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Why can this be called "worldbuilding" in fantasy, but not in sci-fi? His sci-fi books (Anathem, Diamong Age, Snow Crash) are not just detailing technology, bu
by The_Colonel 2y ago
Why can this be called "worldbuilding" in fantasy, but not in sci-fi?
His sci-fi books (Anathem, Diamong Age, Snow Crash) are not just detailing technology, but the whole society. All of the detailed descriptions about concents and avouts (in Anathem) is without any technology since they explicitly disawow technology.
- slothtrop 2y agoLike I said, exceptions. I don't think tDA and SC do that much worldbuilding, speaking as someone who doesn't usually care for it. Those who ape the Tolkien high-fantasy school lean on it more, meandering descriptions. Anathem is actually my favorite.
- The_Colonel 2y ago> Those who ape the Tolkien high-fantasy school lean on it more, meandering descriptions You seem to have a very specific idea of what constitutes "worldbuilding". In my mind, every scifi has to do worldbuilding, because they deal with some non-existent worlds - they can't just rely on reader's being familiar with reality. They can't just say "imagine it exactly like today's US, just with faster than light travel". The authors have to describe the setting of the plot to the reader to at least some detail. Stephenson does that in my opinion very well and it's the main draw for me.
- wisemang 2y agoI haven’t read the books but based on the show, which I’ve just started re-watching, I’d say The Expanse is an exemplar of worldbuilding in sci fi. I agree that GP seems to have an odd idea of what exactly world building is.