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I tend to focus on one milieu. Having several countries the origins of which you can tell from the first glance (and often very poorly done, as the author takes this only for "ethnic" flavour) bugs me. I don't even enjoy it very much, truth to tell.
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posted
Well, Robert E. Howard's "Conan" stories were set in fictionalized versions of familiar stories---partly so he could mix 'n' match eras, and partly to avoid the necessity of extensive research into any one era. I've been rereading them in the recent reissue (the last volume of it turned up in my local bookstore just this Tuesday), and if you can get past the pompous literary attitude of the current editors the stories are still interesting reads.
I'm amenable to the idea. I know a lot about a lot of eras---but not necessarily everything I'd need to know to write a story set in an era successfully. And I dread the thought of doing more than a few weeks of research for even something of novel-length...
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The China Mieville post in the Discussing Published Hooks and Books forum has got me thinking about reading his stuff. Sounds like a thorough, non-referential world.
I think that is why I liked Canticle for Liebowitz so much and Earth Abides they create worlds with new, different and convincing cultures. I know those books may not be some people's cup of tea, nor even the respective author's best work, but the worlds are complete and new.
Canticle has monks and stuff but the Hordes really grabbed my attention. Like in the sequel, Wild Horse Woman with people named such things as I-Light-Fires.
[This message has been edited by hoptoad (edited November 24, 2005).]
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