 © 2017 Fafnir – Nordic Journal of Science Fiction and Fantasy Research (http://journal.finfar.org) ISSN: 2342-2009 Editorial Fafnir vol 4, iss 3–4, pages 5–6 Fafnir – Nordic Journal of Science Fiction and Fantasy Research journal.finfar.org Editorial 3–4/2017 Bodhisattva Chattopadhyay, Aino-Kaisa Koistinen & Jyrki Korpua We are happy to introduce the double issue 3–4/2017 Fafnir – Nordic Journal of Science Fiction and Fantasy Research. The issue is partly a themed issue, as it includes articles and essays submitted to our special issue on fantasy and reception (3/2017). In addition to these, the issue also provides articles from themes outside reception. As it is a double issue, we also have not one but two prefatory essays. The first prefatory by Irma Hirsjärvi and Urpo Kovala, “Two Paths to Fantasy Studies” introduces the themed section and describes the establishment of the field of fantasy studies in Finland, and its paths, through two members of the Fafnir Editorial Board. It also sets the tone for Fafnir and its singular contribution to science fiction and fantasy research in the Nordic region, as the journal enters its fifth year in 2018. The second prefatory by Geoffrey C. Bowker, “My Time with Science Fiction” (for issue 4/2017), discusses the concept of time in science fiction, and Bowker’s own fascination with the possibilities offered by the genre. We also have three articles. The first article, themed for the special issue, is Tanja Välisalo’s article “Engaging with film characters: Empirical study on the reception of characters in The Hobbit films” presents the results on Välisalo’s work in the global Hobbit project. The article discusses how audiences engage with fictional characters, and suggests new modifications to existing theories on audience engagement. Matthew Larnach in “Exploring David Eddings’ application of military logistics in The Belgariad” carefully investigates the feasibility of Eddings’ fantasy scenarios to show how the lack of historical research in general around the issue of logistics in medieval settings also affects fictional representations of those settings. Finally, Katherine Tucker in “Violence, Politics and Religion: Cosmic War in Game of Thrones” draws upon the cosmic war theory developed by Mark Juergensmeyer to explore how George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series and the tv show illustrate the dangers of mixing religion and politics in modern day America. For the special issue, we also have an essay “Thinking and theorising disappointment: a report from The World Hobbit Project” by Emeritus Professor Martin Barker, who has a long career in reception studies, including the Lord of the Rings Project and The Game of Thrones Project (ongoing). The essay deals with one particular aspect of audience engagement, that of disappointment with fiction, and provides a wide range of viewpoints to theorizing it. The final section of our special issue is a report from Worldcon 75 (held in Helsinki, Finland in fall 2017). Esko Suoranta writes about the most intriguing papers presented at the event’s academic track that was, this time, centred on estrangement to honour the 100th anniversary of this Viktor Shklovsky’s concept, a topic highlighted by Merja Polvinen in our previous prefatory article. In our book reviews section, Päivi H Väätänen provides a succinct and incisive review of Gender Identity and Sexuality in Current Fantasy and Science Fiction (2017), edited by Francesca Barbini, a collection she calls “burningly topical and very much needed.” © 2017 Fafnir – Nordic Journal of Science Fiction and Fantasy Research (http://journal.finfar.org) 5 Chattopadhyay, Koistinen & Korpua Editorial 3–4/2017 In this double issue, we are also starting a new series of introductories of interesting projects and networks relevant to science fiction and fantasy research. The first one to be introduced is the international Monster Network which focuses on everything dealing with monsters and the monstrous. We also continue our engagement with major science fiction and fantasy research collections around the world, and this time we interview Sephora Hossein, who presents the Merril Collection in Toronto, Canada in her capacity as head of the collection. From this issue on, we give them a separate section, entitled snapshots. The ending of year 2017 marks an end of an era in Fafnir, when the last of the founding editors, Jyrki Korpua, will leave the journal. We the other editors of Fafnir wish Jyrki all the best in his future endeavours! We also have a number of new announcements for our readers. Starting 2018, the FINFAR board has decided to bring down the number of issues of Fafnir annually to two instead of four. We believe this would help us work with a larger number of essays per issue, as well as give more time for the peer-review process. We are also looking into the possibilities of bringing at least a selection of essays from the journal into print. Starting from issue 1/2018, Laura E. Goodin joins Team Fafnir as new Editor-in-Chief. Laura brings to Fafnir over a decade of editorial experience with other journals, including Journal of University Teaching and Learning Practice and the Australasian Journal of Educational Technology. In addition to her editorial experience, she has also curated and managed the production processes