Rec List: Awesome Built Environments
May. 19th, 2020 09:10 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
forestofgloryA built environment is any environment that’s built by sentient creatures -- so for example, houses, castles, cities, or spaceships. As a person with training in urban planning I’m always drawn to fiction with interesting cities and other built environments in fiction. It’s fun to imagine other ways of ordering space. This list is by no means definitive, but it includes some of my favorite SFF media with awesome built environments.
China Mountain Zhang by Maureen F. McHugh — This book was near future when it was written but now reads more like alternate history. It has an unusual structure, with several different linked sections, that take place in different times and places, but with at least some of the same characters in each. The book features a lot of cool build environments, including New York City, an arctic base, and a homestead on Mars. There is also a character who studies a futuristic and really cool style of architecture, which made me think about space differently. (Content note: homophibia, suicide)
A Memory of Empire by Arkady Martine— How could I not include a book which features a plot-relevant epic poem about the buildings in the capital? I also like how this book deals with the practical bits of city living, like public transit.
Our Dreams at Dusk by Yuhki Kamatani— This four volume manga about a gay teen in Japan finding a queer community takes place in Onomichi. I love the way that adds to the story. There are beautiful suspension bridges, narrow lanes, and hillsides full of old houses. One of the story elements is the characters working to renovate the old houses, and it works so well both as a bonding activity, and as metaphor for the main character’s emotional journey. (Content note: homophobia, suicidal thoughts)
The Nameless City Series by Faith Erin Hicks — This middle grade graphic novel about an unlikely friendship between two kids features some great cityscapes! The kids spend a lot of time exploring and climbing -- so we get some great rooftop chases. But there are also markets and festivals, palaces, and alleyways. You can really feel the layers of history.
Nature's Metropolis: Chicago and the Great West by William Cronon — This History of Chicago and its surrounding countryside totally blew my mind the first time I read it! It's a super detailed look at the “frontier” and how it was deeply interconnected with cities and capital. Its also a fascinating story how ideas about food and the environment changed over time.
Outer Wilds by Mobius Digital — As I was working on this rec list I chatted with several people about media with memorable built environments, and games came up quite a few times. Video games really have a unique way of building immersive environments that other types of media really can’t compare to. In Outer Wilds you explore a solar system full of strange alien buildings and strange tech! It’s really pretty, and strange, and cool!
“To Balance the Weight of Khalem” by R.B. Lemberg — I love this novettle! It’s full of very fantastical built environments, but as seen by a struggling immigrant, which helps make the things feel grounded and lived in.
Hilda — This kids cartoon on netflix has great built environments! Hilda and her friends spend a lot of time exploring the city, there’s parks, residential neighbourhoods, and a cool library. I enjoy how Hilda showcases both urban and wilderness environments as equally interesting and worth exploring.
What are some of your favorite fictional built environments?
China Mountain Zhang by Maureen F. McHugh — This book was near future when it was written but now reads more like alternate history. It has an unusual structure, with several different linked sections, that take place in different times and places, but with at least some of the same characters in each. The book features a lot of cool build environments, including New York City, an arctic base, and a homestead on Mars. There is also a character who studies a futuristic and really cool style of architecture, which made me think about space differently. (Content note: homophibia, suicide)
A Memory of Empire by Arkady Martine— How could I not include a book which features a plot-relevant epic poem about the buildings in the capital? I also like how this book deals with the practical bits of city living, like public transit.
Our Dreams at Dusk by Yuhki Kamatani— This four volume manga about a gay teen in Japan finding a queer community takes place in Onomichi. I love the way that adds to the story. There are beautiful suspension bridges, narrow lanes, and hillsides full of old houses. One of the story elements is the characters working to renovate the old houses, and it works so well both as a bonding activity, and as metaphor for the main character’s emotional journey. (Content note: homophobia, suicidal thoughts)
The Nameless City Series by Faith Erin Hicks — This middle grade graphic novel about an unlikely friendship between two kids features some great cityscapes! The kids spend a lot of time exploring and climbing -- so we get some great rooftop chases. But there are also markets and festivals, palaces, and alleyways. You can really feel the layers of history.
Nature's Metropolis: Chicago and the Great West by William Cronon — This History of Chicago and its surrounding countryside totally blew my mind the first time I read it! It's a super detailed look at the “frontier” and how it was deeply interconnected with cities and capital. Its also a fascinating story how ideas about food and the environment changed over time.
Outer Wilds by Mobius Digital — As I was working on this rec list I chatted with several people about media with memorable built environments, and games came up quite a few times. Video games really have a unique way of building immersive environments that other types of media really can’t compare to. In Outer Wilds you explore a solar system full of strange alien buildings and strange tech! It’s really pretty, and strange, and cool!
“To Balance the Weight of Khalem” by R.B. Lemberg — I love this novettle! It’s full of very fantastical built environments, but as seen by a struggling immigrant, which helps make the things feel grounded and lived in.
Hilda — This kids cartoon on netflix has great built environments! Hilda and her friends spend a lot of time exploring the city, there’s parks, residential neighbourhoods, and a cool library. I enjoy how Hilda showcases both urban and wilderness environments as equally interesting and worth exploring.
What are some of your favorite fictional built environments?
no subject
Date: 2020-05-19 09:37 pm (UTC)Also, Provenance by Ann Leckie is all about the remains of an ancient, alien civilization being discovered.
no subject
Date: 2020-05-21 06:24 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-05-21 11:12 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-05-20 08:32 am (UTC)I rather liked the spaceship in Sisters of the Vast Black. It was such a visceral environment.
no subject
Date: 2020-05-21 06:30 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-06-04 09:43 pm (UTC)So I can't resist posting an image!
no subject
Date: 2020-06-08 04:04 pm (UTC)