Any SF writers out there?

Does anyone enjoy reading and writing science fiction?

Who are your favourite authors?

Do you research your work with current scientific theory and expand on unanswered question of science?

Are your ideas easy to comprehend, or does the reader need knowledge in a certain field to appreciate them?

Do you combine spirituality or philosophy into your work?

I've been a keen fan of SF many years, but have only recently delved into writing a complete saga for my friends. I would be interested to hear from other fans and writers of the genre (I hope that there may be 2 or 3 of us at least in here)

My favourite authors are Arthur C.Clarke, H.G. Wells, and Jules Verne, but there's many others that I can't think of at the moment. I try to write even my most obscure idea in a way that the average person will understand it (or else save it in a file until I find a way). I do a lot of research, which sometimes blows my mind away (quantum theory hurts my head) and tend to intersperse philosophical ideas of future societies/communities in my stories.

 

I enjoy reading,and writeing scifi. My favorit writers are too numerous to mention. I am currently worknig on a scifi story.It started out to be a short story for an exersize to get my juices flowing, but it morphed into a full sized book. My biggest problem are dialogue. Got ant ideas? I actually have 4 finished stories, but they have to be put in manuscript form. Are you writting anything.

Jerimiah

 

Hi Jerimiah. Finally I've found someone out there in the galaxy that shares the same interest

I know what you mean. Sometimes writers start working on a small theory in SF and it branches out further than what was originally intended. One idea leads to the next.

I've only written a couple of short stories in the SF genre, more as an experiment, because I like all kinds of writing. I was surprised though that the response from those who read them was overwhelming, and they have encouraged me to continue in this field. I'm glad they did, because it's given me lots to think about.

If you have any samples of your work, I would love to read them, Jerimiah. If you like I can give you the webaddress where I post mine.

On the subject of dialogue, I was helped a lot when I was studying drama. I had to read a lot of plays from every era of theatre. Since plays are mostly dialogue, this is a great source of help. Try reading various playwrites (it doesn't matter if they're not SF), just to get some ideas of flowing dialogue. I would suggest Harold Pinter as a good example, but read a few more playwrites to get a wider spectrum. Interestingly enough BTW, a lot of great SF writers are a bit weak on dialogue, so it's not the 'end all and be all' of criteria, as you probably already know

I'm currently working on a big project about a dystopian Europe set 150 years from now. It's not as totalitarian as 1984, basically it's a world that pretends to be environmental, but not everything is at it first appears... I'm happy to say that, so far, it's working. I've managed to blend in futuristic ideas, with action and a bit of dark humour.

I don't know where it's going to end, because I've found myself in a position where I have to redesign entire worlds, which is fun. It goes back to what you were saying about starting a small story and suddenly finding yourself with a book!

To the list above, I would like to add Douglas Adams and John Wyndham, but to my dying shame I still haven't read Philip K. Dick but I will someday.

BTW Do you incorporate alien worlds in your stories, or are they set in the solar system?

 

Hi guys. I've always wanted to write, and cool things like sci-fi sort of glitter in the mind's eye. A couple of my favorite authors are Robert Silverberg ("Nightwings") and Keith Laumer (the 'Retief' series). I've not written sci-fi in years; I generally mixed the technological with the philosophical and the spiritual, as in my one unpublished novel, which was a sort of coming of age story about several faerie children. Their wings did not come naturally but by machines powered by gold, and God was one of the characters in the book. I also have one unpublished short story which I like to classify as apocalyptic sci-fi. I had hoped to do a book of such shorts. It never panned out. I still write but It is of a spiritual nature, and not intended for entertainment.

 

Hi Danny, I hope the books are doing well. I'm glad to hear you're into SF, because you're a talented writer and a bright human being.

It's nice to see that you've reached the point where you can get straight into the philosophy that you write about.

With SF, I tend to find that a writer can start with an idea and gradually knead it into something more complex, sometimes even more enilghtening than the original intention.

Judging from the little response on this thread (which I had originally calculated anyway, so no problem) it would appear that the general public may have had an overfill of SF (not counting of course the true fans of the genre). BTW This is just generalizing and only represents a small proportion, but I'm using it as a guide, nevertheless.

I wonder if humanity is going through a phase where we are dreaming less and less. We may reach a stage where someone will write a follow-up of Philip K. Dick's classic entitled 'Do Humans Dream?"

 

If it is any indication, in movies, inspiration and talent have given way to re-making old movies.

I would like very much to write for a living, I must admit, however, that at present, I am just not 'financially encouraged'.

 

I've also noticed that as far as movies are concerned there seems to be a clear domination of remakes and comicbook adaptations. Perhaps it's the fashion of the times.

Publishing, like everything else, is becoming a closed shop, so it's hard to make a decent living out of it. We must, however continue with our artform and forget current trend. It's what we leave behind for our friends and family. If the rest of the world wants to participate, they're always welcome to join.

 

Oooh! Sci-fi is my favourite.

While I love all the old classics like Wells, Asimov, Clarke and I really enjoy good hard science heavy sci-fi, my own writing style seems to come out more Gibson/Sterling. I really suck at plot but I can paint a mean atmosphere. Since I have no illusions about ever getting paid to write, my limited talents don't really bother me.

A vast majority of what I write tends to be small textual tableaux for the various sci-fi roleplay games that I'm in.

 

I like your attitude SithInHeels. I see a world around me whilch although it seems merilly lost in decadence, a few of us can see it for what it really is. At the moment we graze the grass like free-range cattle, but how long have we got before totalitarianism kicks in, and we become battery hens instead, locked in a cage for a single purpose?

Pardon my rant, for my sleep has become a narcosis. I'm sure that somewhere within my words I have written something that even I will understand

Allow me, therefore, to indulge in a very short SF story, which perhaps anyone will care to join. (BTW We're not looking for plot here, so no worries).

The year is 2006. The planet is Earth. The governments appear to be democratic, but the only thing that separates them from smaller totalitarian states is the fact that they have resources, and don't suffer embargos, so they can keep their populace happier and under an illusion.

The authorities know that they have to find a way to control the internet. It has become a thorn on their side, the only voice of true spirit remaining. Writers are selected who print pulp for the masses. Occasionally, they allow a writer with some diversive ideas to get published. As long as it doesn't attack the system in a way that would create an uprise, they are not bothered.

But not every cook wants to serve the endless varieties of mush potato that are on the staple diet menu of the State. There are many writers out there who would like to serve radioactive lobsters

This probably doesn't make sense. But then again, maybe someone will understand it.

 

I'm working on two. One is a time/space travel theme.
I can't yet say what the other is until I get permission
to use the characters. I'm hoping to sell to the owner.

 

Nice one, Matt. I'm glad to hear that you're a fan of the genre. All the best luck with the books, bro. Let me know if you succeed. Fingers crossed.

 

I am not all that into most science fiction, but it has the same potential as all writing, many authors just don't fufill it to me
one thing alot of science fiction writers do that is very hurtful to them, is stray too far from the core human emotions
one very usual habit of science fiction writiers is to get too into their universe to tell an entertaining story or show realistic characters

my tip to you: when writing, put your mind in this universe you create, would this (meaning your plot) be realistic for this setting?

you don't want to make it too farfetched for people to really attach to

my favorite writer is Anthony Burgess

 

You've made a very interesting point, Duck. Part of writing succesfully, is to be able to convey ideas across in a form that is understandable for the reader. I've also noticed that characterizations suffer greatly in some of today's books, and not just science-fiction. I tend to put emphasis on characters reather than plot. I believe if characters are interesting enough, they will create the plot by their actions.

You've made a good point of mentioning Burgess. He is a great example of someone who creates deep characters. In Clockwork Orange, he doesn't just describe a futuristic world, but he also analyzes the people who live in it.

Posts such as yours, in my opinion, are very helpful to anyone who wants to expand on science fiction and to make it more accessible to the reader. Thanks Duck.

 

Sorry I didn't get back to you sooner.The basis of the one I'm currently on Is a pandemic. My main character awakes after a 257 year nap after a pancemic wipes out 98% of the population. He discovers that he has become a regenerate, and that all of thre remaining population has been affected by " The Longevity Factor"

 

It sounds like a great idea, Jerimiah. It's also an important topic, since we live in an era of ever increasing deadly diseases that could eventually wipe out humankind (unless of course we manage to wipe out ourselves first).

How are you getting along character-wise? A lot of SF writers tend to suffer a bit when it comes to dialogue. How are you finding it? Let us know how it's developing, or if you're encountering any difficulties.

I've reached chapter 27 in my never-ending epic and there's still a long long way to go yet. I'll probably be dead before I finish it, but I've managed to draw some of my ideas in the gallery. I wish I could write music so I could make a catchy theme tune, too. If I had a few bucks I would love to produce the damn thing.

 

I can't write well, but my wife grew up in the world of SF fandom, and back in the 1980s we used to attend conventions maybe twice a year or so.

Have you read anything by Kim Stanley Robinson?

 

I haven't read any yet, but thanks SunLion, I've made a note. What's his style like?

 

He writes what I think is called "hard science fiction" as in the science being solid and not way beyond today's technology. Maybe another way to say it is that his work tends to be fiction, and about people working in the world of science.

As weird as this will sound, my only gripe with KSR's writing is that he's... if this is possible... TOO good. He aims to shine light on serious moral and societal issues, and he does, better than could be imagined. He aims to show more than one "human" side, and does, with great depth. He aims to fairly represent opposing and even opposite views on politics, economics, and the politics of the economics of dealing with scarce resources with new tech twists added. Also, he enjoys adding a hip "underground" in his societies, and they're wonderful additions to his work.

Personally, only rarely can I enjoy SF that's not truly science-based. Ray Bradbury is the only "fantasy-like" writer I can read (and well, the man's just a fucking GOD amongst us mortals, a shaman with a connection to the profanely human and the Big Bang too). But mostly I just can't stand any SF where the science isn't sound.

Okay, enough of my babbling... here's some really helpful info:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kim_Stanley_Robinson

The dude is really good at what he does, I started with Antarctica, set right here on Earth... and if you like that, you'll flip on Red Mars.

 

He sounds very good, Sunlion. I also enjoy this kind of SF more. I like the fantasy scoped ones, too, especially epics, but I can appreciate an author who really puts some thought in explaining how things work in the universe they create.

Thanks for the link. As soon as I find one of his books I will have a read. I'll try and get Antarctica first, though, as you recommended.

 

To Sunlion:
First a comment: I find that Bradbury's short stories are nice, but his full length pieces are crap

And a few questions about this KSR guy:
The underground thing is quite cliche in futuristic comics, so from that comment you made I am naturally comparing this KSR guy to them in my mind. Are his undergrounds the typical sort of underground where it's just well.. let's say a mix of ravers and standard sci fi stuff?

I always liked Chriton (sp? Jurassic Park guy) because he describes how everything works real well, even if it wouldn't truly work, he makes it seem like it would. I am guessing this man is sort of like that?