Tough Traveling – Elves

Nathan over at Fantasy Review Barn is the mastermind of Tough Traveling. What’s Tough Traveling? Pretty much, it’s a weekly feature on Thursdays where we dig around to come up with examples of common tropes in fantasy, using Diana Wynne Jones’ The Tough Guide to Fantasyland as our inspiration and guide. Nathan has invited one and all to join in the fun, so feel free to come up with your own lists and add the link on Nathan’s weekly post, which will also contain (unleash) the next weeks theme. So let the fun begin …

This weeks theme? ELVES!

The section in the Tough Guide for Elves looks to be about the longest one yet, but here’s the gist of it:

ELVES claims to have been the first people in Fantasyland. They are called the Elder Race. They did not evolve like humans, but sprang into being just as they are now.

 

Elatians from Green Rider series by Kristen Britain (review of Book 5: Mirror Sight)– They are called Eletians, but basically they are elves. They have the near immortal (but not invincible) thing going on. Their race is older, wiser and more endangered than ours.

Elves from Bearers of the Black Staff duology by Terry Brooks (I believe it appeared on other books by him as well, this is just the ones I have read) – The elves reside in Arborlon , a thriving city of elves complete with an Elf King.

Royce from Riyria Revelations and Riyria Chronicles by Michael J. Sullivan (reviews of Riyria Chronicles) – OK, technically Royce is mir, which is only half elf. But still, the elves exist in this world, and Royce is our largest exposure to them. He is small, unusually agile and stealthy. All traits he owes to his elven ancestry. And all traits that help him tremendously in his thieving ways.

Puck from Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare – I absolutely loved this one when I read it as a teenager, and still, love it today. And Puck is hands down my favorite character. A mischief sprite (or elf) who can’t help but stir the pot.

Captain Holly Short from Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer – Elves in this world are one of the families of fairies. Elves are shorter, have tanned skin and pointy ears. They also possess magic. You know, standard elf qualities. Holly is the first and only captain in LEPrecon, and a bit feisty, so she’s my kind of girl.