SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion
Members' Chat
>
Tor.com: SF Novels That Get Special Relativity All Wrong
date
newest »
newest »
Mod
Well, there are still lots of people who don't believe in the Evolution Theory and deny climate change, so I guess that you could make many readers gobble about anything (not that is ethical one bit). The question here should more properly be: did the author write a scientific non-sense out of simple ignorance or as an easy way to 'spice up' the action, or as a Deus ex Machina explanation to get the hero out of a bind?
We also have to understand that many themes in SF and Fantasy will never materialize in reality (dragons and time travel anyone), but are so popular that authors have to use them if they want to create stories which will appear to readers. If all SF writers strictly followed the laws of physics as they are known today, then the SF book field would become a dry one indeed. In this context, most SF writers could be said to violate constantly the Special Relativity. For example, I am sure that Albert Einstein would spin at 3,000 RPM in his grave if he read the description by `David Weber on how the ships in his Honor Harrington series can navigate faster than the speed of light.
We also have to understand that many themes in SF and Fantasy will never materialize in reality (dragons and time travel anyone), but are so popular that authors have to use them if they want to create stories which will appear to readers. If all SF writers strictly followed the laws of physics as they are known today, then the SF book field would become a dry one indeed. In this context, most SF writers could be said to violate constantly the Special Relativity. For example, I am sure that Albert Einstein would spin at 3,000 RPM in his grave if he read the description by `David Weber on how the ships in his Honor Harrington series can navigate faster than the speed of light.
What do you mean that dragons are not real? I’m crushed. Next you’ll be telling me Santa Claus 🎅🏼 isn’t real. You know if you stop believing in the fat man you only get underwear for Christmas don’t you. *wanders off muttering the of course there’s time travel....the Doctor will always save me...
Jacqueline wrote: "What do you mean that dragons are not real? I’m crushed. Next you’ll be telling me Santa Claus 🎅🏼 isn’t real. You know if you stop believing in the fat man you only get underwear for Christmas don’..."
Good news, Jacqueline: there are no existing scientific laws which concern either dragons or Santa Claus so, technically, they do not violate any laws of physics (I won't specify why there are no such laws, as it could bring fresh tears of frustration to Jacqueline).
Good news, Jacqueline: there are no existing scientific laws which concern either dragons or Santa Claus so, technically, they do not violate any laws of physics (I won't specify why there are no such laws, as it could bring fresh tears of frustration to Jacqueline).
Well Santa 🎅🏼 sort of does. How the hell does one man deliver presents to so many children in one night? Got to be some sort of time travel involved. And I know he doesn’t deliver to all the children because some places don’t have Christmas but even delivering to the ones who do believe it’s an impossible job without some sort of physics bending. I suspect the Doctor is involved. Time travel and the fact that his toy bag is bigger on the inside points to it.
Wait! That would mean that Santa got hold of a 'Bag of Holding' (Dungeons & Dragons magical item)?!
He got hold of something. I just had my photo taken with Santa. I forgot to ask him how it’s done. I asked him for a puppy though. Hubby told him not to bring me one :(
Jacqueline wrote: "I just had my photo taken with Santa. I forgot to ask him how it’s done."https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photogr...
Classic.