Even Fantasy Needs a Little Science: (Even Magic Needs Rules)

By Roberts, Tedd

Book Id: WPLBN0003548828
Format Type: PDF eBook:
File Size: 0.3 MB
Reproduction Date: 2014

Title:	Even Fantasy Needs a Little Science: (Even Magic Needs Rules)
Author:	Roberts, Tedd
Volume:
Language:	English
Subject:	Nonfiction, Essay, Science
Collections:	Science Fiction Collection, Baen Library Collection
Historic Publication Date:	2014
Publisher:	Baen Publishing Enterprises


Citation APA MLA Chicago Roberts, B. T. (2014). Even Fantasy Needs a Little Science. Retrieved from http://gutenberg.cc/

Description
Description: The artice explains why 'realistic science' should be applied to an extent to fantasy novels and films to make it appealing to readers and viewers.

Summary
Summary: Elves and wizards and demons would appear to have little in common with science, engineering and space. One deals in the mystical and metaphysical, the other in the scientific and technological. SF is basically speculative fiction in which the speculation revolves around extensions, projections or subtle changes from known scientific and engineering rules and facts. Fantasy involves a different type of speculation, in which properties of mind, magic and mystery combine with themes of good vs. evil, the benign vs. the horrific, and the mundane vs. the magical. Science and fantasy do not mix. They are antithetical, oil-and-water, black vs. white. But are they really? Or should they even be such polar opposites? In the following sections we will explore some of the basic assumptions of science fiction and fantasy, some examples of the genre that blur the lines between the two, and we will explore the idea that even fantasy can benefit from the realm of science and technology.

Excerpt
Excerpt: Perhaps the most obvious application of Magic as Technology is in Rick Cook's Wiz Biz books in which the most powerful wizard of our world, is pulled through to magical realm to assist in a war of good versus evil. Instead of a wizard, they get master hacker Wiz Zumwalt, who quickly figures out that spells are a lot like computer programs. He and a few friends construct a spell compiler and they are off and running creating and using spells pretty much the same as any SF/F fan would use a computer, tablet or smartphone.

Table of Contents
Table of Contents: