A matter of history & geography
Do you think this is one of the big differences between England and America, in that you could drive from London to Scotland in the time it takes to follow the signs to Rock City?
I think the biggest difference between England and America is that England has history, and America has geography. In England, you can find whatever you need as long as you're willing to go back far enough, or go and find out when it happened. In America you can find whatever you need just as long as you're prepared to drive far enough.
Also I get fascinated by the difference between England and America whereby places in England are all about time - the time it takes you to get there. And getting to places which would be five minutes away in America would take three or four hours sometimes. Not to mention Scotland, which gets positively fractal. You have these infinitely wiggly roads. Fractally wiggly roads.
- An Interview with Neil Gaiman, American Gods
I think the biggest difference between England and America is that England has history, and America has geography. In England, you can find whatever you need as long as you're willing to go back far enough, or go and find out when it happened. In America you can find whatever you need just as long as you're prepared to drive far enough.
Also I get fascinated by the difference between England and America whereby places in England are all about time - the time it takes you to get there. And getting to places which would be five minutes away in America would take three or four hours sometimes. Not to mention Scotland, which gets positively fractal. You have these infinitely wiggly roads. Fractally wiggly roads.
- An Interview with Neil Gaiman, American Gods