I think there are a number of qualities that make the Bazaar consider claiming a city. Among these are epic romances, of course, but they also seem to focus on large cities of great, even era-defining civilizations. The First City was from the Levant, where humankind’s earliest empires sprouted, the Second from Egypt, one of the dominating Mediterranean nations, the Third from the Mayan Empire, and the only one from the Americas, the Fourth from Mongolia, whose riders threatened even Rome, and the Fifth from Britain, who eventually fought back against the other European powers during a competition of rapid colonization. I have a few favorite candidates for a Sixth City that I think fit these criteria (all of these are American; I apologize for my bias):
New York. It’s much like London, in several respects. A massive metropolis (America’s largest), home to millions of citizens, a prominent seaport which could easily connect to the Unterzee, and brimming with artistic and theatrical endeavor. I love Anne Auclair’s vision of a 1930’s Depression-era Neathy New York. The times were certainly dark enough to suit the dark of the Neath.
Las Vegas. In "Amusing Ourselves to Death," Neil Postman posits that Las Vegas embodies late-twentieth century America’s spirit: entertainment-obsessed, gluttony mixed with glitz, glamor, and gambling. And as the Bazaar always looks to love, the Masters may find Sin City interesting, at least. But even as I suggest it, I personally think this choice unlikely, due to its situation in the desert and improbably connection to the zee and the rest of the Neath. That said, I doubt Karakorum had any seaports either. At least, modern Mongolia doesn’t have a coastline. So maybe Vegas is a possibility after all.
Finally, Los Angeles. Much like Las Vegas, this is a city that embodies the spirit of modern America: love of entertainment, especially film, as well as international business and trade. It has a seaport, like London, and a significantly higher population than Las Vegas. If I could choose one city that embodies the 21st-century world, it’d be Los Angeles.
As for a futuristic city, as Catherine Raymond suggested, I haven’t the foggiest idea. We’ll have to wait and see which nations, and which cities, take defining roles in the future. China is certainly a major economic power, and Japan is certainly a major cultural influence, at least in the gaming world. Maybe Beijing or Tokyo? Or something I haven’t considered?
edited by Sam Stephens on 10/26/2016