<@Jim> Ok, let's roll... please hold questions until the end -- there'll be plenty of time.
<@Jim> Welcome to World Building Class 2: The Physics of Your World. Don't worry -- this isn't literally a class on physics, but a look at what you should consider when making your world in order to maintain believability.
<@Jim> If you're writing Science Fiction, physics is more important than if you're writing Fantasy. Statistically, SF readers are mostly scientists, while the majority of Fantasy readers tend towards computer programming.
<@Jim> I don't remember where I picked up that tidbit of information, but it's interesting. Even though fantasy readers tend not to be science types, there is some crossover, and you want your world to be feasible.
<@Jim> There's nothing quite like being at a book signing and have someone ask you how your world the size of New Zealand manages to hold it's atmosphere and how it stays cool only a million miles from the sun.
<@Jim> And there's nothing like being at the same book signing where you can answer those questions intelligently because you researched your world's physics before you wrote the story.
<@Jim> Here are some questions to ask yourself when constructing your world:
<@Jim> 1. What size and type of star -- or stars -- do you want? Stories have been written with worlds orbiting red stars (MZB's Darkover series comes to mind).
<@Jim> Different types of stars have different diameters and radiate different levels of heat. A red giant is different from a brown dwarf, is different from a white dwarf, etc.
<@Jim> And how close to place your world depends on a number of factors besides the temperature of the sun. I attended a seminar at Chicon (World SF Convention 2000) that dealt with some of these topics.
<@Jim> You can find my convention notes on the transcripts board:
http://network54.com/Hide/Forum/message?forumid=69237&messageid=968124196
<@Jim> For example, a physicist in one of those seminars said that any sun will look white from its planets. Which kind of ruins MZB's Darkover books with the red sun and red shadows...
<@Jim> However, there could be something in the atmosphere that could give color effects for that otherworldliness feeling. I was just told today that on Mars the sky looks pink (thanks, Robert).
<@Jim> Your planet's magnetosphere and tidal forces can affect atmosphere and heat retention, effectively warming your world even if it's more distant from the sun.
<@Jim> Which brings us to the next questions:
<@Jim> 2. How big do you make your world? What is it's compostion? Earth is about 8,000 miles in diameter and has an iron core. You can have a bigger or smaller world, with greater or lesser gravity.
<@Jim> If your planet's compostion is different, meaning it has a different mass, then your gravity may be altered accordingly.
<@Jim> Gravity is the force that holds the universe together. It's what makes the Earth stay in orbit around the sun, and it will probably be what makes your world(s) circle your sun(s).
<@Jim> It also makes planets round, unless there is a dynamic, balanced force at work to make them otherwise, like the equatorial bulge on Earth.
<@Jim> (warning - math coming up - don't panic!!)
<@Jim> Gravity at your world's surface depends on the mass of the planet. g=GM/r^2, where g is accelleration, G is the universal gravitational constant, M is the mass of the planet and r is its radius.
<@Jim> On average, g = 32 feet per second per second accelleration on Earth. Your world may vary, depending on its mass and size.
<@Jim> But that doesn't mean that if your world is the size of the moon, then everyone will jump around like supermen and women.
<@Jim> But that doesn't mean that if your world is the size of the moon, then everyone will jump around like supermen and women.
<@Jim> (sorry for repeat -- delays or something)
<@Jim> If they grew up in that gravity, then their musculature and body forms would be suited to their environment. We tend to be lazy creatures that only exercize as much as we are forced to.
<@Jim> 3. How many, if any, moons does your world have? Do they vary in size and distance? What about effects on tides? Do they have atmospheres? Do people live on them?
<@Jim> If people live on multiple worlds, how do they get from one to the other? Space ships? Magical gates?
<@Jim> These are things you need to consider if your world is different from Earth normal... and how do you communicate such differences to the reader when the characters think of their world as normal?
<@Jim> And what is normal? It might be different in your world. Holly has things to say on world building that you might do well to read now and then:
http://hollylisle.com/fm/Articles/faqs8.html
<@Jim> "Fantasy Is Not for Sissies -- Real Rules for Real Worlds" and "Worldbuilding -- Rollicking Rules of Ecosystems" are two excellent how-to articles at
http://hollylisle.com/fm/Articles/index.html
<@Jim> Thanks to Holly for the following. You can download a set of files I've prepared for this and other aspects of world building from:
http://home.att.net/~james.k.mills/World_B.zip
<@Jim> 4. What special physics does your world have? Faster-than-light travel, time travel, magic, extraordinary beasts, vampires, ghosts, angels, gods, goddesses and other phenomena.
<@Jim> In what way does my universe differ from the mundane norm? What is the nature of the difference? How exactly will these differences manifest?
<@Jim> You need to document these things, put them in a notebook and keep them handy for reference as you write, so that you maintain continuity in your story.
<@Jim> What are the rules by which the special physics operate? What effects will these rules have on culture and story?
<@Jim> Does your story have magic? High tech? Such things will touch every part of society to a greater or lesser degree. Fifty years ago computers were almost unheard of.
<@Jim> Now we have them in our homes.
<@Jim> What are the laws of my special physics? What can they do? What can't they do?
<@Jim> What is the nature of the people who will use these laws? How do they differ from regular people?
<@Jim> If you have people going around throwing fireballs and lightning bolts, they ~will~ have an effect on society.
<@Jim> What will that effect be? Will they be outlaws or the law of the land? Will they be warlords? Will they cause carnage and havoc by fighting with such magic power?
<@Jim> Keep in mind that new technology is always used, eventually, in warfare -- if it ~can~ be used.
<@Jim> Time was when people swore that we would never use machine guns in war.
<@Jim> Time was when people swore that biological weapons would never be used in war.
<@Jim> Or chemical weapons like mustard gas and nerve gas.
<@Jim> Or nuclear weapons. Like Hiroshima and Nigasaki.
<@Jim> What kind of damage could really powerful magic do if misused?
<@Jim> I can't answer these questions for you. It's your world and your story. You have to answer them. But I can tell you that these are questions you need to ask yourselves.
<@Jim> Let's go to Q&A. Any questions?
<Deedlit> do you think you have to have physics in magic?
<@Jim> You have to have believability and continuity.
<@Jim> You don't necessarily need to have formulae and calculations... but the system behind the magic has to be believable.
<Deedlit> so as long as you have laws, it doesn't necessarily have to follow our rules?
<@Jim> And if your hero has magic, his strengths should somehow be his weaknesses as well.
<@Jim> It doesn't have to follow our rules in this world. But it has to follow its own laws in your world.
<BklynWriter_> What if you are "science-challenged" like me? Where do I begin?
<@Jim> I began with Holly's guidelines, which I put into the file I mentioned earlier. You can download it from my site:
http://home.att.net/~james.k.mills/World_B.zip
<@Jim> You'll need to unzip the file... and it's mostly fill-in-the-blank.
<BklynWriter_> thanks!
<@Jim> Also, read ~all~ of Holly's articles... she gives some very, very good advice.
<@Jim> you're welcome. More questions?
<Robert> Does it help to play to the sciences you know deeply so that the rest seems more plausible? I'm good on evolutionary theory and apply that in magical worlds, less so on physics and mathphobe with number lysdexia...
<@Jim> Jess, you have to highlight the word "ALL" if you want everyone to see your text. I haven't read those authors, but they're not alone. Many writers use our laws of physics with minor variations, if any.
<Jess> has anyone read Peter F Hamilton and Iain M Banks - both use magic but keep to 'our' basic rules...
<@Jim> That's a good point, Robert. In SF it's a sort of rule that you get one assumption and the rest should rest on science. It ~does~ help believability.
<BklynWriter_> i can't seem to get to your page Jim
<@Jim> The same applies to fantasy -- you don't want your world to be so weird that the reader can't follow along.
<@Jim> It's not really a page, BW... it's a file and you should get a file download dialogue.
<@Jim> If you can't get it, give me your email and I'll send it to you after the class.
<BklynWriter_> ok
<@Jim> More questions?
<BklynWriter_> bklynwriter929@hotmail.com
<Jess> can we send relevant drafts to experts to check we have our facts right?
<@Jim> Most people don't want to be bothered to spend time to check facts for you... I'm afraid you have to do the reasearch. In my current WIP, I've been doing research into paleobotany... borrowing library books, etc.
<@Jim> My WIP is set in a world equivalent to the Earth's upper cretaceous period -- when dinosaurs roamed...
<BklynWriter_> Do you do all your worldbuilding pre-1st draft? or as you go along?
<@Jim> I do some in advance and some is fill-it-in as I go. IE: Human beings wouldn't last long against T-Rex's or velociraptors... but they have an edge... magic.
<@Jim> I had a pretty good idea of the overall setup before I started... and I knew I would need info on the upper cretaceous period... so part has been done in advance.
<@Jim> But I've discovered things I needed as I went along as well... I'm only up to chapter 5 so far.
<Deedlit> could I recommend a good research book for fantasy writers?
<@Jim> Sure!
<Deedlit> It's called - Myths & Magic: the complete fantasty reference. Published by Titan Books.
<Deedlit> It's got essays by lots of different writers including Terry Brooks and goes into magic, clothing, trade and commerce - all sorts of stuff.
<Deedlit> It's very very useful
<@Jim> I can't find it on Amazon.com... you you have the ISBN number?
<Deedlit> yeah - isbn 1-84023-059-2
<@Jim> Amazon can't find it, but maybe some others could.
<@Jim> Is it out of print?
<Deedlit> erm.. not sure. I found it when I was tydying up!
<Deedlit> hang
<Deedlit> hang on
<@Jim> I found one reference in a yahoo search:
http://www.locusmag.com/index/yr1999/b3.html
<@Jim> Myths & Magic: The Complete Fantasy Reference (Titan 1-84023-059-2, Apr 99, £12.99, 277pp, tp, cover by Bob Eggleton) Reprint (Writer s Digest Books 1998 as The Writer s Complete Fantasy Reference) reference work, with an introduction by Terry Brooks. A guide to the history, myths, costumes, crafts, and magics of many cultures. Internally dated February 1999. [First U.K. edition]
<kiarlie> deed has just crashed! may take her a while to get back she is having isp problems
<BklynWriter_> barnes and noble has it in stock
<kiarlie> but that sounds like her book - i have seen it, its really good
<@Jim> Cool !
Thanks.
<@Jim> Any other questions?
<Robert> Any cool equivalence for the numerically impaired attempt at hard SF?
<Jehane> .
<@Jim> Hmmm... not that I can think of... when you get into astrophysics, things can get complicated in a hurry... I'll have to look around and see what I can find. There may be some online references.
<Jess> Peter F Hamilton has published a book which explains how his particular universe works...
<Jess> Bova and Robertson are good on terra-forming, but would mean dipping into their books to find relevant sections
<@Jim> Reviewing what others have done is a good start. Have you looked through the Resources Forum, Robert?
http://network54.com/Hide/Forum/81972 It may have some relevent material.
<BklynWriter_> How about "Writers guide to Creating A Science Fiction Universe
<BklynWriter_> I know it is published by Writers Digest Books
<@Jim> I haven't seen that one... who's it by? Do you have the ISBN?
<@Jim> Robert: Here's one possibility:
http://zebu.uoregon.edu/text.html it's the Astronomy Hypertext Project.
<BklynWriter_> i have the 1st one...there is a 2nd edition...but the ISBN is 0-89879-536-2
<BklynWriter_> you're lucky...it was at the top of the box of books I just rummaged through
<Robert> Thanks!
<@Jim> k -- thanks, BW... I'll have to look that one up. I've recommended a number of WD books... see my notes on the class sign-up page.
<Jehane> where can you get the wd books?
<BklynWriter_> I've printed out all your transcripts Jim, I just haven't had time to really read them.
<@Jim>
http://writersdigest.com ... and click on the book club section.
<BklynWriter_> you can usually find them at B&N, or at writersdigest.com
<Robert> I hope you're transcribing this time... right. Makes sense.
<@Jim> If you join WDBC (Writers Digest Book Club), you get a nice discount.
<Jehane> do they ship overseas?
<@Jim> I always try to save it, Robert.
<Robert> Lots of titles on the WD list I want, I'd want the book club when I can afford it. Crime, Medical, lots.
<@Jim> I don't know, J... you can call and ask them... just a sec... I have the #
<@Jim> 386-447-6354 and I think they're open 8-5 eastern time Mon-Fri...
<Jehane> thanks Jim
<@Jim> yw... it says 9am to 5pm
<@Jim> Robert: Great reference for getting all that space science right. Remember, hard scifi readers are an intimidating audience who will look for any mistake. Minimize them by learning the science. From Harvard, or is it Haavard?
http://ads.harvard.edu/books/hsaa/
<@Jim> That one's titled Handbook of Space Astronomy and Astrophysics.
<@Jim> You can also post questions on the Q&A board here on Holly's site.
<@Jim> More questions?
<BklynWriter_> no
<@Jim> There's a whole list of Worldbuilding sites on the resources board... it's a bit intimidating, but the best way to start is to wade in, take what you want and skip what you don't.
http://network54.com/Hide/Forum/81972?it=1
<Jehane> what's the next topic?
<@Jim> 3. Maps. How much mapping do you need for your story? What tools do you use to map?
<kiarlie> is that going to be same time next week?
<Jehane> sounds good. I have to put together a map of my world.
<@Jim> There are a number of different mapping tools out there, and I'm not familiar with all of them. But I'll try to give an overview. No class next week -- next class is in two weeks. See you then. Thanks for coming! G'night!
<Jehane> Bye
<kiarlie> night jim, thanks
<Jess> thank you for the class, goodnight
<BklynWriter_> thank you for everything Jim
<Robert> Thanks for a great class and the links and referrals - and the help you gave me this morning with it!
<@Jim> You're welcome!
http://www.jameskmills.com
Some of my work may be read at my forum: http://network54.com/Hide/Forum/74198)
Mail to: Jim@HollyLisle.com