# id these two contemporary (still in HB) fantasy novels **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 12, 2004, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-these-two-contemporary-still-in-hb-fantasy-novels/268788 "2004-10-12T06:09:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Freejooky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ba8739/32.png) [@Freejooky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freejooky)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2004, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-these-two-contemporary-still-in-hb-fantasy-novels/268788/1 "2004-10-12T06:09:17Z")
I saw two fantasy novels at the store the other day, and now I can’t remember enough about them to find them on [amazon.com](http://amazon.com) or online. One was still in hardcover, and seemed to be new. It appeared to be a sort of “reverse steampunk” type deal - it took place in the 24th century, but humanity has reverted to the “dark ages” of feudalism. The cover art has what looks like a knight leading a big charge of old zeppelin-style blimps and other fantasy-esque things. I know this is vague. The other one appeared to be recently in trade paperback. It detailed a sort of “Victorian” society in which there are two classes; the aristocrats who live in the Victorian London-esque mythical city, and an underclass who work in the “magic mines” beneath the city, somehow “mining magical energy.” I believe the main plot involved a magic miner falling in love with a woman from the aristocracy. Anyone? ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2004, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-these-two-contemporary-still-in-hb-fantasy-novels/268788/2 "2004-10-12T07:25:37Z")
> [@Freejooky](#): > > I saw two fantasy novels at the store the other day, and now I can’t remember enough about them to find them on [amazon.com](http://amazon.com) or online. > > One was still in hardcover, and seemed to be new. It appeared to be a sort of “reverse steampunk” type deal - it took place in the 24th century, but humanity has reverted to the “dark ages” of feudalism. The cover art has what looks like a knight leading a big charge of old zeppelin-style blimps and other fantasy-esque things. I know this is vague. **Fitzpatrick’s War** by I forget who. It’s a good read. ---
**Author:** ![Lok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e8c25b/32.png) [@Lok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lok)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2004, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-these-two-contemporary-still-in-hb-fantasy-novels/268788/3 "2004-10-12T07:25:56Z")
Would the second one be **The Light Ages** by I know not who, since my copy has apparently evaporated. 😕 But it sounds about right. ---
**Author:** ![Primaflora](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/898d66/32.png) [@Primaflora](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Primaflora)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2004, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-these-two-contemporary-still-in-hb-fantasy-novels/268788/4 "2004-10-12T07:28:25Z")
The second one might be _Mortal Engines_ by Phillip Reeve [http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0060082070/qid=1097566242/sr=2-1/ref=pd\_ka\_2\_1/102-2417121-3221759](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0060082070/qid=1097566242/sr=2-1/ref=pd_ka_2_1/102-2417121-3221759) Municipal Darwinism at its finest. I really liked this series. ---
**Author:** ![Freejooky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ba8739/32.png) [@Freejooky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freejooky)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2004, 8:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-these-two-contemporary-still-in-hb-fantasy-novels/268788/5 "2004-10-12T08:37:35Z")
> [@Lok](#): > > Would the second one be **The Light Ages** by I know not who, since my copy has apparently evaporated. 😕 But it sounds about right. That’s it! Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Freejooky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ba8739/32.png) [@Freejooky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freejooky)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2004, 8:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-these-two-contemporary-still-in-hb-fantasy-novels/268788/6 "2004-10-12T08:39:02Z")
> [@MaxTheVool](#): > > **Fitzpatrick’s War** by I forget who. It’s a good read. Got it! Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Freejooky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ba8739/32.png) [@Freejooky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freejooky)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2004, 8:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-these-two-contemporary-still-in-hb-fantasy-novels/268788/7 "2004-10-12T08:42:25Z")
> [@Primaflora](#): > > The second one might be _Mortal Engines_ by Phillip Reeve > > [http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0060082070/qid=1097566242/sr=2-1/ref=pd\_ka\_2\_1/102-2417121-3221759](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0060082070/qid=1097566242/sr=2-1/ref=pd_ka_2_1/102-2417121-3221759) > > Municipal Darwinism at its finest. I really liked this series. Not it, but that sounds cool, so I’ve added it to my reading list. Thanks!