Worldbuilding in the Twilight series
I have never read the twilight books. I did try once but gave up before I could finish the first chapter. However...
almost everyone at work and some of you have read them. For that reason, I can safely say that I have heard a lot about it. I have heard theories, rants and all about Mrs. Meyer. Recently, doxys was ranting with me on the phone about Meyer's FAQ of her site. Then she send me a screen cap of something she had saved related to the topic she was ranting about. Initially, (sorry amiguita but I was busy) I didn't pay attention to anything said. Today I sit down and I'm cleaning up my computer and for the first time really read what it said.
I'm confused... how exactly did she work this out?
Here is where the confusion comes from:
FAQ from SMeyer's site:
I was always very careful when I answered the "Can vampires have babies?" question, because I didn't want to say anything incorrect, but I also didn't want to make the future super-obvious. I focused my answers on the female half of the equation-female vampires cannot have children because their bodies no longer change in any aspect. There is no changing cycle to begin with, and their bodies couldn't expand to fit a growing child, either. I purposely evaded answering the question, "Can a male vampire get a human female pregnant?" to preserve a tiny bit of surprise in the last book. There were many statements on this subject purported to have come from me, but I never made those comments because, obviously, I knew where this was going.
Now, on to the "how is this possible?" question. First of all, of course it's not possible. None of this story is possible. It's a fantasy story about creatures that don't actually exist. Within the context of the fantasy, however, this is how it works:
Vampires are physically similar enough to their human origins to pass as humans under some circumstances (like cloudy days). There are many basic differences. They appear to have skin like ours, albeit very fair skin. The skin serves the same general purpose of protecting the body. However, the cells that make up their skin are not pliant like our cells, they are hard and reflective like crystal. A fluid similar to the venom in their mouths works as a lubricant between the cells, which makes movement possible (note: this fluid is very flammable). A fluid similar to the same venom lubricates their eyes so that their eyes can move easily in their sockets. (However, they don't produce tears because tears exist to protect the eye from damage, and nothing is going to be able to scratch a vampire's eye.) The lubricant-venom in the eyes and skin is not able to infect a human the way saliva-venom can. Similarly, throughout the vampire's body are many versions of venom-based fluids that retain a marked resemblance to the fluid that was replaced, and function in much the same way and toward the same purpose. Though there is no venom replacement that works precisely like blood, many of the functions of blood are carried on in some form. Also, the nervous system runs in a slightly different but heightened way. Some involuntary reactions, like breathing, continue (in that specific example because vampires use the scents in the air much more than we do, rather than out of a need for oxygen). Other involuntary reactions, like blinking, don't exist because there is no purpose for them. The normal reactions of arousal are still present in vampires, made possible by venom-related fluids that cause tissues to react similarly as they do to an influx of blood. Like with vampire skin-which looks similar to human skin and has the same basic function-fluids closely related to seminal fluids still exist in male vampires, which carry genetic information and are capable of bonding with a human ovum. This was not a known fact in the vampire world (outside of Joham's personal experimenting) before Nessie, because it's nearly impossible for a vampire to be that near a human and not kill her.
I didn't get into all of these details at my signings because it's a long, complicated mouthful. Also, it's hard to be clearly heard with all the screaming. Mostly, though, I waited to do this in writing because I have an immature, Homer Simpson-like tendency to giggle when I say the words "seminal fluids" in public.
Emphasis mine.
Wow... how do I start? I get really ticked off by people who answer with "is fantasy!" Ok fine, it is fantasy but that doesn't mean it has to be poorly handle. We all get it but I like to know that there is a mechanics towards that explanation. It's not just because you felt a whim of it and did it.
What Doxys was ranting on the phone was that she seemed to back track herself when in twilight lexicon there had been some questions posted asked by someone and at that time Meyer had said no. Here is the screen cap that Doxys was talking about:
I hate to say this, but even if she only focus on the female part, the answer was still a round NO. There is no going around it and I don't see a way to get out from it. It makes no sense that anyone would ask if male vampires can have babies when to begin with, men don't have babies!!! To put the cherry on top there is a clear NO there that puts a kabosh on the whole thing. It even makes sense that she would focus on woman since (again) we are the ones who actually give birth, not men. Duh!
Then it's the whole biology issue. You know biology used to be one of my favorite subjects in schools. However, I'm either going stupid or something is wrong with her answer. I can't understand a word of what she's trying to explain. Perhaps one of you understands it, but don't bother explaining them. At this point she's starting to creep me out.
This week smartbitches had an article about Edward and his stalker behivour, and it disturbs anyone that's ever seen stuff like this. This is what irks me about the whole thing. It really tickes me off when people dismiss stuff like this with "It's just fantasy." It maybe 'just fantasy' but it still not a good model to live by, not even for a fictional character. Then it's the whole issue of reality that I have with the whole thing. I believe it was Steven King on his book On writing that said: "There is more truth in fiction that in some non-fiction books."
I can't say how much I agree with him on that. Yes, there is an amount of reality in fiction and that's where the problem with Edward comes for me. Mind you, I haven't read twilight, but I have certainlly heard enough. I can concede that perhaps Meyer didn't exactly wrote him with that purpose, but it's a standard that I don't understand why she didn't think about twice when she wrote it. This is perhaps why Twilight wasn't my cup of tea. I like my heroine and hero with a life, and personality, on their own before they can be toguether.
Then you have the whole 'forever' issue that really creeps me out. If you could live forever, would you? Maybe it's just me, but it's not my idea of joy watching my children, parents and family die and me get stuck in a forever state with nobody around. Yes, Edward and Bella are toguether but Forever is a long time and let's face most marriages don't work out. What happens when you don't get along? It's like the Peter pan sindrome that also creeps me out. Stuck in a state forever with no chance of change or development. ::Shudders::: I know I'm overanalizing the situation; because after all this is fantasy, right? It just works out! ::Shudders again:
almost everyone at work and some of you have read them. For that reason, I can safely say that I have heard a lot about it. I have heard theories, rants and all about Mrs. Meyer. Recently, doxys was ranting with me on the phone about Meyer's FAQ of her site. Then she send me a screen cap of something she had saved related to the topic she was ranting about. Initially, (sorry amiguita but I was busy) I didn't pay attention to anything said. Today I sit down and I'm cleaning up my computer and for the first time really read what it said.
I'm confused... how exactly did she work this out?
Here is where the confusion comes from:
FAQ from SMeyer's site:
I was always very careful when I answered the "Can vampires have babies?" question, because I didn't want to say anything incorrect, but I also didn't want to make the future super-obvious. I focused my answers on the female half of the equation-female vampires cannot have children because their bodies no longer change in any aspect. There is no changing cycle to begin with, and their bodies couldn't expand to fit a growing child, either. I purposely evaded answering the question, "Can a male vampire get a human female pregnant?" to preserve a tiny bit of surprise in the last book. There were many statements on this subject purported to have come from me, but I never made those comments because, obviously, I knew where this was going.
Now, on to the "how is this possible?" question. First of all, of course it's not possible. None of this story is possible. It's a fantasy story about creatures that don't actually exist. Within the context of the fantasy, however, this is how it works:
Vampires are physically similar enough to their human origins to pass as humans under some circumstances (like cloudy days). There are many basic differences. They appear to have skin like ours, albeit very fair skin. The skin serves the same general purpose of protecting the body. However, the cells that make up their skin are not pliant like our cells, they are hard and reflective like crystal. A fluid similar to the venom in their mouths works as a lubricant between the cells, which makes movement possible (note: this fluid is very flammable). A fluid similar to the same venom lubricates their eyes so that their eyes can move easily in their sockets. (However, they don't produce tears because tears exist to protect the eye from damage, and nothing is going to be able to scratch a vampire's eye.) The lubricant-venom in the eyes and skin is not able to infect a human the way saliva-venom can. Similarly, throughout the vampire's body are many versions of venom-based fluids that retain a marked resemblance to the fluid that was replaced, and function in much the same way and toward the same purpose. Though there is no venom replacement that works precisely like blood, many of the functions of blood are carried on in some form. Also, the nervous system runs in a slightly different but heightened way. Some involuntary reactions, like breathing, continue (in that specific example because vampires use the scents in the air much more than we do, rather than out of a need for oxygen). Other involuntary reactions, like blinking, don't exist because there is no purpose for them. The normal reactions of arousal are still present in vampires, made possible by venom-related fluids that cause tissues to react similarly as they do to an influx of blood. Like with vampire skin-which looks similar to human skin and has the same basic function-fluids closely related to seminal fluids still exist in male vampires, which carry genetic information and are capable of bonding with a human ovum. This was not a known fact in the vampire world (outside of Joham's personal experimenting) before Nessie, because it's nearly impossible for a vampire to be that near a human and not kill her.
I didn't get into all of these details at my signings because it's a long, complicated mouthful. Also, it's hard to be clearly heard with all the screaming. Mostly, though, I waited to do this in writing because I have an immature, Homer Simpson-like tendency to giggle when I say the words "seminal fluids" in public.
Emphasis mine.
Wow... how do I start? I get really ticked off by people who answer with "is fantasy!" Ok fine, it is fantasy but that doesn't mean it has to be poorly handle. We all get it but I like to know that there is a mechanics towards that explanation. It's not just because you felt a whim of it and did it.
What Doxys was ranting on the phone was that she seemed to back track herself when in twilight lexicon there had been some questions posted asked by someone and at that time Meyer had said no. Here is the screen cap that Doxys was talking about:
I hate to say this, but even if she only focus on the female part, the answer was still a round NO. There is no going around it and I don't see a way to get out from it. It makes no sense that anyone would ask if male vampires can have babies when to begin with, men don't have babies!!! To put the cherry on top there is a clear NO there that puts a kabosh on the whole thing. It even makes sense that she would focus on woman since (again) we are the ones who actually give birth, not men. Duh!
Then it's the whole biology issue. You know biology used to be one of my favorite subjects in schools. However, I'm either going stupid or something is wrong with her answer. I can't understand a word of what she's trying to explain. Perhaps one of you understands it, but don't bother explaining them. At this point she's starting to creep me out.
This week smartbitches had an article about Edward and his stalker behivour, and it disturbs anyone that's ever seen stuff like this. This is what irks me about the whole thing. It really tickes me off when people dismiss stuff like this with "It's just fantasy." It maybe 'just fantasy' but it still not a good model to live by, not even for a fictional character. Then it's the whole issue of reality that I have with the whole thing. I believe it was Steven King on his book On writing that said: "There is more truth in fiction that in some non-fiction books."
I can't say how much I agree with him on that. Yes, there is an amount of reality in fiction and that's where the problem with Edward comes for me. Mind you, I haven't read twilight, but I have certainlly heard enough. I can concede that perhaps Meyer didn't exactly wrote him with that purpose, but it's a standard that I don't understand why she didn't think about twice when she wrote it. This is perhaps why Twilight wasn't my cup of tea. I like my heroine and hero with a life, and personality, on their own before they can be toguether.
Then you have the whole 'forever' issue that really creeps me out. If you could live forever, would you? Maybe it's just me, but it's not my idea of joy watching my children, parents and family die and me get stuck in a forever state with nobody around. Yes, Edward and Bella are toguether but Forever is a long time and let's face most marriages don't work out. What happens when you don't get along? It's like the Peter pan sindrome that also creeps me out. Stuck in a state forever with no chance of change or development. ::Shudders::: I know I'm overanalizing the situation; because after all this is fantasy, right? It just works out! ::Shudders again: