Gilded Age or gilded age?

Honalo · May 19, 2008

I set my fantasy book in what I describe as a "gilded age" and my peer critique readers are confused by this because they're thinking the setting is medieval - of course, right? Isn't all fantasy set in a medieval, Lord of the Rings land? They don't read fantasy themselves, but have given me good input nonetheless.

So, is it OK to call it a gilded age in the generic sense, knowing of course it's not THE Gilded Age? Their logic is that the reader, only having the historical point of reference for The Gilded Age, will be misled and confused. My feelings: a gilded age gives a picture of a wealthy society, which is what this is, in a neat two words. I tell them you can't think of a medieval castle when reading this but more along the lines of Biltmore. And I might add, it's not an alternative gilded age either. It's just my fantasy world.

I don't use gilded age in the book, although I have been tempted. I was going to use it in the pitch to sum up the kind of society this is.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Plot Device · May 19, 2008

I thought it was "gilded cage" as in a bird cage made of golden prison bars where a person is kept prisoner in the lap of luxury, but they are STILL a prisoner.

But .... here's a Wiki article on "Gilded Age."

tallus83 · May 19, 2008

How about a Golden Age?

mscelina · May 19, 2008

I don't see what the problem with that would be. We're breaking through so many barriers in fantasy these days that I think it'd be rather refreshing.

JMO--I would pitch it as a 'gilded age.' It's a very descriptive term that immediately (for me) brings up very specific era-guildelines. A fantasy world with the Titanic in it? Brilliant!

Good luck!

Smiling Ted · May 19, 2008

Mela said:
I set my fantasy book in what I describe as a "gilded age" and my peer critique readers are confused by this because they're thinking the setting is medieval - of course, right? Isn't all fantasy set in a medieval, Lord of the Rings land? They don't read fantasy themselves, but have given me good input nonetheless.

So, is it OK to call it a gilded age in the generic sense, knowing of course it's not THE Gilded Age? Their logic is that the reader, only having the historical point of reference for The Gilded Age, will be misled and confused. My feelings: a gilded age gives a picture of a wealthy society, which is what this is, in a neat two words. I tell them you can't think of a medieval castle when reading this but more along the lines of Biltmore. And I might add, it's not an alternative gilded age either. It's just my fantasy world.

I don't use gilded age in the book, although I have been tempted. I was going to use it in the pitch to sum up the kind of society this is.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

"The Gilded Age" was a phrase coined by Mark Twain. Its meaning is much different from "Golden Age."

The implication is that there's cheap, fake gold on the surface - the gilding - but underneath that is the base metal (lead) of corruption. It was Twain's way of contrasting the astounding wealth and ostentation of "robber barons" like Rockefeller and Carnegie with the misery and despair of the workers in their mines and on their railroads.

That might not be the implication you want for your story.

Honalo · May 20, 2008

Thanks smiling Ted. I know about the origins from Mark Twain, but I also thought it more of an over arching generic reference - it is, in fact, an era in American history in which all the great fortunes were made.

Nyeh, I don't know what to do; I didn't want to use golden age because, in my book, this is more of a gilded age.

I'll have to ponder that -- thanks so much everyone for your help.

maxmordon · May 20, 2008

for me, Golden (or Gilded) Age would meant some Grecorroman time if the setting is spected to be the stereotypical fantasyland during the Middle Ages

Gilded Age or gilded age?

Honalo

Plot Device

A woman said to write like a man.

tallus83

mscelina

Teh doommobile, drivin' rite by you

Smiling Ted

Ah-HA!

Honalo

maxmordon

Penúltimo