What IF

[Olivier]

Hello!

Someone U Know (I wonder who):

>>> What if Don Rosa The duck Master wasn't An Engineer
>>> How his engineering Sense affected his Stories and His Art

Then he probably wouldn't write such stories as "A Matter of Gravity" and "On Stolen Time".
A writer without a scientific background surely can come up with such ideas ("The Universal
Solvent", for instance), then do some research; yet when you are already well-versed in the subject,
the thinking and writing (certainly?) is easier.

First, the difference must be most apparent in the details (the depressurization consequent ot the
Solvent boring through the Earth).
Then, possibly in the way the story is written-- I'd need to read them again to discuss this
particular point.

Story-wise, and more generally (ie, besides SF), I believe the rigorous logic in all the stories is
one of  the resulting characteristics; surely, any good writer will display such logic, and all
scientists may not be that rigorous.

I believe that the scientific background actually is more a "symptom" than a "cause"; ie, Don Rosa's
stories are so rigorous and logical and detailed because that's how Keno Don Rosa's mind works
naturally; his becoming an engineer in a sense is incidental, a consequence of  such traits, not the
reason. Had he studied economics or something else, he would still have been capable of  writing
such stories as L&T-- but he might not have been interested in writing SF.

I'm not sure I was clear. What I mean is that rigor / logic / attention to detail  are not the
result of  scientific training: they precede it.
Therefore, Don Rosa's stories are not writen that way because he is an engineer but because he
naturally has such a frame of  mind; I think the only effect of  his scientific background on his
writing is that it inspires him science fiction stories (ie, more easily than a non-scientist
writer).

Now, what if:
a/ a medical doctor wrote duck stories? Would the ducks be sick all the time or look for long-lost
medicines?
b/ a financier wrote duck stories? Would he focus on Scrooge? On the origins of his fortune and the
way he manages his money? More treasures to seek?
c/ an ornithologist (Theresa? ;) ) wrote duck stories? Would the stories be more concerned with
nature? Truer-to-facts? Maybe ducks & ganders really don't like each other.
d/ Stan Lee wrote duck stories? Would they turn out to be human mutants (D-Men?)?
c/ Shakespeare was actually thinking of  ducks, geese, dogs and ganders when he wrote his plays?



Olivier