This gets a bit harsh, but, I think you might want to analyze it as it’s probably a very valid view for a ‘dane. This is a nutshell version of my major problems with Fenspace, and why, usually, I only do extraneous and humorous things with it.
As an “outside” point of view, I’ll put my two cents worth in.
Handwavium, much to the contrary of other posters (no offense), does violate the laws of physics. It might be following some obscure, as-yet, undiscovered laws of Quantum Physics, but that doesn’t make it any better. On numerous occasions it is seen violating the laws of conservation of energy. Claiming that it’s doing so because it’s following laws of physics we haven’t discovered yet doesn’t change the fact that it is violating the laws we do understand. To make matters worse not all handwaved objects violate the same laws in the same way.
It is completely unpredictable. Sure, you can apply it to a car and get a space-capable car, but how? That doesn’t make any sense. Where is this ability coming from? How is it doing all this? If you apply handwavium to a ’68 VW Bug, you have the ability to drive into space even though there is no capability for the vehicle to do so under even the most generous interpretations of the laws of physics. The fact that numerous ‘waved devices work better under esoteric circumstances (specific music playing) further removes it from any level of science.
It is at least sentient, if not truly sapient. Handwavium has a personality, and consequently, it has to have some form of intelligence. The issue comes to us that if it is intelligent, and possibly sapient, what do we do when it turns against us? What do we do with the people who have willingly fused themselves with an unknowable, alien intelligence?
The other shoe is orbital. Seriously, the other shoe is going to drop, and when it does it’s going to be an extinction-level event. How many people will die when Handwavium “turns off?” Sure, all the authors who have complete control over their stories say “that will never happen” but, from an outside perspective, or even an inside, in-world perspective where they lack such omnipotence, it’s terrifying. It’s not hard to understand why the ‘danes are terrified of the Fen and why they’re happy to not have them on Earth. People who are willing to risk their lives with a substance that is not understood are dangerous to have around.
There was a great line in the Jurassic Park novel. It was paraphrased in the movie, and, honestly, I’m going to paraphrase as well, because my novel has been destroyed, I haven’t replaced it yet and I’m aiming it at the Fen: The lack of humility before science it terrifying. The Fen haven’t earned their place in space, they got there by standing on a miracle. They wield this power like a kid who has found his father’s gun and has no understanding of the consequences of his actions. There has been no discipline to get where they are, and they think that they are owed something for having got this far though they have not done anything to earn it.
Handwavium is a totchkey of plot device elevated to a main character. Best case—Handwavium is magic and has the same plot and story issues as magic. Worst case, it’s a form of grey goo being controlled by an alien intellect that has plans for Earth.
Again, that’s just my five cents worth.
As an “outside” point of view, I’ll put my two cents worth in.
Handwavium, much to the contrary of other posters (no offense), does violate the laws of physics. It might be following some obscure, as-yet, undiscovered laws of Quantum Physics, but that doesn’t make it any better. On numerous occasions it is seen violating the laws of conservation of energy. Claiming that it’s doing so because it’s following laws of physics we haven’t discovered yet doesn’t change the fact that it is violating the laws we do understand. To make matters worse not all handwaved objects violate the same laws in the same way.
It is completely unpredictable. Sure, you can apply it to a car and get a space-capable car, but how? That doesn’t make any sense. Where is this ability coming from? How is it doing all this? If you apply handwavium to a ’68 VW Bug, you have the ability to drive into space even though there is no capability for the vehicle to do so under even the most generous interpretations of the laws of physics. The fact that numerous ‘waved devices work better under esoteric circumstances (specific music playing) further removes it from any level of science.
It is at least sentient, if not truly sapient. Handwavium has a personality, and consequently, it has to have some form of intelligence. The issue comes to us that if it is intelligent, and possibly sapient, what do we do when it turns against us? What do we do with the people who have willingly fused themselves with an unknowable, alien intelligence?
The other shoe is orbital. Seriously, the other shoe is going to drop, and when it does it’s going to be an extinction-level event. How many people will die when Handwavium “turns off?” Sure, all the authors who have complete control over their stories say “that will never happen” but, from an outside perspective, or even an inside, in-world perspective where they lack such omnipotence, it’s terrifying. It’s not hard to understand why the ‘danes are terrified of the Fen and why they’re happy to not have them on Earth. People who are willing to risk their lives with a substance that is not understood are dangerous to have around.
There was a great line in the Jurassic Park novel. It was paraphrased in the movie, and, honestly, I’m going to paraphrase as well, because my novel has been destroyed, I haven’t replaced it yet and I’m aiming it at the Fen: The lack of humility before science it terrifying. The Fen haven’t earned their place in space, they got there by standing on a miracle. They wield this power like a kid who has found his father’s gun and has no understanding of the consequences of his actions. There has been no discipline to get where they are, and they think that they are owed something for having got this far though they have not done anything to earn it.
Handwavium is a totchkey of plot device elevated to a main character. Best case—Handwavium is magic and has the same plot and story issues as magic. Worst case, it’s a form of grey goo being controlled by an alien intellect that has plans for Earth.
Again, that’s just my five cents worth.