Treason In Print: A Question

[Erunanion]

So I have an idea, pretty well developed, for a world in which I will set some stories. Because everyone likes stories. For the purposes of brevity I'm not going to go into it in great detail now, but basically it is a steampunk-inspired imagining of Europe circa 1850's, but ruled (by and large) by feudal houses and families. The nations themselves exist only when the families which rule the provinces/counties/departments within them stop scheming and fighting each other to come together to fight someone else.

Anyway, same old same old I'm sure some of you are thinking (and you might well be right - I have tried very hard to be original in my development of this world, but sometimes cliches must be fallen back upon). There is just a single dilemma I have holding me back from diving in with glee abandon and swimming about in the pool of making-stuff-up, hopefully with more flair for writing than has so far been displayed in this post And that doubt is this.

The Britannic Empire in my story is rather different from the rest of Europe. The island of Britain is united and ruled rather unmercifully by a monarchy which has kept itself prosperous and in power through experimentation into electricity (the level of technology is basically really advanced mechanical knowledge, with some judicious steampunk license). The Empire has spread across the globe, kept in line by its powerful airship navy. And in the story *spoiler ahead, lol* it sides with the nations fighting the protagonist countries, France and Germany (note: protagonists, not "good". I don't like the idea of "good" and "bad" countries, just people of varying levels of morality doing stuff in positions of power).

The point I am rambling towards is that I will be writing the stories from the perspective of the Frenchies (at least initially), and I am concerned that stories with Britain's historic enemies, and with Britain actively opposing them, will not interest readers or, a touch more importantly (sorry), publishers. What do you guys think?

(Apologies for the long-winded nature of this post, but I am making it up as I go, and I have Futurama on in the background )

 

[Culhwch]

Hi Erunanion. Firstly an explanation - I changed the title of your post, because it seems that having 'print' as the last word in a thread title seems to take one to the print view, where you can't actually reply. If you want it changed, let me know what to!

On to your quandry - I'm not British, so I don't know if this is the viewpoint you are looking for, but in my opinion anything goes in fiction. I wouldn't give a book a miss because the protaganists were my percieved enemies (New Zealanders, for instance). If it sounded intriguing enough, I'd try it out. I think most spec fic readers have open minds, and aren't going to take offense over an issue like this.

 

[Erunanion]

Thanks Culhwch; I wondered why it went to a wierd view when previewing, but I assumed that it was my laptop or something.

I am hoping that that will be the case for the majority of readers; but I wonder if publishers are similarly open-minded

 

[The Ace]

Thanks, Cul, I've been trying to reply since it went up.

TBH, I don't see a problem, look how many WW2 books are written from the German perspective. Just write the thing and have fun, a good story is far more important than the viewpoint.

 

[Pyan]

I agree with Ace - my other great love in reading is Historic Naval books, and I have no problem with, say, American War of Independence fictional heroes beating the British all around the North Atlantic...

 

[Erunanion]

Cheers guys

In truth I have already begun working on several short stories based on my War of Nations world, to give myself practice writing within it and to explain sections of my world to myself in a fun way. Some might even find their way onto these hallowed pages to receive judgement from my peers and betters

Again, thanks. Its a niggling doubt like that which will fester and confound throughout my writing, but one which has been mostly dispelled by your answers

 

[Toby Frost]

I agree - take Michael Moorcock's Count Brass setting, where Britain has been the villain (sort of). I think the only way you would seriously annoy a British audience would be to slander real people, or attribute a British victory to someone else (Hollywood take note!). I don't think people mind seeing their own nation as the enemy so long as the portrayal is not entirely one-sided or unfair (after all, before WW2 straight-up "good vs evil" wars were pretty rare).

 

[HareBrain]

I think that anyone fanatically patriotic enough to be annoyed at Britain's portrayal as the "bad guys" will likely be secretly pleased by Britain being shown to be the dominant global power. As long as they're not led as cack-handedly as the empire in Star Wars.

 

[Erunanion]

Hehe; well I'm very keen on the whole "there is no good guy" concept from Warhammer 40k, although not to the extreme of that universe. I think the idea that entire countries can fall into "good" and "bad" categories is more than a touch foolish (and yet it is an unhappily popular theory in real-life ) and I don't want to reflect that; and that extends to people as well. By way of example, the French chap who will end up running the country will be a fantastic administrator, a brilliant tactician, but also a ruthless, morally bereft figure - that sort of thing.

Yes its probably a bit tired, but I like the complexity that comes from having deep, believably flawed characters. And this will, hopefully, be reflected in the larger institutions as well