Fantasy Book Club discussion

I hope it is ok for me to start a thread here, I apologize in advance if I've stepped on the mods toes.

In the "Planning to read" thread, I pondered:

"One of the things that drew me to the book was that the author draws on his own Arab-American background to write a setting that is different from most of what is out there. I am wondering if that different setting mmatters or if this book simply apllies a different set of cliches to a typical adventure tale."

Thoughts?

Of course it's ok to start a thread. I liked the setting quite a bit. I don't think it's a typical adventure tale, but more of a morality tale. Every character found a new understanding of life in the process of pursuing the villain.

The setting lends a nice atmosphere, certainly different than your average faux medieval or UF rotting city.

Saladin Ahmed immerses us in the city, packs us within throngs in overcrowded streets, wafts us with odors both foul and exotic, gives us the warmth of the sands and the refreshment of the desert nights.

When it comes to imagination, I'm in favor of being taken to the farther shore.

I really liked the setting because it was different from the typical medieval Europe-like setting. It's part of what drew my attention to the book.

I don't think it's the setting so much (although it's a nice change of pace) as more the culture, which is quite different to most fantasy novels.