forum I've got a modern mythology idea for a fantasy novel, but I'm not exactly sure how to go about it.

Started January 17, 2018 by H. Malloy

tune

The novel is set today, as in what the world is like now, but mixed with mythology. The main location is San Francisco, so I guess ideas on how to interpret mythology into a more modern and urban setting would be useful.

What are you going for? What sorts of mythology? Greek, Roman, Norse…

I'd start with the mythology side - what elements stay constant, even in such a different environment? What beliefs/artifacts/traditions exist, and how are they "married" to the modern San Francisco? Are there cults? Secret societies? Is this world a secret, or does everyone buy incense from their neighboring harpy? If it's secret, how is it kept secret? Why? Which people make up the most of this group's population? Do we see an old man in a battered pair of jeans wearing an amulet to protect him? Or perhaps a teenage girl praying to the god(s) in a makeshift temple? Maybe parts of the religion have changed - instead of this hard to come by item, just use object x instead! Do the god(s) interact with this city and its people, ore are they removed from mortal affairs? What happened between when people stopped believing in this religion? Or, maybe they didn't, and just went underground? Or it was there all along, and people live with it?

I hope I helped!

There’s no set mythology. I’m currently doing research on as much lore in as many cultures and religions as I can. As a comparison, if you’ve seen the movie “Bright” on Netflix starring Will Smith and Joel Edgerton, it’s similar to that setting- and theme-wise.

Of course, elements of lore creatures would correspond with their respected environment. Another thing that I’ve taken into account is that humans won’t be the dominant species. At least, that’s what I want to try. Or maybe it’ll be something that’s more comparable to the TV show “Supernatural,” where monsters have to hide from humans who hunt their kind.

I’m not sure I understand the “married to the modern San Francisco” part, though. If it means the history of myth with modern, then it would mostly be that they’ve always been a part of earth’s history.

There are cults. There are secret societies. If there are in this reality, then there are in this fantasy one. It’s just going to take time coming up with them for the novel (if they’re used, of course). Most are comfortable outing themselves, but like today’s society, unfortunately, there’s always going to be discrimination.

As far as religion goes, that’s an unknown subject for me, since I’m not religious myself. So there won’t be any official gods, but there will be beliefs in them. Temples, of course, and places of other religions.

You guys have helped, especially with the questions.