Metropolitan (Walter Jon Williams)
Oct. 31st, 2013 12:07 amMetropolian is fantasy in an urban setting.
Not "urban fantasy" in a way that has anything in common with other urban fantasy -- even fantasy very different from modern romance/vampire urban fantasy, such as Jonathon Strange and Mister Norrel.
The whole planet is covered by city. Towerblocks, streets and everything else are built in geometries to enhance plasm (liquid magic) focusing. Plasm is expensive -- anyone can be a mage, but only if you're rich. The protagonist works for the heavily-bureaucratic plasm regulation authority, but has no legitimate access to plasm.
It's very much _fantasy_ even though it has the trappings of science fiction: several things are staple fantasy tropes, but ring false in a science fiction setting (even a very soft one).
Passes the Bechdel test comfortably, if not spectacularly.
Worldbuilding was great. Definitely left me wanting more, which is good.
( Quibbles )
Not "urban fantasy" in a way that has anything in common with other urban fantasy -- even fantasy very different from modern romance/vampire urban fantasy, such as Jonathon Strange and Mister Norrel.
The whole planet is covered by city. Towerblocks, streets and everything else are built in geometries to enhance plasm (liquid magic) focusing. Plasm is expensive -- anyone can be a mage, but only if you're rich. The protagonist works for the heavily-bureaucratic plasm regulation authority, but has no legitimate access to plasm.
It's very much _fantasy_ even though it has the trappings of science fiction: several things are staple fantasy tropes, but ring false in a science fiction setting (even a very soft one).
Passes the Bechdel test comfortably, if not spectacularly.
Worldbuilding was great. Definitely left me wanting more, which is good.
( Quibbles )