time periods for a story

[eimarra]

I've seen a few things lately denigrating horses-and-castles fantasy, anything set in medieval or pseudo-Dark Ages. Of course, my new idea, Sundered Sword, needs a historical milieu.

The idea started with the line from Monty Python and the Holy Grail. "[S]trange women lyin' in ponds distributin' swords is no basis for a system of government." Which got me thinking about Excalibur and wondering what would happen if two different people both got swords -- or part of the same sword.

I can't write about such a thing in a modern world or even post-Enlightenment. People don't believe in divine right to rule and haven't for centuries. That pretty much limits the sort of fantastical world I can create.

It won't be a strictly medieval world. I've been reading a lovely biography of a woman in early seventeenth-century Italy, and I'll be borrowing Renaissance and Baroque elements, probably including guns and cannon. But the absolutely critical point is at heart, people must believe in the right of kings (or queens) to rule, even if it has been generations since one has.

And that's my rationale for adding yet another horses-and-swords fantasy to the world.

(cross-posted to Random Walks toward Publishing)

Comments

[eimarra]

All very good points.

Of course, this came from an intersection of ideas, which I simplified above, and Umbrian Italy was also a strong influence -- you did see the backstory I posted, I know. (And yes, I'm still thinking about what, if any implications, I want the diminutive name to have.) There, I referred to the breaking of the sword. So that's the background I'm working with. So although I may look into the Asian aspects to deepen and change my world's culture, it's firmly rooted in Europe.

Can you recommend a good basic text on the history of firearms and gunpowder weapons, or should I just start with Wikipedia and browse?

[l-clausewitz.livejournal.com]

For the really early stuff, I'd recommend this nice overview of the history of European personal firearms up to the early 16th century. Its best part is the overview of the firearms' technical development; the finishing remarks about the firearms' impact on military tactics and organization are on rather shakier ground. Or are you wondering about later 18th- and 19th-century developments instead?