The Sword and Laser discussion

I'm about a third of the way through this book now and I'm thoroughly enjoying it. Love a rag-tag band of misfits and a lost heir to a magical throne. But the part I'm enjoying the most is the world-building. I'm finding Abercrombie's alternate-magical-history version of medieval Europe much more crunchy and compelling than many fantasy worlds.

I think part of it is that there's much more of a sense of the deep involvement of religion in every aspect of life. So many fantasy books just kind of skate over religion, when in fact it was absolutely central to life in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. The religion in The Devils is recognisably similar to Christianity, but has key differences I'm really enjoying - like the lady Pope and lady Saviour, the 'circefix' instead of the 'crucifix'.

I also really like the way he's thrown in bits of actual alternate history -- like Carthage being the ancient European super-power instead of Rome and everyone speaking a version of Punic. It's a concept that's very plausible (the Carthaginians did win some famous victories over the Romans -- just ask your nearest Rome-nerd about the Battle of Cannae) even if the witch-engineers of Carthage aren't real (shame!).

The ways the Elves are kind of taking the place of the Islamic conquerers of the Middle East is intriguing, and I'm looking forward to seeing more as the characters travel Eastwards.

This book is a chonker so it's hard to carry my library hardback copy around but I'm getting through it pretty quickly and hope to join the discussion about the ending before the end of the month!

What do you all think of the alternate-history setting?

Also, the description of Troy and its backstabbing royal family reminds me of the Empress Irene: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irene_o...

A possible source of inspiration for Abercrombie?

Thanks for the post. I'm history-impaired. All that stuff went straight over my head (*makes the sign of the circle*).

I really liked it too. I don't know if I'd say this was a book where world-building is the primary doorway - probably that'd be characters and/or plot? But for all that it isn't the focus, it still works really well. I think maybe because it's alternate history. No one needs to flip to maps in the front because people basically know where the "Holy City" is and which direction you need to travel to get to Troy. It means that readers can fill in any gaps the author leaves and make the whole thing feel really textured.

Of course, for example, they run into war between petty nobles in the Balkans, the Balkans is the place for that sort of thing. It just makes sense. And it also makes the deviations stand out and feel special - like people speaking Punic or using a wheel instead of a cross.

I posted a similar thread on Discord headed inspiration (I try to avoid Goodreads now).

For mine the holy city is probably Avignon which is where the Antipope hung out.... Possible spoilers but mostly background
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They travel south and make a diversion to Venice instead of their original destination, this suggests northern Italy or Southern France.

The holy city is not Carthage as that disappeared after some magical experiments went wrong.

Clearly Rome was defeated by Carthage in the Roman (Punic) wars.

Try takes the place of Constantinople as the eastern seat of the Empire and church.

The saviour is loosely based on St Catherine of Alexandria (she of the wheel)

Hector humiliates Achilles, and we have a St Hadrian (of the elephants) ...



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