Comments on: The Art of Science Fiction: Challenges Writers Face in the Sci-fi Genre http://freeself-publishing.com/2008/02/19/the-art-of-science-fiction-challenges-writers-face-in-the-sci-fi-genre/ Maintained by the Wordclay content team Wed, 19 Nov 2008 04:38:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU hourly 1 By: jdimos http://freeself-publishing.com/2008/02/19/the-art-of-science-fiction-challenges-writers-face-in-the-sci-fi-genre/#comment-80 jdimos Mon, 25 Feb 2008 16:38:14 +0000 http://freeself-publishing.com/?p=25#comment-80 I agree...the best scifi is the kind that achieves a balance between exposition and character development, and that's the kind of scifi I want to read, definitely! I agree…the best scifi is the kind that achieves a balance between exposition and character development, and that’s the kind of scifi I want to read, definitely!

]]> By: Barry Davidson http://freeself-publishing.com/2008/02/19/the-art-of-science-fiction-challenges-writers-face-in-the-sci-fi-genre/#comment-77 Barry Davidson Fri, 22 Feb 2008 22:11:53 +0000 http://freeself-publishing.com/?p=25#comment-77 The one thing that saddens me more than any other when dealing with scifi and fantasy, is that publishers are all into the, "Show don't tell," scene. I find myself skipping half of the books to get on with the story. You can tell me that the characters are in an arena sized room with self-opening doors, and I can form the picture in my head perfectly well. If there's something special in that room, describe it briefly and I'll get it. What I don't like is a five page description of every minute detail, and one page of actual dialog, action and character interactions. Too much is too much in my opinion. Just recently I read a book in the scifi genre, and if I took out all the frivolous description (a 600+ page book) I'd wind up with a 100 page story. The one thing that saddens me more than any other when dealing with scifi and fantasy, is that publishers are all into the, “Show don’t tell,” scene. I find myself skipping half of the books to get on with the story.

You can tell me that the characters are in an arena sized room with self-opening doors, and I can form the picture in my head perfectly well. If there’s something special in that room, describe it briefly and I’ll get it. What I don’t like is a five page description of every minute detail, and one page of actual dialog, action and character interactions. Too much is too much in my opinion.

Just recently I read a book in the scifi genre, and if I took out all the frivolous description (a 600+ page book) I’d wind up with a 100 page story.

]]> By: jdimos http://freeself-publishing.com/2008/02/19/the-art-of-science-fiction-challenges-writers-face-in-the-sci-fi-genre/#comment-70 jdimos Thu, 21 Feb 2008 13:58:32 +0000 http://freeself-publishing.com/?p=25#comment-70 Another good point. A philosophy club is a great place to get ideas for science fiction, because often the futuristic worlds and characters represent ideas. Seems to me the trick is to mix the ideas with believable and sympathetic characters, without being gimmicky that is. Let's just hope your neighbor doesn't invite the philosophers over for a party - from what I hear they can get pretty rowdy, considering all that deductive reasoning and metaphysical contemplation! Another good point. A philosophy club is a great place to get ideas for science fiction, because often the futuristic worlds and characters represent ideas. Seems to me the trick is to mix the ideas with believable and sympathetic characters, without being gimmicky that is. Let’s just hope your neighbor doesn’t invite the philosophers over for a party - from what I hear they can get pretty rowdy, considering all that deductive reasoning and metaphysical contemplation!

]]> By: Science Fiction Reader http://freeself-publishing.com/2008/02/19/the-art-of-science-fiction-challenges-writers-face-in-the-sci-fi-genre/#comment-69 Science Fiction Reader Thu, 21 Feb 2008 00:43:34 +0000 http://freeself-publishing.com/?p=25#comment-69 I can sympathize, a fairly well known (I wont metion the name) science fiction writer lives behind me. One strange fellow - keeps odd hours - but what I really admire is that to get a lot of his ideas he hangs out with a philosophy club every Saturday. They discuss specific philosophy topics each night and it helps him create worlds and characters for his books. I can sympathize, a fairly well known (I wont metion the name) science fiction writer lives behind me. One strange fellow - keeps odd hours - but what I really admire is that to get a lot of his ideas he hangs out with a philosophy club every Saturday. They discuss specific philosophy topics each night and it helps him create worlds and characters for his books.

]]> By: jdimos http://freeself-publishing.com/2008/02/19/the-art-of-science-fiction-challenges-writers-face-in-the-sci-fi-genre/#comment-65 jdimos Wed, 20 Feb 2008 14:03:43 +0000 http://freeself-publishing.com/?p=25#comment-65 Exactly, Misque Writer. Kelli makes a good point. That's the reason, at least personally, I'll always have a fondness for Ray Bradbury. He was, essentially, before his time... Exactly, Misque Writer. Kelli makes a good point. That’s the reason, at least personally, I’ll always have a fondness for Ray Bradbury. He was, essentially, before his time…

]]> By: Misque Writer http://freeself-publishing.com/2008/02/19/the-art-of-science-fiction-challenges-writers-face-in-the-sci-fi-genre/#comment-63 Misque Writer Tue, 19 Feb 2008 22:15:24 +0000 http://freeself-publishing.com/?p=25#comment-63 It's interesting to compare how microwave ovens are described in pre-1940s sf, as opposed to how they are described in Reader's Digest stories today. It’s interesting to compare how microwave ovens are described in pre-1940s sf, as opposed to how they are described in Reader’s Digest stories today.

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