A Master of Djinn 2: Setting

RichardAbbott

Did early 20th century alternate Cairo intrigue you? Did the idea of a resurgent Egypt have cred? Some important parts were presented as tales or poems from Egypt's past, typically overlapping with our own past but given new dimensions by the arrival of djinn - did this work for you?

Apocryphal

Was it early 20th or late 19th? I couldn’t tell. The dialogue was thoroughly modern, there was ancient magic, hipster Egyptian priests, what I assume were steampunk eunuchs. It was all a bit jumbled. But I loved the Egyptian setting. I don’t know *that* much about modern Egypt, but I was quite convinced by this aspect of the novel. I once saw a documentary about ‘old Cairo’ that took you into residences and gave this feel of a sort of Paris of the Near East, so I had no trouble seeing Cairo as a world capital, and I think it makes sense that if a new technology would emerge and catapult a country into importance, than the idea of Djinns being brought back and doing it for Cairo makes sense.

clash_bowley

It was in the run up to the War to End All Wars, so early 20th century, Apocryphal! I loved the setting! There was a lot of realistic detail and it felt right to me! I could dive down deep in that setting! Definitely could see Cairo as a world capital!

NeilNjae

I like the conceit of Egypt as a Great Power, and Cairo as a major world city on a par with London, Paris, and Berlin. I liked the contrast between the old and new Cairo, with different buildings and peoples existing side-by-side.

I've been to Cairo a couple of times, and what didn't come through for me is just how crowded and busy Cairo is: it's a big, dense, high-population city.

One other thing: I mostly like the use of Arabic names for things, but I found myself looking up a few of them to work out what they were.

RichardAbbott

I agree with @NeilNjae on this - I feel the book caught the extent and diversity of Cairo well, but not the bustle and apparent chaos of it