tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19727420.post2488000339417234209..comments2024-03-23T12:05:13.464-07:00Comments on Ideas: My Critique of Internal Consistency in Novik's Scholomance BooksDavid Friedmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06543763515095867595noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19727420.post-32073848865618944942023-01-26T06:09:32.822-08:002023-01-26T06:09:32.822-08:00Agree with those points. Few authors manage to mak...Agree with those points. Few authors manage to make a world entirely consistent.<br /><br />The problem with the death-rate not matching family size is an almost universal one in fantasy. (Usually it shows up as a small cities having multiple murders every night due to bar brawls, cultists, monsters, gang fights and so on and at the same time no one thinking this is unusual or they should get away as quickly as possible.) <br />I put it down to authors wanting to create a dangerous world to create tension and at the same time not wanting to introduce too many characters to keep track of. So most characters will be orphans or have very small families.Ayreonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08808895986496710020noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19727420.post-67721188463523384932023-01-23T12:17:42.535-08:002023-01-23T12:17:42.535-08:00As a fellow fan, I agree you've got good criti...As a fellow fan, I agree you've got good critiques. However, I think Novik's worldbuilding can be saved on two of these points:<br /><br />* Regarding the gym, we've seen space being variable - especially in the London enclave, and also I seem to recall the corridors in the Scholomance not staying the same length. So, I think it's totally possible for the gym to expand on Field Day. Of course, if this's the case, our narrator El should say so.<br /><br />* Regarding the cleaning machinery in the graduation hall, there'd be incentives for the appointed Rewrapping Team to fall down on their duty. They'd be putting themselves at risk, for a benefit going entirely to other people, and a duty that no one will even know till next year (if then!) whether they've completed. It could work, but I'd judge it as not reliable in the long run. I'm honestly not sure how the characters would judge this plan in the books, and I would've loved to hear the debate.<br /><br />* Regarding the birthrate and family size... yeah, no argument there. All we can do is wave our hands really fast and say that every family we hear of is unusual.Evan Þhttp://papyrusrampant.substack.comnoreply@blogger.com