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Goddamn. Didn’t realize schools/universities were such a major element in world building. Now I have to add one to my fictional universe.
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Question: What are examples of fictional weird universities/schools? Eg. Hogwarts, Professor X's Mutant School, Unseen University in Discworld... what are some other good ones. Especially that aren't just lazy ports of ordinary schools but have some unique worldbuilding.
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It might be easier to list major works that do *not* feature a school/university/education folkway. The Culture series comes to mind. There appear to be no significant educational institutions. Everyone is kinda an autodidact, though SC agents seem to get some training.
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In light of the responses, the Primer in Diamond Age looks weaksauce Even the best AI-based turking-tutor can’t compete with a learning community.
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Fictional schools and universities also seem to be usually imagined in anti-authoritarian ways. Faculty might have some limited power over students and administration some very limited procedural power, but in general authoritarianism and schooling together = crisis in fiction
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Notable that where imagined in any detail at all, schools and universities tend to be portrayed as significant independent power centers, uncaptured by any external interests. Institutional first-class citizens. Probably a conceit of writers who tend to value their educations.
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