Thursday, August 14, 2014

Sci-fi worldbuilding

Last week I started talking about science in sci-fi worldbuilding. I have loads more to say on this topic, but thought I should clear up some things early on in case I come across as all pompous and preachy.

This is not meant to be a "thou shalt" set of posts.

Yes, I happen to think that a good appreciation of science is important to convincing worldbuilding, especially if your aim is to be taken seriously by scientifically-literate readers. If you fall into this category, then I hope you find a nugget or two to take away.

As a reader, I get a visceral reaction to things that strike me as absurd, and I've got a few pet peeves to talk about. But I'm not advocating slavishly following known science and squashing creativity. There are so many ways to stretch and extrapolate the world of science that you can be imaginative beyond belief while still being convincing.

But that is not the only option. I think it's quite possible to write sci-fi with a flagrant disregard for good science. The only inviolable rule in writing is "do what works", so under what circumstances might this approach work?

First off, you can often afford to play fast and loose with the rules for comic effect. For example, Harry Harrison's novel Bill, the Galactic Hero, introduces the Bloater Drive. Meant to provide a way around the speed of light limitation, it of course does nothing of the sort, but that doesn't matter because the novel is satirical and the science is visibly not meant to be taken seriously. Similarly, Douglas Adams brings out one whacky idea after another (my favorite is the "Somebody Else's Problem field) to great effect.

But note that, even here, the authors pay enough lip service to science - even though it's firmly tongue-in-cheek - that I suggest this is an example of knowing the rules first in order to break them properly.

Another approach, which many authors use with at least some elements of their story, is to simply brazen it out. Present the outcome and move on. Leave it up to the reader to fill in the gaps to their own satisfaction. This sleight of hand works time and again for minor pieces of technology, or for common devices such as FTL travel which everyone accepts as a necessity for most stories. Here it is. Deal with it. Move on.

Again, I think the amount of latitude you can safely assume depends on what kind of story and audience you are aiming for. I reckon the softer, space opera, end of the spectrum is more forgiving. If you are looking at realistic hard sci-fi then abuse the science at your peril.

This gets trickier when a major story premise hinges on dodgy science. Readers are likely to be less forgiving, but a good storyteller can still get away with it if the story itself is so engaging that readers either don't notice, or choose to forgive and forget.

Having said all that, I still believe that a foundation in scientific principles (note, this is not the same thing as the current state of scientific understanding!) can help make things more credible. Every whopper you ask the reader to swallow raises the bar for acceptance, so why do that to yourself unnecessarily?

6 comments:

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

I guess that's why I write at the space opera end of the spectrum.

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Ian - I do dislike something that is patently wrong - but if it's like the Bloater Drive .. I can have a laugh at the idea and carry on reading the story ...

All concepts deserve some degree of research and thought before just writing a scene or character or device down ... otherwise authors will lose credibility with the reader ...

Good thoughts - cheers Hilary

David Batista said...

Since I'm not a scientist, I'll probably never write a hard sci-fi novel. My writing as it is now does tend more toward the "soft," space-operatic side of things. Although I do consider myself scientifically literate and knowledgeable beyond the layman. Just slightly beyond, mind you. Still, I approach my writing more from the humanistic angle. That is: I'm more interested in sci-fi stories that are mostly focused on human emotion and interaction, and less on the science, per se.

Like you I do agree that the science has to make sense and be grounded in the facts as we know them today, but for me it will always take a back seat to the actual act of writing about humans and their triumphs and foibles.

Botanist said...

Alex, sounds like you have human stories in a futuristic setting, and for you the people are more important than the technology. I was like that with Ghosts.

Hilary, I think you've captured my sentiments very well.

David, I'm not a scientist either. I think the literacy matters, plus the willingness to apply some critical thinking to what's going on in your world. But that's what's called "research" and it applies in all genres. Suppose a writer set a detective thriller in New York, and described a view of the Statue of Liberty from an apartment window in the Bronx, you'd know straight off whether or not that made sense.

not displayed said...

This sounds like pretty good advice to me. You are always going to be more convincing to the reader if you know a little truth before you stretch it

Botanist said...

Mynx, exactly! I think this is one of the things that distinguishes sci-fi from fantasy.

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