“You will meet many foes, some open, and some disguised; and you may find friends upon your way when you least look for it.”
– J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Fellowship of the Ring
The theme for this edition of the of the Fantastic Stories competition is ‘Friends & Foes’.
Every hero needs a good villain…and friends who will help them along the way of their quest. The interaction between the protagonist and antagonist can create the most wonderful stories. Think of Sherlock Holmes and Moriarty, Batman and the Joker or Katniss Everdeen and President Snow.
However people are social animals en everyone needs friends. Think of Pippin and Merry in The Lord of the Rings or Doctor Watson and Sherlock Holmes.
We are looking for stories that examines the relationship between friends and foes. When is someone an enemy? What makes a friend a friend? And when does someone stop being a friend and becomes an enemy…or when does a foe become your friend?
A few points you can think about while writing a story about this theme. How does the interaction between friends and foes influences:
• Folklore and Myths
• Family and Strangers
• Technology and Innovation
• Wealth and poverty
• Cooperation and Conflict
• Ideas about Groups
• Ideas about Identity