Generic Considerations

matthew.malthouse · 24 Apr 2003, 07:56 · from urth-v0304.mbox · original

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From: matthew.malthouse at guardian.co.uk
Subject: Re: (urth) Generic Considerations
Date: Thu, 24 Apr 2003 08:56:35 +0100
Message-ID: <urth-v0304-3304 at digest.urth.net>
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On 23/04/2003 17:29:07 Dan'l Danehy-Oakes wrote:

>Matthew inquires:
>
>>Is there a practical difference between a fictive universe which - apart
>>from the fictional narrative - maps exactly against the real and one
that
>>does not?
>
>Can you show me a fictive universe which maps exactly against the real?
>
>If so, how can you know it does?

When a character in a Ruth Rendell thriller walks a London street near my
home I can too.  When Graves' Claudius refers to the Sybiline prophesies I
can recall the cave complex of the Cumean Sybil I visited in February.
Taking a plane or driving car are possible.

While character and narrative might in varying degrees be creations of the
author their milieu is something we can experience.

But tracing Severian's walk through Nessus, buying a copy of A Lancre
Witch's Cookbook direct from the Guild of Engravers, getting to work by
transporter or taking a holiday on a GSV... these are somewhat out of
reach.

Worlds with deliquescing doors and worlds with hinges.

Matthew

--=20

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