Are little people worth having in a setting

What do you mean by "little people"? Fantasy little people like hobbits/halflings or dwarves, or humans with dwarfism like we have in real life? Also, define "worth having"?

 

Depends on what purpose they serve in the story. If it just for bling, then I would say it would be pointless to include them.

If, however, they have their own detailed culture and part within the story you are telling, if they make it more interesting, then by all means, go for it. Though I would make the recommendation that they be designed to fit well in the world, not simply thrown in willy-nilly.

 

I have been world building on an idea surrounding a society of little people as well, in a post-apocalyptic setting with old west tech level. Magic exists, but tech has stagnated to a 19th century level for most things.

Human existed, but died out during the apocalypse, leaving them as the only inhabitants of their world. I may include small pockets of survivors, given how resilient humans are, but as of now, I have no plans for it.

The Akari are nearly as adaptable as humans in where they can live, and are traders, farmers, fishermen, crafters, whatever they need to be.

Contributing to the Akari is their principal concern, they ostracize (even to the point of banishment) those who DON'T contribute in any meaningful way, but they help those who, for whatever reason, cannot do much. (Old age, injury, disability etc.)

 

Well, just sayin, to whatever the tallest race is on a particular world, all the other races are smaller. So, if size has the most to do with whether a group of beings can coexist or control their own territories, us human types might not really fair that well against giants and ogres.

And I know you did not mean it to sound this way, but things can exist even if we don't understand their purpose. I cant seem to find a purpose for all the insects that make their way into my house, and perhaps they should rethink their choices before they enter, but yet...more than few make attempt the endeavor.

Why have little people? I think often these fill a role of being the most vulnerable and the most in need of protection, and thus, in that way, the most innocent. And so, when the quest is put upon them, they become the most unlikely of hero's in the quest. And we can all cheer when the little guy finally wins the day. (Or, they could just be a sub-in for farm boys.)

But you know, I don't have gnomes or dwarves or hobbits in the world I created. There is no over-arching reason to include any race. Heck, the world as we know it does not seem to have those staples either. Adventurous tales can include anything, or not anything, you want. If these don't fit in the world as you imagine it, leave them out.

Though, I will add, the hobbits of the shire, or the Peck's in willow did not make me question whether their societies could exist, I just kind of took that as a given that they could. I am sure I would do so again if I saw them appear in a fantasy world. Little green people like Yoda though, that's totally unacceptable.

 

Hi,

I'm going to depart a little from the others here. Yes I agree, don't include a race of little people just because "you're supposed to" or it goes with the genre. But also don't exclude them just because they serve no purpose. What purpose do humans serve? (In reality or in your story.) Being simply part of the world build is enough of a reason for a people to exist. And as your story progresses you can add other things to them which add to their importance to the work.

The only proviso I would make is that if their small physical stature makes them vulnerable to being wiped out, you have to come up with a reason why they haven't been. Eg they have magic? They can appear and disappear in the blink of an eye?

Cheers, Greg.

 

Hmm, I'll nitpick. They are small just like children, but they also consider themselves "special" just like children, living in a self-centered society, one might argue is as delusional as the narcissism of a child. Entering the great big world of Mordor and war is... maturation... the realization of just how puny you are. Hobbits are insulated and special, as children are, and therefore identifiable to all of us, our childhoods. Not insignificant until reality chases them on big black horses and stabs them in the dark.

Although the Hobbit is admittedly lighter, goblins and spiders trying to eat you is still a heck of a wake up call.

One could have all kinds of fun with this. LOL.

 

Hi Peregrine,

I said what use are humans to a story - not sapient beings - the two aren't always the same. Read Watership Down? So why do you need a race called humans? What use are they? You only need someone whose head you can get into. Rabbits would do just as well.

So should Watership down have done without humans altogether? Are they of no use to the story? Or do they make the world build and so should be there for that reason? That's my point.

Cheers, Greg.