Why I like Fantasy, or, Location, Location, Location

...or why Urban Fantasy makes me cringe.

Looking at book blurbs made me realize something. When looking at fantasy (in broad sense) books, if I see the mention of a known city (and by known I mean our world) or nationality, I immediately skip that book. Unless I know and like the author. Or a lot of people keep telling me I should read it. Why does that happen?

I tend not to delve into the realms of urban fantasy. But there are lots of great books that are urban fantasy. I even love some of those. Part is because I like my dragons, and they don't go well with the huff-huff of city life. But part is that by being in a city, it tends to be a real city.

True, this mostly happens with young adult books. True, that sometimes is great to imagine something magical happening where you live. But here comes part of my pickle. It never happens where I live. I need to go into historical fiction to get that, and even there it is very rare.

Doesn't it seem like a good place for Fantasy?
Photo (c) Clara Vale

Furthermore, it seems to happen all on the other side of the ocean. And I've never been there. I know a fair bit of American geography because, well, if I want to understand the majority of geographical references in films and books, I need to know that, for instance, Washington in not in Washington (it took me awhile to get that). That there are 2 big rivers going from north to south. That it takes a freaking long time to drive from one place to another. But the layout of the cities? That I don't have to know.

I always get my kicks when the action takes place in a city I've been to. Because suddenly I can visualize what the author meant. But I think that even if I can do it, there is surely someone who can't, and isn't enjoying it as I am.

In (regular, high, epic) Fantasy, on the other hand everyone stands in the same foot - it's an unfamiliar place, and the author has to show us how it is. Not always done brilliantly, I admit, but at least there is a certain democracy to it. It could be just a map, it could be the slowly unravelling of details and places during the story. But every reader learns at the same time that there is a shop at the end of the street. There isn't an instance where some know, and some don't.

Also, I get a bit of the feeling that setting it in our world is the easy way out – the world is already built, no need to elaborate on that, no need to construct anything. Again, this certainly can be true in some books, where the author tells you is set in New York and assumes you know what the city is all about, but there are lots of others that take the time to characterize the place, so the reader at least has a feeling of what it is like to be there.

And I can use the books I've read to explain my point. In White Cat, it takes place in the States. There are a bunch of locations that are known to me and some that aren't. Are them north or south in relation to the ones I know? No idea. Is it near the ocean or the mountains? I don't know. I know their names and that the character goes there. And that's it.

As an example of urban fantasy in a complete new city I'm going to use China Mieville's Perdido Street Station. There is a map at the beginning, because this is a huge city. I had to refer to it quite a few times. But I started to get a sense of the city as I kept reading. Salacus Fields as the bohemian quarter. The scientific district of Brock Marsh. The places you ought to go, the ones you better stay away from.

And last we have Sunshine. Sunshine made it to this list because while being urban fantasy, and set in an alternate America, it takes place in a fantasy city - New Arcadia. Also because discovering the city and getting to know it is part of the narrative - we are discovering the city at the pace the character needs us to. How a place evolved to what it is. What lies beyond that park. Why people avoid the outskirts.

There are other books that are all about the cities, real or imaginary, or good specimens of fantasy set on cities. And although I’ve realized that I really avoid this kind of books, and it’s kind of hard to find other examples, here are a few (besides those 3 up there) that come to mind:

• Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman
• The City & The City by China Mieville
• Valiant by Holly Black
• Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett
• Palimpsest by Catherynne M. Valente *new*
• Swordspoint by Ellen Kushner *new*

The Ill-Made Mute by Cecilia Dart-Thornton

A joint review book commentary by Quigui of Spoilers and Nuts and Jen7waters of Cuidado com o Dálmata. We decided to make this review together because a) it would be fun; b) we suffered through this book together and c) I [Quigui] have been recently bitten by a dog, and can join Jen in her warning [and thus be allowed a post in her blog] to beware of the dog [not a Dalmatian in my case, but a tiny, tiny dog that the only thing that he managed to do was to rip my last pair of stockings. Tiny little bastard] Told’ya, but you never listen. BTW, hello everyone! *Jen waves her hand*


Green text means it was written by Jen7waters. Orange means Quigui. Black means common to the both of us (because we’re both mourning some great character). 

The Ill-Made Mute by Cecilia Dart-Thornton (The Spoiler free version)

A book about a foundling that can’t talk and is ugly as hell (therefore being ill-made and mute), that goes on a road trip to cure her disease.

A very long and boring book, with one character that is awesome and doesn’t appear as much as he should.

Unless you are really curious about it, skip it. If you are curious, proceed with care and be prepared to be bored out of your wits.

I have nothing to add. Humph.

  

The Ill-Made Mute by Cecilia Dart-Thornton (The spoiler version: Beware, Here be Dragons. And Spoilers. And Ranting. And Snark. And we’re sorry. No dogs and nuts in sight, though)

A rant on euphemisms, weaponry and sex scenes

There comes a time in a story when the characters will fall into bed with each other. Be it the Princess that has finally found her Prince and is ready for the Happily Ever After, the traumatic but necessary rape/plot device, or simply the Hero finally managing to convince the voluptuous Amazon warrior that he is worth a tumble in bed.

There are different ways to write a sex scene. From the succinct "They made love" to the long winded 3 page description of every move and feeling. I'm not saying one is better than the other, they fit their purposes.

With the first there is not much that can go wrong, except feeling that you wanted more. But you can always fill in the rest with your imagination.

With the more verbose kind it is easy to mess things up. The problem lies on trying to describe the body parts. With mouth, hands, neck, feet, legs or thighs everything is fine. Breasts are no problem at all. But as we reach the point where the intimate parts are involved things get confusing.

There seems to be no proper way to designate the bits involved. Even with the amount of names available to describe both male and female anatomy, there seems to never be a right one. They are either to clinical or too crude. Female parts are often referred to as mounds, folds, that place between her legs or the vague "inside". Male bits can have the very proper name of Phallus, manhood, member, or a string of euphemisms relying on long, thin objects for imagery. But lets face it, neither of the first three are very arousing. So many resort to euphemisms, which is not bad. It's just the choice of euphemism that will cause problems. And here is where my complaint lies.

I realize there is a reason someone might call it a spear. It's long, it's used in thrusting movements. But, specially in Fantasy, it does mean something else (you know, the actual weapon). In my first encounter with this particular euphemism I didn't realize there was sex involved. I literally thought the poor girl was being speared to death. When she simply went mad after that I thought it wasn't that bad, after all she was alive. Maybe that's why I cringe every time someone calls it a spear. Or a sword.

So please, I ask, keep away from weapon euphemisms when writing sex scenes, specially if said weapon is used for something else (i.e. Killing people). Or if you do, please make sure the reader is aware there is going to be sex involved, lest they be scared for life.