The Science of Science-fiction WritingWritten by one of the leading authorities on writing, publishing and teaching science fiction, The Science of Science Fiction Writing offers the opportunity to share in the knowledge James Gunn has acquired over the past forty years. He reflects on the fiction-writing process and how to teach it, and the ideas he has shared with his students about how to do it effectively and how to get it published afterwards. The first section discusses why people read fiction, the parts of the short story, the strategy of the science fiction author, scene as the smallest dramatic unit, how to speak well in print, suspense in fiction, how to say the right thing, and how to give constructive criticism. The second section takes a more philosophical approach. Here, Gunn elaborates on the origins of science fiction, its definition, the worldview of science fiction, and the characters that appear in science fiction novels. The third section highlights well-known sci-fi authors: H.G. Wells, Robert A. Heinlein, Isaac Asimov, Henry Kuttner, C.L. Moore, and others, and the impact they have had on the development and progression of science fiction. |
Contents
Why People Read Fiction | 3 |
The Anatomy of a Short Story | 13 |
Why a Formula Is Not a Formula | 17 |
Copyright | |
23 other sections not shown
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
A. E. van Vogt action adventure aliens Astounding basic beginning writer C. L. Moore called Campbell candy store Caves of Steel concern craft created critic critiquer dialogue dramatic early editor emotional everything experience fantasy and science father feel future genre going happen Heinlein Henry Kuttner Hugo Gernsback human idea important involved Isaac Asimov Jack Williamson James James Blish kind of story later Lewis Padgett literary literature live look machine magazines mainstream Moon Moore narrative nature never novel O'Donnell person plot problem protagonist published Puppet Masters questions rational reader reason response robot round characters scene science fic science fiction science-fiction science-fiction story science-fiction writers scientific scientist sentence serial short story situation sometimes speculation Starship Troopers suspense tell things Thrilling Wonder Stories tion traditional fiction turn universe Verne Vogt Wells's words wrote