So I once wrote a story
where an important character's gender was never specified. My friend Paul said 'but you knew which it was, right?'
No, actually I didn't. Still don't.
Which may (not) excuse or explain why it's only now I'm vaguely thinking of building the Chimps story-world into a novel that I've thought enough about Willow's background (she's from a circus - carny folk are their own nation) to ask what her ethnicity is.
Her name, like most of the other character names, is taken from one of the historical figures in the development of lighter-than-air flight. I named Mick and Veda and Ranjit as an acknowledgement of the people who built railways and roads in Canada (and elsewhere, yeah). Which argues that Willow is Chinese, though likely far more shaped by the circus.
And then I ask myself what I'm doing, since I don't even know if the setting is alt-Earth or another planet or the future or what, how can I possibly build 'the pony express but with BLIMPS--and pirates!!' into a cohesive world?
Quick, look over there works better with short stories.
No, actually I didn't. Still don't.
Which may (not) excuse or explain why it's only now I'm vaguely thinking of building the Chimps story-world into a novel that I've thought enough about Willow's background (she's from a circus - carny folk are their own nation) to ask what her ethnicity is.
Her name, like most of the other character names, is taken from one of the historical figures in the development of lighter-than-air flight. I named Mick and Veda and Ranjit as an acknowledgement of the people who built railways and roads in Canada (and elsewhere, yeah). Which argues that Willow is Chinese, though likely far more shaped by the circus.
And then I ask myself what I'm doing, since I don't even know if the setting is alt-Earth or another planet or the future or what, how can I possibly build 'the pony express but with BLIMPS--and pirates!!' into a cohesive world?
Quick, look over there works better with short stories.