I'm writing a contemporary portal fantasy, that begins in semi-modern day London, I haven't indicated the exact year, but it is contemporary London. Now the MC is going from real world to fantasy world, my question is mentioning she has to leave her mobile/cellular phone at home because they won't work in the fantasy world a bit off putting or corny, doesn't it ruin the fantasy aura, bare in my the new world she'd going to has this hybrid advanced utopian landscape.
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How much of modern day technology is throws you off in fantasy
- Thread starter MAF4612
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Rexenm
Archmage
Eden of the East, has a phone called Juiz, that has unlimited funds so maybe. If Sam’s phone turns into a transformer then memory serves correct. After hacking it of course.
It is of course a crutch by putting these details into fantasy might work if it is plot driven. I mean an ice berg appeared in Titanic and now it rocks being a movie and all.
It is of course a crutch by putting these details into fantasy might work if it is plot driven. I mean an ice berg appeared in Titanic and now it rocks being a movie and all.
CupofJoe
Myth Weaver
If you decide they won't work, then they won't work. or if you do, they do.
I could see that someone might be so used to having and using a mobile phone that they'd take it with them without thinking and then find out that most things don't work and even things like the torch stop once the battery dies.
I could see that someone might be so used to having and using a mobile phone that they'd take it with them without thinking and then find out that most things don't work and even things like the torch stop once the battery dies.
Gurkhal
Auror
It all depends on how its done and how it works in the story.
I probably wouldn't like it but if modern technology in a less technologically developed world filled some function which wasn't an "Ex Deus Machina" solution to major problems then I probably wouldn't mind so much to make me put down the book.
I probably wouldn't like it but if modern technology in a less technologically developed world filled some function which wasn't an "Ex Deus Machina" solution to major problems then I probably wouldn't mind so much to make me put down the book.
xena
Troubadour
I think it only feels corny if it’s over-explained. Maybe just have her phone die when she crosses over or show her realizing it’s just useless there.
It's really going to depend on your flavor of fantasy. For example, our series, the Books of Binding, is Urban Fantasy with a strong Five Minutes in the Future vibe because we're trying to avoid dating ourselves too much and too quickly. Too bad technology's never caught up with that. lol So what we end up with is supersonic and exclusive hypersonic travel first class from London to New York in a little over an hour. We have preter-apps that can do anything from the mundane task of keeping track of the Marks of the various families and factions of the preternatural world to serving as assistive technology for the disabled, like one of our wizards who is profoundly deaf. Technomancers specialize in creating these hybrid technologies. Two words on techhnomancers: Spell Gif.
The important thing isn't your tech. The important - well nigh unto crucial - thing to keep at the top of your brain is to cleave tight to your metaphysics. You can create an entire universe made of cheese, and you may feel silly doing it, but as long as you remain consistent to your own rules you can suspend the reader over almost anything.
The important thing isn't your tech. The important - well nigh unto crucial - thing to keep at the top of your brain is to cleave tight to your metaphysics. You can create an entire universe made of cheese, and you may feel silly doing it, but as long as you remain consistent to your own rules you can suspend the reader over almost anything.
A lot of portal fantasy stories face the cell phone, and most of the time they work without a signal until the battery runs out, or sometimes the phone is quickly dropped and ruined in their first fight scene. It's not really good for much except pictures if it doesn't connect. Based solely on the impression I get reading your short explanation, I think I would find the idea that the phone just doesn't work at all to be a touch too convenient, but not enough to make a difference on its own.
For an easy fix, I would suggest the reason be something like, "It won't get a signal and it'll draw too much attention."
For an easy fix, I would suggest the reason be something like, "It won't get a signal and it'll draw too much attention."
pmmg
Myth Weaver
Hang a sign on it 
Have her go there, and in a moment of frustration, try to use her phone and find it does not work. Has a fit, draws attention, realizes how useless it is, and how unprepared she is (now she actually has to know stuff), and makes for future scenes.
Maybe someone steals her phone, or thinks it magic? Maybe it makes some want to cross over back to her world...who knows. Just go where the story takes you and give it what it needs.
If you want no phone, easy enough to have it get broken. She gives it to a smith who says he can fix it, and Wham!....no more phone.
Have her go there, and in a moment of frustration, try to use her phone and find it does not work. Has a fit, draws attention, realizes how useless it is, and how unprepared she is (now she actually has to know stuff), and makes for future scenes.
Maybe someone steals her phone, or thinks it magic? Maybe it makes some want to cross over back to her world...who knows. Just go where the story takes you and give it what it needs.
If you want no phone, easy enough to have it get broken. She gives it to a smith who says he can fix it, and Wham!....no more phone.
When the battery runs out, the cell phone is a brick. Until then, no cell towers, so as a phone, it is useless. However, the other functions - photos, flashlight, calculator, clock, and whatnot could be highly useful. Depending on the resources and exact tech level of the other world, it might be possible to recharge the battery.
Prince of Spires
Istar
If there's no electricity in the fantasy world, then you can simply never mention it. Modern stuff works on electricity after all. There's no point in having technology if you can't use it. Therefore I doubt readers will wonder why isn't she pulling out her phone when she landed in pseudo-medieval England.
The only exception here is if you want to make a point about it. For instance Malik has a novel where someone brings a steel sword to a medieval-ish world, which is a superior weapon to pretty much anything they'd have had. And that's part of the point of the story. If you want to show what a gun can do in ancient rome, then bring one along.
If your character lands in a modern fantasy world, then you probably want to point out at least something about it. Even if only that her phone has no reception and no way to charge, making it useless after the battery runs out. Of course, this can be done in a single sentence. And yes, the phone would be useless in most cases. The odds of landing in a world with the exact same mobile phone protocol and charging cable are miniscule. Unless it's some kind of mirror world, in which case, go nuts and have fun.
Alternatively, you could just have a person fall through a portal with nothing but the clothes they're wearing, and then no reader would wonder why they weren't using any modern technology, since they clearly didn't bring any.
The only exception here is if you want to make a point about it. For instance Malik has a novel where someone brings a steel sword to a medieval-ish world, which is a superior weapon to pretty much anything they'd have had. And that's part of the point of the story. If you want to show what a gun can do in ancient rome, then bring one along.
If your character lands in a modern fantasy world, then you probably want to point out at least something about it. Even if only that her phone has no reception and no way to charge, making it useless after the battery runs out. Of course, this can be done in a single sentence. And yes, the phone would be useless in most cases. The odds of landing in a world with the exact same mobile phone protocol and charging cable are miniscule. Unless it's some kind of mirror world, in which case, go nuts and have fun.
Alternatively, you could just have a person fall through a portal with nothing but the clothes they're wearing, and then no reader would wonder why they weren't using any modern technology, since they clearly didn't bring any.
Nikos
Dreamer
I really like that idea, have you thought about using the mention of technology in order to differentiate between the worlds even further? I obviously don't know the style you're using but as soon as I read your question I imagined using cues like "the phone rang" to specify in which of the two worlds the MC is currently at. I don't think the mention of technology would be bad if you make a point (through omittion) of its absence in the other world. Also, if you're into experimenting with styles of writing, would you consider using two different styles, e.g. a somewhat more traditional narration style for the fantasy world, and a more dry and to the point style for this one?
Saigonnus
Auror
I like the idea of her having a phone... maybe she comes across someone (like an inventor, artificer) who can figure how it works, and makes a "makeshift" charger for it using a windmill, or waterwheel, something like that. After all, here in our world, they have used electricity for things like electroplating jewelry etc, and it's been in existence for about a 1000? years? There are other things too, but you get the point. It might be there even if they don't electric lighting, electronics etc.,
Even taking the ability of surfing the net, or making calls out of the equation, you'd still have a few apps that might be useful in the medieval times... the calculator (which uses the internal processing), compass (I think?), music app (assuming she has music downloaded), game apps (like chess, checkers, pachessi) that could be copied by a credible carpenter for a profit, If she has any PDF books (like chemistry, architecture, metallugy books); those could be pivotal to changing her situation for the better, establishing herself as a ruler or whatever else you have planned.
Even taking the ability of surfing the net, or making calls out of the equation, you'd still have a few apps that might be useful in the medieval times... the calculator (which uses the internal processing), compass (I think?), music app (assuming she has music downloaded), game apps (like chess, checkers, pachessi) that could be copied by a credible carpenter for a profit, If she has any PDF books (like chemistry, architecture, metallugy books); those could be pivotal to changing her situation for the better, establishing herself as a ruler or whatever else you have planned.
minta
Troubadour
Leaving the phone behind can actually enhance the story, giving readers a quick, relatable detail that shows she’s entering a world very different from her own.
JBCrowson
Maester
She could take the phone with her and go to use it, only to recall it isn't hooked up to anything so she can't. Or perhaps the power of its' storage and calculation is a powerful resource she has to ration due to limited battery life - imagine the oracle at Delphi has a phone with an almanac of world events, and so can 'predict' catastrophic events accurately. But she can only use it a certain maximum number of times, meaning she has to limit access to her oracular powers.
And to hook into Icanus' thread about ideas, there's an idea utterly lacking execution, I cast into the world like a naked babe, to make of itself what it will.
And to hook into Icanus' thread about ideas, there's an idea utterly lacking execution, I cast into the world like a naked babe, to make of itself what it will.
Saigonnus
Auror
That idea of her having an "oracle" is predicated on the idea that she is "time-traveling to the past" and going to a medieval version of the same world. If; like passing through the wardrobe into Narnia, it's a separate world; with its own rules, then the phone would be of minimal usage in foretelling the future.
Naruzeldamaster
Inkling
If it can be explained away by magic, preferably without 12+ words of extra jargon that mean basically nothing, I'm typically fine with (just about) any level of technology in a fantasy setting.
All the mages need is a reason to develop that technology and the drive to get there with what they have. Basically they need to be the Colonel Sanders of the Mage world and have an interest in goofy technology.
For this reason I have literal IT Mages in my story, they're constantly developing 'technomancy' for things like soda machines and video game consoles, but their views are so far 'beyond the pale' for the rest of the world, that the world isn't quite 'ready' to adapt most of their advancements yet. They even have full mech units. (Ala Metal Gear series) They are making some slight advancements though, for example the after mentioned soda machines, and color television have been peeking through. But not much else. The 'board of idiots that rule the magic council and serve no purpose but to hinder the quest when the plot demands it' still are very wary of anything else.
All the mages need is a reason to develop that technology and the drive to get there with what they have. Basically they need to be the Colonel Sanders of the Mage world and have an interest in goofy technology.
For this reason I have literal IT Mages in my story, they're constantly developing 'technomancy' for things like soda machines and video game consoles, but their views are so far 'beyond the pale' for the rest of the world, that the world isn't quite 'ready' to adapt most of their advancements yet. They even have full mech units. (Ala Metal Gear series) They are making some slight advancements though, for example the after mentioned soda machines, and color television have been peeking through. But not much else. The 'board of idiots that rule the magic council and serve no purpose but to hinder the quest when the plot demands it' still are very wary of anything else.
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