Tag Archives | Novels

A Non-Nerd Primer to Fantasy & Science Fiction

With the new Star Wars movie hitting big, people unfamiliar with fantasy and science fiction may feel out of their depth.  For you normal folks, I offer a short introduction – a non-nerd primer so to speak – of accessible examples from fantasy and science fiction in four different media. Movie:  Star Wars Recently my […]

primer
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The Martian: A Review of a Science Fiction Novel

The Martian:  A Review of a Science Fiction Novel Samuel recommended a science fiction novel to me:  The Martian by Andy Weir.  Mr. Weir is a first-novel hero in my view.  He published his chapters in 2011 through his blog.  Subsequently a publisher put the book into print in 2014. I’ve used the acrostic ‘MARS’ […]

martian
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Artistic Problems of Ending a TV Series Too Early: 3 Examples

A TV series has a potential advantage over a movie in that a series affords the chance to follow a story over an extended time.  Events are able to unfold into broad plots and themes.  Characters can be developed in depth. This is a potential but not an inevitable advantage. Problems happen when a series […]

tv series
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5 Cultural Cautions from the World of Panem in The Hunger Games

Let’s look into the intriguing world of Panem from The Hunger Games Trilogy.  No spoilers though!  You need to find out some things yourself.  That’s the fun of reading!  Those moments of “No way!” or “Yikes!” or “Ah Pa, that makes me cry.” Through the three books, the world of Panem unfolds solely through the […]

panem
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Starting a Fantasy Novel: The Moment That Is Different

Starting a fantasy novel? Where to begin?  It’s in your head; you can see the scenes, the characters, the settings; you’ve even envisioned the ending.  Now, where to start it? A friend told me a hint:  Start on the day that is different. That will grab your attention and your reader’s attention. Let’s look at […]

starting a fantasy novel
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The Pill to Swallow in Fantasy and Science Fiction

In any fantasy or science fiction story, whether literature or film, there’s always at least one premise… One pill to swallow, if you will. Too many pills forced down the reader’s throat and they’ll choke. A person can take one, maybe three, premises, but too much more than that and the story simply gets silly. […]

Premises
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