Resolving tension with integrity in Fantasy/SciFi

[BetaWolf]

I think it's a matter of character perspective. A seaman third class on a nuclear submarine doesn't necessarily know how exactly the nuclear engine works, so there's no need to entirely explain its operation if the story is about how he survived his six month tour. But someone does understand, if there is need of the chief engineer explaining its operation in chapter 35 to resolve the plot.

Same with magic: an archmage will be able to explain how interdimensional travel works, with something close in complexity to quantum mechanics, but the guy who sweeps up for him and accidentally creates a portal to another dimension need not try to explain it.

 

[I_Voyager]

I think it's a matter of character perspective. A seaman third class on a nuclear submarine doesn't necessarily know how exactly the nuclear engine works, so there's no need to entirely explain its operation if the story is about how he survived his six month tour. But someone does understand, if there is need of the chief engineer explaining its operation in chapter 35 to resolve the plot.

Same with magic: an archmage will be able to explain how interdimensional travel works, with something close in complexity to quantum mechanics, but the guy who sweeps up for him and accidentally creates a portal to another dimension need not try to explain it.

I guess it depends on the purpose of the story, and the drive of the writer as well. I'm personally stimulated by science, I've seen science shape my world and I view science as having shaped our world more than the non-scientific elements. Because of this I think I'm driven to write about science being used to create or solve problems. I do study as actively topics like literary tradition, philosophy and history so I involve these things to make good characters. But ultimately, it's what we do with our tools that defines us.

We are all very different of course, and we live to be stimulated. So a good story is also one which is stimulating both to the writer and reader. If that means a writer forsakes scientific accuracy to tell a story that isn't about science, only involving science, then that's the purpose of the story and it's okay to let the tech be magical. And the device doesn't have to be explained in the story anyways, I think a well concieved idea shows even if it isn't deeply explained. But if what you're trying to do as an exercize is fit scientific integrity into your story, the portal sweeping the protagonist off to his journey should be well explained.