Helen Lowe has been listing fantasy worlds, and talking about why she loves them on her blog. You’ll see some pretty recognisable names over there: Beszel and Ul Qoma, Narnia, Middle Earth, Earthsea… but also, to my delight, a certain world in the branches of a giant tree! There are three sections:
Thanks, Helen! Keep an eye out for her continued posts on science fiction worlds.
Thanks for the shout out, Mary! Needless to say, I believe the Tree deserves its place. And I have tried for a few less readily recognisable names as well, such as Palimpsest and Mark Helprin’s magic-realist New York … 🙂
I really like your selection. What do you think of the Harry Potter universe?
Actually, Harry Potter is a great example of world building: the Cupboard Under the Stairs, Diagon Alley, Platform 13 3/4 — plus all the amazingness of Hogwarts … And probably should have been on my list! A case of something so obvious that you overlook it. And Philip Pullman’s alternate Oxford as well, and the rest of his Golden Compass world—that was almost on my list,and should have been an honourable mention … So many great worlds, so limited in post space/time … :/)
Heh heh. I agree. But that doesn’t mean you can’t have an addendum post sometime… H is for Harry Potter! O is for Lyra’s Oxford! 🙂
I hope there will be many more such posts … 😮
Here’s to that!
Has anyone suggested your Tree to be included in Alberto Manguel’s future editions of ‘The Dictionary of Imaginary Places’?
No! I don’t think it would be, though – very few ‘genre’ books of modern times are included in such compendiums. (Where would you stop? There are so many good ones…)