Do Fantasy Books Ever Really Have “News”?

Not lore. Not prophecy. Not a bard singing about something that happened fifty years ago. I mean news. Reports. Rumors. Headlines. “Did you hear what just happened over there?” And once I started thinking about it, I realized… I was kind of drawing a blank.

The One Obvious Example We All Remember

The first—and honestly most obvious—example that jumps to mind is Harry Potter. The Daily Prophet is practically a character in the series. It spreads misinformation. It fuels fear. It lags behind the truth. It’s biased, political, sometimes ridiculous—and occasionally terrifying. It does exactly what real-world news does. And that made me wonder: Why don’t we see this more often in fantasy?

Wait… Other Authors Have Done This (Just Differently)

The more I sat with the idea, the more I realized that some authors do use news-like storytelling—but not always in the way we immediately recognize.

• Frank Herbert’sDune uses excerpts froin-universe historical texts* at the start of chapters. Not exactly news, but absolutely a form of recorded narrative shaping perception.

• Isaac Asimov’sFoundation famously uses thEncyclopedia Galactica—history written after* events—as a framing device.

• World War Z tells its story through interviews and reports, essentially a post-apocalyptic oral-news archive.

• Starship Troopers (especially the film) leans heavily on propaganda-style newsreels.

• The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy turns “news” into satire via a constantly updating guidebook that pretends to be authoritative.

  
  

So it’s not that speculative fiction ignores the idea of information flow—it just rarely presents it as day-to-day reporting inside the story. And traditional fantasy? It almost never does.

Why Fantasy Avoids News (IMO)

Fantasy worlds love:

• ancient scrolls

• lost tomes

• prophecies

• oral tradition

• gods whispering truth

  
  

News, on the other hand, is messy. ! It’s incomplete. It’s biased. It’s wrong half the time. It sidetracks the story. And maybe that’s why it’s avoided—because news introduces uncertainty, and fantasy often leans on the weight of myth and inevitability. But that’s exactly why it fascinates me in a fantasy world.

Confession Time: I’ve Already Done This… Just Not in My Book

Here’s the funny part. I’ve actually used news reports extensively in the game set in the world of War of the Umanomagi. (I confessed to playing a TTRPG of my game in another post.) During campaigns, I’d introduce:

• town criers announcing victories (or lies)

• rumors spreading faster than armies

• biased accounts of battles

• political spin from one kingdom to another

  
  

It made the world feel alive. Players never knew if what they heard was true—or propaganda. And yet… when I wrote the book? I didn’t include any of that. Not intentionally avoided. I just… didn’t think to. !

Which now has me staring at the wall thinking:

Why didn’t I?

What Would News Look Like in a Fantasy World?

In a world like mine and in my game, I represent it as newspapers on every corner. But it just as easily could look like:

• magically projected announcements

• illusion-recordings replayed in market squares

• guild messengers altering stories for political favor

• temples “reporting” events through divine interpretation

• wildly different versions of the same event, depending on the kingdom

  
  

And suddenly, the idea gets really interesting. Because news isn’t just information—it’s power.

Which Brings Me to the Dangerous Thought…

I can absolutely see integrating in-world news into future stories. Short reports between chapters. Conflicting accounts of the same event. A kingdom reacting to a disaster before the characters even arrive. And now I’m thinking:

Hmm… that might be another blog post. Or something more. Maybe.

So I’ll Ask You

Because I’m genuinely curious—and because I know someone reading this has a better memory than I do:

• Do you remember other fantasy or sci-fi books that used in-world news or reporting?

• How did they handle it?

• Did it enhance the story—or distract from it?

• Would you want to see more of that in fantasy worlds?

  
  

Drop a title. Drop an opinion. Or just tell me I’m overthinking this (entirely possible). Either way… now I can’t stop thinking about what the headlines in the Six Kingdoms would look like the morning after everything goes wrong.

See how I don't use news reports in the War of Umanomagi!!

Exploring the Impact of News in Fantasy Worlds

In the realm of fantasy, the absence of news can create a unique atmosphere. Without current events shaping the narrative, readers are often left to navigate a world steeped in history and lore. This can be both captivating and limiting.

The Role of Information in Storytelling

Information, or the lack thereof, plays a crucial role in storytelling. In many cases, the characters' actions are driven by what they know—or don’t know. When news is absent, the stakes can feel lower. Characters may wander through their journeys without the urgency that comes from current events.

The Power of Rumors and Misinformation

Rumors can be just as powerful as factual news. In a fantasy setting, the spread of misinformation can lead to conflict and tension. Characters might make decisions based on false information, leading to unexpected consequences. This dynamic can add layers to the plot, making it richer and more engaging.

Imagining a World with News

Imagine a fantasy world where news is as prevalent as magic. Town criers could announce the latest happenings, while magical scrolls could deliver updates to every household. The implications of such a system could be profound. Characters would have to navigate a landscape where information is constantly shifting, and trust becomes a valuable commodity.

The Future of News in Fantasy Literature

As I ponder the possibilities, I can’t help but wonder how future stories will incorporate news. Will authors embrace the chaos of current events, or will they continue to rely on the stability of ancient lore? The answer may lie in the evolving nature of storytelling itself.

In conclusion, the exploration of news in fantasy literature opens up a world of possibilities. It challenges the norms of traditional storytelling and invites readers to engage with the narrative in new ways. As I continue to develop my own stories, I look forward to weaving in the complexities of information flow.

Let’s keep the conversation going! What are your thoughts on the role of news in fantasy?