Tag: Sci-Fi

The Conqueror’s Witch – 4: Seven of Swords – Futility

On By John d'AndrioleIn Fiction, The Conqueror's Witch, The Story Zone, Writing

‘This is how most people die,’ Jazmynde thought. ‘They die badly.’

In her office, chairs were overturned and carbon scars on the paneling behind her desk showed the discharge where the invader tried to shoot through the portal, triggering an explosive decompression.

She crouched down next to the body. The woman was certainly dead. Her eyes were staring blankly at the ceiling and already drying out. She was dressed as a technician for the base – purple jumpsuit and comfortables shoes. On her hands, Jazmynde could see the faint outlines of tattoos. The woman’s face was bloodied and smashed. She lay there on her back, head pointed towards the open doorway, eyes staring off into eternity.

Jazmynde tutted quietly and started frisking the body.

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The Conqueror’s Witch – 3: The Lovers

On By John d'AndrioleIn Fiction, The Conqueror's Witch, The Story Zone, Writing

FOUR YEARS BEFORE THE DEATH OF THE LEADER

“Here’s the problem with space,” Yumi said. “It’s big.”

“This again,” Jazmynde said, rolling her eyes.

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The Conqueror’s Witch – 2: The Queen of Wands

On By John d'AndrioleIn Fiction, The Conqueror's Witch, The Story Zone, Writing

THREE YEARS BEFORE THE DEATH OF THE LEADER

“You are a witch,” Wilhelm said, smiling. “At least, that is what the soldiers say.”

Jazmynde, leaning against her drinks cabinet, smiled slightly. The room was large, yet intimate. Wood and copper lined the walls in diagonal slats and geometric patterns, and the light was soft amber. “A witch?” She asked.

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Reading Outside Your Genre

On By John d'AndrioleIn Fiction, Writer's Advice, Writing3 Comments

A key point about writing genre novels (and what ISN’T a genre these days) is to read heavily in the genre you wish to write in.

Which, yes, okay… that’s true. If you want to write Romance, read Romance. Take a look at modern trends, look at how the market is going, then take your story and aim for the biggest readership you can get. That’s all fine.

Here’s the problem: ONLY reading within your genre.

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The Paradox of Sci-Fi

On By John d'AndrioleIn The Breakdown, Writing2 Comments

A recent post shared on Patty Jansen’s excellent blog “Must Use Bigger Elephants” via the recent Weekend Redirect via got me thinking…

Great Sci-Fi is about the present. Whether addressing general inequality, sexuality, norms, political conflict, terrorism, the nature of power, or whatever other bees angrily circle out bonnets, it places contemporary problems in the future. There, characters can hash it out using fantastic technologies and hide behind applicability or metaphor.

Because of this Sci-Fi authors and audiences tend to be dreamers. Many have suffered from some kind of persecution themselves, or at the very least feel like square pegs. There is something egalitarian about Sci-Fi… something that lauds the individual.

So why is there so much sexism and racism in the Sci-Fi genre?

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