tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529725084811715233.post8073187616726478630..comments2024-03-26T16:31:13.865-07:00Comments on Mark Lawrence: In space there is no chosen one.Mark Lawrencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16877925828353073272noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529725084811715233.post-48002841522198060212014-12-15T09:29:33.453-08:002014-12-15T09:29:33.453-08:00Mark, do you believe that using science within you...Mark, do you believe that using science within your fantasy setting automatically gives you an obligation to delve into the complexities of that branch of science? I've come across this criticism, usually following an "Eww, you got your science in my fantasy and ruined the magic's specialness." In structuring my reply, I considered the process behind conducting research and publishing one's findings. In the interest of brevity, I can summarize it as "you won't know everything," given how rapidly the field, especially medical science, changes. My response has always been that one should use the science to service the story being told, rather than providing the reader with a crash course in, say, immunology. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529725084811715233.post-41438276173712783332014-11-17T19:30:20.393-08:002014-11-17T19:30:20.393-08:00I believe George Lucas himself classifies Star War...I believe George Lucas himself classifies Star Wars as fantasy, and has been heard to say that what makes it fantasy versus sci-fi is the fact that the story is timeless and could be told in pretty much any setting--i.e., it's not dependent upon a technology element or a particular period of time or space.James D. Cormierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11780841044583146786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529725084811715233.post-59417418775594037112014-11-17T16:12:12.907-08:002014-11-17T16:12:12.907-08:00How about overcoming the self vs overcoming the wo...How about overcoming the self vs overcoming the world and do you think you'll ever write a sci-fi proper?mrmadeupnamehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01336786486441348120noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529725084811715233.post-71014324733938851832014-11-16T07:04:13.543-08:002014-11-16T07:04:13.543-08:00I have to admit, I started to think of both Neo an...I have to admit, I started to think of both Neo and Luke right away when it comes to the "chosen one" trope, but I think for the most part you've hit the nail on the head with this post. It may not be true for every example, but in general I think you're right about SF being "for the people" and fantasy being about a hero's quest.<br /><br />I've always felt that many fantasy stories contain more "realism" than most sci-fi; it's just that these fantasy worlds come with their own definition of what realism is. They have their own rules about magic or whatever, but they are hard and fast and the story sticks to them. In SF, the rules of the world are rooted in real science (known or theoretical), and then during the course of a story you're more likely to see a bending - or flat out breaking - of those rules.Jason W. LaPierhttp://jasonwlapier.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529725084811715233.post-4219235846241748952014-11-15T12:56:44.323-08:002014-11-15T12:56:44.323-08:00Inclusive versus individual - you've summed it...Inclusive versus individual - you've summed it up very well, Mark.Bob/Sallyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07830145891314387373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529725084811715233.post-83418149854584057012014-11-15T10:56:20.652-08:002014-11-15T10:56:20.652-08:00equally, where does that leave Luke Skywalker &...equally, where does that leave Luke Skywalker & the Jedi? A lot of people say Starwars is fantasy in sci-fi clothes.<br /><br />The Matrix goes to quite a lot of effort to import a 'chosen one trope' and it still comes off as mystical and fantasy-esque.Mark Lawrencehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16877925828353073272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529725084811715233.post-10684668512975216672014-11-15T10:54:28.787-08:002014-11-15T10:54:28.787-08:00Great post, Mark, really enjoyed it!
One question ...Great post, Mark, really enjoyed it!<br />One question - where would that leave Neo from the Matrix, though? Does he succeed by being the 'chosen one' over technology? Fantasy vs Science fiction – fantasy wins?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com