Replacing Words in Fantasy

Dec 17, 2009 15:15

This isn't sparked by or in reference to any book in particular, but just a general genre-specific question ( Read more... )

languages, writing

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atateatarin December 18 2009, 11:25:43 UTC
nobody says that in fantasy, people are only allowed to eat foods found in britain circa the 1200's to 1800's.

Oh my god THIS THIS THIS.

And on that note, the general 'all fantasy is medieval' mentality drives me nuts. Why does all fantasy need to be stuck in the Dark Ages? Okay okay, I get it, for some people that time preiod probably seems more awesome than ours does, or the 1900s, or whatev, but come on! I want to see some original-world fantasy in a 1910 era! (Actually, I kinda do. Anyone know any?) Tallships are great (no really, I have a minor obsession with them) but where are the paddle-steamers? Why can't my characters have some soda on a hot afternoon? Or a milkshake?

Aw, I dunno. I guess I'm just not keen anymore on the imbalance and the mentality that encourages it. I cannot for the life of me remember what it was about, but I had a character mention having seen something unusual (new/advanced) in another part of the world, and the only reason a reader took issue with it was because it would mean that the work wasn't a medieval fantasy. That was the whole point of it.

Ahahah sorry about the rant XD Short version: Agreed!

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sinestris December 19 2009, 11:40:31 UTC
"I want to see some original-world fantasy in a 1910 era! (Actually, I kinda do. Anyone know any?)"

I'm working on something set in a 1919/1920 kind of era - wars just ended, similar levels of technology (although no planes and only a few very, very basic balloons and maybe a zepplin or two), radios, railroads, and real food. The magic is just the cherry on the sundae, really.

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easol December 20 2009, 09:28:46 UTC
Well, the Abhorsen series takes place in a world that is sort of half medieval, half 1920s.... depending on where you are physically.

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sinestris December 20 2009, 13:49:28 UTC
Ooooh, the Abhorsen series! I was trying to remember what it was called just yesterday! *makes a note* Thanks!

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