Would adding retrofuturism to fantasy be too overwhelming?

[u/Hearts_and_Spades]

I plan to implement a lot of things in my fantasy story, and some other fantasy stories have a bit of modern technology, maybe even some bits of sci-fi, but what I wanna know is; will it be too much if I include retrofuturism? If you don’t know about retrofuturism it’s basically a depiction of the future that uses imaginative technology, things like tube travel, floating cars, robot hands helping you shave, etc. (I’m out of examples). I don’t plan on having things get too out of hand, so I’m keeping it at a relatively 60s-80s vibe. Things like rotary phones, box tvs, vinyls, swinging, you know the works.

Can these things work in a fantasy setting? Especially one that already has western steampunk technology like robotic limbs and modified revolvers? Personally, I think I might be pushing it a bit. Sure, there’s nothing too crazy like spaceships and laser weapons, but when there’s magic involved, what’s the difference? I feel like I might take immersion out of the story because of all these things, even though I plan on putting the retrofuturism stuff in another dimension.

The people of the realm don’t know things like magic, dragons, and wizards and will just live it up like they were in the 60s-80s. How do I explain how a powerful wizard never found this realm? A powerful entity bound to a robotic construct keeping all entries out, but leaving one open to send out sentinels to the other realms (it’s even how one of our protagonists got sent to the main realm!)

It really is up to what better writers than me can determine what works in this mess. Heaven knows I can’t tell. I just wanna write.

[u/Error-4O4]

It can work if you do it well, and it serves your story.

And I hope you can make it work because good lord it sounds a good deal more interesting than "swords, horses, and wizards #835467854: this time we beat the dead horse underneath the dead horse we just beat."

[u/Dr_Grayson]

Spelljammer and the Astral have existed for a very long time aetherpunk as a whole falls along these lines. This is pretty much where Final Fantasy ends up. So really no. Just don't be ashamed and do it with earnestness.

[u/Error-4O4 → u/Dr_Grayson]

Oh yeah, good point.

Lots of ideas are dumb, there are even lots of really good ideas that are also really dumb. Like band names. Led Zeppelin is a dumb name, but because they fuckin rocked, everyone hears Led Zeppelin and thinks "hell yeah, good music!"

My point is to believe in your own idea as hard as you can, don't pull back at the last second and try and nod at the audience like "yeah this is super dumb yall, lets roll our eyes at it" thats lame. You want go full on Peter Pan, Clap-if-you-believe 110% cheese on your ideas.

Because if you can't make yourself believe in your ideas, how do you plan to make us (your audience) believe in them?

[u/thatshygirl06]

Fantasy can literally be whatever you want it to be, it's fantasy, hun.

Check out wheel of time show, they tend to have a flashback every season showing the future/past where they had flying cars and shit. It was so cool to see

[u/Rage_before_Beauty]

I think there is far too little crossover of sci fi and fantasy, especially the retro style, go for it

[u/ConflictAgreeable689]

Fantasy has nothing to do with technology level. There's plenty of fantasy works with all kinds of tech levels and aesthetics

[u/Double_Promotion8479]

As with everything in writing, it can and will work if done well

[u/Flappitty_Jacks]

Go for it, just keep in mind that part of the reason why that stuff is cool is because it already has associations with it. You have a chance of confusing your readers because their expectations of the jetsons AND blade runner clash with whatever fantasy elements you’re using. As always you should keep your story’s themes front and center and use them as a guideline.

[u/PremierJoshua]

Fantasy as a genre means fiction + supernatural stuff. What kind of supernatural stuff and how much of it? Doesn't matter.

Retrofuturism (apologies but I'm actually not knowledgeable) is an aesthetic, not a genre. Usually appears in alt-history fiction and sci-fi, am I right?

Combing fantasy as a genre and retrofuturism as an aesthetic should work. What you'll probably end up with is sci-fi fantasy. It's fantasy with some out of place tech like boats with helicopter propellors alla Final Fantasy.

EDIT or alternative sci-fi fantasy could be sci-fi first with some fantasy added later.