anacosmy

When something or someone is not in its correct universe, dimension or cosmic location. Another word for anacosmism, especially to describe the feeling thereof. In the same way that a 'feeling of anachrony' means to feel as if one is in the wrong time.

An error of the anacosmy kind goes beyond mere 'anatopy' (where something is in the wrong geographic location but at least on the correct planet). Anacosmy can label errors in fantasy literature where people or things described are specific to Earth and ought not to exist in the fictional universe of the work.

A feeling of anacosmy washed over Erika as she realized the people around her were just... fundamentally wired differently to her. A strange sort of cosmic loneliness, as if she'd accidentally teleported to another Earth in a parallel dimension.

by Bloopy November 25, 2024

anacosmism

Something or someone that is not in its correct universe, dimension or cosmic location. Coined by Jennifer Diane Reitz to label errors in fantasy literature where people or things described are specific to Earth and ought not to exist in the fictional universe of the work.

These errors go beyond mere 'anatopism' (referring to something is in the wrong geographic location but at least on the correct planet). Also analogous to anachronism, where something is in the wrong time.

If a sci-fi novel set in the Andromeda galaxy used the months January to June, that would be an anacosmism because the Roman Empire and their calendar never existed in Andromeda.

by Bloopy September 14, 2024