I’d second the Young Wizards as an awesome read, although I wouldn’t really call it sci-fi (or rational). More like fantasy with a thin jargon veneer. It’s got strong protagonists of both genders and a very positive tone overall (I’m reminded of MoR!Harry saying ‘If Light winning is a problem, let the Light win again’)
Well there was that one book in the middle of the series which is basically pro-death (ends with one of the characters choosing not to be completely cured because then their whole life would become about not dying rather than appreciating the time they had), but I would still say that the overall message is highly anti-death
The Wizard’s oath was specifically about fighting entropy, and that’s problematic because living things depend on entropy. Fighting entropy isn’t the same as fighting death.
II just looked up the wording of the oath, and entropy doesn’t actually enter into it (it also does say “I will put aside fear for courage, and death for life.”) It’s true that the characters often talk about fighting entropy, but it doesn’t seem like it’s ever been an accurate description of what they do.
I’d second the Young Wizards as an awesome read, although I wouldn’t really call it sci-fi (or rational). More like fantasy with a thin jargon veneer. It’s got strong protagonists of both genders and a very positive tone overall (I’m reminded of MoR!Harry saying ‘If Light winning is a problem, let the Light win again’)
IIRC, Duane eventually put something in to the effect that fighting entropy is an over-simplified goal, but I don’t remember which book that was in.
Well there was that one book in the middle of the series which is basically pro-death (ends with one of the characters choosing not to be completely cured because then their whole life would become about not dying rather than appreciating the time they had), but I would still say that the overall message is highly anti-death
The Wizard’s oath was specifically about fighting entropy, and that’s problematic because living things depend on entropy. Fighting entropy isn’t the same as fighting death.
II just looked up the wording of the oath, and entropy doesn’t actually enter into it (it also does say “I will put aside fear for courage, and death for life.”) It’s true that the characters often talk about fighting entropy, but it doesn’t seem like it’s ever been an accurate description of what they do.