Catherine Nemeth
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
In one of Barbara Hambly’s fantasy series wizards/magic use had been outlawed/severely curtailed because the world was entering an Industrial Revolution and it's so easy for a wizard to wreck machinery for paid industrial sabotage or personal animus. Given how demons shed chaos (Otta/Atto in weaving room, sorcerers on boats), do you have any thoughts as to what may happen to sorcerers if/when the Wot5G has an IR?
Lois McMaster Bujold
Interesting thought, and no, I haven't explored the notion. There might be an uptick in adherents to the Quadrene heresy...
That said, there is some question if, in a world where magic demonstrably works, the brainpower might all go off in pursuit of magic and theology instead of science. However, since mages are a very limited resource, there would still be plenty of motivation for practical labor-saving devices for everyone else. It would be good to get enough alternate power sources going to pull the plug on most slavery, to be sure.
Ta, L.
Interesting thought, and no, I haven't explored the notion. There might be an uptick in adherents to the Quadrene heresy...
That said, there is some question if, in a world where magic demonstrably works, the brainpower might all go off in pursuit of magic and theology instead of science. However, since mages are a very limited resource, there would still be plenty of motivation for practical labor-saving devices for everyone else. It would be good to get enough alternate power sources going to pull the plug on most slavery, to be sure.
Ta, L.
More Answered Questions
Kalen Delaney
asked
Lois McMaster Bujold:
Reading Sharing Knife for the 4th or 5th time, and just finished the part where Dag sees inside the woman with appendicitis. I started thinking that was very similar to what Pen&Des can do. Then I realized that when Dag gives a 'ground reinforcement', it's almost exactly the same as Pen giving a dose of 'uphill magic'. Imagine my excitement! Have you ever thought that there are people who can actually do that?
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