Books
Getting the Science Right in Your Fiction
Writers have tons of creative ideas, but lots of us aren’t scientists, so how do we make sure that we get the science right in our fiction? This doesn’t apply, of course, to those of us who choose to write speculative fiction that crosses over into fantasy. But if science is your jam, you definitely don’t want to be laughed out of the arena with unsound science! Here are a couple of books that I love to use for science fiction research.
This book by world-renowned physicist, Michio Kaku, was literally written as a resource for writers and filmmakers. Kaku discusses common sci-fi tech, explaining how it works and what conditions need to be in place in order for it to come into common practice. Ultimately, whether you’re writing sci-fi or not, you may enjoy seeing what this book covers. It’s truly fascinating!
If you’re writing a post-apocalyptic story (or otherwise post-human) this book gives some great insight into what the world would turn into and look like without human influence. How fast do forests take over cities, how fully does human waste go back to the earth, what creatures would take over? This book answers all your pressing post-humanity questions.
Time travel is a tough one, with lots of rules and paradoxes that you have to be aware of it you’re writing a tale that features this capability. Be sure you understand the basics so that your plot doesn’t run away with itself!
Do you have any other favorite books to help you get the science right in your fiction?
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