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sOriginally, this article was meant to be different. I was going to examine two approaches to science fiction. One focusing more on action, adventure, and an exciting story, and the other on ideas about society, technology, and the future. Most stories feature both elements, but have a very clear focus preference. And yet, the more […]
You Don’t Need to Know Science to Write Science Fiction…But it Helps!
Saturday , 16, September 2017 Authors, Fiction 9 CommentsContrary to the genre’s title, most authors writing science fiction know less about science than a curious twelve year-old. Even more surprisingly, one can still write good, even great SF with this impediment! And I note this as a professional scientist who loves “hard science” works. While this might seem like great news for the […]
Do Good Science Fiction Novels Require Memorable, Powerful Protagonists?
Saturday , 22, July 2017 Authors, Book Review, Fiction 38 CommentsMy own column from two weeks ago got me thinking recently. Has there ever been a good, nevermind great science fiction novel that did not feature a strong, unique hero? We’re not considering short stories or novellas, as some don’t even have significant protagonists, but full-length works. At first, my mind couldn’t come up with an […]