Up until now, I hadn't read anything by Roger Zelazny, though I do have Lord of Light on my TBR. I figured, on a whim, that I should read his short story "A Rose for Ecclesiastes" since I had the time. In the end, I really enjoyed it, but I won't get ahead of myself. … Continue reading A Rose for Ecclesiastes Review
Note: this post originally appeared on MetaStellar's Writing Advice of the Week column. Check out Three Things Your Character Needs from the Beginning. Figuring out your main character is just as important as figuring out your world and worldbuilding. This is especially true for your main protagonist. You want your character to be complex while … Continue reading Three Things Your Character Needs from the Beginning
Note: This post originally appeared on MetaStellar's Writing Advice of the Week column. One of the biggest age-old debates among writers is, ultimately, how much planning you need to do before you start writing a novel. Some writers greatly enjoy plotting, which typically involves outlining most or all of the major details of a story … Continue reading Plotting vs. Pantsing: Pros and Cons
Ray Bradbury might be one of the first science fiction authors I was introduced to. That, however, occurred so long ago that I don't even remember what of his I read. But several of his short stories and longer works alike have stuck with me. His short story "The Veldt" developed into the next short … Continue reading The Veldt Short Story Review
Note: this post originally appeared in MetaStellar's Writing Advice of the Week. Find the full video at the end of the article! No matter how experienced, every writer will encounter a plot hole in their writing at some point. This is just one of those things that’s inevitable as you develop a story. Sometimes writers, … Continue reading 4 Ways to Fix a Plot Hole in Your Story
Ever read a short story that sticks with you long after you finish reading it? And it only took a few minutes to read? That's how I felt reading this story. Robot Dreams by Isaac Asimov. One of the blueprints for robot stories in Golden Age science fiction. Let's get into the review. A very … Continue reading Robot Dreams Short Story Review
What if humanity discovered aliens, but they were far, far smarter and more animalistic than us? In A. E. Van Vogt's short story "Black Destroyer," paranoia and terror abound as a group of astronauts encounter a cat-like alien on a distant planet. In the end, I believe it offers a realistic view of what would … Continue reading Black Destroyer Review
Star Maker by Olaf Stapledon might be one of the weirder science fiction books that I've reviewed, though it's definitely one of the most influential. Also, it's more philosophical. By the time it was written in 1937, a lot of the concepts and ideas introduced in the book were new to sci-fi. It would profoundly … Continue reading Star Maker by Olaf Stapledon Review
Note: I mistook another story I mentioned, "Harrison Bergeron," for being written by Harlan Ellison, but it was actually written by Kurt Vonnegut. Science fiction is no stranger to confronting the ways society controls us. Harlan Ellison himself isn't a stranger to discussing this topic in his own stories. In his "Repent, Harlequin!" story, he … Continue reading “Repent, Harlequin!” Said the Ticktockman Review
I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! Now that I'm back with another post, this week I thought I would get back into talking about worldbuilding. When you work on the world in your story, knowing how to get the most out of your worldbuilding will save you a lot of time and prepare you … Continue reading 3 Tips for Worldbuilding Your Story
