Thread: Earth. but not Earth

I am writing a story where the characters travel to another Earth, but this Earth has different geography. None of the continents as we know them exists and I don't think I want the sentient species to call it Earth. How do I show not Tell the reader that this is Earth

Confusing. You are saying it is Earth but not. Where is it? Somewhere in space? Or another universe?

Originally Posted by Robdemanc

Confusing. You are saying it is Earth but not. Where is it? Somewhere in space? Or another universe?

Its an alternate universe Earth with different geography from ours and the inhabitants do not call it Earth.

In Titan A.E, their new Earth was called Bob. I guess you could call it anything except Earth.

Originally Posted by AvA

In Titan A.E, their new Earth was called Bob. I guess you could call it anything except Earth.

But how would people get that this is an alternate universe Earth?

I guess you could explain it through the characters? It really depends on how you're writing this.

Also just something I thought I'd mention. If the geography isn't the same it can't be an alternate universe Earth, can it? It would just be another Earth-like planet.

Originally Posted by matsuiny2004

I am writing a story where the characters travel to another Earth, but this Earth has different geography. None of the continents as we know them exists and I don't think I want the sentient species to call it Earth. How do I show not Tell the reader that this is Earth

Where are the characters travelling from? Through whose perspective is the alternate Earth experienced?

Originally Posted by matsuiny2004

Its an alternate universe Earth with different geography from ours and the inhabitants do not call it Earth.

Maybe the way to do it is to imply it. Allow the reader to make their own conclusion. Is it so important for readers to know this is another Earth? If the continents are different then I suppose it could represent Earth at a different time (like hundreds of millions of years in the past or future). Are the inhabitants human? And do they speak English? If so then the only conclusion the reader could reach is that it is another Earth in a different dimension.

Originally Posted by Robdemanc

Maybe the way to do it is to imply it. Allow the reader to make their own conclusion. Is it so important for readers to know this is another Earth? If the continents are different then I suppose it could represent Earth at a different time (like hundreds of millions of years in the past or future). Are the inhabitants human? And do they speak English? If so then the only conclusion the reader could reach is that it is another Earth in a different dimension.

There are ways I could imply it such as this other earth being in the same place as our earth. Having charts that show it in the same place as our earth. Their earth has the same magnetic field. There It is important for them to know its another earth is so they don't think it is an alien planet and the inhabitants are not human they are dinosauroids (sentient biped dinosaurs).

Originally Posted by matsuiny2004

There are ways I could imply it such as this other earth being in the same place as our earth. Having charts that show it in the same place as our earth. Their earth has the same magnetic field. There It is important for them to know its another earth is so they don't think it is an alien planet and the inhabitants are not human they are dinosauroids (sentient biped dinosaurs).

Well it depends on how you are telling it. Look at the original Planet of the Apes film (1969), where astronauts fly off into space and discover a planet. The crash land there and meet a race of ape like creatures......it ends were the MC discovers a wrecked statue of liberty. Up to the final minute of the film the audience believes its a different planet. It can be powerful to imply something right at the end of the story.

Originally Posted by matsuiny2004

But how would people get that this is an alternate universe Earth?

Why would they need to? If it's relevant to your story, it'll come up by itself; if it's not, don't worry about it.

Originally Posted by matsuiny2004

I am writing a story where the characters travel to another Earth, but this Earth has different geography. None of the continents as we know them exists and I don't think I want the sentient species to call it Earth. How do I show not Tell the reader that this is Earth

In wonder whether the following could be of interest to you:

http://www.writingforums.com/humour/...ml#post1480557

The Courtjester