http://www.flickr.com/photos/80101778@N00/45052363Quantum Hand-Wavy Science, the quiet driving force behind all great superhero stories. Without Quantum Hand-Wavy Science, there would be no superheroes or supervillains. It is that important.
Because there is no such thing as laser eyes and the ability to turn invisible or fly, writers have to manipulate the fabric of reality and invent science that doesn’t exist. And the truth is, writers aren’t rocket scientists. We probably aren’t even real sure what gamma radiation is in the real world, let alone in our fake one. So it’s nigh impossible to find some weird little loophole we can exploit to explain why Superman can fly into space without any undesirable side-effects. Like death.
So we do what I like to call Quantum Hand-Wavy Science. It’s when you take some fake science and you dress it up with a lot of real world science to make it sound pretty convincing, and voila. You’ve got the invention of the Zeta Beam. Get a science character talking about splitting particles and laser refractors and you practically sound like you’ve got a PH.D in SCIENCE. No one needs to know the difference. Not when we’ve got fancy words doing all the work for us.
Which is not entirely fair. Writers do research. In the science fiction superhero world though, you’ve got to make most of the science up. And that’s fine! Where would we be if we couldn’t make stuff up?
The important thing is knowing a) How your Quantum Hand-Wavy Science works and b) Making sure it always works this way. As long as you are consistent and thorough with the quantum pieces, then the hand-wavy part will do the rest.
Readers want to believe. Readers love the idea that vampires will fall in love with us and make us immortal, nevermind how much they want vamps to actually exist. Readers want to believe in fairy kingdoms. Readers want to know that it’s totally possible that one day they might walk into the middle of a radioactive zeta beam experiment and be accidentally gifted with the powers of super strength, speed, and invulnerability. You really don’t have to lead the horse to water. It’s already there with its bathing suit on. As long as your fake quantum rules make sense as written and that they always work the way you establish, readers will always believe.
(Please see the letter “W” for “Willing Suspension of Disbelief” for more discussion on this topic.)
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Sommer
My name is Sommer and I'm a writer from the Midwest. I am currently working on a YA novel about superheroes, reading as much as I can, blogging, and saving the world.
[...] decide HOW it does work, show examples and give reasons – even if those reasons are based on Quantum Hand-Wavy Science – you must never deviate from those rules. Once set, they are for always, or unless you can come [...]
i am amazed at the advances in teleportation as i research for my ms! and as long as what we say sounds plausible, it’s perfect! you’re right, people (like me) want to believe =)
Just like raising kids—some of the rules might sound outrageous to them, but if you’re consistent, they have no choice but to believe
Quantum hand wavy science – I like it.
I usually look the facts up on Wikipedia and find ways to
exploitbend them to fit the rules of my story.I recently stopped reading a YA book because it was trying to establish a scientific reason for its dystopian society and it just did not work. I had a zillion questions in my head, and when I looked up a discussion online from other readers, everyone else had the same issues. Even if it’s made up, it has to make sense! Also a virus and a genetic manipulation are NOT the same thing!
Visiting the A-Z blogging list and this post made me smile!!! The title alone was worth a grin! And the comment about the horse already waiting with its bathing suit on.
I’m writing SF right and making up lots of quantum hand-wavy things (with a little bit of research) – so much fun – good point about being consistent too.
You better trademark this term, STAT!
Haha, yes I should.
I’ve been re-watching a couple of episodes of the 9-10-11 Doctor Who and the number of times they cross their own timelines and break every cardinal rule (for plot development) the Doctor insists upon (for plot navigation) is truly a thing to behold. As is the Doctor’s variable attention to and caring for killing.
Eesh.
I couldn’t tell you have telepathy and teleportation work, but I have been consistent at least.