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Science Fiction: 101: Exploring the Craft of Science Fiction by [Robert K. Silverberg]

Science Fiction: 101: Exploring the Craft of Science Fiction Kindle Edition

by Robert K. Silverberg (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

4.5 35 ratings

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Before Robert Silverberg won multiple Hugo and Nebula awards and became Grand Master of science fiction, he was a young man learning the art and craft of writing the genre. In Science Fiction: 101, Silverberg reveals the roots of modern science fiction with thought-provoking essays about some of the field’s most groundbreaking stories—included in this volume—which inspired him and taught him to write. These insightful analyses, along with the skills and strategies Silverberg developed to build his successful career, make this an indispensable volume for readers interested in science fiction history.

Featuring Thirteen Classic Stories by Brian W. Aldiss, Alfred Bester, James Blish, Philip K. Dick, Damon Knight, C. M. Kornbluth, Henry Kuttner, C. L. Moore, Frederik Pohl, Bob Shaw, Robert Sheckley, Cordwainer Smith, and Jack Vance

Print length

506 pages
Language

English
Sticky notes

On Kindle Scribe
Publisher

Ace
Publication date

May 6, 2014
Reading age

18 years and up
File size

2154 KB
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Enabled
Word Wise

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C. M. Kornbluth
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“An excellent introduction to the most important roots of modern SF.”—The Washington Post

“It’s like sitting down with a good friend whose informal conversation sparkles, whose wisdom pierces you, whose intelligence makes you smarter just by listening.”—Orson Scott Card

“The stories alone are worth the price of admission, examples of the best that science fiction can be. But the whipped cream on top is Silverberg’s essay on the craft of each story.”—Wilmington Morning News
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Science Fiction Grand Master Robert Silverberg has won five Nebula Awards, four Hugo Awards, and the prestigious Prix Apollo. He is the author of more than one hundred science fiction and fantasy novels and more than sixty non-fiction works, including Lord Valentine's Castle, Majipoor Chronicles, Valentine Pontifex, and Tales of Majipoor. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00FX7RDDC
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Ace (May 6, 2014)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 6, 2014
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 2154 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
Print length ‏ : ‎ 506 pages

Best Sellers Rank: #1,190,308 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #882 in Science Fiction History & Criticism
- #2,306 in Science Fiction Anthologies (Kindle Store)
- #2,846 in Time Travel Science Fiction (Kindle Store)

Customer Reviews:
4.5 35 ratings

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Regina M. Joseph

Timeless works with helpful commentary

Reviewed in the United States on April 9, 2015

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Having read and loved several of Mr. Silverberg's novels, I bought this volume as a wonderful resource to receive his insights on crafting a quality science fiction story. And I wasn't disappointed. The selections, drawn from the early 1950s, are timeless works that influenced Mr. Silverberg's writing. He presents each short story with commentary on why it merited inclusion. In each selection, the author hooks the reader from the very beginning, while continuing with a clockwork pace and surprising revelations. My only suggestion would be to include some later works, as well, so that the reader could see how the genre has developed since the 1950s.

3 people found this helpful

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Yudhanjaya Wijeratne

One of the most useful books on the craft I've ever read

Reviewed in the United States on June 5, 2018

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Silverberg's advice is timeless, spanning not just scifi, but any story. Inside these pages he tells you his story, dissects some of the greatest masters of his time, and gives you the advice of a lifetime. I came away a changed writer. This and Stephen King's On Writing, and a copy of Strunk and White - you're good to go.

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Musty

Definitely recommended.

Reviewed in the United States on September 6, 2017

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Great selection of sample stories and insightful comments by a master of the genre.

One person found this helpful

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Harleyguy

Sign me up for more, please.

Reviewed in the United States on September 17, 2014

Verified Purchase

This is exactly what I wanted and expected. It does remind me that writing is only 1% inspiration and 99% working the craft, but anything worth doing ...

One person found this helpful

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An excellent book on several levels

Reviewed in the United States on December 31, 2015

In this book (previously published under the title "Robert Silverberg's Worlds of Wonder"), the multi-Hugo and multi-Nebula award winner Robert Silverberg presents a book that's part autobiography of his early years as a developing writer, part literary criticism, part guide for beginning writers, and part anthology.

Thirteen stories are included, each by a different author, ranging in date from 1944 to 1966. Silverberg selected these stories both for their value as lasting classics of the SF genre, and for the influence they had on him as a young writer. In a brief essay that follows each story, Silverberg explains why he considers it among the best that SF has produced, analyzes what makes it "work" as a story, and often, how the story influenced him when he first read it. With some of the stories, fascinating tidbits about the genesis of the story, its reception at the time of its publication, and its influence on the SF field in general are also included.

Any devoted reader of SF short stories will be familiar with some, if not all of the stories here. But the book works on several levels: As a fine collection of classic stories in the genre, as a work of SF criticism and analysis that will give readers new insights into some well-known stories, and as a partial autobiography of the early career of one of SF's greatest authors, revealing much about the man, his thoughts about SF writing, and the circle of writers he moved among.

A list of the stories:
"Four in One"; Damon Knight, 1953
"Fondly Fahrenheit"; Alfred Bester, 1954
"No Woman Born"; C.L. Moore, 1944
"Home is the Hunter"; Henry Kuttner, 1953
"The Monsters"; Robert Sheckley, 1953
"Common Time"; James Blish, 1953
"Scanners Live in Vain"; Cordwainer Smith, 1950
"Hothouse"; Brian W. Aldiss, 1960
"The New Prime"; Jack Vance, 1951
"Colony"; Philip K. Dick, 1953
"The Little Black Bag"; C.M. Kornbluth, 1950
"Light of Other Days"; Bob Shaw, 1966
"Day Million"; Frederick Pohl, 1966

One person found this helpful

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J.

A thoroughly enjoyable and hugely educational journey through sci-fi history

Reviewed in the United States on October 4, 2016

From the point of view of a science-fiction writer, this book is indispensable. The stories are great, of course. But the essays by Robert Silverberg are the main purpose of the book - you can't find them anywhere else. They are interesting, enlightening, and reaffirming. Even if you aren't a writer, you will surely enjoy them. Because if you are reading this book, you obviously have some deeper than average interest in science fiction.

Silverberg is a tried and true veteran. And he didn't reach that status on accident, or through sheer talent; he consciously worked for it, poring through tomes of technical writing advice, ancient theater plays, and storytelling theory. He studied them at an almost manic level, determined to find the secrets behind good writing in general. He knows what he's talking about, and some of the things he says will come as a surprise to any beginning writer. Anyone writing at an advanced level - I'll get there one day! - will nod their head and smile at the things Silverberg has to say. Even for that venerated group, it's nice to have their own experiences, theories and thoughts validated by a true master.

Now, about the stories. I liked some more than others, but they were all unforgettable. They range quite drastically. You have the workmanlike stories, the ones churned out by strict professionals - things like "The Monsters" and "Home Is the Hunter". "Colony" by Philip K. Dick also fits under that umbrella. Then you have the more literary works, the richer tapestries; "Common Time", "No Woman Born", "The New Prime". The full panorama of short sci-fi is contained in this volume, and there is much to learn from every single story.

My favorites:
"Common Time" by James Blish
"Light of Other Days" by Bob Shaw
"Four in One" by Damon Knight

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Doug King

Great book to learn from

Reviewed in Canada on June 10, 2017

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To say that Silverberg know his stuff, is comical really. As an endorsement though, it has his place.
Thing is, though, if someone wants to learn from him or even just immerse oneself in really good writing. Read the book!

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