I've been mulling over the idea of stories that are set in Alaska. There are many wonderful books out there that are fictional stories set in Alaska by authors such as Dana Stabenow, Stan Jones, Sue Henry, and so on. All of the books I can think of feature Alaska prominently. The fact that the story takes place in Alaska is a major point in the plot; the story just wouldn't be the same if it were set somewhere else.
Here's my question: can a story be set in Alaska and not have Alaska itself be a major part of the story? For example, I've read lots of books that are set in San Francisco, New York, generic midwest small town, or just about any other U.S. city, and the location really plays no role in the story other than allowing the author to draw on specific streets, buildings, or other landmarks when setting the scene. Often the town is entirely fictional. You could move the story to any other small town or big city and it would be fundamentally unchanged. I wonder, though, if Alaska is too exotic for the average reader to be just another generic location. The cold and snow, the mountains, the wildlife - there are just so many aspects that residents take for granted. If they weren't pertinent to the story line, could they be left out of a book set in Alaska without disappointing the readers' expectations? Would a story be accepted that used Palmer as just another small town or Anchorage as a generic mid-sized city?
What do you think? Have you read any books set in Alaska in which Alaska itself wasn't a character in its own way? Would such a story be accepted by the average reader without leaving them feeling as if something were missing?
