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The Real World in fantasy and sci-fi Rebekah Send a noteboard - 10/09/2010 04:47:05 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?

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

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

Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read. - Groucho Marx
Replay
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The Real World in fantasy and sci-fi - 10/09/2010 04:47:05 PM 856 Views
I like it - 10/09/2010 04:52:14 PM 461 Views
Re: I like it - 10/09/2010 05:18:48 PM 482 Views
It has the downside of making works age that much faster. - 10/09/2010 05:05:27 PM 612 Views
True, depending on when it's done. - 10/09/2010 05:20:53 PM 552 Views
Susanna Clarke is a good example. *NM* - 10/09/2010 05:51:27 PM 578 Views
I prefer when referenences to the real world are kept very subtle... - 10/09/2010 05:07:55 PM 517 Views
People keep reminding me that I need to read Wolfe. - 10/09/2010 05:21:39 PM 496 Views
Replay is a great novel - 10/09/2010 05:28:37 PM 580 Views
I'm exactly halfway through. - 10/09/2010 05:33:24 PM 510 Views
You're about to get to the good parts, if I recall - 10/09/2010 05:45:35 PM 656 Views
You were right. - 10/09/2010 08:12:02 PM 502 Views
Jonestown is one of the first big news stories I remember well - 10/09/2010 08:07:55 PM 457 Views
Hm. - 10/09/2010 08:11:26 PM 438 Views
I don't like it. - 10/09/2010 08:13:38 PM 476 Views
Re: I don't like it. - 10/09/2010 08:23:34 PM 491 Views
Re: I don't like it. - 21/09/2010 04:06:37 PM 430 Views

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