Development - Extrapolated Science in Science Fiction, more Accuracy

21 June 2012, Development - Extrapolated Science in Science Fiction, more Accuracy

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/.

I wrote in detail about how to study history and culture to write historical fiction. That moved to how to write about culture in science fiction, and now, I am exploring how to study to write science fiction.

I could spend days and days worth of writing to teach you about scientific sources. I'll spend some time, but for the details, you need a class in science research. I look for some very specific details when I evaluate research and papers. The first is the type of paper. Most scientific papers from reputable sources are research papers where the writer accomplished the research. Scientific papers do not ask opinions or take opinions. Scientific papers are not about populations (meaning statistical populations) who hold some opinion. Scientific papers are about using the scientific method to measure a repeatable event and then using statistics to determine the statistical accuracy of the date taken from some repeatable event.

If something isn't repeatable, you can't use the scientific method to test or evaluate it. Any scientific paper must begin with the scientific method and address a concept that is repeatable. A non-repeatable event can't be measured by the scientific method. Math papers are something entirely different. Although you can't use the scientific method for a mathematics paper, you can use math proofs which rely on logic (mathematical logic and not rhetorical logic).

So first, look for a repeatable system and the use of the scientific method. Second, look for statistical evaluation of the sets in the repeatable events. Third, we'll get to that tomorrow.

I'll write more about science in science fiction tomorrow.

I'll repeat my published novel websites so you can see more examples: http://www.ldalford.com/, and the individual novel websites: http://www.aegyptnovel.com/, http://www.centurionnovel.com/, http://www.thesecondmission.com/, http://www.theendofhonor.com/, http://www.thefoxshonor.com/, and http://www.aseasonofhonor.com/.

Development - Historical Study, Tertiary

6 May 2012, Development - Historical Study, Tertiary

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/.

I'm writing about sources of historical research and how to make historical research. These apply to any novel or any subject you might wish to study. Here is a list:

1. Primary source documents or artifacts
2. Secondary source documents or artifacts
3. Tertiary source documents of artifacts

I wrote about secondary source documents I'll get more in depth about them later. Today, I'll define tertiary documents.

By definition, a tertiary document is anything that is not primary or secondary.  Remember all those history books, yep, they're all tertiary sources.  In history, they basically have zero value in terms of being historical artifacts or in terms of historical degree.  So, all those historical fiction novels, and almost every history book that most people have read have nearly zero worth in terms of being a historical source.  That's not to say they have no value, but in terms of historical study, they have literally no value.

They can entertain.  They can help focus understanding (possibly), but as historical sources, they are worthless.  There is one important caveat to this fact--if we don't have any other historical source or document, historians will accept a document that is a tertiary source.  A few examples are Theodicles, Herotodus, and Pliny.  These ancient writers provided tertiary histories on persons, places, and events that we don' have any other source data on--we accept them with that understanding.  Josephus is an odd example of a historical source that is mostly tertiary, but that is accepted historically.  Although the documents of the NT have a higher degree, oddly Josephus is used for much of the historical authority from that period.

There is another type of tertiary degree document that is used as a historical source.  I'll write about that tomorrow.
I'll explain more about tension and first scene development. I'll talk about characteristics that make a bad first scene/chapter eventually.

I'll repeat my published novel websites so you can see more examples: http://www.ldalford.com/, and the individual novel websites: http://www.aegyptnovel.com/, http://www.centurionnovel.com/, http://www.thesecondmission.com/, http://www.theendofhonor.com/, http://www.thefoxshonor.com/, and http://www.aseasonofhonor.com/.

Centurion reader comments

Google alerts found this for me about Centurion www.CenturionNovel.com at http://www.romanarmytalk.com/rat/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=30030 "So I finished reading "Centurion" by L.D. Alford a while back. If you want to know how legionaries trained, how they rose through the ranks, and how they actually fought, this book gives a good account. Apparently, the author visited Rome, Jerusalem, and other places to learn first-hand what was required to make a legionary.


Most members of R.A.T. probably already know most of the information outlined in the book, but despite my decades of interest in the topic of Rome's legions, I've only just now, within the last year, begun taking time to research. So this book was good for me, a newbie to the Roman way of training, using and disciplining troops. I really enjoyed it."
 
I really appreciated the comments by this reader.  I wanted to point out some information that most wouldn't know.  Because research for the novel came almost exclusively from ancient primary sources it has more basis than almost any other work of historical fiction on the subject of the Roman Legions in the first half of the first century.  There are few technical histories that cover the Legion in this degree of detail or understanding.  Not to mention, that as the reader implies, the novel is fun because it shows you how the Legions trained and doesn't tell you, like a technical paper would. 
 
Centurion www.CenturionNovel.com is a compendium of information gleaned from ancient works in mostly Latin and Greek.  Archeology and other historical information went into the work to round out the knowledge of daily life during the time.  If you are interested in the Roman Legion or the history of the Levant during the first century, this is a book you should read.  You can read about my other novels and writing at www.LDAlford.com.  I also write about modern military aviation at www.WingsoverKansas.com.  Check out the Military Aviation Adventures there.