Forum: Story Discussion and Feedback

Keeping Them Straight

WinePaul 🚫

I think it's funny that three serials I'm reading now have much the same theme, and I have a bit of trouble keeping them straight when I get a new chapter.

We have Lumpy's Imperium series (now Sands of Saturn), somethin fishy's Medieval Marine (Repercussions) and Banadin's Cast in Time. All have a modern (or futuristic) man sent back in time and reindustrializing their society.

All three are excellent, and it only takes a second to remember where each one is in their progress.

Three different tales, and it's interesting to see how each goes about their business. I mean, if I got sent back in time, I'd know about soap & water and sanitation, but gunpowder? Making steel? I don't think I'd be much use to a pre-industrial society.

Replies: StarFleet Carl

StarFleet Carl 🚫

@WinePaul

gunpowder

Sulfur, charcoal, nitre (potassium nitrate). It's the proportions that I'm not mentioning here.

Medieval Marine (Repercussions)

I'm reading all three of them as well. They're all great, just Fishy needs a bit more proofreading / error catching. Luke and Ky have advantages in that they have computers, but Ky's is so advanced, he has to dumb things down even more. Luke could have all of Wikipedia on his computer, since it's downloadable NOW, for us, and he's closer in time to where he ended up. Poor Jim just has his memory.

Replies: Paladin_HGWT

Paladin_HGWT 🚫

@StarFleet Carl

Poor Jim just has his memory.

The setting of the story is the equivalent of Post-Roman Britain, c.450 A.D., so with Jim's extraordinary education, he can replicate significant advancements with his general knowledge, and specific information about history, military matters, and engineering.

Jim's knowledge of agriculture is general, just a few rather basic ideas make a significant difference. Mostly because he has the power to allocate a significant amount of local resources.

One thing I like about the story is the "primitives" have quite a bit of knowledge, in particular local conditions, or specifics about local agriculture. In that era agricultural surpluses have limited utility. Jim is able to utilize the growing surpluses, and has created viable incentives.

I don't want to give more away.

From the beginning of the story; Jim wishes to be able to use his lifetime of education.

That is the premise of the story, and it is being well presented.

Replies: jiecut

jiecut 🚫

@Paladin_HGWT

Ah yes, his lifetime of education and experience. He's not that vulnerable. He has a multitude of degrees and a photographic memory.

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Forum: Story Discussion and Feedback

Keeping Them Straight

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