storyworld

Storyworld, also called the fictional universe or diegetic world, refers to the coherent setting in which a narrative takes place. It encompasses geography, cultures, history, social institutions, technologies, magic systems or scientific rules, languages, and the lives of characters. The storyworld is distinct from the narrative voice or plot, but it shapes what can happen and how characters perceive events.

Creators build a storyworld through worldbuilding, aiming for internal consistency and believability. Core components include the physical layout of places, political and economic structures, cultural norms, technology level, magical or scientific rules, and a history that informs present events. Details may be explicit or implied, and can expand across a single work or a franchise, sometimes remaining canonical or open to interpretation.

Storyworlds support immersion, foreshadowing, and thematic exploration. They enable cross-media storytelling—from novels to films to games—and give fans a basis for speculation and shared lore. Well-developed storyworlds often feature maps, timelines, glossaries, and documented lore to help readers track connections and maintain continuity across installments.

Practitioners balance depth with accessibility, avoiding contradictions while allowing discovery. In interactive media or multiple timelines, the storyworld may accommodate branching paths or alternate histories, requiring ongoing management of canon. The term is widely used in literary criticism and industry planning to describe the imagined universe that grounds a narrative.