One potential solution to the everyone knows this is a problem is including a less-than-intelligent or less-than- educated character as a surrogate audience. In worlds where the knowledge of strange fictional histories, fantastic magics, and alien locations is mundane and commonplace, worldbuilders with an audience have to find ways of explaining these otherworldly elements to people unfamiliar with them. Including a character that never studied, is not up to date on current events, doesn’t understand even the most basic concepts of magic or future technology, or similar, is one method to aid in this endeavor.

This same solution can be applied for concepts that worldbuilders wish to leave vague (or cannot fully explain). If the audience surrogate won’t understand the explanation anyway, there’s no need for other characters (or the worldbuilder) to present them one that is fully flushed out.

Problems & Solutions

“It’s a time machine. I could explain the intricate details of how it operates, but there’s no way you would understand. Just know that this is the dial you turn to go back and forth in time and if that alarm goes off you’ve got exactly 22 minutes to fix whatever paradox you’ve created or time itself explodes. Good luck.”