The Craft of Writing Science Fiction That Sells

By Ben Bova

Book Overview

Ben Bova, best-selling author and six-time Hugo Award winner for Best Editor explains step by step all the elements you need to write profesionally selling science fiction. Bova was editor of both... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0898796008
• ISBN13: 9780898796001
• Release Date: January 1994
• Publisher: Writers Digest Books
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.3" x 1.0" x 6.3"

Customer Reviews

Short Fiction or Novel, SciFi or Other, Read This Book

I found this book to be most instructive. It offers practical advice and a checklist of things to look for when writing a novel. In fact, it is valuable advice for any type of novel, not just a Science Fiction novel. But if you are interested in writing Science Fiction, there are valuable details that you won't find in other books. If you want to write either a novel or fictional short story, this is a must-read.

Read this if you're serious about writing Science Fiction

I have read the negative reviews on this site. I'd like to say that those reviewers don't know what they are talking about. Perhaps they are hack writers who think the label "Science Fiction" means there are no rules to follow. If so, they are wrong. There are tons of bad science fiction stories written by people who don't take their craft seriously. Unfortunately, some of the bad stuff winds up getting published. However, if you seriously want to write quality science fiction then you need to read this book.This book is an excellent guide in how to create stories. It somewhat focuses on short stories, but also has chapters on novels. Ben Bova does cover the special requirements of science fiction and ways to work with them.This book discusses what good writing actually requires. And Ben Bova is someone who ought to know, given his career. Good writing is good writing, no matter the genre. Ben Bova spells out what is good and what is not. I think this might have bothered some of the other reviewers.Another review mentioned Orson Scott Card's book on writing Science Fiction, and I suggest reading that one as well. But, Card's book focuses on the special requirements of Science Fiction and Fantasy and does not cover the basics of how to write something that people will actually pay their hard earned money to get a chance to read. Ben Bova's book does cover that.

Good advice on the craft of writing

Though I admit I'm not so keen on Bova's writing style in itself, he offers good advice on the actual mechanics of building a story: character, plot, conflict, etc. He rightfully recognizes that most budding writers have the talent but are rejected because of poor *craft*, which he says can be taught. The book goes a long way in doing so.

Book base on Bova's (1981) NOTES TO A SCIENCE FICTION WRITER

The table of contents of Bova's excellent 1981 book contains many of the same items, including the two story examples. This new book is an update and expansion of the old one.