I'm exactly halfway through. - Edit 1
Before modification by Rebekah at 10/09/2010 05:33:41 PM
I like both, depending on the aims of the narrative. Currently reading an orientalist 19th century fantasy, The Shaving of Shagpat, and it is an irreal analogue of a Persian court. Also been reading John Crowley's Aegypt novels, and they move back and forth between "this world" and a more magical one; it's the histories that change, not really the locales. It is one of the most beautifully written stories that I have read. I'll probably write a feature on it in the next few days, once I finish my reading of the final three volumes.
Sounds good. I'm definitely interested in those.
Have you any examples where Real World is done particularly well or particularly badly?
Crowley's series is one. Same for Steve Erickson's Arc d'X and Zeroville. Pynchon does this great as well. Nothing really comes to mind about anything horribly done, probably because I shut those things from my memory whenever possible.
Different Erickson from the Malazan chap?
Very sensible re the latter point.
Is this style more spec-fic than fantasy, or is there a lot of room for crossover?
I don't worry about setting up categories, but rather about demolishing artificial ones 
Well playe.