How to Write Science Fiction and Fantasy (Genre Writing)

Orson Scott Card tackles many sides of writing, and not just of Science Fiction or Fantasy. He is an admirable writer, both of fiction and writing books. You can read this book with half a mind, and get ideas which will soon devellop into stories, or you can read it with all your attention, and learn more of the craft of writing. A very good buy. I really enjoyed reading it several times.

Orson Scott Card is an amazing individual; he taught me to judge writing, develop storylines, make characters more real than reality and gave more information than any writing course ever could. His simple descriptions and instructions on how to develop ideas, characters and plots are as insightful as any writer can hope to find. This book is probably all anyone will ever need; it is complete, thorough and easily understood. I never put the book down while I was reading, and afterward never had to refer to any more instructional material. For any writer of any genre, even beyond science fiction or fantasy, this book is a must.

If you've ever read any of Orson Scott Card's fiction, you'll understand why he's the perfect author to teach others how to write. Card is a writer's writer, a master at what he does, a person you know without a doubt is giving you good advice. Toss out anything else you've got on your bookshelf about writing and replace it with this one. It's all you'll need, besides maybe his "Characters and Viewpoint"

Do you write? Do you write *anything*, even if it's not Science Fiction? This is the best book I've ever read on writing fiction.

It thoroughly and masterfully discusses the mechanics such as plot, pacing and characterization. It dispenses insightful advice.

But most importantly, it tells you how to polish. How to edit your own work. How to train an 'educated reader' to help you edit your own work.

If you are trying to break into the fiction market today, your manuscript has to be good already. Publishers don't have time or resources to help you polish. Card gives intelligent, creative advice on how you and your 'educated reader' can work together to produce the best story you are capable of writing.

This book also contains excellent insight on the peculiarities of writing Science Fiction and Fantasy. But no matter what kind of fiction you write, read this book.

Terry L. Neil

With clarity, humor, and the insight that marks him as one of the most powerful voices in contemporary science fiction and fantasy, Card provides the aspiring writer of speculative fiction an excellent framework to build upon, as he explores issues specific to this "literature of the strange", illustrated through clear examples taken from the works of establishes sf and fantasy authors. HOW TO WRITE SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASY is a well-ordered and practical guide with a personal touch, an informed and intelligent discussion of the writing process beginning with the first stages of world creation and culminating with manuscript submission procedure. Highly recommended to writers in the speculative fiction genres. -- Hannah K. Power