Writing Science Fiction and Fantasy - Hardcover

Kilian, Crawford

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0739406701 ISBN 13: 9780739406700

Publisher: Self Counsel Press Inc, 1998

Synopsis

Are you struggling to get started on your first science fiction or fantasy novel? Stuck at chapter two and need a fresh approach? Find new direction with this unique guide to creating original and convincing stories. Crawford Kilian offers a clear and straightforward approach to tackling the pitfalls of writing science fiction and fantasy. Coverage includes the origins of science fiction and fantasy, how to use basic science correctly, developing plausible fantasy worlds, and the effective use of symbolism and imagery.

About this title

From the Back Cover

Whether you’re writing science fiction or fantasy, your basic theme is power and how to use it. Your plot is always a political one: who should have the power and on what terms? Maybe your heroes pay a high price for their power; maybe they abandon their power for the sake of love.

If power is your basic theme, your story -- whether a 500-word short-short story or an epic trilogy -- is anecdotal evidence for your particular mythic vision of the world. As a writer of science fiction or fantasy, you tell the reader how your imaginary world works in human terms, what kinds of values best inspire good behavior, what kinds of hazards and personal flaws can subvert such behavior. Your story may take place in a gaudy world of demons and elves or on the satellite of a giant planet 50,000 light-years from here — but it is still a comment about here and now.

Written by the successful author of more than ten science fiction and fantasy novels, Writing Science Fiction and Fantasy takes an in-depth look at these two best-selling genres. Discussing the elements of a successful story, Kilian delves into the conventions of science fiction and fantasy; the hero’s quest; and subgenres, including nanotechnology and sword and sorcery. He also offers expert advice on how to prepare your manuscript for publishers and market it to editors. With this book as a guide, both novice and experienced writers can learn how to get the science and magic right to make their work both a literary and financial success.

About the Author

Crawford Kilian teaches writing and communications at a community college, where he is chair of the Media Technology Division. Kilian has also written more than 18 books, including science fiction and fantasy titles, and is a regular contributor to both print and electronic media.

Edition details

• Publisher: Self Counsel Press Inc
• Publication date: 1998
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0739406701
• ISBN 13: 9780739406700
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 165