(This post is part of the Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge. You can find links to other writers' answers over at Long and Short Reviews. I kind of fell off last year, so we'll see how I do with it this year.)
Prompt: Fictional Worlds I'd Rather Not Visit
I mean, that's a lot of them. Most of Stephen King's oeuvre, for example. A pretty fair chunk of Clive Barker, too. But if I had to pick one in particular, I'd have to go with Athas.
Athas is the homeworld for the Dungeons and Dragons Dark Sun campaign setting. It's a post-apocalyptic desert world -- sort of like Mad Max, but without the car chases and gun fights, and with elves and dragon-folk and insect people instead. Resources -- notably water and metal of any sort -- are scarce. Unlike most D&D settings, Athas is closed off from other planes of existence, so if I somehow wound up there, there would be no going back.
And unless I was extremely fortunate, I'd last maybe a day or two before being robbed, sold into slavery, or murdered. If I was unlucky, well... it take a bit of time to die of dehydration, heatstroke, and hypothermia in the desert.
So yeah, I would very prefer not to be isekai'ed to Athas.
Yeah, I hadn't thought about Stephen King. Derry would be an awful place to live... 🤡
ReplyDeleteDerry would be terrifying.
DeleteYes, we're definitely avoiding Derry.
DeleteStephen King definitely does not specialize in worlds that are safe and comfortable. 😂
ReplyDeleteAthas sounds scary, too.
Athas definitely plays up the horror elements of the post-apocalyptic genre.
DeleteI can't imagine living in the town where Pet Sematary takes place. Gosh, just thinking about it gives me chills. Athas sounds awful. Thanks for sharing and for visiting my blog today.
ReplyDeleteLikewise, likewise! I hope you get to keep participating in these; they're a lot of fun.
DeleteI've never played D&D, though I knew some kids who did, but man now I'm not sure I ever want to! Not only does Athas sound absolutely terrifying, but also it doesn't sound like a particularly friendly and welcoming place. Generally when I travel I look for quaint bookstores and cafes with warm scones and a nice cup of tea. I'm guessing that'd be hard to find!
ReplyDeleteNot much into Stephen King, but, yeah, I wouldn't want to live in any of his worlds.
ReplyDelete