Worlds of Wonder: On Writing Science Fiction & Fantasy

by David Gerrold

Overview

The highest purpose of storytelling is to shift the perception of what's possible in the universe.

The writing process is not mysterious.

It is not uncontrollable.

You just think it is.

This book can help.

David Gerrold, award-winning screenwriter and novelist, gives advice for would-be science fiction and fantasy writers, covering such topics as setting, plot, character, and dialogue, as well as the mechanics of grammar, tense, sentence structure, and paragraph transition... and why the heck you're writing at all.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781939888945
Publisher:	Comicmix LLC
Publication date:	02/01/2022
Edition description:	2nd Revised & Expanded 2nd ed.
Pages:	268
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.67(d)

About the Author

David Gerrold has been writing professionally for half a century. He created the tribbles for Star Trek and the Sleestaks for Land Of The Lost. His first professional sale, the Star Trek episode "The Trouble With Tribbles", won a Hugo Award. His most famous novel is "The Man Who Folded Himself". His semi-autobiographical tale of his son's adoption, "The Martian Child" won both the Hugo and the Nebula awards, and was the basis for the 2007 movie starring John Cusack and Amanda Peet. He has also written for Babylon 5, Sliders, and The Twilight Zone and appeared on "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine", "The Big Bang Theory", and "Young Sheldon". He has also written comics, computer columns, and taught writing at Pepperdine University.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Hugo and Nebula Award-winning novelist and screenwriter Gerrold passionately discusses the challenges and excitement of writing sf. Creating believable new worlds in which to tell universal stories of conflict, growth, and transformation requires not only imagination but also the discipline to ask and answer tough questions. As in writing other genres of fiction, careful attention to setting, plot, character, and dialog must be observed, along with the mechanics of grammar, tense, sentence structure, and paragraph transition. But writing successful sf and fantasy, Gerrold contends, demands an even greater commitment to the integrity of language to create and define reality. In a chatty, informal, and even humorous style, he provides numerous exercises and questions, challenging the would-be writer to imagine the answers. Examples from films, novels, stories, and television supply practical evidence of his suggested techniques. Gerrold is a first-rate writer, best-known for his Star Trek writings. Given the rising popularity of sf, this book would be a welcome addition to any public library. Denise S. Sticha, Murrysville Community Lib., PA

Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

The prolific Gerrold, creator of those beloved Star Trek nemeses, Tribbles, turns to the how-to-write book, which won't surprise Gerrold devotees, who know his cogent remarks on the craft from his books of ST commentary. How-to-write mavens won't be surprised, either, as Gerrold proffers a fairly standard set of the basics, though he does put his own characteristic and occasionally touchy-feely spin on each. Aspiring sf and fantasy writers will appreciate his clarity and lack of condescension and his exemplification from his own writing. Even at his most idiosyncratic, he is unlikely to lead beginners seriously astray.

From the Publisher