Science round-up inspiration - 12

Here is my latest my round-up from the world of science.  As always I attach no measure of relative importance to what I include.  They are simply items that have caught my eye as they flow through my social media stream.  This time it’s a little more space based, perhaps because I’m a science fiction author and I’ve been revising a book based way out there in the future.

The journey to Mars – its not all about Mars

William Gurstenmaier (NASA’s associate administrator for human exploration and operations) has been talking about NASAs ambitions for a Mars mission.  What was interesting for me is that for me it’s the first time I’ve read an article that isn’t solely focused on Mars.  A Mars mission is just part of broader mission for the human exploration of the solar system.  They will use robots to build the base and they see robots and humans working together to conquer all the issues that humans will face in that wider exploration.

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Pluck up courage - it's time for a relaunch

In some ways I’m not sure why it’s taken me so long to make the decision to invest in a book relaunch.  I launched Bleak last November and lots of people (and not just friends) have told me they really enjoyed the book.  And yet, I admit sales have been disappointing, to the point where they have dwindled to almost nothing.  I know basically that could be due to three things: a) the book simply doesn’t appeal. b) the cover, blurb etc. are putting people off. c) marketing.

Now given what I said in the beginning I believe the book is good enough and although science fiction is not everyone’s favourite genre, there is an audience for my book, if I can just get them to take a look at it.

So that means I need to work on b) and c).

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Science round-up Inspiration - 11

It’s been a while since I produced one of my end of the month science round-ups.  However, recently a few items have grabbed my attention as a science fiction writer.  As always these are not in any order of scientific importance.  However, as any writer knows it’s these sort of things that start you asking questions that lead to… well who knows where.

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Science fiction - how much world building?

We read a book and we put ourselves in that world, whether it’s Roman Britain, the court of Henry VIII or vast spaceship ploughing its way through a distant galaxy.  That’s one of the joys of reading, escaping to places in our imagination that we can never, ever visit in person.  I use those examples because not so long ago I read Wolf hall, then on my recent holiday another in the excellent ‘Macro and Cato’ series by Simon Scarrow.  The last example is because I write (and read) science fiction and if you want a great example of that particular scenario try Iain M Banks.  I know everyone’s vision of those places is personal and different to everyone else’s.  However, I do enjoy a writer that puts me in the scene and allows me to form that mental picture.

As a writer though knowing how much detail to include is always a difficult decision.  My blog:  http://wp.me/p3ycbY-1nY

Science fiction writer + holiday = inspiration

The joy of a holiday to me is that I’m away from all those little chores that have to be done and in a world of things I want to do, which I have to admit on holiday is not a lot.  Yes there are places I want to see, otherwise why travel somewhere new?  One or two are must see’s, the rest, well it’s all new and interesting to me.

There’s also that other thing that holidays give you and that’s time.  In my case more time to read. 

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Science fiction and being human

In my last blog I discussed the science of science fiction and how as writers we deal with it or don’t deal with it.  Bottom line?  I know how to use my HD TV, my pc, mobile phone and digital camera.  I might have some very basic idea how they work, but that’s it.  So I think it’ll be the same in the future, we’ll know how to use all that incredible technology, but as today you don’t have to understand it.

One thing that’s for certain is that technology is going to evolve and advance in ways that even the best science fiction writers can’t predict.  But what about us humans?

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Why I write science fiction

In my last blog I questioned if blogging was wasting my time.  I concluded it was, but it wasn’t all the time if that makes sense.  I don’t want to stop blogging, I enjoy it.  However, I did need to reassess my blog, content, timing, frequency etc. so that it both works for me and of course provides entertaining and interesting content for the reader.  So having taken a little blog holiday I’m back.  And for this first in a new era I thought I should go back to the beginning and explain why I feel compelled to write science fiction.  http://wp.me/p3ycbY-1nj