Worlds of Wonder: How to Write Science Fiction & Fantasy (Paperback)

by David Gerrold (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
While both science fiction and fantasy evoke "a sense of wonder in the audience," says David Gerrold in Worlds of Wonder, science fiction "is about what's possible," while "fantasy is about what's not." Writing for both these genres is a lot like "playing with a set of Lego bricks," Gerrold says: you're creating your own world, but you have to work within a logical framework. Like other forms of storytelling, says Gerrold (best known for his "Trouble with Tribbles" Star Trek episode), science fiction and fantasy rely on mysterious first sentences, effective exits, and surprises in every sentence in between. The difference is that your characters inhabit whole worlds of your own making, worlds that may be "marvelous and surprising to the reader," but must remain ordinary to the story's characters. To carry this off, says Gerrold, "you have to write each moment"--no matter how improbable--"as if you lived it yourself."

From Library Journal
Hugo and Nebula Award-winning novelist and screenwriter Gerrold passionately discusses the challenges and excitement of writing sf. Creating believable new worlds in which to tell universal stories of conflict, growth, and transformation requires not only imagination but also the discipline to ask and answer tough questions. As in writing other genres of fiction, careful attention to setting, plot, character, and dialog must be observed, along with the mechanics of grammar, tense, sentence structure, and paragraph transition. But writing successful sf and fantasy, Gerrold contends, demands an even greater commitment to the integrity of language to create and define reality. In a chatty, informal, and even humorous style, he provides numerous exercises and questions, challenging the would-be writer to imagine the answers. Examples from films, novels, stories, and television supply practical evidence of his suggested techniques. Gerrold is a first-rate writer, best-known for his Star Trek writings. Given the rising popularity of sf, this book would be a welcome addition to any public library. Denise S. Sticha, Murrysville Community Lib., PA
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 246 pages
• Publisher: Writer's Digest Books; 1st edition (February 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1582970076
• ISBN-13: 978-1582970073
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 4.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #355,337 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Useful if sometimes self-indulgent, January 31, 2002

By	Kevin W. Parker (Greenbelt, MD) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Gerrold is a noted science fiction writer, best known for bursting on the scene with his Star Trek script, "The Trouble With Tribbles," still the favorite classic Trek episode.

Here he distills his ideas on good writing and good storytelling into short, punchy chapters, briefly addressing just about every topic one could imagine on the subject, from style, theme, and story to first lines and last lines to love scenes and sex scenes to not using "is" in one's writing.

Sometimes a little self-indulgent and overly clever: he writes short sentences on the virtues of short sentences and long sentences on the virtues of long sentences, and too many of the exemplars come from his own efforts.

Still, he knows whereof he speaks, and this is definitely a useful book.

20 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Expertly crafted, ingenious, and absorbing., April 25, 2001

By	Mike Selby (Cranbrook, British Columbia Canada) - See all my reviews

When did the bright eyed kid from Van Nuys-obsessed with Heinlein, Sturgeon, Van Voght, and the worse B movies of all time-become such a major talent that he has joined his boyhood hero's ranks? Only after 3 decades of writing over 40 books, winning numerous awards, and creating the most beloved televison shows of all time.

And David Gerrold has done it again.

Worlds of Wonder is an truly exceptional `how to write' book. Gerrold is at the top of his form in this work, taking the reader through all the gritty details of writing science fiction and fantasy. Except, like his fiction, Gerrold's writing is irresistible, and his instructions and exercises are more of a pleasure than a chore. Each chapter is littered with complex ideas and fascinating tales. Be prepared for detailed tours of Tatooine, the bridge of The Enterprise, and Middle Earth. Gerrold tells aspiring writers what works; and more importantly what doesn't. And what other writer do you know that can make a chapter on `metric prose' not only entertaining, but desirable.

Of course the best thing about this book is the inclusion of some of Gerrold's best fiction. Used to illustrate specific points, it is an extra treat to read how it is done correctly but one of the genre's major talents.

In his first book published way back in 1973, Gerrold described how the science fiction writers he worshiped were `special dreamers', and how he longed to be one of the dreamers. It would be great to hand that teenage boy a copy of WORLDS OF WONDER, written by his future self. WORLDS OF WONDER would be an excellent capstone to Gerrold's career, except if you have read his most recent books, you know he is just getting started.

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring!, February 8, 2003

By	Paladin08 (Folsom, CA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

1) PRO: Nice small chapters. Clearly demonstrates the points to be made and uses Sci-fi/fantasy stories as examples.

2) CON: Most of the examples used are from the authors own writings. A few times I wanted to shout, "Marketing ploy", but he was honest enough in his sharing that the irritation was short-lived.

3) PRO: This is the book to the art of Writing, that drafting a mission statement is to running a business. You get the insipriation, the vision, for where the writing needs to go in many areas without the speicific checklist on how the logistics need to flow. The logistics is what he encourages me as a writer to discover for myself...as I write. I left this book feeling "empowered" to write. I have my mission statement.

4)PRO: One of the most eye-opening chapters were, Memes and To Be Or Naught To Be. I walked away enlightened to the greater universe of possiblities that are at my fingertips as a writer.