Scan barcode
A review by natoriety
Worlds of Wonder: How to Write Science Fiction & Fantasy by David Gerrold
informative
reflective
fast-paced
3.0
I will start by expressing my slight disappointment with this book. I expected it to deal with more in-depth topics and provide insight into why certain things have become as important trends as they are in the writing of sci-fi or fantasy. Instead, I got the basics familiar to almost everyone and 70% of the book quoted the author's or other people's published books.
I recognise that the book was written in 2001 which would explain some of the views the author held, but that did not stop me from being surprised. The chapter that talked about pronouns was especially shocking. He tries to be inclusive of LGBT individuals and then proceeds to compare them to machines, aliens and robots. He also states there are no pronouns that can express genuine gender neutrality aside from "it" which sounded very diminishing. The usage of "they" as a singular pronoun to refer to an individual in a non-gendered way dates since the 14th century.
Another thing I disliked is the sheer negativity he has towards writing. He keeps reinstating the idea that unless you have written at least one million words (around ten standard print books), then all you have done is practice and should not be cause for pride. I found that very unnecessary. While one should not think of themselves (hah, singular they!) to be a master after writing a few sentences, taking pride in your achievements is essential towards developing a base of confidence. You cannot be your biggest fan (as he advises at the end) unless you first take a healthy dose of pride in what you have achieved.
It is an alright read if you want to familiarise yourself with the basis of sci-fi and fantasy but certainly not one of the best guides in any way. It lacks a deeper understanding of the genres and proper advice for people with more experience in writing. Perhaps it was more relevant at the time it was published, but today it fails to deliver what a writer might seek in such a read.
I recognise that the book was written in 2001 which would explain some of the views the author held, but that did not stop me from being surprised. The chapter that talked about pronouns was especially shocking. He tries to be inclusive of LGBT individuals and then proceeds to compare them to machines, aliens and robots. He also states there are no pronouns that can express genuine gender neutrality aside from "it" which sounded very diminishing. The usage of "they" as a singular pronoun to refer to an individual in a non-gendered way dates since the 14th century.
Another thing I disliked is the sheer negativity he has towards writing. He keeps reinstating the idea that unless you have written at least one million words (around ten standard print books), then all you have done is practice and should not be cause for pride. I found that very unnecessary. While one should not think of themselves (hah, singular they!) to be a master after writing a few sentences, taking pride in your achievements is essential towards developing a base of confidence. You cannot be your biggest fan (as he advises at the end) unless you first take a healthy dose of pride in what you have achieved.
It is an alright read if you want to familiarise yourself with the basis of sci-fi and fantasy but certainly not one of the best guides in any way. It lacks a deeper understanding of the genres and proper advice for people with more experience in writing. Perhaps it was more relevant at the time it was published, but today it fails to deliver what a writer might seek in such a read.