One of the joys of reading a novel is immersing yourself in a different world, whether it’s the verdant hills of Middle Earth, the magic around every corner at Hogwarts, the intrepid and dangerous seas aboard the Pequod, or spaceships and strange planets hitchhiking around the galaxy.
If you could pick one fictional world/setting/time period to live in, which one would it be?
Amanda says
Amber by Roger Zelazny, but only if I could be of the Blood of Amber or a Chaos Lord (preferably an Amberite).
Laura Marcella says
I want to inhabit the ocean in King Triton's kingdom. I want a green fishtail, a purple seashell bra, and a flounder, crab, and seagull as my best friends!
Kate says
Whoever said Bon Temps, yeah, good call. But only if I get my own Bill. Or Sam. Or Eric. I'm not picky.
Don't tell my husband.
RR Kovar says
Majipoor would be interesting. I figure it would take so long to explore it, I wouldn't get bored.
MC Rogerson says
I'd like to live in a Swallows and Amazons-type world. Safe adventure, natural beauty and buttered crumpets for tea.
Kelly Wittmann says
THE EDWARDIANS, by Vita Sackville-West.
Hilary says
Damar, from The Hero and the Crown
John Forrester says
Surprised to see no one mentioned the world of George R.R. Martin's "A Song of Fire and Ice" — brilliantly crafted fantasy world.
The Daring Novelist says
Hands down – only possible answer:
Nero Wolfe's Brownstone
Nicole L Rivera says
Hogwarts. More specifically. I want to be in Gryffindor, be one of Harry Potter's friends, and play Quiditch. That would be totally awesome, but since it won't happen I'm going to go to the Universal Harry Potter theme park and pretend.
Oh and I would like an owl and pigmy puff (not sure of spelling) as pets. 😉
Joseph L. Selby says
The Tao of Pooh. Or maybe the original Hundred Acre Wood. I can't decide.
Elie says
I grew up close to the place where Alan Garner set The Weirdstone of Brisingamen and The Moon of Gomrath.
I used to go there and look for the wizard ..
Stephanie McGee says
Narnia.
Anonymous says
What a great question! I think I'd have to choose the magical world of the Harry Potter books, but there are so many others I'd love to sample: The Victorian England and France of Henry James's The Ambassadors; the nautical world of Patrick O'Brien's Aubrey/Maturin series; the Jerusalem of Laurie R. King's O, Jerusalem. Many, many more present themselves to me, but I think I've got my licks in for today.
Gerri says
Steven Erikson's world of the Malazan empire. Hands down. There, it's rough, dirty, and full of potential. They have history, and it means something. Plus, the whole travel to other realms is way too cool to not want to experience.
I'd have to have a better body, though. Or something. But then again, out there, I'd not be sitting on my ass typing all day, either.
kathryn evans says
This is very sad but send me off with the Famous Five, I want long, glorious summer days and friendly farmers and mysteries to solve. I want cake and cucumber sandwiches and ginger beer and good friends and a dog that doesn't smell or dribble. I want the only thing I have to worry about to be an old tramp by the railway, or getting lost in a cave. Send me to Blytonville!
Talei says
Alex Garland's Beach sans the crazies.
susancolebank says
Edgar Rice Burroughs' jungles in Tarzan, Lord of the Apes.
I, of course, would be Jane.
:o)
-S.
Jaleh D says
I'd most want to live either on Pern or in Valdemar. Pern has dragons, and Valdemar has magic and Companions. Though there are other worlds I wouldn't mind visiting, those two are the most appealing for a long term stay.
Jacqueline says
Hogwarts.
Icy Roses says
Either Hogwarts or Narnia!
Angelique says
Hogwarts but after the last battle the first year at hogwarts would be a terrific time to learn…just years stretching ahead with no trauma.
J. Todd says
No one wants to hang out in Raymond Chandler's Los Angeles with me?
Caitlin R. O'Connell says
Tamora Pierce's Tortall. It seems to me to be the most democratic, least-likely-to-die-of-plague-because-magic-is-cool medieval world I've ever come across.
However, Hogwarts is always a good answer, and I would love to take long vacations in all my favorite historical worlds.
Sally Jo says
Stella Gibbon's Starkadder Farm.
Jamesmcshane says
Jasper Fforde's Thursday Next novels, without question.
Anita Saxena says
I agree with what seems to be the majority: Hogwarts or Bust!
Perry says
Anne McAffery's Pern. Something about riding dragons and saving the world makes Thread worthwhile.
Shelli says
a.r.williams — You rock! I didn't even think of Ender's Game. Yes, I would love to try out those simulation games, too.
Laurie says
I'm not so into fantasy and sci-fi, (though Hogwarts would be a fun romp,) I would have to say that I would love to be neighbors of the March sisters and hang out with Jo and Amy, (Meg and Beth are little dull, but still). I would love to talk about writing with Jo.
Magdalena Munro says
David Mitchell's Clout Atlas has so many AWESOME worlds within it that I would most certainly choose this post modern masterpiece.
wildbill2u says
Lets get real–literally.
Fantasys are relatively easy for an author because he doesn't have to create a fully functional or believeable world. Dune and its successors was the best fantasy world in my opinion
However, a historical novelist must deal with a known period of time, a known culture and ethos and bring the characters to life within realistic settings and actions. Think of how difficult that can be.
Consider "Shogun" the master work of James Clavell. Clavel was able to immerse the reader via the hero, Pilot Blackthorne into the historical past of Shogunate Japan.
Clavell used a a very clever device by putting the Pilot into the culture without any knowledge of customs or language. Along with Blackthorne the reader slowly came to understand and appreciate the Japanese culture.
By the end of the book, like Blackthorne, I could even understand how noble Japanese had to commit seppuku to redeem their honor.
This was a tour de force like no other I can remember.
Wildbill2u
Kay says
Cloud City, here I come.
The Pollinatrix says
Clive Barker's Abarat, or, as others have said, Pern. I feel like I actually did live on Pern for a while, since I read the entire series while mostly immobile in the third trimester of pregnancy.
Liam says
I think Idris from Cassandra Clare's The Mortal Instruments would be nice.
Anthony DeRouen says
How about, the Old World. Created by Terry Goodkind.
bfav says
District 13….or the moors of Wuthering Heights.
Heidi J. Johns says
Narnia
shasha says
never never land!
Joanna van der Gracht de Rosado says
I would love to experience the
1860s… a time of great change. A wonderful book that situates in this period is "Peregrinations of a Pariah" by Flora Tristan (Paul Gaugain's grandmother) The other period that facinates me is that between WWI and WWII, a time of awakening. My favorite protagonist of these years is Frida Kahlo. A great book about this period is Barbara KIngsolver's "La Lacuna"
Joanna
Karen A. Chase says
Around the World in 80 Days. It has it all.
Hallowtide says
Holmes and Watson's England or Peregrine's Rest, by Jennifer Gostin
Livia says
Pern. I want to impress a dragon 🙂
Victoria says
Best answer of the day has to be Julianne Reeves… how true is that! We are on the holodeck…. 🙂
But of course, if I HAD to pick one, (and it wouldn't be my own, far too dangerous) then I think I'd go to J Carey's Terre D'Ange, or maybe N Novik's Temeraire series – providing I get to captain my own dragon.
Obviously, alternate fantasy does it for me. 🙂
Joyce Shor Johnson says
Pern. I've always wanted to be a dragon rider!
bettyk says
My one and only novel choice would be "Far Pavillions" by M.M.Kaye
Chassily Wakefield says
Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hogwarts! No question. My 14 year old daughter made me an "official" Hogwarts letter for my last birthday, it was the best gift EVER. Now my dream is coming true thanks to Universal in Orlando. I'll be at Hogwarts this year. On Harry's birthday, even. I already warned the people I'm going with to go on and do their thing without me. I'm just going to stand in the entrance to the castle and sob for joy. 🙂
Ann Marie Wraight says
Two doors down from Bilbo/Frodo Baggins,
Bag End,
Hobbiton,
The Shire,
Middle Earth.
tel: 0043 45693 84367
(callers by appointment ONLY please)
BEFORE the whole adventure with the Fellowship of the Ring but after Bilbo's first adventure.
THANK YOU.
Julie Weathers says
Firefly definitely. It combines the fantastic with the historic. I love the concept and then men aren't bad either. After that, Middle Earth or Hogwarts.
Anonymous says
Pemberley . . . as long as I was a member of the elite class. The lack of electricity would be a lot more tolerable if one wasn't a servant!
Oh, and I'd want to be married to Darcy, too. Perhaps I'm asking too much?