Far-flung galaxies, soaring castles, and fantastical lands: this is what readers crave in science fiction and fantasy. This week, we discuss the many functions of setting in genre fiction. Setting can accent the escapism inherent in sci-fi and fantasy, but it can also reinforce theme, characters, mood, and tension. If you’ve ever heard “show, don’t tell” and wondered how to do it, setting is a great tool in your writer’s arsenal. Asking how your characters relate to different settings can show readers depths of psychology and worldbuilding. It can hint towards the central conflict. But remember, setting shouldn’t be a list of things in the room: Picking which details to describe will help readers move through the world and focus on what really matters. Books discussed include The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, The Martian and Artemis by Andy Weir, The Dagger and the Coin by Daniel Abraham, The Luminous Dead by Caitlyn Starling, and Game of Thrones by George RR Martin.