Book Review  By Patricia AJ Allen

How to Write Science Fiction & Fantasy

By Orson Scott Card

Published in 1990 by Writer's Digest Books

 

In this most thorough study of science fiction and fantasy creation, Orson Scott Card talks without jargon to writers not yet established in this genre. His companionable style in evident from the first perusal of the table of contents through the last chapter and last sentence, "So close this book and get back to work."

 

As I read, I realized that OSC was clearly showing me speculative fiction's readers as people, the genre as a world unto itself and himself as a man well able to understand my frustration and failures.

 

These are some of the questions answered in How to Write Science Fiction & Fantasy:

 

            What does the science fiction/fantasy reader believe?

            How do I get good feedback from my first readers?

            Where should I send my work initially?

            How broad is this genre?

            How is it different from other kinds of fiction?

            Do I have to have humans in my stories? Why?

            Which terms are basic to science fiction?

            How can I uncover my real story hidden within the backstory, afterstory,                                               understory, world order, and just plain good ideas of my rough draft?

            What will not work in this genre?

            Where do I start my story and where do I stop?

 

I left Orson Scott Card's book much underlined in mahogany ink. I closed the pages believing that I can become a writer in this genre. With How to Write Science Fiction & Fantasy as their map, writers can find their way through the maze of asteroids and dragons to The New Land while remaining true to their own souls.