http://www.sfwa.org/2009/08/fantasy-worldbuilding-questions-social-organization/ Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America Sat, 15 Jun 2013 05:04:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 http://www.sfwa.org/2009/08/fantasy-worldbuilding-questions-social-organization/#comment-262 Jonathan Vos Post Thu, 13 Aug 2009 17:19:27 +0000 http://www.sfwa.org/?p=1967#comment-262 I’m SO happy to see those specific, detailed questions! I’ve worked for over 5 years on a novel, and some related novellas, novelettes, and short stories — collectively “Axiomatic Magic” — that answers them to my satisfaction. Harry Potter meets A Beautful Mind. Setting: California Institute of Thaumaturgy, in an alternate world Pasadena (“Paradena”) where Newton succeeded ALSO with Alchemy, Kepler succeeded ALSO with Astrology. The hero is explicitly Thaumaturge Richard Feynman (formerly a friend and coauthor of mine). The viewpoint charcter, 17 years old, is akin to “Dobie Gillis.” I’ve had many encouraging rejection letters. The Hard SF major markets are uncomfortable with the meticulous magic, and the Fantasy major markets are uncomfortable with all the Science in the plot, but they usually say nice things aout my ambition. Fine. Licensing of Wizards is modeled on licensing of Professional Engineers, combined with academic screening as with professors almost always needing preior PhDs. Government is alos seen via Astral Propulsion Labs, a JPL analogue, since there are non-rocket methods for reaching the Moon and Planets — in a world where flying carpets exist. I am years overdue on a graphic novel sale that Imade in which Stephen Hawking is the celebrity, obviously the greatest wizard on earth (he’s still alive, right?) and akin to the Defense Against the Dark Arts world leader. Mild apology for pimping my own fiction mss, but wanted to show WHY there is such appreciation for these questions!

]]> http://www.sfwa.org/2009/08/fantasy-worldbuilding-questions-social-organization/#comment-224 Mary Robinette Kowal Thu, 06 Aug 2009 16:51:27 +0000 http://www.sfwa.org/?p=1967#comment-224 I’ll check with Ms. Wrede.

]]> http://www.sfwa.org/2009/08/fantasy-worldbuilding-questions-social-organization/#comment-210 Karen Bovenmyer Tue, 04 Aug 2009 15:37:13 +0000 http://www.sfwa.org/?p=1967#comment-210 My I distribute this information to my students in HON 321E, Creative Writing: Science Fiction and Fantasy at Iowa State University?

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