As I hope is obvious by now, I love nearly all things sci-fi – and science fiction books hold a special place with me. That hasn’t always been the case, though, but the I’ve always been captivated by good sci-fi stories in general, whether that’s from books, games or movies and TV.
It’s not the only genre I enjoy, but it’s at the top of the list – joint with fantasy. I dive deeper into the subgenres at times, but I can’t say I have a favourite out of them. I want gripping stories, engaging characters and immersive worlds in all my media. It doesn’t have to be guns blazing, either. In that sense, I’m quite varied.
A long time ago, however, I had to rely on something that some of you might find a bit strange to bring me back to the written word. Star Wars.
How did Star Wars save my love of reading and science fiction?
While it wasn’t my first introduction to science fiction, the original Star Wars trilogy had me hooked from the moment I saw it. As a young lad, what was there not to love? Lightsaber battles, space combat, Jedi, Sith, Smugglers, a Princess and a world-destroying battle station in the Death Star.
Did it make sense to me at the time? Not a chance, but that didn’t matter. I would watch those three films religiously each week. I could recite them line by line at one point.
At the same time, I started reading less. I still loved storytelling, but computer games were taking over. Then I discovered something in my school’s library which changed everything; the Star Wars Expanded Universe books.
These books were well above my reading age at the time, but it didn’t matter. I grew into them – back in the universe with characters I knew and loved – and being introduced to so many new ones. I devoured every one of those books I could get.
What it did do was introduce me to so many different authors that I might never have found otherwise. They each had a slightly different take on the characters and worlds and stories that they always felt fresh, and they (mostly) pulled in the same direction.
From there, I read their other works and my love for reading – and writing – rekindled. Without Star Wars, I can’t say for sure I’d be writing books today.
When Disney bought the franchise, they made all those books and stories non-cannon. That’s a shame, as while there was some tripe in there, there were moments of greatness, too. The collective effort shouldn’t be understated. At least, though, they’ve reintroduced some parts.
Science fiction offers endless possibilities
So, of all the genres out there, why science fiction? What about sci-fi stands out above the rest?
Well, for me, I want to see where our imaginations can take us. You could say this of any genre, sure, but I live in this world, so I want something new and different. I want to know where we might be as a civilisation one day – both the good and the bad.
Technology has a part to play in that, and it’s relevant to our changing world today. A lot of the issues raised or seen in science fiction books come directly from our world at the time of writing and how it may evolve. It makes me think. It makes me strive for better.
Hard sci-fi can be off-putting, and some people want realism in their science. That’s all fine, but even if something isn’t realistic now, it might have been in the past or ma be in the future. That kind of change is plausible as our understanding of everything changes.
Laser swords and mystical powers might not be practical, but their inclusion doesn’t take away from character arcs and emotional struggles. If anything, they add a new dynamic we have to deal with, and they can be engaging if used right. That’s the balance, I guess, but one I’m happy to suspend disbelief for – especially for enjoyment and escapism.
I mean, it’s all subjective. Just because I think it’s great doesn’t mean someone else will – and that’s totally fine. We’re allowed to disagree and like different things. The world would be boring, otherwise.
Seeking out new sci-fi books
I’m always on the lookout for new sci-fi books – new as in newly released or that I just haven’t read before. Let’s face it, there’s a lot of options out there!
While there are plenty of old favourites to choose from when I want something familiar or I’m looking to deepdive into a topic, I’ve got a few upcoming reads I’m excited for.
Next on the list is Humanity Lost by Meghan Douglass. I’ve been looking forward to this for a while, and it has a dark and haunting vibe to it – which is right up my street!
The cyberpunk novel Behind Blue Eyes by Anna Mocikat is one I found on Twitter. Another indie author, the premise of this book caught my attention and I’m looking forward to jumping in once done with my current series. A sequel to this one has already been released.
The Long Earth by Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxter is also in my pile. I’ve been a fan of Pratchett for a long time and pairing him with Baxter should be something to enjoy. There’s a series of these, so I’m hoping to work my way through them all.
Between Adrian Tchaikovsky’s Children of Time and catching up on The Expanse series, I’m not sort of reading – and that’s just the science fiction books!
What I’ve put into my own writing
Given what I like from my science fiction books, it’s natural to think I’d try to emulate – or even rise above – that in my own writing, right?
In all of my writing, I want characters you can relate to. It doesn’t matter what abilities or situation they may be, but if you can relate to their feelings and emotions, I hope to make you as invested in my characters as I am with those I read.
Their relationships with each other, technology and their worlds at large are focal points for me. You don’t have to like them, necessarily, but I want you to feel something from them. For them.
In my debut, for example, some people aren’t as keen on Ryan Fall (the protagonist) as others, but they still relate to him and see his growth throughout the novel. That’s really important to me, and if I can combine that with a gripping story and world you can actually ‘see’ in your mind, I’ve succeeded.
You can see the reasons behind why I decided to write Reality Check as my debut novel and the influence of gamification and esports in the novel in my previous blog posts.
If you’d like to see first-hand how my writing has developed thanks to great science fiction stories, then sign up to my newsletter with the form below and get your free copy of Introductions: Volume One. Then, you might like to dive into some of my other books once you’ve dipped your toes into the worlds I’ve created.