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Must-Read Science Fiction Authors and Some of Their Best Works
I am a writer who is passionate about classic science fiction. There is a list of authors who are considered to be the best. So, if you are looking for incredible science fiction novels, then these five, who happen to be some of my favorites, are included in that list and I would highly recommend them. I’ve given you a short version of their content and what I thought about each one. Whatever you choose to read, I don’t believe you’ll be disappointed. Happy Reading!
Robert Heinlein – Glory Road
This novel was written in first person and talks to the fourth wall on several occasions. The leading character is a down and out, unemployed man in serious need of a job. He answers an ad in the paper for “Hero for Hire” and stumbles his way to success. It was very inciteful and hilariously realistic to today’s social climate.
– The Moon is a Harsh Mistress
A computer becomes sentient in a prison located on the moon and teaches the inmates how to fight back the oppressors on earth by launching large rocks. Heinlein made it sound plausible and added just enough sound technical data to seem real.
John Varley – Titan
One of my favorite characters in this book was the mighty Cirocco Jones and her sidekick, Gaby. On an expedition to Saturn, they discover an unknown satellite orbiting the planet, they crash into it, and attempt to find their missing crew members. The narration was so vivid I could see what they saw as if I was there with them.
– Millennium
Because of a thousand years of war, the Earth has been polluted beyond repair and humanity’s gene pool has become irreparably damaged. Scientists decide on a desperate plan; time travel into the past, collect healthy humans, and transport the populace to an uncontaminated planet to rebuild civilization. The only downside is each person selected can’t have changed the future by disappearing. I found the plot to be interesting, original, and deeply disturbing at the same time.
Piers Anthony – Macroscope
Macroscope is a love story that surrounds the theft of a new kind of telescope that employs an infinite resolution while observing the space time continuum. The machine can look into anywhere at anytime, making it the most dangerous tool in the universe. The two protagonists fall in love while they attempt to keep the macroscope away from those who would misuse it.
– A Spell For Chameleon
The lead character, Bink, must learn his magical talent before he comes of age or suffer the banishment of the country in which he lives. Bink learns he has a talent but there is no way to discover what it could be. He is banished to our world, one without magic, and eventually makes it back to Xanth, his world. Bink ultimately learns his talent is that no other talent will work against him. It is also determined to be the strongest talent in his world. I liked this book primarily because Bink was so naïve and nicer than those around him. It also proved that decency wins out.
Arthur C. Clarke – The Sands of Mars
This book was released in 1951 and shows a much more wholesome view of science and space travel. The leading characters find kangaroo – like creatures on mars and vegetation that will eventually produce air on mars. The protagonist is so taken with the planet that he volunteers to stay and help with the migration of people from earth.
– The City and the Stars
I found the concept of this book fascinating and different from most science fiction of the time. The setting is in the distant future when the earth’s oceans have dried up, and mankind lives in one remaining city on the edge of extinction. The leading character discovers a second group of people that have once again learned how to live off the land, and they teach him the procedures needed to thrive.
Edgar Rice Burroughs – A Princess of Mars
This is my favorite book and was the one that caused me to become a writer. John Carter is whisked off to the red planet, a place the natives call Barsoom. He meets a beautiful princess and has to defend her from a race of people that want her dead. The formula is constant with Burroughs books and involves finding the girl, losing her to kidnapping, and spending a herculean amount of effort finding and saving her.
– The Land that Time Forgot
The main character, Bowen Tyler, is on a ship that sinks during World War 1 and through a series of misadventures finds himself on what he thinks is a deserted island. Exploring the island for food shows Bowen that the island is inhabited by dinosaurs and prehuman people that know nothing of the 20th century. Lys La Rue, a companion from the sunken ship must find a way to survive and ultimately leave the island.
Solitaire
Essential Tips for First-Time Authors
I think the most important first step is to ask yourself what kind of book it will be. Fiction, non-fiction, historical, horror, science fiction, fantasy? Before you can get started, this one question needs to be answered before it’s possible.
Regardless of age, life experience will play a part in what you decide to put to pen, but it will be infinitely easier if you write about what you know. Speaking of pens, how do you see yourself punching away at this new endeavor? Pen/pencil and paper or with a computer? Whatever happens to be within your grasp will be where you start but don’t let it stop you from working toward your dream. If you choose a computer, then the next decision will be which piece of software to use. So now we’re talking about what your budget looks like, and there is some good news. Free software is available to help get you started in lieu of purchasing Microsoft Word or other writing software. Do the research and find out which will be the best fit for you.
The next decision is what type of book are you seeing in the mind’s eye? A short story, a novella, a novel, or a compilation of novels making a series of interconnected characters? Figure that out and your task will be made easier.
With each book you write, expect there to be a huge amount of research before the smoke clears on your finished work. If you write about what you know, there will still be research to perform because none of us knows everything about any given subject.
The next question revolves around preliminary functions like an outline of where the book will be going from chapter to chapter, or do you really need one? From author to author this one question has a variety of responses and none of them are wrong. Some of us use outlines or storyboards, some of us don’t. Whichever way you go, write a lot.
I’m a proponent of critical thinking, and the long and short of that boils down to who, what, why, where, when, and how with every page you write. I call them the six deadlys, and you’ll get sick of asking the same questions every day of your writing career, but there’s no living without them. The day you stop asking these questions is the day mistakes will overtake you.
Talk frequently to friends and family about your book prior and during the writing process. It will help you to stay fresh as they give you added spark and suggestions talking about your project.
Read more than you write. Select books from other authors with the same genre and compare what you’ve written with what you’ve read. It will help the number of potential errors before they happen.
Research which titles have already been used and stay away from repeats whenever possible. Look for ways to make your story different, thereby making it stand out from the rest of the stories within the same genre.
Last, but certainly not least, know what your audience is looking for and stay within those parameters. If it’s a child’s book, stay away from adult concepts and write to the age level of your audience.
These are some ideas that might be helpful to a first-time author. There are many more things that I wish I had known when I started writing. I recently created a book that might help you to avoid some of the mistakes that I made along the way and make your path a little easier to get your works published. If you’ve always wanted to write a book and get it published, this will instruct you how to accomplish your dreams of being an author. Good luck and have a great writing experience! Click here for The Triple Threat.
Solitaire
Spring Cleaning for Writers!
It’s the time of year that often focuses on Spring cleaning just about everywhere. So, it’s not a bad idea for authors and writers to do the same thing with their websites, blogs and various digital content. Here’s a few ideas that you might want to concentrate on for your Spring cleaning efforts.
Update your Website and/or Blog:
Check for broken links
Does your site need a new overall look?
Update your Bio and Contact information and photo
Make sure your site looks good on mobile and all browsers
Check your page load speed
Think about adding or deleting content in your sidebars
Redo your Header or Footer
Add or delete Social Media sites & the information on these sites
Backup your site
Email:
Go through your emails and unsubscribe to unneeded ones
Archive material you want to keep
Delete old emails
Social Media Sites:
Do passwords need to be changed?
Update your Bio and Contact information and photo
Do you need a new Header or Background?
Check privacy settings and info
Check all Book Sites:
Are all your books listed?
Check and update book descriptions if needed
Update Bios, contacts and photos
Are my sites linked to the proper places?
Backup:
Important files of data and images (possibly an external hard-drive)
Take stock of what has happened in the past and get ready to reset things and move forward to a great year. Things will get better and you need to be ready for a wonderful new year ahead! Get ready to accomplish your goals!!!
Solitaire
Solitaire Parke - Sci-Fi/Fantasy Books 