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Friday, October 4, 2013

Writing Ideas - Writing Science Fiction, part 65 Game Theory

4 October 2013, Writing Ideas - Writing Science Fiction, part 65 Game Theory

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.

Gaming with and without computers is an extrapolation concept.  With it, you can simulate any possibility in life.  You can recreate any incident in history.  Theoretically, if you properly control for the macro possibilities, you can achieve similar results.  You can also achieve different results.  In general, simulations are based in logic theory and in probability theory.  If you can also apply chaos theory, you would perfectly simulate any situation in the past or the potential future.  Game theory allows you to extrapolate any possible future or past.  This is much more than simply literature that provides a basis for alternative reality.  Game theory potentially allows an interactive interpolation of the past or an extrapolation of the future.

In engineering science, we use logical theory (mathematics), probability theory, and chaos theory, to reproduce the physical world (in all its complexity).  With game theory, you would be able to do the same for history--either past of future.  This is essentially what a science fiction writer does.  Instead of computer models, however, a science fiction writer uses logic to delve directly into potential futures.  There is great power in game theory--and the world is just beginning to see those advantages. 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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