Gray's Setting Anatomy and Pathology

Kaptn'Lath · July 27, 2009, 04:42:41 PM

Quote from: Phoenix
Quote from: Cataclysmic CrowMievillian Vestige
An anatomical quirk, this setting refers to elements that have yet to be implemented or detailed scientifically (or might not be implemented at all beyond the simple description provided in the vestige). Adds an illusion of depth and detail to a setting. MVs are benign and do not threaten the health of a setting unless it suffers from a great number of them. In most cases the MVs actually add an air of intrigue to the setting which many find alluring.
Example?

Star Trek, Star Gate, Star Wars (Science Fiction is by definition Mievillian Vestige) Can't think of much else tho...

Superfluous Crow · July 28, 2009, 07:13:47 AM

Well, as the name suggests Mieville puts them to good use, often mentioning a race or a nation or what have you in a single parapraph and then only rarely coming back to it (you can only do so much in a limited amount of text, eh?)
Steerpike's CE, with Mieville being a major inspirational factor, also uses MVs here and there.
It's a clever technique if done right.

Steerpike · July 28, 2009, 03:20:21 PM

I love MVs, although as I continue writing CE they increasingly diminish, and if you read the three Bas-Lag books very closely you'll notice that an MV in one is explained in another, and vice versa. I think the biggest MV I can think of right now for for Mieville is those damn llorgis (who the hell are they exactly?).

Heh mine is probably the mechanoape.

Superfluous Crow · July 28, 2009, 03:27:10 PM

I think i heard the Llorgis were based on those weird three-armed green things from the elemental plane of earth in MM1 (Xorns?).
If you go to the wiki and look around there are plenty of things that it's impossible to write much more than two lines about :)

Superfluous Crow · September 30, 2010, 11:04:34 AM

Mos Eisley Tone
The Mos Eisley Tone (Sometimes also known as the Cantina Feel) is a slight discoloration of the setting where cities are suddenly viewed in a very racially cosmopolitan view. In settings with MET passing several alien beings as you walk down a street is far from uncommon. Usually benign, although some Creator's think it causes too much variation which can be harmful to a setting.

Alliterative Naming Disorder
The names of cities and races in a setting with AND are prone to developing the same initial letter. This is potentially harmful and more purist Creator's advise that you burn or freeze the letters off and take therapy once a week. Cr. Fritos further comments that care should be taken not to confuse the symptoms of AND with well-developed etymological patterns. While both manifest as abnormal name growths, etymological patterns are actually signs of good health and should not be treated!

SDragon · September 30, 2010, 11:46:01 AM

Quote from: Conundrum CrowAlliterative Naming Disorder
The names of cities and races in a setting with AND are prone to developing the same initial letter. This is potentially harmful and more purist Creator's advise that you burn or freeze the letters off and take therapy once a week.

Note: Settings with a properly developed etymology can exhibit the basic symptoms of AND. Care must be taken to distinguish the disorder from healthy development.

Superfluous Crow · September 30, 2010, 12:11:40 PM

Ah, yes, Cr. Fritos, this issue has been adressed and you have been properly referenced as an expert on the field.

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Gray's Setting Anatomy and Pathology

Kaptn'Lath

Superfluous Crow

Steerpike

Superfluous Crow

Superfluous Crow

SDragon

Superfluous Crow