Writing Ideas - Writing Science Fiction, part 233 Extrapolating Cultures

24 March 2014, Writing Ideas - Writing Science Fiction, part 233 Extrapolating Cultures

Announcement: There is action on my new novels.  The publisher renamed the series--they are still working on the name.  I provided suggestions as did one of my prepub readers. Now the individual books will be given single names: Leora, Leila, Russia, Lumiere', China, Sveta, and Klava--at least these are some of the suggestions.  They are also working on a single theme for the covers.  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.

Through looking at extrapolating military morale, we can see that future military events and capabilities relate directly to a nation's culture and society.  You might venture that military power and technology relate directly to a nation's culture and society.  A culture that has no interest in protecting itself or is a client state (for one reason or another) will not have a very powerful or capable military.  Their technology will lag other, more powerful nations.  Their military's morale will make success difficult.  Examples of such nations today can be found in Europe.  The EU spends almost nothing on their militaries.  Their forces are less than hollow.  They have few troops and less technology.  They are practically client states of the more powerful nations that are their allies.  Most specifically the USA and Israel.

Did you ever wonder why no one ever writes about the Danish Space Ship Enterprise or the German Space Ship Enterprise.  The assumption in Star Trek is that the Enterprise is a space ship of the line from the good old USA.  The Danes and the Germans barely have a military.  They have almost no space program.  They are barely a blip on the future of the planet or future of the universe track.  Their cultures and societies have become so introverted and progressive politically that they can't defend themselves from attack, and they have little wealth or technology development.  The wealth and technology they have is protected by other nations.  This is true, not just about the Danes and the Germans, but about almost every nation in the EU.  Is this bad?  Well, it is if you expect to extrapolate a future for humanity and technology from it.  Take your choice, today the US, China, and Russia are about your only choices for technology development and some future in space.  And there are problems with each of these three.

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

Writing Ideas - Writing Science Fiction, part 227 Extrapolating Military Technology, and still more Morale

18 March 2014, Writing Ideas - Writing Science Fiction, part 227 Extrapolating Military Technology, and still more Morale

Announcement: There is action on my new novels.  The publisher renamed the series--they are still working on the name.  I provided suggestions as did one of my prepub readers. Now the individual books will be given single names: Leora, Leila, Russia, Lumiere', China, Sveta, and Klava--at least these are some of the suggestions.  They are also working on a single theme for the covers.  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 major areas in warfare technology are:
1.  Software
2.  Weapons
     Heavy Weapons
3.  Countermeasures
4.  Defense
5.  Communications
6.  Robots
7.  Vehicles
8.  Environments (personal equipment)
9.  Costs
10.  Morale (discipline) 

The lesson from the ancient world is simple, to have good morale you have to have a culture and society your forces deem worth defending.  You might offer that the power of the wish to not die or to protect your own are strong morale builders, but that isn't necessarily true.  This can be a powerful morale builder in cultures that are less advanced or that are strongly self sufficient, but less advanced means less technology and sophistication.  Strongly self-sufficient usually means unable or unwilling to trade or become involved in trade.  Trade is the life-blood of technology. 

The ultimate point is that an army needs a reason to fight and morale is usually a good measure of that reason.  The things that destroy that reason are those pesky modern values that tend to gum up modern thinking.  Note that perceptions of ethics and morals were a reason for the lack of Roman morale.  The Greeks just had no reason for continuing to fight for the lands they controlled.  This is the extrapolation of not technology but rather culture and society.  A culture that has lost its self-perception of ethics and morality will fail.  A great example are cultural ideas that are foisted by courts, the political system, or the educational system that are contrary to the ideals of a nation.  You can try to high the ideals in intellectualism, but they will not stand for much.  The Soviets found this to be a significant problem for their morale. 

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

A New Novel, Part 61 Why Natalya Must Sit

Are you ready for the answer?  Did you guess it?  I hope you can picture this scene as I tried to build it for you.  Here I tried to mix comedy with pathos.  The gentle and loving Natalya couldn't imagine the freight train that was about to hit her.  Aksinya knew...

Natalya frowned and appeared as if she was about to cry. She complained, “But why isn’t it good order to wait on my mistress?”


The Reverend Mother pressed her lips together and seemed completely reluctant to say what she knew she must say. The other young women around the table strained to hear the Reverend Mother’s words.

Finally, the Reverend Mother opened her mouth, “Please, Lady Natalya. Because of your social position, most of the ladies in this room should serve you. You must sit and eat with us otherwise the good order of our school will be in question.”

Lady Natalya’s mouth fell open. The other young women at the table mouths’ hung open. Tears formed in Lady Natalya’s eyes but she quickly and with embarrassment fell into the seat beside Aksinya. Aksinya put her arms around Natalya and held her close. The girl was obviously crying. The Reverend Mother moved to her and put her arms around the both of them. She clucked soft sounds under her breath, “Please don’t be sad Lady Natalya. You may serve your lady all you desire, but you must eat at table with her.”

Natalya let out a great wail, “But I have never sat at table with her before. I have never sought to put myself above her. Never.”

Aksinya whispered in Russian, “Silly, we sat together like sisters and ate together like friends during our whole trip here. Please act like the great lady you are, Lady Natalya.”

At that word, Natalya sat upright. She covered her face with her napkin for a moment then sighed and laid it in her lap.

Aksinya smiled. The Reverend Mother smiled, “That’s much more pleasant, Lady Natalya. Thank you.”

Here is a minor tragedy for Natalya that allows me to clearly show you the state of aristocracy and the importance of position in 1918.  Natalya is a lady of the court, a lady-in-waiting.  She expects to serve.  The sweet and gentle Natalya is very bright, but still she desires to serve.  That is her purpose.  She has latched on to Aksinya because Aksinya rescued her.  At each step, Aksinya, whether intentionally or unintentionally has been building up Natalya.  We aren't certain if this is Aksinya's unconscious knowledge or her intentional manipulation.  In any case, you can see Aksinya realizes exactly how this little event will end.  She couldn't have planned it better--that is if she planned it at all.  Do you see that Aksinya's knowledge makes everything as though she did plan it.  This parallels the actions in temptation of the demon.  He makes things happen for the purpose of tempting others.  Aksinya is making these events happen, and we are not certain if she is doing them purposefully or not.  We will soon see she is very purposeful. 
 
So, the RM must state the thing she does not want to state.  To say such a thing right out in the open is considered the epitome of bad taste.  Everyone knows their place in this society--everyone, except Natalya, but then, we knew Natalya was broken in some way.  This will come out more later.  The RM says it--the dreaded words--the ladies of the school should be serving Natalya just as she serves Aksinya, therefore, Natalya must sit and eat with them.  The reason is that Natalya is of a higher rank than any of the other girls and women in the room.
 
Natalya gets it.  She is embarrassed for more than one reason, but shame keeps a system of aristocracy going (to a degree).  Aksinya comforts Natalya and the RM comforts them both.  She is a kind woman.
 
Aksinya then gently reminds Natalya that they have eaten like equals before.  Ah, this takes the sting from the embarrassment, and then the beautiful reminder from Aksinya--act like the great lady that you are.  Don't worry, there is more to this dining room scene.  We'll see it tomorrow.

A New Novel, Part 46 Languages and Friendship

Welcome to Dr. Ryan.  Glad to have you aboard. 

We get rid of Frau Drescher for a little while and provide a little more interesting levels to the story.  Remember, in this time and culture, you don't introduce servants.  So here we go.

Frau Drescher’s brow rose, but she nodded and curtsied to Aksinya then left toward the dormitory.

The Reverend Mother let out a sigh, “Will you all please come with me. I’ll show you around our school and answer any of your questions.” The Reverend Mother gestured Aksinya to her side and Natalya stepped right behind her.

Aksinya halted and turned toward Natalya, “Reverend Mother, this is my lady-in-waiting, the Lady Natalya Alexandrovna Obolenska. I address her as the Lady Natalya. She is my confidant and my friend. She will be attending Sacré Coeur with me.”

The Reverend Mother’s smile widened. She turned her gaze to Natalya, “That is very interesting. Is there something wrong with your eyes, Lady Natalya?”

Natalya blinked the moisture from her eyes.

Aksinya repeated the question in Russian to Natalya.

Natalya blushed and ducked her head, “No, Reverend Mother.”

Aksinya continued, “The Lady Natalya doesn’t speak German yet. She is very conversant in French. Though she serves me, the Lady Natalya is to be treated with the same respect as any other student.”

The Reverend Mother nodded and continued in atrociously German accented French, “Then for her benefit, as well as yours, we shall use French.”

Aksinya barely constrained a laugh. She glanced at Natalya, and they shared a smile. Aksinya whispered to her, “Perhaps I shouldn’t worry about my German.”

From the beginning, the RM (Reverend Mother) is happy to get rid of Frau Drescher--she sighs, and we move on with Aksinya, Natalya and the rest on the school tour.

So, there you have it.  First Aksinya, introduces Natalya--that means she is not a servant.  Further, Aksinya called her "confidant" and "friend."  In the aristocracy, this is very important.  A friend is one thing, a confidant is entirely another.  Aksinya goes on to tell RM Kluge that she, she Aksinya calls Natalya, Lady Natalya.  Already, Aksinya has called Natalya, friend, confidant, and said she holds her in such high esteme she calls her Lady (that is a title reserved for an aristocrat).  It should not suprize you that the very emotional Natalya's eyes moisten.  She would cry outright, but that is never acceptable in high society.  The RM kindly reminds Natalya of that.  This is a nice admonition in this culture and time (remember Frau Drescher).  And so, Natalya blushes and ducks her head.
 
Aksinya goes on to instruct--did you get that?  She instructs RM Kluge that Natalya is to be treated like any other student.  She didn't say, "to be treated like me."  Such words wouldn't come from a Countess.  She also "suggests" that they use French, for Natalya's sake.  Can't you see Natalya in your mind.  She understands what is happening.  Aksinya even gives her such a compliment, "Natalya doesn't understand German--yet."  The implication is that she will and very quickly. 
 
Then we see the break and the level of the RM's French.  This is intentional.  Though the Austrians and the Germans taught French, they didn't see much purpose in it--(sarcasm) it was only the language of gentility and diplomacy at the time.  It was also the language of the Russian Court.  It was not the language of the German or the Austrian Courts.  Ah, the prejudice of their betters flows down to the people. The break is the smile that Aksinya and Natalya share at the RM's poorly accented French.  This also cements the Aksinya/Natalya bond.  Finally, Aksinya's comment about her own German ends this piece.