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mtbcAs a teenager I read some books where there was some kind of quantitative science of magic such that for a powerful spell one might calculate the number of mages or whatever one would need; I don't recall titles or author.
Anyhow, very commonly in fiction there is some kind of conservation of life or other kind of balance: sacrifice one to resurrect another, that kind of thing. This is somewhat true in science fiction as well as fantasy: I'm reminded of
I suppose that such laws of balance are a useful plot device: they create some conflict, tension and pathos and prevent one's powers from being used wantonly to achieve goals too easily. I guess there's another popular device: from not spending too long inside one's direwolf to not too habitually wearing the One Ring, there is significant cost to overly employing these abilities. Even a powerful hero should have to struggle and decide.
Still, given the lack of conservation-of-life in real life, I couldn't help but be struck by its ubiquity in fiction.
Anyhow, very commonly in fiction there is some kind of conservation of life or other kind of balance: sacrifice one to resurrect another, that kind of thing. This is somewhat true in science fiction as well as fantasy: I'm reminded of
Mawdryn Undead. Whereas, in real life, longevity isn't at all conserved: at least on average we get to live for longer simply through a more healthful lifestyle. I might donate bone marrow, an unnatural procedure indeed, but I get to fully recover afterward.
I suppose that such laws of balance are a useful plot device: they create some conflict, tension and pathos and prevent one's powers from being used wantonly to achieve goals too easily. I guess there's another popular device: from not spending too long inside one's direwolf to not too habitually wearing the One Ring, there is significant cost to overly employing these abilities. Even a powerful hero should have to struggle and decide.
Still, given the lack of conservation-of-life in real life, I couldn't help but be struck by its ubiquity in fiction.
