Five Places Books Have Made Me Want to Visit

Okay, first off, I know today is Monday. But I have stuff scheduled on the blog for tomorrow, so I figured I’ll post this one a day early. I could pretend it was timezone confusion, but who am I kidding? 😉

This week’s Top Ten Tuesday is one I didn’t want to miss: places — fictional or real — that I really want to visit because of books I’ve read. I’ve mostly gone fictional, because although there are real places I really want to see, most of them aren’t because I read about them in a book.

Pern (Anne McCaffrey)

This is an old favourite, and I know I’ve blogged about it before, but I’d love to go hang out in Anne McCaffrey’s world of dragons that the lucky few get to form life partnerships with. Who wouldn’t want a lifetime friend who loves and supports you, and coincidentally can breathe fire, fly you around and teleport? Yes please! Obviously Pern has its downsides, facing extra-terrestrial attack by hungry organisms that eat everything — but hey, not everywhere is perfect!

New Orleans (Anne Rice, Charlaine Harris, others)

I’m not sure if Anne Rice started the trend of writing urban fantasy set in New Orleans, but she was the first writer I read that used it as a major setting. These days it certainly seems to be a popular setting for vampire and voodoo fiction in particular. I’d love to go there some time. And try all that fabulous food.

Hogwarts (J. K. Rowling)

Because castle. And dining room with sky ceiling. And teleporting food. And magical forest. And familiars. And magic wands. And broomsticks. And griffins. Sure, the whole Death Eater/Voldemort thing is a bit of a downer, but still, the castle would be so interesting. I mean, who hasn’t wanted to stay in a magical castle?

Valdemar (Mercedes Lackey)

This one is also a sentimental favourite from when I was a teenager, and for many of the same reasons. It’s a medieval fantasy setting with a magical police force (a knightgood of sorts) whose purity of heart is guaranteed by deity-given magical horses that lifebond in the same way the Pernese dragons do. Also, if you travel south from Valdemar you might find the Tayledras, who live in another magical forest and have bird familiars. Awesome.

Discworld (Terry Pratchett)

The Discworld is one of the most fabulous, ridiculous fantasy settings out there. The world itself has a huge sense of irony, I think — it’s medieval fantasy but with a sense of humour. Of course, I’d probably get killed fairly quickly in a ridicilous fashion, but that’s the price you pay…