Scholems

Scholems are a fictional scholarly order widely featured in fantasy and speculative fiction. They are dedicated to the preservation of knowledge and the disciplined study of philosophy, science, and the arts. Members view learning as a public good and run libraries, archives, and laboratories that move between cities, monasteries, and ports.

Etymology and origins: The name derives from the Greek scholē, meaning leisure, later associated with study, and in most settings Scholem refers both to the order and to a person who channels that leisure into rigorous inquiry. The tradition is depicted as tracing back to late antique academies, with scriptoria and monasteries forming a continuous line of transmission through upheavals, reformations, and the rise of urban universities.

Organization and duties: A Scholem chapter is led by a Prefect or Master. Members are divided into Scholars (researchers), Scribes (copyists and librarians), and Archivists (curators). Recruitment is by invitation following demonstration of scholarly merit, and initiation binds members to a code emphasizing objectivity, precise citation, and protection of endangered texts. Chapters collaborate through councils and by sharing resources across a network of libraries and archival houses.

Practices and influence: The Scholems engage in philology, astronomy, mathematics, natural philosophy, and the arts. They translate, annotate, compare manuscripts, conduct experiments when appropriate, and digitize holdings where possible. In many works, Scholems serve as tutors, mediators in scholarly disputes, and neutral advisers to rulers. Their emphasis on restraint and preservation often contrasts with groups seeking to monopolize information.

See also: Academy, Library, Archivist.