My manuscript is 'completed', and is in the editing phase. Thanks to a beta reader, she made me realize that my scene setting is sparse. My original intention for this universe of mine was supposed to be sort of 'timelessness'. Cellphones and the like used minimally. Since, the book focuses on the supernatural/fantastical, I didn't see it too important if I focused on technology much. But, as I developed the story, I realized the setting itself indeed was a bit gaseous.
I fleshed out the original concept I had the 1910-1930's 'timeless' feel coupled with the technology of about the 1980's. Since I wanted a certain level of technological refinement, I set in 2035. That would help improve the airship technology, which is the only sort of aerial mode of transportation. However, I felt since there was such minimal use of technology already--then would it proper for me to merely set it in 1910's? Is me setting this in the future without it playing into the tone of the book a bit unnecessary? Such as Fallout is set to appear like the 50's and what not because it was the height of nuclear tech age. LOTR, taking place in a perpetual dark ages. (Or whatever the proper term would be), and deals with knights, dragons, wizards and so forth. These settings play into the main concepts presented in the stories.
I can sort of see that the 1910's older tech would cause disruption in long communication. The grainy footage and what have you would help emphasize the mystery of the supernatural. There is a certain level of 'horror' or 'mysteriousness' granted by limited tech, and older time periods when dealing with monsters. (At least to me) There are disadvantages to my already established story should I set it in 1910, such as scenes with cellphones would need to be written out, regular phones could be used sure--but scenes when information is immediately conveyed won't really be possible. Of course I did consider a sort of portable-telegraph, a round about cellphone that runs off of picking up on certain radio frequencies. But I doubt it.
However, as I've gone through this I'm still uncertain if I should set the year in the 1910's or 2030's. What are your thoughts if any? Am I overthinking this? I really can't seem to settle on one or the other and it's been driving me mad.
**Update**
Thank you blacbird, I pondered over what you said--and I believe with some more refining, I may have a viable solution. Mixing zeppelins and planes parallel to a magi-only technology for unique semi-fantastical airships. Doing this makes the zeppelins that are used easier to swallow. Giving unique airships for the magical community gifts them a bit more division from the mundane population.
While this isn't necessarily the route I'm going, I can see it being the better path than my original concepts. The airships depicted in the book, used by magicless people was a bit too fantastical.
I'll still be running off of many other comments here to see if I can make this setting work well.
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I fleshed out the original concept I had the 1910-1930's 'timeless' feel coupled with the technology of about the 1980's. Since I wanted a certain level of technological refinement, I set in 2035. That would help improve the airship technology, which is the only sort of aerial mode of transportation. However, I felt since there was such minimal use of technology already--then would it proper for me to merely set it in 1910's? Is me setting this in the future without it playing into the tone of the book a bit unnecessary? Such as Fallout is set to appear like the 50's and what not because it was the height of nuclear tech age. LOTR, taking place in a perpetual dark ages. (Or whatever the proper term would be), and deals with knights, dragons, wizards and so forth. These settings play into the main concepts presented in the stories.
I can sort of see that the 1910's older tech would cause disruption in long communication. The grainy footage and what have you would help emphasize the mystery of the supernatural. There is a certain level of 'horror' or 'mysteriousness' granted by limited tech, and older time periods when dealing with monsters. (At least to me) There are disadvantages to my already established story should I set it in 1910, such as scenes with cellphones would need to be written out, regular phones could be used sure--but scenes when information is immediately conveyed won't really be possible. Of course I did consider a sort of portable-telegraph, a round about cellphone that runs off of picking up on certain radio frequencies. But I doubt it.
However, as I've gone through this I'm still uncertain if I should set the year in the 1910's or 2030's. What are your thoughts if any? Am I overthinking this? I really can't seem to settle on one or the other and it's been driving me mad.
**Update**
Thank you blacbird, I pondered over what you said--and I believe with some more refining, I may have a viable solution. Mixing zeppelins and planes parallel to a magi-only technology for unique semi-fantastical airships. Doing this makes the zeppelins that are used easier to swallow. Giving unique airships for the magical community gifts them a bit more division from the mundane population.
While this isn't necessarily the route I'm going, I can see it being the better path than my original concepts. The airships depicted in the book, used by magicless people was a bit too fantastical.
I'll still be running off of many other comments here to see if I can make this setting work well.
******
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