The world described has a society and technology roughly similar to that of the historical 16th or 17th Century, but with several crucial differences: the world is littered with "Elderglass", an unbreakable material left behind by mysterious beings known as "Eldren"; firearms have not been discovered, the crossbow being the most advanced offensive weapon known; magic exists, virtually monopolized by the secretive and malevolent Bondsmagi; the practice of alchemy offers some devices far beyond 17th Century levels, such as alchemical lights which are the equivalent of electric ones. Though the society depicted is far from egalitarian, and there is an enormous gap between rich and poor, it does have very considerable gender equality. Similar to present-day Western society - and very different from historical 17th Century societies - women in this world can and do have jobs and careers, on both the bottom and the top of society. Within a few chapters of "Red Seas Under Red Skies" the (male) protagonists encounter female dock workers, female carpenters, female assassins, female captains of both naval and pirate ships, and women in various other positions.