Reading with Style discussion

Read a book set 75% or more in a fictional setting. A fictional country, planet, space, or fantasy world works; a fictional city in a real state/country does not work.

Please post any discussion about task 10.7 in this thread.

For those who don't read fantasy or science fiction, I saw a few titles that might fit.

1984
Cat's Cradle (probably sci-fi, but also dystopian like 1984)

The Ruritania Trilogy by Anthony Hope, a series of adventure novels which includes The Prisoner of Zenda.

There are undoubtedly others, but these are the ones that popped up on my radar screen.

LOL. I am getting a really good start on this season of reading! I am reading and nearly finished with Old Man's War by John Scalzi. It fits this task well.

I keep putting books from the Nar nia Chronicles in my planning list but seem to keep getting passed over. So making another attempt.

Another choice is a series I had begun long ago but havent kept up with is the Landover series by Terry Brooks. I picked up the first in the series intrigued by the title, cover and the premise that an actual Magic Kingdom is offered for sale in a department store’s annual Christmas catalog. That alone captured my inner child’s imagination.

Yes, those are fantasy/science fiction. I was attempting to post books that are outside of those genres and yet would still fit this task. I know we have a very few members who do not read fantasy or science fiction.

Would The Island of Doctor Moreau by H.G. Wells work for this task?

Connie wrote: "Would The Island of Doctor Moreau by H.G. Wells work for this task?"

I think that setting is entirely fictional (except for the ocean part) and would work for this task.

Connie wrote: "Would The Island of Doctor Moreau by H.G. Wells work for this task?"

Seems like it's meant to be a fictional country right?

A couple others:

Absurdistan by Gary Shteyngart
Palace Without Chairs by Brigid Brophy

And there's this list of fictional countries from wikipedia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...

Thanks, Joanna. I didn’t find that list of countries when I did my search. Good resource!

Thanks, Joanna and Elizabeth.

Checking that list, will The Man in the High Castle work as it is an alternate reality America, yes? It’s on my Alternate Alpha Omega list, but I could move if approved.

Similar to Apple's question, I was surprised at 1984 because it's set in London. But it's an alternate reality London, which is no longer in the UK because the UK has merged with other countries into a bigger multi-nation state... does that make it work?

Rosemary wrote: "I'm surprised at 1984 because it's set in London. But it's an alternative reality London, which is not in the UK because the UK has merged with other countries into a bigger multi-n..."

Oh, you're right. I guess I was relying on memory (which we all know can be false) and the list someone else was putting up about fictional places. I'll cross it off, and thanks!

Will Red Moon by Kim Stanley Robinson work? Although the moon is a real place, the settlement there is imaginary.

Kathleen (itpdx) wrote: "Will Red Moon by Kim Stanley Robinson work? Although the moon is a real place, the settlement there is imaginary."

I think that's in the spirit of the task, but I'll leave it up to the mods to say for sure.

Joanna wrote: "I think that's in the spirit of the task, but I'll leave it up to the mods to say for sure."

We like that you task creators confirm "the spirit of the task" and we'll go with your decision.

I have a question about The Faceless Old Woman Who Secretly Lives In Your Home, which is just a mind bending book anyway.
Can it be a fictional place on earth? Although the family of main character comes from Spain, they live on this very isolated island that’s very mysterious frequented by smugglers and pirates but some of which are a strange, totally silent group that never stops but everyone is afraid of.
But throughout the whole book and at the beginning, the narrator is in a house as some sort of ghost who can manipulate events in helping the firstborn boy in his life like meeting and marrying right person, losing or getting a job. She sounds very fond of of him as she speaks to him. They can’t see her though unless they are infants, but they believe their house is haunted. She’s sweet to the babies and acts as a guardian angel, always assuring she will take good care of him until he has a son. Soon after son’s birth, she causes her “charge” to be killed . And then starts over with new baby. She does this in a magical place she walked to after her death called NightVale. Apparently angels and others live there but only some of the humans know about these paranormal beings. Although she makes trips on a ship to known places like Persia or Barcelona or Sicily, it’s only to commit crimes.

The author even has a Welcome to NightVale podcast

So would it count?

Rebekah wrote: "I have a question about The Faceless Old Woman Who Secretly Lives In Your Home, which is just a mind bending book anyway.
Can it be a fictional place on earth? Although the family o..."

After listening to this podast of this strange place, I think it works.
https://youtu.be/Ujksjzqrhys

According to Wikipedia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welcome...

Welcome to Night Vale takes place in the fictional town of Night Vale, a desert town somewhere in the southwestern United States.

In the task definition
...a fictional city in a real state/country does not work.

This doesn't work for this task.

Pondering whether this book by Ursula K. Le Guin would work-The Lathe of Heaven

From the GR's blurb: In a future world racked by violence and environmental catastrophes

thanks for your help

Joanne wrote: "Pondering whether this book by Ursula K. Le Guin would work-The Lathe of Heaven

From the GR's blurb: In a future world racked by violence and environmental catastrophe..."

The GR record says this takes place in Portland, Oregon, so no, this would not work.

Could I please get a ruling on this book?

The Empress of Salt and Fortune

The description says:
A young royal from the far north is sent south for a political marriage in an empire reminiscent of imperial China.

From the reviews and description, I can't tell for sure if it's meant to be China or a fantasy setting.

Karen Michele wrote: "Could I please get a ruling on this book?

The Empress of Salt and Fortune

The description says:
A young royal from the far north is sent south for a political marriage in an empir..."

I believe this works. In a later book in the series, the publisher Tordotcom says

Nghi Vo is returning to the empire of Ahn

which leads me to believe this is set in a fictional empire that just looks like China.

Thank you, Elizabeth.