Fantasy Question re: Weapons, Tech

BrianTubbs · Sep 16, 2006

It seems that all (or at least the vast majority of) fantasy stories take place in an ancient or medieval type era. Granted...my fantasy reading is limited to fewer than a dozen books so far. Don't worry. I plan to read more.

But....are there examples (good examples) of fantasy in modern age settings, or at least with gunpowder?

I'm familiar with Harry Turtledove, but he's more alternate history.

Vomaxx · Sep 16, 2006

Mary Gentle's Ash tetralogy is in an early gunpowder era.

jchines · Sep 16, 2006

Tanya Huff's Blood series and the spinoffs are all set in modern times. So is her Keeper series, for that matter.

And if you want to open a fun little debate, it has been argued that Star Wars and all of its spinoff novels are fantasy, not SF

Richard White · Sep 16, 2006

Holly Black's Valiant is definitely a fantasy set in the modern world.

However, for ancient, medieval, renaissance, Napoleonic and other weapons throught the ages, I tend to rely on my A Glossary of the Construction, Decoration and Use of Arms and Armor in all countries and in all times: Together with some closely related subjects by George Cameron Stone (1934). Best $40 I spent back in 1980. Covers everything from 'Abbasi to the Zumbai.

Ordinary_Guy · Sep 16, 2006

BrianTubbs said:
It seems that all (or at least the vast majority of) fantasy stories take place in an ancient or medieval type era. Granted...my fantasy reading is limited to fewer than a dozen books so far. Don't worry. I plan to read more.

But....are there examples (good examples) of fantasy in modern age settings, or at least with gunpowder?

I'm familiar with Harry Turtledove, but he's more alternate history.

Peter Pan had gunpowder, didn't it?
...Not exactly modern, though. Harry Potter certainly qualifies.

Don't know what if it's what you're looking for, but I also seem to remember "On a Pale Horse" by Piers Anthony might fit.

Then there's an old RPG called "Shadowrun" that would seem right up your dark alley.

Shweta · Sep 16, 2006

Have you seen this thread? It's pretty much the same question, unless I misunderstand your question.

LeeFlower · Sep 16, 2006

There's a whole lot of fantasy set in the modern world. I've heard it mostly called 'urban fantasy.'

Gaiman's Timothy Hunter and the Books of Magic is modern. Star Wars is futuristic and it's certainly fantasy. Check the YA shelf at your local bookstore. There's loads of it out there.

Ardellis · Sep 17, 2006

I recommend Charles de Lint and Emma Bull for modern fantasy. Bull's War for the Oaks especially. Or try Jennifer Stevenson's Trash Sex Magic.

Evaine · Sep 17, 2006

I second Charles de Lint, a writer who makes me want to go to Canada.

Nangleator · Sep 17, 2006

Zelazny's Amber series rocked. It was set in modern times, yet required daggers and deceit, swords and arrows. (At least in the main setting of the book.)

MadScientistMatt · Sep 17, 2006

My current fantasy WIP does have gunpowder - and an ancient civilization at one point had guns, but I'm not sure if there are any that still work.

His Majesty's Dragon is one rather surprising twist on the stories about men riding dragons: this one takes place in the Napoleonic Wars.

Shweta · Sep 17, 2006

I love His Majesty's Dragon

If you're looking for fantasy with gunpowder-level tech, perhaps steampunk will appeal.

Also perhaps some of the non-medieval period fantasy, like Susanna Clarke's Jonathon Strange and Mr Norrell or Patricia Wrede's Mareilon the Magician or Wrede and Stevermer's Sorcery and Cecilia or Caroline Stevermer's College of Magics or... as Matt mentioned, the Novik, His Majesty's Dragon...

EDIT: It's Naomi Novik, not Nivak. No idea why I misremembered it as such.

BrianTubbs · Sep 17, 2006

Gunpowder

Hey everyone-

Thanks for the great suggestions. I've skimmed through Chronicles of Narnia and Lord of the Rings (and saw the movies), and read Eragon by Christopher Paolini, Ranger Apprentice (parts 1 and 2) by John Flanagan, and have skimmed a few others. Beyond that, it's just been games and movies. Well...and Star Wars. I've read a couple of those novels, and have seen all the films.

I am now reading Eldest by Paolini and just started the Earthsea saga.

I would like to write a fantasy novel that is set in a world that's leaving the medieval age and entering the Modern Age - in Earth terms, kind of the 1500s/1600s. Maybe even the 1700s.

Imagine a mixture of Last of the Mohicans and Lord of the Rings.

I've thought about taking a cue from Harry Turtledove - and doing the American Revolutionary War, but with fantasy elements thrown in. Don't know if that would work, though. (This is what Turtledove did with World War II).

Higgins · Sep 18, 2006

It's not the Gunpowder its the re-imaging

BrianTubbs said:
Hey everyone-

Thanks for the great suggestions. I've skimmed through Chronicles of Narnia and Lord of the Rings (and saw the movies), and read Eragon by Christopher Paolini, Ranger Apprentice (parts 1 and 2) by John Flanagan, and have skimmed a few others. Beyond that, it's just been games and movies. Well...and Star Wars. I've read a couple of those novels, and have seen all the films.

I am now reading Eldest by Paolini and just started the Earthsea saga.

I would like to write a fantasy novel that is set in a world that's leaving the medieval age and entering the Modern Age - in Earth terms, kind of the 1500s/1600s. Maybe even the 1700s.

Imagine a mixture of Last of the Mohicans and Lord of the Rings.

I've thought about taking a cue from Harry Turtledove - and doing the American Revolutionary War, but with fantasy elements thrown in. Don't know if that would work, though. (This is what Turtledove did with World War II).

I think there's a lot to be said for setting fantasies in the "early Modern" (ie slightly post-medieval) period. First, you have to get away from most of the over-used ways of imagining magic and second you will not be so inclined to resort to a good vs. evil way of structuring your plots. And finally, you will be able to avoid a climatic battle or two by having your MC just blow up the bad guys as needed.

Evaine · Sep 18, 2006

Mary Gentle did a rather good fantasy set in a version of the 17thC called The Architecture of Desire - which featured Queen Carola and Protector-General Olivia.
Poul Anderson also did a rather interesting story in which Prince Rupert escapes his Puritan captors by steam train, and everyone speaks in Shakespearean blank verse - A Midsummer Tempest.
But 17thC fantasy is pretty thin on the ground, I think.

Fantasy Question re: Weapons, Tech

BrianTubbs

Vomaxx

jchines

Got the hang of it, here

Richard White

Stealthy Plot Bunny Peddler

Ordinary_Guy

Industrial Strength

Shweta

gone

LeeFlower

Lurker Extraordinaire

Ardellis

tortures make-believe people

Evaine

Nangleator

Rep Point Whore

MadScientistMatt

Empirical Storm Trooper

Shweta

gone

BrianTubbs

Higgins

Evaine