“The Writer’s Digest Guide to Science Fiction & Fantasy” gives writers everything they need to know write the next sci-fi classic. Writers of all skill levels will discover helpful advice from best-selling author Orson Scott Card’s “How to Write Science Fiction & Fantasy” on how to wield story elements that ‘define’ the science fiction and fantasy genres; build, populate and dramatize fantastic new worlds; and, construct compelling stories by developing ideas, characters, and events that keep readers turning pages, and more. In this book, readers will learn the art of world building by exploring traditional fantasy cultures, examples from world cultures, the rituals of magic and witchcraft, mythological creatures and fantasy races, weapons and armor, clothing and fashion, and much more.
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Amazon.com Review
Another in Ben Bova’s series on Science Fiction Writing, here geologist and SF scribe Stephen Gillett helps you construct star systems and planets from the atoms up. While it may take you a little more than the proverbial seven days (well, six with rest), when you’re done, your knowledge of gravity, weather patterns, cosmic mass and stellar patterns–in this universe–will be greatly enhanced.
–This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
This book is designed to give science fiction writers the solid grounding they need in real science to make their fictions read like fact. World Building is a blueprint in words, calculations, tables and diagrams to help writers transport readers from one world to another.
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Review
“In short, if you were going to look up ‘experts’ to talk to about some aspect of the world you are building, these are the people you’d ask.” –Moira Allen “All aspiring and newly established science fiction writers should read The Complete Guide to Writing Science Fiction before sending out their manuscripts.” –Leslie Halpern, My Shelf Book Review
The Complete Guide to Writing Science Fiction: Volume One is a comprehensive writer’s guide for the amateur to semi-pro writer on the genre of science fiction. The book begins with a warning for new science fiction writers about the pitfalls and clich?s that often plague a first science fiction story. It finishes with practical information on how to present, sell and promote a finished novel and what to prepare for once the writer has achieved success. Topics range from alien creation to world building, fan fiction and space travel. EPPIE 2007: Finalist (non-fiction category) Contrib (more…)
From Library Journal
This how-to book is divided into four parts: “Storytelling,” “Ideas and Foundations,” and two sections on mechanics, markets, and dealing with editors. Issac Asimov wades in rather superficially on “Plotting,” “Dialog,” and “Revisions,” but Poul Anderson’s almost technical essay on preparing a scientifically valid world couldn’t be better, and Hal Clement’s piece on peopling such a world is just as good. Norman Spinrad uses the techniques of futurists to model how space colonization could occur and provides graphs for the beginner. The tilt here is toward “hard” science fiction, but Jane Yolen’s meditation on fantasy, “Turtles All the Way Down,” is lyrical and even moving in its reverence for the past. Connie Willis writes about comedy and Stanley Schmidt, amusingly, about cliches. The market listings are exhaustive, including little magazines you won’t find elsewhere. Valuable both for the beginner and the pro.- John Mort, Kansas City P.L., Mo.Copy (more…)
Review
“The Complete Guide to Writing Fantasy is a broad compendium of advice and resource material developed and compiled by writers who understand the struggle involved in mastering the craft.” ~Jacqueline Carey, Author Kushiel’s Legacy trilogy”In short, if you were going to look up ‘experts’ to talk to about some aspect of the world you are building, these are the people you’d ask.” ~Moira Allen”The Complete Guide to Writing Fantasy is a broad compendium of advice and resource material developed and compiled by writers who understand the struggle involved in mastering the craft.” ~Jacqueline Carey, Author Kushiel’s Legacy trilogy”In short, if you were going to look up ‘experts’ to talk to about some aspect of the world you are building, these are the people you’d ask.” ~Moira Allen –Jacqueline Carey, Bestselling AuthorAll aspiring and newly established science fiction writers should read The Complete Guide to Writing Science Fiction before sending out their manuscri (more…)