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science fiction in
Science Fiction?
I’m working on a science fiction novel about a group of college students who are being hunted down by people in another country. How can I present large quantities of information at the beginning of the book without it sounding cheesy or boring?
if you really wanted a better answer I would say to supply a little more detail. Is it absolutely necisary to supply all this information in the begining or for that matter even a good idea? As someone else explained presenting as little as possible in the begining and finding excuses throughout to present small bits at a time is generally more usefull. Also keeping an audience in the dark, particualrly in science fiction, and treating them as if they should know the facts can engross you faster into a storyline. Then if you really must clarify details, having characters discuss poitns or have flashbacks or simply think to themselves works well. Robert Heinlien for example loved to write about social problems in his stories but being of an engineering background he insisted on having as much pratical science as possible in his stories and he damn well wanted the reader to know the trouble he went through thinking some stuff up. Most commonly he’d use the newbie concept. Introduce a newbie charachter that needs to have things explained to him by the more experienced members and the reader gets the lecture at the same time. For example a good film use of that technique in a storyline similiar to yours would be the film Red Dawn. The filmakers actaully put together a painstaking and realistic scenario to explain how this world war three could come about. In fact it had been supplied by a former secratary of state and based upon alternate timeline prodections of geopolitical events formed by the U.S. military. However most of the information wasn’t needed to get the action rolling, as the audience ddint need to know anymore then the teens the story focuses on. Later though just so that we wouldnt think that this plot was completely off the wall we get introduced toa downed pilot that looseley fills in the kids with details leading up to the war. Just enough mind you. In the end the producers left most of the information out simply because it was directly pertinent to the storyline. In fact ever wonder how much gets left on the cutting room floor by any science fiction author? Ever wonder why they often write more then one story within the same “universe”? You could also, I suppose, if you really needed all the information to presented right away, have an early charachter discover the information (even if they allready know it) through finding a journal, propaganda film, text book etc. vica versa an old gag popular in the eighties was a non-essential charachter presenting the buildup to the storyline then having an “accident” murdered etc, or as reflection from their current point aka. “at this time this happened the world was etc and we were etc untill the day of whatever when the blah blahs atacked, but i’m getting ahead of myself. I suppose it really began when….” this kind of reflection can be done in a cold narritive but also spiced up a bit more like “we should of seen it coming. When they enected blah blah blah we should have seen the signs. At that time the federated blah was ruling. Myself I was only a and doing whatever and what have you” By throwing a little sub story with your narritive as a complete chapter or two it can keep it from sounding like the intro to a star wars movie. Good luck.
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Serenity Zippo Lighter $29.99 Joss Whedon, creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, made his big-screen writing and directing debut with this science fiction epic, continuing the story begun in his fan-favorite TV series, Firefly. Fans of the cult-hit TV series and the major motion picture, will love this Zippo lighter, featuring the logo of the rogue ship, Serenity…. |
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Alien Planet Decorative Night Light $9.99 Handcrafted in the USA to the highest standards using licensed materials with great individual care and attention to detail. We are certain that you will be completely delighted and satisfied with our product. All purchased Items will arrive via USPS and a the tracking # will be sent to you. We also offer matching Drawer Knobs, Outlet Covers, Double Size Switchplates, Triple Size Switchplates, Roc… |
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Art Poster, Comet: Beautiful Woman in Rocket Window – 18.75 x 27.5 $19.95 FREE SHIPPING on this item when you purchase 2 or more Art Posters from ClassicPix.com. This high quality, durable Art Poster measures 18.75″ x 27.50″ and arrives ready to frame. Posters are printed on heavy-stock, semi-matte paper producing the best possible combination of color vibrancy and durability. All posters from ClassicPix.com are made on demand one-at-a-time, just for you — not mass-pro… |
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Eragon (Widescreen Edition) $3.38 Movie DVD… |
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Eragon (Full Screen Edition) $4.49 Movie DVD… |
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The Science Fiction Album $23.69 … |
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Strangers in Paradise (1984) [VHS] $69.99 … |
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Fire in the Sky (1993) [VHS] $19.98 … |
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Grand Tour – Disaster in Time [VHS] $3.69 … |
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Eureka – Season One $23.48 In the town of Eureka, Sheriff Jack Carter uncovers the mysteries created by a community of scientists…. |
fiction pop art
There are many elements that go into making a work of fiction worthy of being read. While each part is essential, there are four elements that are vital in transforming your work from a boring jumble of words to a true work of art.
1.The idea – This is where every great work of fiction begins. Ideas can come from various places. Sometimes an idea will just pop into your head or wander in from your imagination, but more often, something in your life will trigger a story idea. A personal experience is a wonderful source for an idea. Many writers come across new topics while working on a completely different project. Ideas can be gathered from television, newspaper articles, or overhearing a story in the checkout line of the grocery store. Story ideas are all around you, so it’s important to keep a notebook with you to jot them down when they come to you.
2.The plot – There have been many discussions on whether you should choose your plot or your characters first. Personally, I think you should pick your plot. After all, how do you know who your characters should be if you don’t even know what they are doing? The plot is the element that takes your idea and transforms it into a story. It is the part that moves the story from “Point A” to “Point B.” In order for your story to be exciting, your plot needs to be exciting. Think of it as a roller coaster. Up, down. Fast, slow. Twist, turn. Your plot should do all of these. The best plots are those that have the reader experiencing opposite emotions in the same chapter. Happy, sad. Scared, relaxed. Assured, in doubt. Keep the story moving, and your reader will continue to flip the pages. Let the story stall, and your book is likely to wind up on the shelf. That’s how important plot is!
3.Characters – The next thing every good story needs is good characters. Notice I said “good characters” not just “characters.” The character is the person (or sometimes animal) who is living out the story. For the story to be believable, the characters must be believable. Unfortunately, there are many good plots out there that lack realistic characters. The people are dull and lifeless, making it hard for the reader to relate. Make your characters come alive with action, dialogue, and description. Know your character, and help your reader to know him as well.
4.Setting – While this element is not as important as the other three, setting often plays a vital part in a story. Not only does setting tell the reader “where” and “when,” but it can also help set the mood. For example, if your setting is on the field of battle in the middle of the Revolutionary War, there is a mood of fear, sadness, and regret. If your story is taking place in a dark creepy house on a stormy night, you have set it up for the perfect mystery.
While there are many other elements in a work of fiction, these are the most important. Master them, and your story will be worthy of being read and hopefully even being published.
Dana Rongione is a full-time Christian freelance writer living in Greenville, SC. For more information on fiction writing, check out LearnWriteNow.com. While you’re there, be sure to sign up for the FREE Writing Nuggets.
For daily encouragement, visit her blog, A Word Fitly Spoken.
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Pulp Fiction Poster C 27×40 John Travolta Samuel L. Jackson Uma Thurman Pulp Fiction reproduction poster print Pop Culture Graphics, Inc is Amazon’s largest source for movie and TV show memorabilia, poster and more: Offering tens of thousands of items to choose from. We also offer a full selection of framed posters.. Customer satisfaction is always guaranteed when you buy from Pop Culture Graphics,Inc… |
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Vortex Modern Wall Decor Ultra Modern Abstract Metal Art by: Jon Allen $275.00 This hyper space metallic composition emanates from the center of an epiphany. This piece has a depth of dimension that suggests growth or expansion. The lumen-dynamics of Jon Allen Metal Art are created by the brushed and polished textures that move with its observer. Interest and curiosity are drawn by the crested Highlights magnified under direct illumination. This work is very easy to hang wit… |
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Pulp Fiction Poster Movie J 11×17 John Travolta Samuel L. Jackson Uma Thurman Harvey Keitel Pulp Fiction reproduction Approx. Size: 11 x 17 Inches – 28cm x 44cm Style J mini poster print Pop Culture Graphics, Inc is Amazon’s largest source for movie and TV show memorabilia, posters and more: Offering tens of thousands of items to choose from. We also offer a full selection of framed posters.. Customer satisfaction is always guaranteed when you buy from Pop Culture Graphics,Inc… |
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Math Series: Addition Music CD $4.50 ADDITION CD… |
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States & Capitals CD/Book Set $6.99 Includes Music CD and 24-page Activity Book with lyrics, poetry and creative writing activities, capital word searches, states and capitals study guides, and melody line with chords for Singing Our States and Learning Our Capitals…. |
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Math Music CD/Book Set: Multiplication (Math Series, 5) $5.00 Includes the Music CD and 24 pg. Activity Book with lyrics, time tests, and multiplication practice pages: finding the factors, order property, facts of 9 and more! Running time 65:19 – Ages 7-12… |
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The Power Wave [VHS] $5.00 The Power Wave: High Velocity Ecstatic Dance Gabrielle Roth The Power Wave is the next step in Gabrielle Roths revolutionary ecstatic dance series: a high-velocity, nonstop celebration of the human body in motion. Pumping up the beat to maximum, Gabrielle guides you through five universal rhythms that flow through our lives and world. You join dancers of all sizes, shapes, and age groups … |
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Repo Man $14.95 VHS VIDEO! Repo Man! An Amazon.com Essential Video! A volatile, toxic potion of satire and nihilism, road movie and science fiction, violence and comedy, the unclassifiable sensibility of Alex Cox’s Repo Man is the model and inspiration for a potent strain of post-punk American comedy that includes not only Quentin Tarantino (Pulp Fiction), but also early Coen brothers (Raising Arizona, in particu… |
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Who Is the Artist?: Artists of Pop Art-Lichtenstein, Thiebaud, Warhol [VHS] $29.95 … |
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The Art of Star Wars, Episode III – Revenge of the Sith $15.26 Packed with breathtaking visuals created by a team of world-class artists, The Art of Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith charts the visual genesis of this epic saga’s climactic finale.For years, George Lucas’s handpicked group has created characters, costumes, droids, star ships, planetary vistas, digi-matte paintings, and sculpturesevery type of visual imaginable.This extraordinary volume… |
fiction treasury
I get goose bumps thinking about some of tales in this collection. It’s a feast for any horror fan – forty-seven short stories and six poems selected by Marvin Kaye with Saralee Kaye. The selections focus on psychological terror rather than blood and gore. As Kaye says in his introduction “Any story that gave my jaded spine a chill seemed to present proper credentials for membership in the club.” These are not the more well known horror tales that appear over and over in anthologies, some are not readily available anywhere else.
I have several favorites among them. “The Bottle Imp,” an intriguing spin on making a pact with the devil, was written in 1891 by Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson. Keawe, a native of Hawaii, buys a strange bottle from an elderly man who tells him the imp in the bottle is responsible for his wealth. The imp will also grant Keawe whatever he wishes. Of course there is a catch. If he dies with the bottle in his possession his soul will burn in Hell. It must be sold for less than its purchase price and he may not dispose of it or give it away. Stevenson throws some twists and turns into the story and Keawe faces some horrifying choices.
“Dracula’s Guest” was published posthumously after Bram Stoker’s death and was probably intended to be the first chapter of his novel “Dracula.” The narrator is Jonathan Harker on his way to Transylvania on Walpurgis Night, the first of May, when witches and demons are about. He doesn’t heed the coachman’s superstitious warnings and he leaves the safety of his hotel to wander in the forest alone where he has an eerie feeling he’s being watched. When he comes across an ancient tomb in an old graveyard he realizes just how foolish he’s been.
“Flies,” by Isaac Asimov, was first published in June 1953. It’s a short science fiction story about a group of former college students who meet at a reunion twenty years after graduation. They discuss their achievements and Casey tells them he does research on insecticides. Ironically the flies seem to bother him and no one else.
British novelist Tanith Lee provides a different take on the Cinderella story. “When the Clock Strikes” her heroine turns into a witch who swears allegiance to Lord Satanas.
“Lazarus” by Leonid Andreyev is a retelling of the miraculous return to life described in the scriptures. Lazarus returns home after being dead for three days and family and friends celebrate his resurrection. He’s dressed grandly but his days in the grave left him with a bluish cast to his face and reddish cracks on his skin. His temper is changed as well. He’s no longer cheerful and carefree and he’s unwilling to talk about the horrors he’s seen.
“The Flayed Hand” was written by Guy de Maupassant. A young student acquires a shriveled hand, severed at the wrist from a deceased sorcerer. He intends to use it as the handle to his door-bell to frighten his creditors, but the owner wants it back.
The strength of this collection is in its diversity. It’s divided into five sections, each with stories that are unique and chilling. Some of the stories are written in a dated style that may not appeal to readers who like more contemporary literature. But the prose sets the mood and creates an atmosphere that invokes a sense of dread that is so perfect for this type of story – the kind that makes your skin crawl. This is a book to be picked up and read over and over again.
Publisher: Doubleday & Company Inc. (May 1985)
ISBN: 978-0385185493
Pages: 623
Table of Contents
Introduction by Marvin Kaye
Fiends and Creatures
Dracula’s Guest by Bram Stoker
The Professor’s Teddy Bear by Theodore Sturgeon
Bubnoff and the Devil by Ivan Turgenev, English adaptation by Marvin Kaye
The Quest for Blank Calveringi by Patricia Highsmith
The Erl-King by Johann Wolfgang Von Goëthe, English adaptation by Marvin Kaye
The Bottle Imp by Robert Louis Stevenson
A Malady of Magicks by Craig Shaw Gardner
Lan Lung by M. Lucie Chin
The Dragon Over Hackensack by Richard L. Wexelblat
The Transformation by Mary W. Shelley
The Faceless Thing by Edward D. Hoch
Lovers and Other Monsters
The Anchor by Jack Snow
When the Clock Strikes by Tanith Lee
Oshidori by Lafcadio Hearn
Carmilla by Sheriden LeFanu
Eumenides in the Fourth Floor Lavatory by Orson Scott Card
Lenore by Gottfried August Bürger, English adaptation by Dante Gabriel Rossetti
The Black Wedding by Isaac Bashevis Singer, translated by Martha Glicklich
Hop-Frog by Edgar Allan Poe
Sardonicus by Ray Russell
Graveyard Shift by Richard Matheson
Wake Not the Dead by Johann Ludwig Tieck
Night and Silence by Maurice Level
Acts of God and Other Horrors
Flies by Isaac Asimov
The Night Wire by H.F. Arnold
Last Respects by Dick Baldwin
The Pool of the Stone God by A. Merritt
A Tale of the Thirteenth Floor by Ogden Nash
The Tree by Dylan Thomas
Stroke of Mercy by Parke Godwin
Lazarus by Leonid Andreyev
The Beast Within
The Waxwork by A.M. Burrage
The Silent Couple by Pierre Courtois, translated and adapted by Faith Lancereau and Marvin Kaye
Moon-Face by Jack London
Death in the School-Room by Walt Whitman
The Upturned Face by Stephen Crane
One Summer Night by Ambrose Bierce
The Easter Egg by H.H. Munro (“Saki”)
The House in Goblin Wood by John Dickson Carr
The Vengence of Nitocris by Tennessee Williams
The Informal Execution of Soupbone Pew by Damon Runyon
His Unconquerable Enemy by W.C. Morrow
Rizpah by Alfred, Lord Tennyson
The Question by Stanley Ellin
Ghosts and Miscellaneous Nightmares
The Flayed Hand by Guy de Maupassant
The Hospice by Robert Aickman
The Christmas Banquet by Nathaniel Hawthorne
The Hungry House by Robert Bloch
The Demon of the Gibbet by Fitz-James O’Brien
The Owl by Anatole Le Braz, translated by Faith lancereau
No. 252 Rue M. Le Prince by Ralph Adams Cram
The Music of Erich Zann by H.P. Lovecraft
Riddles in the Dark (Original Version, 1938) by J.R.R. Tolkien
Afterword
Miscellaneous Notes
Selected Bibliography
Gail Pruszkowski reviews for “Romantic Times BOOKreviews” magazine and her work has been published in the “Cup of Comfort” Anthologies.
http://mysite.verizon.net/bookworm.gp/
http://write-juncture.blogspot.com/
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Treasury of Great Science Fiction $9.99 … |
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Creature from the Haunted Sea – In COLOR! Also Includes the Restored Black-and-White Version! $3.97 Studio: Legend Films Inc. Release Date: 10/21/2008… |
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Creature From the Haunted Sea $2.34 … |
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CBS Evening News (September 28, 2005) $17.95 WITH THE STATUE OF LIBERTY AS A BACKDROP, TREASURY DEPARTMENT SHOWED OFF THE NEW TEN DOLLAR BILL . . . ANCHOR TWOWAY WITH LARA LOGAN IN BAGHDAD ON FIRST TIME FEMALE SUICIDE BOMBER IN TAL AFAR,POLITICAL SITUATION,LACK OF BASIC SERVICES . . . COMMUNITIES IN TEXAS AND LOUISIANA CONTINUE TO SUFFER FOUR DAYS AFTER HURRICANE RITA HIT . . . REFINERIES ARE NOT BEING BUILT IN US DUE TO REGULATIONS AND PROF… |
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The 20th-Century Children’s Book Treasury: Picture Books and Stories to Read Aloud $22.80 Believe it or not, 44 complete read-aloud classics and future classics–from Goodnight Moon to Stellaluna–are packed in this remarkably svelte, positively historic anthology. Flipping through the 308 pages of The 20th-Century Children’s Book Treasury is like browsing a photo album of beloved friends and family. The familiar faces of Curious George and Ferdinand the Bull peer earnestly from … |
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James Herriot’s Treasury for Children: Warm and Joyful Tales by the Author of All Creatures Great and Small $11.99 James Herriot s Treasurey for Children collects all of the beloved veterinarian s delightful tales for young readers. From the springtime frolic of Oscar, Cat-About-Town to the yuletide warmth of The Christmas Day Kitten, these stories, illustrated by Peter Baretty and Ruth Brown, are perennial favorites. Publisher: St. Martin s PressAges: 4-8ISBN: 0312085125Pages: 260, hardcover… |
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A Treasury of Curious George $1.24 Sunburst Learn About Life Sciences: Dinosaurs Single Edition… |
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My Best Friend is a Princess: A Princess Friendship Treasury (Toddler Board Books) $5.57 Sweet dreams, Sleep tight, the Disney Princesses say goodnight! Little girls will have the sweetest dreams after reading this oversized treasury of Disney Princess bedtime stories featuring Cinderella, Belle, and Sleeping Beauty.With dreamy illustrations, this sturdy padded board book is the perfect addition to a family’s library of bedtime tales.Format: Board, 30 pages… |
short fiction in
“Short Fiction”?
Does anyone have the text book “Short Fiction Classic and Contemporary” by Charles Bohner and Lyman Grant?
I bought the wrong edition and can’t complete my assignment!!!
Here’s what I need if anyone can help me:
“The Open Boat” Question #9
and
“The Secret Sharer” Question #1
Thanks to those who try to help!!
I have neither the funds nor the time to purchase the 5th edition of the book, considering I already paid a boat load for the the 6th edition…
sorry, no…
http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0geu82V5utGEgQBbXVXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTE5aW4yOGlmBHNlYwNzcgRwb3MDNgRjb2xvA2FjMgR2dGlkA0Y5NDVfMTkwBGwDV1Mx/SIG=1250jkt2h/EXP=1189951509/**http%3a//wps.prenhall.com/hss_bohner_shortfiction_6
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Indigo Ocean Dreams: 4 Children’s Stories Designed to Decrease Stress, Anger and Anxiety while Increasing Self-Esteem and Self-Awareness $8.74 Indigo Ocean Dreams is a 60 minute audio/CD designed to entertain your child in an ocean setting while introducing them to four research-based, stress management techniques. Each story integrates either progressive muscular relaxation, visualizations, breathing, and affirmations (positive statements). Children follow their sea friends along as they use progressive muscular relaxation and breathing… |
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Drama Exposed $22.99 … |
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A Fine Feathered Frenzy [VHS] $3.01 A garden tool with an appetite for destruction throws young Dylan Taylor headlong into adventure. After mowing down Mrs. Harcourt’s rose garden, he’s forced to pay the consequences – which include “parrot-sitting” her beloved Napoleon. But when Whit accidentally lets the bird escape, the chase is on! Can Whit and Dylan recapture Napoleon before Mrs. Harcourt returns home – or have they met thei… |
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George Lucas in Love [VHS] $2.39 This live-action short film mines comic gold from sly conjecture: three days before graduation in 1967, USC film student George Lucas (Martin Hynes) is still struggling with his unfinished script for an “agricultural space tragedy,” fending off interruptions from a bong-toting stoner roommate and a pretentious, black-clad neighbor and rival whose pompous threats of industry domination are inte… |
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Long Way in a Short Time 1850-1910 [VHS] $29.95 … |
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Futurama: Into the Wild Green Yonder $14.99 Ancient forces of darkness threaten the survival of the universe entangling the Planet Express crew in the battle, leaving Fry as mankind’s only hope…. |
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Futurama: Bender’s Game $16.49 While trying to penetrate the world’s only dark matter mine to cut down the cost of fuel, the Planet Express team find a medieval land of sorcery and… |
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Men in Black II (Widescreen Special Edition) $3.50 Agent Jay must call agent Kay out of retirement in order to help rid the earth of a Kylothian monster who is threatening humanity.Genre: Science FictionRating: PG13Release Date: 5-AUG-2003Media Type: DVD… |
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TS226-00 The Fly Monster Movie Glow In the Dark Horror T-Shirt $17.95 The Fly Monster Movie Glow In the Dark Horror T-ShirtOfficially LicensedBrand New!!Brand: Ripple Junction”The Fly” text glows in the dark! Spooky!Color: Black… |
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Man in Suit With Gun Logo Men’s tee Shirt in 12 colors Small thru 6XL … |