Writing Ideas - Writing Science Fiction, part 69 yet more Medical Extrapolation

8 October 2013, Writing Ideas - Writing Science Fiction, part 69 yet more Medical Extrapolation

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.

Today's Blog: To see the steps in the publication process, visit my writing website http://www.ldalford.com/ and select "production schedule," you will be sent to http://www.sisteroflight.com/.

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 future technology, the question is rarely if it is almost always when.  The answer is in the hands of the author.  You must use the extrapolation of science to create your science fiction universe.  You also need to explain the why and wherefores of the timing of the technology.  The example I gave from my novels was genetic manipulation was outlawed as was human augmentation.  The results of illegal augmentation is shown in The Ghost Ship Chronicles.  The point here is that I explain why the obvious technology of human augmentation is not used in the universe of my novels.  I could have taken the tact of illegal augmentation as the theme or plot, but I didn't.  The culture I used in the novels was based first on Anglo-Saxon culture and second on a guild trading culture.  The Anglo-Saxon culture is driven by honor and not criminality.  The guild trading culture is based in mercantilism.  Both are very strong ethical cultures. The cultures around The Ghost Ship Chronicles major culture are not so finicky, and they play in the novels in many ways. 

So, you should recognize that with medical technology, we will likely have both augmentation (physical and mental) within 1000 years and genetic manipulation within about 100 years.  There is much more such as the cloning of organs, body cloning, etc. etc. You should think about how medical technology will change and extrapolate it into the future--it certainly won't be what it is today.  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