Laastaria

Laastaria is a term used in speculative fiction and fan works to denote a range of fictional settings and concepts that share a general sense of otherworldliness. It does not refer to a single canonical place or entity; instead, Laastaria acts as a flexible proper noun adopted by different authors and creators.

Etymology: The name appears to be a constructed word rather than derived from an established language. It is commonly treated as a neutral, exotic-sounding label, with no universally agreed-upon meaning.

Usage in fiction: In various independent works, Laastaria has been used as the name of regions, realms, or civilizations, as well as incidental terms within worldbuilding. Because each use is distinct and non-canonical, the term does not imply a shared geography or history across works. This has made Laastaria a convenient placeholder for imaginative settings in both published fiction and online storytelling.

Reception and scholarly notes: As a trope, Laastaria is cited in discussions of worldbuilding as an example of modular naming—an approach that favors flexibility over a fixed lore. Some readers and writers appreciate the openness of the term, while others prefer more defined settings to avoid ambiguity.

See also: Worldbuilding, Conlangs, Collaborative fiction.