During this episode of the Booklovers Podcast, Vic and I discuss Gaslamp Fantasy. We talk about what Gaslamp Fantasy is and share three of our favorite examples of it. Laura: Welcome to the Clermont County Public Library’s Booklovers Podcast. I’m your host, Laura, and my guest today is Vic Smith. Vic: Hi! Laura: Today, we’re going to be discussing gaslamp fantasy. And just to give you a quick definition, please, Vic, feel free to jump in and add what you think. Gaslamp fantasy defined Laura: Gaslamp fantasy is a mashup of historical fiction and fantasy. It often focuses on the Regency, Victorian, or Edwardian eras. It creates an alternate universe with magical or supernatural elements. While gaslamp fantasy started off as being very British in setting, in recent years, I know authors have been embracing a more diverse approach. Laura: There’s definitely crossover with steampunk and Gothic horror. So, with steampunk, you get a similar time period. And with the Gothic horror, sometimes it has a similar vibe, at least to me. Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke Book Audiobook via Libby eBook via Libby Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susanna Clark is probably one of the better-known examples of the genre. Don’t you think? Vic: Yeah, definitely. I mean, that was the first big one I heard of that I knew was gaslamp fantasy. Witchmark by CL Polk Book Audiobook via Libby eBook via Libby Witchmark by CL Polk Laura: So now that we’ve got the definition in place, do you want to share your first pick with me? Vic: This is one of my favorite books, and I didn’t know it was gaslamp fantasy when I first read it. Vic: But it fits the genre perfectly. It is Witchmark by C.L. Polk. Very, very good book. It is about Miles, who is a doctor in London. He has come back from the war, which is still ongoing in the alternative England that they created for this world. And he is a psychologist, basically, who’s helping the men who are coming back from war. He ends up having a patient die on him from a fatal poisoning. And as a result of that, he gets pulled into the investigation of the patient’s murder. He has a partner who he is kind of investigating with, who he was introduced to when the poisoned man came to him to be healed. Vic: And it’s a super interesting mystery. It has a fantastic magic system that pulls on the sense of magic as various feelings. So there’s healing magic, there’s storm magic, etc.