How far can I push superhumanity?

[Mirannan]

Another dangerous path to thread. The more superior creatures you mention, the more I (and you readership) want to know WHY in the first place they all want to have something in common with your "usual people". Would you deal with small kids in the same way as you deal with adults? Would you condescend to children and intentionally restrict your abilities while playing with them? Yes, you can invent a good motive, but it requires very careful planning of the background. Remember that life-like characters aren't compatible with a scenery made of painted tissue paper.



Well, I got the idea. Can't say much about it without knowing the details. However, you have to answer a simple question: why your readers would be interested in a just another Captain America? Is there an element of surprise? Stereotype thinking won't do any good to you and your book.

The character is nothing like Captain America. All I was trying to do was give an idea of power level. And by the way, the real superiors stay offstage. Their only real part in the story is to give some sort of reason for Homo Superior to be where she is, at all.

I agree with you that characters in a book with demigod power level are very hard to handle - and many authors, including published ones, can't handle them very well. There is also a tendency to solve problems with the story by revealing new powers. Witness the ridiculous levels to which DC Comics characters climbed - also Marvel to a lesser extent.

 

[Wanderlog]

The character is nothing like Captain America. All I was trying to do was give an idea of power level.

I understood it. However, my point is, people love reading about themselves. They try to associate themselves with the protagonist or one of other main characters. It's sort of difficult when the characters are too advanced for a human. But this is just a general concept. In reality, everything depends on the implementation. Can you share specific details of the plot to make the discussion less theoretical and more practical?

There is also a tendency to solve problems with the story by revealing new powers.

Yes, this is inacceptable at all. I can understand the motives of such authors (well, they are forced to make new publications on schedule, no time for planning beforehand, just write/draw as quickly as you can), but it's still below the acceptable level. Ockham's razor or the KISS principle, whatever.

 

[Mirannan]

OK, Wanderlog. General plot: Norse deities are getting worried (hundreds of years after the fact, but immortals have a different perception of time) about the lack of mana or communication coming from Earth's worshippers. They send a valkyrie on detached duty to investigate and if possible sort it out. Unfortunately, they have absolutely no idea (because of the lack of communication) of the huge technological gulf or Earth's huge population, and therefore send said being to Earth fully armed, armoured and loaded for bear - in 1000AD. However, fortunately, valkyries have several magical powers including invisibility (should they choose, which they normally do) to anyone who isn't at death's door. Other powers include the gift of tongues (pretty well essential for a divine messenger, I would have thought) and the Voice of Command.

Fun and giggles result. Especially as the character, to start with, can't read or write - at least in English.

 

[Wanderlog]

Mirannan, it sounds interesting - providing you intend to write a humorous novel. If so, the plot is good, and supernatural powers of the heroine would look pretty good. Technology against magic - this is always fun if you don't take it too seriously and create a situation comedy. In this context, you shouldn't worry about naturalness of superpower. Its existence shouldn't be justified, it's just accepted as it is. The set of features you describe is reasonable. You just have to invent a valid reason why magic doesn't work as expected.

However, as a plot for a 'serious' fantasy novel, it wouldn't do. This is a well-trodden path to take, with too many clichés. Well, it's just my personal opinion, but I'd be bored to death reading it.