Bethany
asked
Scott Hawkins:
This question contains spoilers…
(view spoiler)[Hi, Scott! I just finished reading Mt. Char, and it was definitely an experience like no other! I did have a question though - it was a hilariously macabre image that Carolyn had Steve’s heart in a Ziploc in the fridge. But then later on, there a couple specific mentions of Steve’s heart pounding in his chest, and the one in the Ziploc is never mentioned again. When did he get his heart back? Or was that just a spare? (hide spoiler)]
Scott Hawkins
This answer contains spoilers…
(view spoiler)[Hey Bethany,
Spoilery spoilers about.
Steve got his heart back through the it-totally-isn't-magic of Library Medicine. On the night when Carolyn took him to the detective's house, she cut out the original heart and put it in the baggie for David, as requested.
However, following her own fiendish plan, she needed Steve back. Remember near the end when she got the spear hole in her leg? Steve fetched a bag of powder from one of the houses. Carolyn packed her leg with that, and five minutes later she was walking around like nothing happened.
She used the same stuff to fix Steve's heart. Probably she stole a bag from Jennifer at some point.
In terms of mechanism--let's say it was a granulated bag of raw materials mixed in with super-advanced nano bots. When you get a wound, pack it with the powder and wait ten minutes. The nano-bots sample the surrounding DNA, construct a mental image of what's missing, and stitch the raw proteins (or whatever) in the powder back into muscle, intestine, skin... It can fix up most physical wounds, but it requires a certain amount of intelligent tending. If you just dropped an amputated finger in a vat of the stuff, it wouldn't spit back a whole person.
Admittedly, that that's a little hand-wavey. I kind of went back and forth on how much detail to give for that kind of stuff.
HTH,
Scott (hide spoiler)]
Spoilery spoilers about.
Steve got his heart back through the it-totally-isn't-magic of Library Medicine. On the night when Carolyn took him to the detective's house, she cut out the original heart and put it in the baggie for David, as requested.
However, following her own fiendish plan, she needed Steve back. Remember near the end when she got the spear hole in her leg? Steve fetched a bag of powder from one of the houses. Carolyn packed her leg with that, and five minutes later she was walking around like nothing happened.
She used the same stuff to fix Steve's heart. Probably she stole a bag from Jennifer at some point.
In terms of mechanism--let's say it was a granulated bag of raw materials mixed in with super-advanced nano bots. When you get a wound, pack it with the powder and wait ten minutes. The nano-bots sample the surrounding DNA, construct a mental image of what's missing, and stitch the raw proteins (or whatever) in the powder back into muscle, intestine, skin... It can fix up most physical wounds, but it requires a certain amount of intelligent tending. If you just dropped an amputated finger in a vat of the stuff, it wouldn't spit back a whole person.
Admittedly, that that's a little hand-wavey. I kind of went back and forth on how much detail to give for that kind of stuff.
HTH,
Scott (hide spoiler)]
More Answered Questions
Belinda Lewis
asked
Scott Hawkins:
Mostly I just want to say that I read it twice in a row. It was that good. So thank you. Also thanks for the Afrikaans, that doesn't happen often. So that I have a question: Do you have a particular interest in languages? (Over and above obviously being an author). Choice of carolyn's category + the language of the hunt + invented language + being a programmer seems to indicate that's a possibility.
Lukasz
asked
Scott Hawkins:
Hi Scott, Is there a chance short story in Mount Char world that you mentioned on few occasions will see daylight any time soon? I've just finished Library and I'm in awe. And I need some fix. Sure, I can get your Linux book but I would prefer Mount Char based one ;) Best and thank you for crafting such a marvelous lecture.
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