The world’s big cities…
They often appear as settings in novels, especially mysteries, thrillers, and romance books. They’re also often characters in their own right too.
Consider New York City. You’ll hear only a sampling of its many languages on any trip there. You’ll have access to just a many ethnic food restaurants too. And, even though crime dominates the local news, after 9/11 it has become one of the safest big cities in the world—vibrant, exciting, and full of culture.
That said, it’s not my favorite big city, although it’s a mere thirteen miles away. San Francisco, Vienna, Dublin, and Buenos Aires head that list.
In my novel writing research, I recently revisited San Francisco in my new mystery/thriller Goin’ the Extra Mile. Most of that book takes place in Beijing, but I had to research San Francisco too because I haven’t been there much since I left my old day-job and settled down to become a full-time writer on the East Coast. That novel was a return to California for me in general, although my upcoming post-apocalyptic thriller The Last Humans will continue that.
From my time spent living in Colombia, you might think Bogotá would be my favorite Colombian city (it too is very big and bustling!). A recent travel page in the NY Times was dedicated to the local sites the traveler can find there, and it’s featured in my sci-fi thriller Soldiers of God. But Medellin is my favorite Colombian city, and Buenos Aires, a European-like metropolis, is my favorite South American city. I might have to write a book with Medellin and Buenos Aires as settings. They’re related in strange ways—the Medellin dialect is similar to the Porteño dialect, and Argentine tangos are the rage in both cities.
Vienna, Austria plays a role in my upcoming novel Son of Thunder, the sequel to Rembrandt’s Angel, although its role is more like a cameo (several, in fact, but you’ll have to be a good detective to find the one corresponding to St. John the Divine). So does Trieste, Italy. Again, these two big cities are not only related culturally, but also historically—Trieste has many Austrian influences because it used to be part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. When I spent five weeks in Italy (during my previous academic life), I liked Trieste better than Rome (which also has a cameo in Son of Thunder). But Vienna is special.
Some of the sites in Dublin appear on my “About the Author” web page at this website. I felt right at home in that wonderful city. It’s probably also time for me to write a novel with Dublin as a setting. But with all those great Irish writers (one reason quotes from George Bernard Shaw are featured in Rembrandt’s Angel), I’m reluctant to do so. But I also liked Cork and Donegal, so maybe A. B. Carolan will help me create settings for an Irish tour de force in the future. Maybe with a Garda inspector as main character?
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Comments are always welcome!
Rembrandt’s Angel. Esther Brookstone, Scotland Yard Inspector in the Art and Antiques Division, is obsessed with recovering a Rembrandt stolen by the Nazis in World War Two. Paramour Bastiann van Coevorden, and Interpol agent, tries to channel and control her obsession. The two get more than they bargained for as they discover what the stolen paintings are financing. Follow the adventures of these sleuths who are 21st century clones of Dame Agatha’s famous characters, Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot. Available in ebook format on Amazon and Smashwords and all the latter’s retail affiliates, and in print format on Amazon or your favorite local bookstore (if they don’t have it, ask for it).
Around the world and to the stars! In libris libertas!
