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to establish themselves as writers amongst those already existent. This is described by Jacobs (2001) who states that: "Getting a novel published by a reputable commercial publisher is at least as hard as getting on your country's Olympic team." However, those writers and authors who have already gained recognition for their works often state that there are several key factors which attribute to an effective science fiction or fantasy story.

Many previous works such as The Lord of The Rings' and The King of Elfland's Daughter' by Dunsany (1961) are described as stereotypical works of fantasy based fiction. Yet today, are often regarded as being outdated and something of a clich (Flynn, 1995). Nevertheless, the reason behind the popularity of such books is still greatly relevant and the foundation, upon which such stories were crafted, can be analyzed. Essentially, both of these titles are set in their own individual and unique world, complete with politics, economics, language, social affairs and problematic issues.

Many may argue that this is simply the writer reflecting their clear need for escapism. However, it is well known that one of the largest down falls for first time authors in the genera, is constructing a reality, far to abstract or surreal from the one in which the reader lives. Although the story maybe represented in a world of fantasy or some form of utopian society, a sense of realism must still be present to give both the story and the characters a believable nature. According to The Writer (1994, pp.18-31):

To make the impossible parts of a fantasy credible, the rest of the story has to drip with realism. Even in imaginary worlds, realism matters. Jungles don't spring up next to deserts. Cities develop because they're in strategic sites or on trade routes, not because you threw a dart at a map. The people in those cities will have religions, governments, jobs, and sports to keep them busy.

This factor represents the most complicated for writers by far, as the story needs to be grounded in a realm of believability, yet at the same time, it must also be able to transcend physical reality. The most recognized attributes of a fantasy or science fiction based story include the development of the world portrayed to the reader, character development, interaction and conflict; engaging dialogue through which the plot is explained and an inevitable conclusion, where by which, all the readers questions should have been answered.

Fiction has always been

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