by A.C. Williams @ACW_Author
If you open a novel and your protagonist is on a spaceship out in some distant galaxy, what genre are you reading? It’s fairly safe to assume it’s science fiction, right? What about if your protagonist is embroiled in a magical dual with a vicious dragon? Safe bet to say it’s fantasy.
Generally, if your story involves more elements of science or elements of technology, it will be science fiction. Likewise, if your story is based around magic or the unseen/unknown usage of a power greater than the characters, it will be fantasy. That’s sounds really straightforward, but as with every element of fiction writing, it’s a lot easier to tell than it is to show. So how does the difference between technology and magic affect your worldbuilding?
So far in this Worldbuilding 101 series, we’ve talked about Existing History, People and Social Circles, Language and Communication, Climate and Geography, Agriculture, Faith and Religion, and, last month, we tackled Government and Economics.
Knowing the differences between technology and magic (as well as their similarities) will make a HUGE impact on how you build your world and how your characters interact with it. That’s why this month we are going to focus on Technology and Magic Systems.
Deciding whether your speculative world is going to include a focus on technology or on magic will dictate a lot of what you write and how you write it.
First off, when we say “magic” what exactly are we talking about here? This is a tricky topic that isn’t the focus of this article (I usually point people to Marian Jacobs’s articles on Lorehaven for a better understanding of fictional magic).
In nearly every fantasy story, you’re going to find magic. There are elements of it in both the works of Christian greats C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. And, if you don’t feel comfortable using a magic system in your fantasy story, you don’t have to. Some of the best fantasy books I’ve read recently don’t really have anything to do with magic systems (for great examples of these, see the works of Emily Hayse and Claire Banschbach). Extraordinary fantasy stories without magic of any kind.
But this is for authors who want to reach a readership that expects magic to have a role in fantasy. Magic is a genre expectation of fantasy novels after all.
Whether you choose to use technology as the basis for your speculative society or magic, the same questions apply.
First off, What is its source?
I know that sounds basic, but it’s important. You have to know where your magic or your technology came from.
For technology, did your culture develop the science on their own? Were they given hints or help from another culture? Did they experience a giant leap in technology due to time travel?
For magic, how did the people discover it? Who was the first person to wield it? Does everyone have access to it, or do only a few blessed individual possess the capability?
Depending on how you answer this question will determine the social structure of your world, the government and economics, and the cultural divides. It doesn’t just affect the faith and religion of your people groups. It will affect every element of your society.
Secondly, What does it cost?
Both magic and technology need a cost associated with its use. Again, that sounds like a basic concept, but you would be shocked how many speculative authors don’t consider it.
For technology, where does it get its energy? Generally speaking, technology requires energy in some form to operate. So where does that energy come from?
A great example of science fiction that tackles this question of cost is a Doctor Who episode (there are many shows that do, but this is the first one that comes to mind). It’s an episode from the 2010 series with Matt Smith’s 11th Doctor, called “The Beast Below.” It’s an exceptional treatment of this question.
For fantasy, honestly, the same questions apply as in science fiction. What is the cost of using magic? Is it years that you’ll live? Is it the user’s sanity? Does it cause pain? Does it cause weakness?
I have enjoyed the Wheel of Time books by Robert Jordan, although I’ve only made it seven or eight books into the series. I like the magic system that’s set up, that men who use magic slowly lose their minds the more they access it. The storyline basically sets up Rand al’Thor, the protagonist, as the savior of the whole world, but the cost of saving the world and everyone he loves will be his own mind.
But there’s another side of magic and technology that we ought to touch on, for those of us who like the complexities of complicated stories and worlds. What about magic that turns out to be science we just don’t understand yet?
That’s valid. Actually that’s one of the core elements of my own speculative series, which features five average guys who end up with elemental samurai armors they don’t know how to use.
We don’t really have space to tackle this question in this installment, so we’ll come back to it. Probably next month, so stay tuned!
That being said, keep in mind both the SOURCE and the COST of your magic or technology. Then use it as you develop your character arcs and your plot structure. You’ll find that it informs your characters and your story itself more than you might expect.
Don't Miss the Other Posts in this Series!
PART 1 WORLDBUILDING 101 FOR WRITERS: DO YOU KNOW THE HISTORY OF YOUR STORY WORLD?
PART 2 WORLDBUILDING 101 FOR WRITERS: WRITING PEOPLE GROUPS AND SOCIAL CIRCLES
PART 3 WORLDBUILDING 101 FOR WRITERS: WRITING LANGUAGE AND COMMUNICATION
PART 4 WORLDBUILDING 101 FOR WRITERS: CLIMATE AND GEOGRAPHY
PART 5 WORLDBUILDING 101 FOR WRITERS: AGRICULTURE
PART 6 WORLDBUIDING 101 FOR WRITERS: WRITING FAITH AND RELIGION
PART 7 WORLDBUILDING 101 FOR WRITERS: WRITING GOVERNMENT AND ECONOMICS
PART 8 WORLDBUILDING 101 FOR WRITERS: WRITING TECHNOLOGY AND MAGIC SYSTEMS
Award-winning author, A.C. Williams is a coffee-drinking, sushi-eating, story-telling nerd who loves cats, country living, and all things Japanese. She’d rather be barefoot, and if she isn’t, her socks won’t match. She has authored eight novels, two novellas, three devotional books, and more flash fiction than you can shake a stick at. A senior partner at the award-winning Uncommon Universes Press, she is passionate about stories and the authors who write them. Learn more about her book coaching and follow her adventures online at https://www.amycwilliams.com.
Magic as science we don't yet understand is thought-provoking. In The Patent I focused on science that is being explored but not yet understood, harnessed, and used. The cost is multi-layered!
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