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Replay is a great novel Larry Send a noteboard - 10/09/2010 05:28:37 PM
I'm currently reading Replay by Ken Grimwood, which is a fantastic book so far. It's part of the Fantasy Masterworks series.

Unexpectedly, I've learned some new things about our history - for instance, more about Jonestown. I had heard of this, but nothing more than it being a horrible mass suicide of cultists in the late 70s. This book made me look into it a bit more. It's rather interesting.

Grimwood also alters details of very well-known events, like the assassination of JFK. It all works very nicely in the book. Of course, this book IS set in our world.

However. To the discussion point: do you like it when authors bring real world events into their fantasy/sci-fi books? Or do you prefer to read things that are competely invented?


I like both, depending on the aims of the narrative. Currently reading an orientalist 19th century fantasy, The Shaving of Shagpat, and it is an irreal analogue of a Persian court. Also been reading John Crowley's Aegypt novels, and they move back and forth between "this world" and a more magical one; it's the histories that change, not really the locales. It is one of the most beautifully written stories that I have read. I'll probably write a feature on it in the next few days, once I finish my reading of the final three volumes.


Have you any examples where Real World is done particularly well or particularly badly?


Crowley's series is one. Same for Steve Erickson's Arc d'X and Zeroville. Pynchon does this great as well. Nothing really comes to mind about anything horribly done, probably because I shut those things from my memory whenever possible.

Is this style more spec-fic than fantasy, or is there a lot of room for crossover?


I don't worry about setting up categories, but rather about demolishing artificial ones
Illusions fall like the husk of a fruit, one after another, and the fruit is experience. - Narrator, Sylvie

Je suis méchant.
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The Real World in fantasy and sci-fi Rebekah - 10/09/2010 04:47:05 PM 937 Views
I like it Camilla - 10/09/2010 04:52:14 PM 539 Views
Re: I like it Rebekah - 10/09/2010 05:18:48 PM 562 Views
It has the downside of making works age that much faster. Legolas - 10/09/2010 05:05:27 PM 678 Views
True, depending on when it's done. Rebekah - 10/09/2010 05:20:53 PM 626 Views
Susanna Clarke is a good example. *NM* Camilla - 10/09/2010 05:51:27 PM 653 Views
I prefer when referenences to the real world are kept very subtle... Zach - 10/09/2010 05:07:55 PM 592 Views
People keep reminding me that I need to read Wolfe. Rebekah - 10/09/2010 05:21:39 PM 583 Views
Replay is a great novel Larry - 10/09/2010 05:28:37 PM 652 Views
I'm exactly halfway through. Rebekah - 10/09/2010 05:33:24 PM 584 Views
You're about to get to the good parts, if I recall Larry - 10/09/2010 05:45:35 PM 730 Views
You were right. Rebekah - 10/09/2010 08:12:02 PM 586 Views
Jonestown is one of the first big news stories I remember well random thoughts - 10/09/2010 08:07:55 PM 533 Views
Hm. Rebekah - 10/09/2010 08:11:26 PM 517 Views
I don't like it. Vivien - 10/09/2010 08:13:38 PM 557 Views
Re: I don't like it. Rebekah - 10/09/2010 08:23:34 PM 565 Views
Re: I don't like it. Vivien - 21/09/2010 04:06:37 PM 495 Views
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