Omnipotence and omniscience would only be fun if you could willingly turn them off. You'd never be surprised by anything again in life, and that's no fun! There's probably all sorts of nasty truths out there in the universe I know that I'm much happier not knowing, especially about human nature. Plus video games would lose all their fun if you were omnipotent and didn't even have to try anymore!
There is a series of fantasy novels by SM Stirling that may interest you which starts with, Dies The Fire. (I always have to caution myself that it is not, in fact, called "Die In A Fire" as I usually coin it.) For reasons largely never really explained, gunpowder does just what you suggest -- and various other bits of physics don't quite work the way we expect them to (steam never quite does the trick, either). All our modern tech is effectively rendered useless.
The novels focus on various groups of survivors, largely SCAdians, Ren faire enthusiasts, pagans, and well-educated historians, who work to rebuild their own little world.
The What Iffing in the book, and the description of what and how they rebuild their world is really interesting! I loved those aspects of the series, and devoured the first novel.
In fairness I must note that I found most of the characters to be insipid and annoying, however. I thought Stirling lays it on pretty thick with reminding you that paganism becomes the operating religion of the new society in the new book. It's a new theocracy, just a pagan one. I dig what he's trying to build with the fantasy world, and it's interesting as a theme -- but in the details, it comes out more like, "Would you please pass the salt... by the way, did I mention I'm pagan?" That annoyed me quickly.
I recommend you check out the series for yourself, however. I think there's a lot about it that you'd enjoy.
There is a series of fantasy novels by SM Stirling that may interest you which starts with, Dies The Fire. (I always have to caution myself that it is not, in fact, called "Die In A Fire" as I usually coin it.) For reasons largely never really explained, gunpowder does just what you suggest -- and various other bits of physics don't quite work the way we expect them to (steam never quite does the trick, either). All our modern tech is effectively rendered useless.
The novels focus on various groups of survivors, largely SCAdians, Ren faire enthusiasts, pagans, and well-educated historians, who work to rebuild their own little world.
The What Iffing in the book, and the description of what and how they rebuild their world is really interesting! I loved those aspects of the series, and devoured the first novel.
In fairness I must note that I found most of the characters to be insipid and annoying, however. I thought Stirling lays it on pretty thick with reminding you that paganism becomes the operating religion of the new society in the new book. It's a new theocracy, just a pagan one. I dig what he's trying to build with the fantasy world, and it's interesting as a theme -- but in the details, it comes out more like, "Would you please pass the salt... by the way, did I mention I'm pagan?" That annoyed me quickly.
I recommend you check out the series for yourself, however. I think there's a lot about it that you'd enjoy.
Trace
Reply
Leave a comment