Comments on: Writing my Novel: Teching the Tech http://www.professorbeej.com/2009/12/writing-my-novel-teching-the-tech.html Reading Pop Culture Like an English Teacher Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:35:06 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: jane http://www.professorbeej.com/2009/12/writing-my-novel-teching-the-tech.html/comment-page-1#comment-2775 jane Wed, 23 Dec 2009 16:49:24 +0000 http://www.professorbeej.com/?p=802#comment-2775 A fun part of science fiction is exploring the entailments of a particular scientific theory or technological breakthrough. Dollhouse is a great case in point: What would happen if the brain could be thoroughly mapped onto a computer, and if various mappings could be imprinted back into the brain? In this case, all you need to really research is neurobiology, in order to sound like you know what you're talking about. John Irving, while not a science fiction writer per se, often includes sciency stuffs in his writing. He'll consult various experts on the subjects he wants to bring into his fiction, and have them double-check how he applies the materials. It does behoove you to really grok the sciences you intend to employ, even if you find yourself straying towards magical realism rather than hard SF. If you're going to get all literary and use your premise as a <i>metaphor</i> that's threaded through your book, you still need to know the ins and outs of it to fully paint the picture of all the resonances you want to ring in your readers' ears. .-= jane´s last blog ..<a href="http://janeschair.wordpress.com/2009/11/14/briar-rose-learns-to-read/">Briar Rose Learns to Read</a> =-. A fun part of science fiction is exploring the entailments of a particular scientific theory or technological breakthrough. Dollhouse is a great case in point: What would happen if the brain could be thoroughly mapped onto a computer, and if various mappings could be imprinted back into the brain? In this case, all you need to really research is neurobiology, in order to sound like you know what you’re talking about.

John Irving, while not a science fiction writer per se, often includes sciency stuffs in his writing. He’ll consult various experts on the subjects he wants to bring into his fiction, and have them double-check how he applies the materials.

It does behoove you to really grok the sciences you intend to employ, even if you find yourself straying towards magical realism rather than hard SF. If you’re going to get all literary and use your premise as a metaphor that’s threaded through your book, you still need to know the ins and outs of it to fully paint the picture of all the resonances you want to ring in your readers’ ears.
.-= jane´s last blog ..Briar Rose Learns to Read =-.

]]> By: Robert http://www.professorbeej.com/2009/12/writing-my-novel-teching-the-tech.html/comment-page-1#comment-2758 Robert Wed, 23 Dec 2009 02:21:20 +0000 http://www.professorbeej.com/?p=802#comment-2758 I tend to have this problem as well since a lot of my scripts are dialogue-driven stories with a fantasy/sci-fi back drop. Although, since you are writing a novel, I think you have more room to add in the details. Still, I think you are fine in having this problem in the first place, since sci-fi is all about balancing the story with the science. Struggling with juggling the two would definitely help your novel in the long haul. Based on your general descriptions, I would definitely expect the science aspect to be compelling and believable since it goes into the realm of physics. As long as the explanation of things don't get in the way of the characters/pacing, I think you will be fine. By the way, that multi-hand picture gives me the creeps. .-= Robert´s last blog ..<a href="http://www.chroniclesofawriter.com/archives/559">Writers and Their Environment</a> =-. I tend to have this problem as well since a lot of my scripts are dialogue-driven stories with a fantasy/sci-fi back drop. Although, since you are writing a novel, I think you have more room to add in the details.

Still, I think you are fine in having this problem in the first place, since sci-fi is all about balancing the story with the science. Struggling with juggling the two would definitely help your novel in the long haul.

Based on your general descriptions, I would definitely expect the science aspect to be compelling and believable since it goes into the realm of physics. As long as the explanation of things don’t get in the way of the characters/pacing, I think you will be fine.

By the way, that multi-hand picture gives me the creeps.
.-= Robert´s last blog ..Writers and Their Environment =-.

]]> By: We Fly Spitfires http://www.professorbeej.com/2009/12/writing-my-novel-teching-the-tech.html/comment-page-1#comment-2737 We Fly Spitfires Mon, 21 Dec 2009 22:58:27 +0000 http://www.professorbeej.com/?p=802#comment-2737 Personally, I find the "realistic" Sci-Fi genre kinda dull and far too heavy. Honestly, I don't care if the novel and concepts behind it are grounded in reality or not. It's not like I read a fantasty novel or horror novel and ponder the nature behind it all. Fiction is fiction is fiction.... doesn't matter to me where it comes from :) .-= We Fly Spitfires´s last blog ..<a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WeFlySpitfires/~3/PPP0frCBmfM/">What MMO Would You Like To See Get A Graphics Overhaul?</a> =-. Personally, I find the “realistic” Sci-Fi genre kinda dull and far too heavy. Honestly, I don’t care if the novel and concepts behind it are grounded in reality or not. It’s not like I read a fantasty novel or horror novel and ponder the nature behind it all. Fiction is fiction is fiction…. doesn’t matter to me where it comes from :)
.-= We Fly Spitfires´s last blog ..What MMO Would You Like To See Get A Graphics Overhaul? =-.

]]> By: Mira http://www.professorbeej.com/2009/12/writing-my-novel-teching-the-tech.html/comment-page-1#comment-2733 Mira Mon, 21 Dec 2009 16:09:41 +0000 http://www.professorbeej.com/?p=802#comment-2733 Now I am really intrigued. Would it be really "spoilerish" to share the concept? I understand this is a public blog and of course a writer wants to keep his secrets, but I just had to ask. I understand if you don't want to give me an answer, it's just... I am interested in astrophysics, and the new theories (is it about strings theory?) so I guess I like your idea already. In any case, I love good SF. (SF that has at least some "science"!) and I really hope you will write your story. I'd love to read it. Now I am really intrigued. Would it be really “spoilerish” to share the concept? I understand this is a public blog and of course a writer wants to keep his secrets, but I just had to ask.

I understand if you don’t want to give me an answer, it’s just… I am interested in astrophysics, and the new theories (is it about strings theory?) so I guess I like your idea already.

In any case, I love good SF. (SF that has at least some “science”!) and I really hope you will write your story. I’d love to read it.

]]> By: Nick http://www.professorbeej.com/2009/12/writing-my-novel-teching-the-tech.html/comment-page-1#comment-2731 Nick Mon, 21 Dec 2009 15:37:18 +0000 http://www.professorbeej.com/?p=802#comment-2731 Yeah, I've always strayed away from writing anything sci-fi. Mainly because I've read some, and like you, I am afraid that I would completely botch the science portion, even with my physics and math undergrad degrees. So, I generally just end up writing weird shit along the lines of Lovecraft/King, and then I can bend reality any way I like! Good luck on the book, though, looking forward to it! Yeah, I’ve always strayed away from writing anything sci-fi. Mainly because I’ve read some, and like you, I am afraid that I would completely botch the science portion, even with my physics and math undergrad degrees. So, I generally just end up writing weird shit along the lines of Lovecraft/King, and then I can bend reality any way I like!

Good luck on the book, though, looking forward to it!

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