This resource is remarkably extensive and varied. There are articles on strange human behaviours, odd customs and traditions, peculiar animal behaviour, secret societies and events, curses, unusual illnesses, myths, fakes, religious peculiarities, odd individuals and many other topics. This isn’t a book to sit and read, but a research and inspiration tool to use for …
Tag: Sci-Fi
Research Done: Re-Writing Begun!
Following on from my post on research a couple of days ago, I thought I’d quickly update you with progress so far. I started what is effectively a re-write, rather than an edit, on Saturday. It was late in the day when I began, but I was determined to get something down, something started as …
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Research or Write? That is the Question.
How much research should a novelist undertake before setting out on the creative journey? How much should be done before editing to produce the final work? These are questions that probably occur to most of us at some time during the writing process. I was inspired to visit these questions this week when I finally …
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Publisher’s Trailer for The Methuselah Strain
My publisher, Fantastic Books Publishing, has just released this great little video to promote my SciFi novella, The Methuselah Strain. Please take a look, 'Like' it and, if you're looking for some exciting reading, buy a copy. It's available in both ebook and hardback versions by clicking those links. You can also find a synopsis …
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Synthesis, Fantastic SciFi Anthology Now in Print.
The science fiction anthology from Fantastic Books Publishing is now available in print form. I’ve already reviewed this when it first appeared as an ebook. You’ll find the review by clicking this link. I have a story in this excellent collection of imagination and future speculation mixed with fantasy scifi. Great stories, now available for …
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The Case for Mars, by Robert Zubrin, Reviewed
Subtitled, The Plan to Settle the Red Planet and Why We Must, this extraordinary work by Robert Zubrin, with Richard Wagner, is an invaluable resource for anyone interested in Mars either as an observer or as, in my case, a writer of science fiction. In researching for my novel about Mars, I’ve read a great …
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How We’ll Live on Mars, by Stephen Petranek, Reviewed.
There are times when a book comes into our lives at an appropriate moment. This was one such for me. I’d just spent a few days reviewing the research I’d been doing for a science fiction novel set on Mars. Amongst the websites I’d downloaded to consult on technical issues, I found references to this …
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Synthesis, Published by Fantastic Books Publishing, Reviewed.
This anthology of science fiction stories by many different authors is a fantastic collection of disparate views of the future presented by creative talents. I must, however, before I expand on that summary, confess to my vested interest: I’m one of the authors. But, as a single voice among 27 stories, I feel justified in …
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The Ubiquity of Sacred Curses.
Are you ever stuck for a suitable expletive to place in the mouths of your characters? I’m currently writing a science fiction novel set in the near future on Mars. I’ve imagined a new world where, amongst other things, the society is effectively agnostic. In devising dialogue, I suddenly became aware of just how pervasive …
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First Draft of the Mars Book Finished.
Much to my surprise, I finished the first draft of the current WIP, yesterday. This science fiction novel set on Mars currently has no title, other than ‘the Mars book’, which, let’s face it, isn’t exactly inspiring! Why was I surprised? I write as a pantster, so I don’t work to a plot, merely a …
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Zen in the Art of Writing, by Ray Bradbury, Reviewed.
Ray Bradbury was one of my earliest writer heroes. I read a lot of his work when I was a teenager and young man. Along with Asimov, Clarke, Aldiss, Heinlein and Wyndham he was one of the authors who created my love of science fiction. I hadn’t come across this collection of essays aimed at …
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False Starts and a Solution?
How many times should you start a writing project? Odd question? Well, I normally have my books ready in my mind, that is, I know where I want to end up even if I don’t know the route, long before I place a single word on paper (for which, read ‘screen’, since I compose at …
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Name a Character in my New Novel.
Characters are fundamental to my stories, as readers will know. I’m in the initial stages of writing a new science fiction novel, set on Mars. For a while, I’ve been beset by a mysterious barrier to getting on with the story. Lots of preparation, research, and reading round essential topics of interest. And I have …
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Another 5* Review for The Methuselah Strain!
Had to share this: another reader has added a 5 star review to those slowly accumulating for my science fiction novella. It's really rewarding when a reader shares well-considered thoughts on your work as an author. Many thanks to the reviewer. Longing For Simpler Times, 1 Jan. 2016 By Amazon Customer This review is from: The Methuselah …
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Review of The Methuselah Strain (Stuart Aken ), reviewed by John Scotcher on Dec 2, 2015
I Just had to post the link to this review of The Methuselah Strain, especially as the reviewer clearly understands exactly what the book is about. via Review of The Methuselah Strain (Stuart Aken ), reviewed by John Scotcher on Dec 2, 2015.
Stuart Aken 