What’s a writer to do when they want to set a story, series of stories, novel, or game in a large American city, but can’t for one reason or another? The answer: Make up their own.
H.P. Lovecraft did this well with his Cthulhu Mythos stories, basing the made-up New England city of Arkham on the actual Massachusetts cities of Salem and Boston. Arhkham was set on the fictional Miskatonic River and boasted a university where much of the stories’ action took place, as well as many seedy riverfront dives and run-down Victorian housing where supernatural events also occurred.
In a similar vein, the Batman World’s Gotham City was a stand-in for New York, and Frank Miller’s Sin City (short for Basin City) for Los Angeles, with the similar-sounding Sacred Oaks subbing for Thousand Oaks. The naming of the latter is what I aim to do here, with names twisted to the right, or left, of those in the real world.
Continuing to further flesh out the cities, how about some Broxton baked oysters, the cuilinary specialty of this blue-blooded port city? And have you heard of, perhaps, Persephonia’s Freedom Cannon, which was only fired once, and cracked its iron casing? Or how about Miamö fashion designer Augustus Mercedes, tragically gunned down by a disgruntled ex-lover on his luxury yacht? Stories abound, if one will but write them.
East Coast Cities
| WASHINGTON, DC
Wickington, DC Moonington, DV Washgirdle, DR Waterington, LS Blisterington, DF Thrashington, DC Washseed, DS |
BALTIMORE
Bultimoran Badhimere Boltplior Balbrimora Balteborough Balvimure Baltchausor |
BOSTON
Broxton Bostol Banthon Bostoth Rostoz Baltoch Bostitch |
| PHILADELPHIA
Phuladelia Philanterra Persephonia Trilladelphia Phoenixia Shilasandsay Peurredonia |
MIAMI
Liamá Triami Diano Mazori Ziamu Miamö Maiamsta |
NEW YORK CITY
Yew Port City Sédh Raorn City New Tory City New Shorp City Yez Yurk City Newkhurk City Suthnork City |
