The Sword and Laser discussion

I've noticed people struggling to describe this book to others because it doesn't fall into any specific sub-genre. It's fantasy, definitely, but it's atypical fantasy. It's not your regular run-of-the-mill faux-Medieval Europe setting like A Song of Ice and Fire. It's also not urban fantasy, because it's not modern enough. There are guns, or rather hand-cannons, but there are also crossbows. It's kind of a murder mystery; there are elements of Sherlock in there, but there's also a lot of intrigue that people have likened to The Goblin Emperor, though I feel that's like saying the fantastical elements of the book are akin to Tolkien. Because of its mishmash of themes, I'd like to say it's steam punk, but there's barely any traditional science or even mad science, so what IS this book?! It's original, that's what it is.

I'm interested to see how others might categorize CoS? How would you describe it to others?

Me, all I'd say is this: (view spoiler)[At one point, a Viking cyclops covers himself with magic butter and takes on a kraken in the middle of winter sans pants. (hide spoiler)]

I'd probably tell a friend that it's flintlock fantasy like Promise of Blood and The Thousand Names but a little lighter in tone (to the point of having legitimately funny bits in it), some interesting world-building and a female protagonist.

Secondary-world fantasy with a technological level about on par with the famous World's Fair, with political intrigue and colonial themes and magic based on practical theology.

@Andy - +1 for magic butter

Alan wrote: "I'd probably tell a friend that it's flintlock fantasy like Promise of Blood and The Thousand Names but a little lighter in tone (to the point of having legitimately funny bits in it), some interes..."

Tom and Veronica: Here we go. Another lover of Django Wexler. Get 'em on the show. :)

David Sven wrote: "@Andy - +1 for magic butter"

I was pretty proud of that.

Andy wrote: "David Sven wrote: "@Andy - +1 for magic butter"

I was pretty proud of that."

I'm getting some for date night

A gentler, more mainstream Perdido Street Station. Or secondary world urban fantasy.

Brendan wrote: "A gentler, more mainstream Perdido Street Station. Or secondary world urban fantasy."

That sounds about right. Mmmm...Mieville.

Postcolonial fantasy?

Even Victorian Fantasy, maybe? They have gaslights and railroads. It's at about the same level of development as steampunk.

But then I'd think you'd need to add some qualifier about it not being a Western-based fantasy. Postcolonial Russian Fantasy?

I drew a thing in response to the first post of this thread. City of Stairs inspired art (sort of)

Eleanor wrote: "I drew a thing in response to the first post of this thread. City of Stairs inspired art (sort of)"

Suddenly I'm hungry for calamari.

Yay, you did it! That is exactly how I pictured the Kraken Krackers when we talked about it. :D

Eleanor, that is the best thing ever.