It could just be the initials

[threemonkeys]

So there I am reading ASIM #28 and there is a story by Marissa K Linden called Rest Stop. It is a nifty little tale about the personification of a city. The city in question is San Francisco. My main thought as this became clear was "again?" It has been my experience that sf authors don't often identify a specific real city as the setting for their work. But when they do, San Francisco is by far the most popular choice. In my experience, it is way more common than the next nearest contenders London and New York. Of course I'm only looking at the written form here - if I was counting horror movies then Tokyo would be a major player.

So what is it that motivates authors make San Francisco as their setting rather than some fictional place name or just "the city". I have been to the city on the bay and it is a pretty cool place. But there are other cool places around the world. What is it specifically about San Francisco and its surrounding area that makes it force itself into stories? Like the story which started this thought, many of those stories have the city as an actual character. Perhaps it is character rather than "coolness" that is the key. It isn't easy picking a favourite but I think Pat Murphy's The City Not Long After does the best job of making a real living character come alive on the page. Perhaps I should go back there some day.

Comments

[capnoblivious.livejournal.com]

Montreal. There should be more stories set in Montreal.

[threemonkeys.livejournal.com]

You are an author - write one. Go on, I dare you.

[capnoblivious.livejournal.com]

I tend to use Canberra when I name a place at all. It's got all the mystic streets and stuff.

[threemonkeys.livejournal.com]

Oh those mystic streets. But its "when I name a place at all" that is significant. I think the San Francisco chamber of commerce are paying authors a bounty so that they always use the name of the city in their work. Do you think you could persuade the local government to do that for you?

[capnoblivious.livejournal.com]

I dunno - if so, I doubt they'll accept SF shorts. I heard about an anthology of stories set in Canberra a while back, support of the ACT Arts Council and whatnot. I offered my story but never heard back. Snubbed, I was.

[threemonkeys.livejournal.com]

They got no taste. Although I'm impressed the anthology exists.

[gillpolack.livejournal.com]

I always name places and it's never San Franscisco. Does this mean I'm doing something very wrong?

[threemonkeys.livejournal.com]

Why yes, you are doing something very very wrong. It is clear that you must worship at the alter of the city of Saint Francis by the bay.

Alternatively it could be that I'm not reading enough of your work which might help restore the location balance.

[capnoblivious.livejournal.com]

You should read more of Gill's work. :)

[threemonkeys.livejournal.com]

I'll make it part of my mission at Convergence to obtain more.