In order to write, you must read. You would not expect to build a decent house without first studying one already built. Would you try to design a new city without seeing how other cities have been planned? Would you undertake designing clothing before seeing how existing clothing was designed and manufactured?
I certainly hope not.
So, to write a biography you must read biographies. To write history, read history. And to write science fiction or fantasy, you should read lots and lots of speculative fiction.
I have here a very partial (and yet, long) list of recommended reading that will help you to write in the field of speculative fiction.
I'll start out with "The Big Three" of science fiction: Robert A. Heinlein, Isaac Asimov, and Arthur C. Clarke. Absolutely anything by any of these three is a worthwhile read.
I urge you to look up their biographies on Wikipedia. Those will also give a list of book titles for you to explore. For Asimov I would suggest Asimov's Mysteries for short stories and his Foundation series of novels.
For Clarke I suggest his The Nine Billion Names of God for short stories and his Space Odyssey novels.
Heinlein, my own personal favorite, offers lots of both. His Wikipedia biography does not give a list of all his books, though many of them are mentioned in the text. For short stories, I recommend The Green Hills of Earth or Expanded Universe, which presents not only short stories, but also essays and the author's notes on the stories and articles and a fair amount of autobiographical information. For novels, Stranger in a Strange Land is one of four to win the Hugo Award. Another winner of the same award is The Moon is a Harsh Mistress. Have Space Suit, Will Travel is the first one of his works I read, and it made me want to read more, more, more!
The point is, the writings of these three authors are great examples of how to get it done; but not only in the science fiction genre. These three provide great examples for any genre of writing because all three of them have a sterling command of language. All three were educated in a school system that taught the correct use of language, and, more important, they learned it. As you read them, notice how they seem to use the exact correct words for every situation rather than approximations of the right words.
Besides all of that, reading these three authors will forever enrich your lives. Trust me.
Next entry I'll offer three more authors of slightly or widely different genres.
Thanks again for reading—now visit your local library and check out a book or two!
I certainly hope not.
So, to write a biography you must read biographies. To write history, read history. And to write science fiction or fantasy, you should read lots and lots of speculative fiction.
I have here a very partial (and yet, long) list of recommended reading that will help you to write in the field of speculative fiction.
I'll start out with "The Big Three" of science fiction: Robert A. Heinlein, Isaac Asimov, and Arthur C. Clarke. Absolutely anything by any of these three is a worthwhile read.
I urge you to look up their biographies on Wikipedia. Those will also give a list of book titles for you to explore. For Asimov I would suggest Asimov's Mysteries for short stories and his Foundation series of novels.
For Clarke I suggest his The Nine Billion Names of God for short stories and his Space Odyssey novels.
Heinlein, my own personal favorite, offers lots of both. His Wikipedia biography does not give a list of all his books, though many of them are mentioned in the text. For short stories, I recommend The Green Hills of Earth or Expanded Universe, which presents not only short stories, but also essays and the author's notes on the stories and articles and a fair amount of autobiographical information. For novels, Stranger in a Strange Land is one of four to win the Hugo Award. Another winner of the same award is The Moon is a Harsh Mistress. Have Space Suit, Will Travel is the first one of his works I read, and it made me want to read more, more, more!
The point is, the writings of these three authors are great examples of how to get it done; but not only in the science fiction genre. These three provide great examples for any genre of writing because all three of them have a sterling command of language. All three were educated in a school system that taught the correct use of language, and, more important, they learned it. As you read them, notice how they seem to use the exact correct words for every situation rather than approximations of the right words.
Besides all of that, reading these three authors will forever enrich your lives. Trust me.
Next entry I'll offer three more authors of slightly or widely different genres.
Thanks again for reading—now visit your local library and check out a book or two!
RSS Feed
