Hatrack River Writers Workshop: I AM NUMBER FOUR and World Building

This is topic I AM NUMBER FOUR and World Building in forum Discussing Published Hooks & Books at Hatrack River Writers Workshop.

To visit this topic, use this URL:
http://www.hatrack.com/ubb/writers/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=30;t=000357

Posted by Meredith (Member # 8368) on :

I'm finishing up I AM NUMBER FOUR. Slowly, because I've really sort of lost interest in it.

But the point of the post is something I've well, not learned exactly--realized about world building by reading it.

Part of the story is that there are three races of people from three different planets. All of them can live just fine on earth and one of them (the Lorics) are enough like us that they can pass for human if they don't expose their powers. In fact, they're enough like us that the two species--coming from different planets--can interbreed.

This has really started to bother me a lot and is the main reason that the story isn't working for me any more. And then I realized that I've seen at least two other stories with the exact same thing as part of the premise--and it never bothered me at all in those stories. So what's the difference?

I've come to the conclusion that the difference is that those other stories never made me doubt the world-building and so I didn't question the premise. I AM NUMBER FOUR did make me doubt and so I question everything.

Thinking about it, the thing that seems to have tipped me over from willing suspension of disbelief to cynic is a minor and totally unnecessary detail.

Lorien is supposed to be the fourth planet from its sun and one-tenth the size of earth. Now, that's a significantly different environment. Not that it couldn't support life, but it wouldn't be exactly like the life that evolved on Earth. (Lorien is described as having not only essentially human life, but also grass, trees, birds, etc.)

At that size, Lorien has to have significantly less gravity. Could a planet that small even hold an atmosphere? Could it hold liquid water? It seems to me that any life that evolved in that environment would be very different from Earth's.

As far as the story goes, it's an insignificant detail. But it's the detail that put the chink in the world building and let doubt in.

Posted by LDWriter2 (Member # 9148) on :

The author may have just decided to ignore all that or I have heard and it's been used in stories that heavy metals can make the planet produce a stronger gravity than its size would indicate. (Shoulder shrug) as I said it's been used in stories and novels. But the writer should mention that even in passing.

But as I started with he wouldn't be the first writer to completely ignore a natural law. I think it would depend on the writing, and the story itself, if would bother me that much.

Posted by Josephine Kait (Member # 8157) on :

Anne McCaffery did a really great job with this exact issue in her Freedom series (4 books), really unique and well written.

I have a world that I would like to build that has a blue star for a sun, but I am waiting until I find out enough about the astrophysics of it to make it really work. I’m good with general physics so I have a basic understanding of the ramifications, but I would really love to pick the brain of a brilliant astrophysicist to be sure I don’t bungle something.

Posted by KayTi (Member # 5137) on :

Honestly that's the only part about the book that's bothering you?

It's a fine entertaining book, the movie did a good job of portraying the major events from the book (not surprising, since the book was clearly written with an intent to do a movie - my understanding of that whole group's business model is that they're trying to produce multi-media content or content that can quickly move between media types.)

But it's really not a very good example of science fiction. Again. Sigh. YA sci fi might as well not exist as a sub (sub) genre. Or only as a genre populated by Scott Westerfeld books. (and my forthcoming titles...)

Posted by Meredith (Member # 8368) on :

quote:
But it's really not a very good example of science fiction. Again. Sigh. YA sci fi might as well not exist as a sub (sub) genre. Or only as a genre populated by Scott Westerfeld books. (and my forthcoming titles...)

Well, no. I took it as science fantasy, because it's clearly not science fiction. Aliens do not science fiction make. There has to be some science.

And that wasn't the only thing that bothered me. For example, I also haven't figured out why a race that could destroy every adult garde on the home planet in a matter of hours is so very, very concerned about nine untrained kids, among other things.

That was just a detail that got me thinking about world building issues.

Posted by KayTi (Member # 5137) on :

I just found 95% of the plot to be unbelievable. I mean, the dog/monster killer fighting machine/dog thing? The stones that heal but only SOME people SOME of the time? (why couldn't he use them on Henri?) The flashbacks to time on Lorien/dreams - I really get annoyed with that style of info dump, seems like such a cheap way to accomplish the need to tell backstory (and honestly how much of that was necessary anyway?) The other powers developing with little fanfare. The fact that he has all these powers, really he can't just take out the mogadorians?

But, all that said, it was an enjoyable quick read, and my 9 year old (advanced reader) son loved it.

I think the first time I groaned was when his hands started glowing at school, lol.

I also don't care so much about the sci-fi details being right or even close, but I know that's not true of all sci-fi readers/writers. My writing group buddy always wants to brainstorm ways for his starship drives to operate (he writes absurdist stuff ala Douglas Adams, something akin to the Improbability Drive) but I just sprinkle Handwavium dust on it all and move to other topics.

Posted by Brendan (Member # 6044) on :

quote:
I have a world that I would like to build that has a blue star for a sun, but I am waiting until I find out enough about the astrophysics of it to make it really work. I’m good with general physics so I have a basic understanding of the ramifications, but I would really love to pick the brain of a brilliant astrophysicist to be sure I don’t bungle something.

I am not a brilliant astrophysicist (there was one here a while ago), but I did do a physics major. If you want to pick my brains, I am most willing to help - even if it is just pointing you in the right direction.

Posted by Josephine Kait (Member # 8157) on :

quote:
I am not a brilliant astrophysicist (there was one here a while ago), but I did do a physics major. If you want to pick my brains, I am most willing to help - even if it is just pointing you in the right direction.

Sweet! E-mail coming your way.

-Jo