Announcement: My novels Sister of Light and Sister of Darkness are about to be published. I write this blog about 2 months prior to its publication. I just heard that the proofs will be here soon--likely before the end of the week. My publisher also wants to put the entire set of novels based on Aegypt on contract--that's 5 more novels for 8 total. They also want to put my other novels on contract. The release schedule should be one novel every 2 months. I'll keep you updated.
Introduction: I wrote the novel Aksinya: Enchantment and the Daemon. This was my 21st novel and through this blog, I gave you the entire novel in installments that included commentary on the writing. In the commentary, in addition to other general information on writing, I explained, how the novel was constructed, the metaphors and symbols in it, the writing techniques and tricks I used, and the way I built the scenes. You can look back through this blog and read the entire novel beginning with http://www.pilotlion.blogspot.com/2010/10/new-novel-part-3-girl-and-demon.html.
I'm using this novel as an example of how I produce, market, and eventually (we hope) get a novel published. I'll keep you informed along the way.
The four plus one basic rules I employ when writing:
1. Don't confuse your readers.
2. Entertain your readers.
3. Ground your readers in the writing.
4. Don't show (or tell) everything.
5. Immerse yourself in the world of your writing.
I am writing about the extrapolation of science and technology to be able to write science fiction. I made the point that it is almost meaningless to try to fully extrapolate a universe (world) that is 10,000 years in the future (and maybe 1,000 years in the future) without applying some cultural and technological shaping.
By shaping the cultures of your science fiction universe, you can shape the science and technology that is extrapolated. Here is how I culturally shaped the universe of The Chronicles of the Dragon and the Fox to make the 10,000 year extrapolation work.
The use of medical technology in The Chronicles of the Dragon and the Fox and in The Ghost Ship Chronicles is a direct example of technological and cultural shaping. The expectation in medical technology is that implantable chips that interact with the brain and brain stem will be in the near future. Near future is 100 years. They will be available in at least 1000 years.
In both my science fiction series novels, the universe is governed by genetics and biotechnology. In the first series, genetics and the purity of human genetic strains controlled human reproduction and human capability. This obviously reduced medical technological experimentation away from cyber and physical enhancements. Because of this, medical experimentation moved to psyonics. In the period between the series, psyonics ruled biotechnology. In the second series, the people are reinventing and reinvigorating the knowledge that was lost in that period.
Both series rely on cultural shaping (it is illegal to conduct genetic experimentation and human augmentation) and technological shaping (because it was illegal, science went down a different pathway). This is the way you build a universe that is different than what you might expect using game theory. Game theory and pure logical extrapolation says we can expect certain types of technology and science in the future, cultural and technological shaping allows the author to build a science fiction universe that is much different than what might be expected. Notice, the science fiction should still be true to logic and potential technology. More tomorrow.
Also remember, I'm trying to show you and give you examples of how to write a science fiction theme statement and turn it into a plot.
For more information, you can visit my author site http://www.ldalford.com/, and my individual novel websites:
http://www.aegyptnovel.com/
http://www.centurionnovel.com
http://www.thesecondmission.com/
http://www.theendofhonor.com/
http://www.thefoxshonor.com
http://www.aseasonofhonor.com
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