World Building (pt 10) – Another Example

Let’s perform the same exercise again, using a different scene to illustrate how world building can be inserted into an opening for a story to quickly establish a foundation for a new world.

Opening Scene : Trading Technology

The skyline of New York City shimmered with neon lights as the sun set, casting an otherworldly glow over the sprawling metropolis. The bustle of activity on the streets below was drowned out by the roar of engines overhead, signaling the arrival of another cargo ship from Mars.

Aboard the vessel, Captain Reese watched through the viewport as their craft docked at one of the city’s many spaceports. He had been making this trip between Earth and Mars for years now, ferrying goods back and forth between the two worlds that were slowly recovering from decades of war.

The cargo hold was filled with crates labeled with various technologies: energy generators, medical equipment, and even advanced computing systems. Each item represented months of hard work and risk for their small team of traders. As Captain Reese prepared to disembark, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride in what they had accomplished.

But not everyone shared his sentiment. His first officer, Alexandra, stood beside him, her eyes fixed on the towering buildings that rose above them. “We risk our lives for this?” she muttered under her breath. “For these outdated Earth technologies?”

Captain Reese glanced at her, an eyebrow raised in surprise. “These aren’t just any technologies, Alex,” he replied firmly. “They’re lifelines for people who still rely on them.”

Alexandra turned away, shaking her head. “We could be doing so much more with our resources,” she argued. “With Mars’ superior technology, we could revolutionize life on Earth.”

Their conversation was cut short by the sound of a nearby argument breaking out between two merchants negotiating over the contents of their shipment. It was a common occurrence in this trade hub, where wealthy Earth businessmen vied for the latest Martian innovations while offering a fraction of their true value.

As Captain Reese made his way through the crowded spaceport, he couldn’t help but feel conflicted. On one hand, he understood Alexandra’s frustration with the limitations placed on them by Earth’s archaic systems. But on the other hand, he knew that change didn’t come easily or quickly – especially not in a world still recovering from war.

For now, they would continue to trade technology, hoping that each item brought some small measure of progress towards unity between their two worlds.

The Breakdown

Culture and History: The story takes place in a futuristic setting where Earth and Mars have been involved in decades-long war. Now they are slowly recovering from it, relying on trade to rebuild their economies.

Laws, Ethics, and Morality: There is clear tension between traders who value the importance of Earth’s outdated technologies versus those who want to utilize Mars’ superior technology for advancement. This conflict highlights a moral dilemma surrounding progress versus preservation.

Technology and Infrastructure: The story revolves around trading cargo ships carrying various technological goods between Earth and Mars, showcasing the differences in infrastructure and technological development between the two worlds.

Political Structures and Economies: Both Earth and Mars have their own political structures, economies, and power dynamics at play which influence the nature of trade and cooperation between them. The story explores these complexities as well as individual characters’ perspectives on them.

Landscapes and Geology: The opening scene takes place in a bustling spaceport city skyline, with references to the neon lights and busy streets below reflecting an urban landscape.

Cosmology and Mythology: No direct mention of cosmology or mythology is made in this scene, but it could be implied through the use of terms like “archaic systems” and “superior technology,” suggesting a belief system where some technologies are considered more advanced than others.

I hope these two simplistic examples of how world building can inform your scene setting and even plot conflicts have been helpful. There are a lot of tools that can be used to help catalog and track the details of your world. I’ll share an overview of a few of these in my next post. I encourage you to try the simple exercises outlined in the last two posts to craft an opening scene that hints at the care you’ve placed in crafting your story’s world.

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