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What Readers Are Looking For In The Best Science Fiction Books |
By:
Judith Allison |
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What Readers Are Looking For In The Best Science Fiction Books
Judith Allison
Lots of us take books to bed with us. While most of us are hoping they'll help us fall asleep, I think a few of the best science fiction books would keep the reader wide awake rather than sweeping us off to dreamland.
A good fast moving science fiction novel should stimulate and create a want and need from the reader to read more, to experience the new world or universe the author has created with all the twists and turns of the unexpected. This would be a consideration in being one of the best science fiction books that is timeless and classic.
There are a great many new writers in the market today that can only claim to help people fight insomnia and they're much more successful than many of the rambling politicians or church ministers. These new writers are far from achieving status as an author of any of the best science fiction books.
Some of these books could put the pharmaceutical companies making sleeping tablets out of business. While not addictive, they should carry a warning that it could harm your ability to think clearly. While it is tempting to list those I consider worthy of helping you beat insomnia, I can't remember the titles. So much for being nominated for the best science fiction books Hall of Fame.
Now why can't writers follow their own inspiration and create a good novel that does not follow the inevitable route which means the reader knows the final outcome but has to read to the end in the vain hope that an author has managed to find an original ending. This also means the reader has to have the discipline not to read the last chapter first!!
It is true that there are standard formulas that have been used for generations to build successful stories and some have indeed led to stories included in the best science fiction books. But, even with a formula, even though the good guy will win, the hero gets the girl, and the poor, long-suffering victim triumphs over the evil powers that be we need surprises along the way. Subtle twists that make us see these formulas in a different way.
We won't gasp in shock and dismay when the lights go out, it isn't a surprise that the shields are just barely holding at 15%, and unless there is an interesting twist to the fact that the genius child that no one realized was a genius is solving problems that the trained adults couldn't handle, we won't consider your book one of the best science fiction books.
If you are going to write and intend to be published try and take your readers into your new dimension with the intention of keeping them awake or at least stimulating some exciting dreams in their nocturnal shutdown. Stimulate their imagination by using your own creative and new themes not the old and obvious.
If you must stick to a formula, at least pop in a few surprises here and there. Take a leaf from "No Second Chance", when the hero boldly states, "Always expect the unexpected because the unexpected is only the expected when you least expect it." If you keep that in mind, you may still write one of the best science fiction books.
Be sure and check the latest sci fi news updates and the final list of the http://sfbuzzlive.com/2008/01/01/good-science-fiction-books-2007/) good sci fi books, and http://sfbuzzlive.com/2007/12/31/upcoming-science-fiction-movies/) upcoming sci fi movies.
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Article Source: http://www.statssheet.com/articles/article64839.html |
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