The Craft of Writing Science Fiction That Sells

by Ben Bova

Guides writers step by step through the major elements of SF storytelling, showing how to construct strong, editor-attracting stories and novels.

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction, Reference, Speculative Fiction

224 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 1994

About the author

Ben Bova was born on November 8, 1932 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In 1953, while attending Temple University, he married Rosa Cucinotta, they had a son and a daughter. He would later divorce Rosa in 1974. In that same year he married Barbara Berson Rose.

Bova was an avid fencer and organized Avco Everett's fencing club. He was an environmentalist, but rejected Luddism.

Bova was a technical writer for Project Vanguard and later for Avco Everett in the 1960s when they did research in lasers and fluid dynamics. It was there that he met Arthur R. Kantrowitz later of the Foresight Institute.

In 1971 he became editor of Analog Science Fiction after John W. Campbell's death. After leaving Analog, he went on to edit Omni during 1978-1982.

In 1974 he wrote the screenplay for an episode of the children's science fiction television series Land of the Lost entitled "The Search".

Bova was the science advisor for the failed television series The Starlost, leaving in disgust after the airing of the first episode. His novel The Starcrossed was loosely based on his experiences and featured a thinly veiled characterization of his friend and colleague Harlan Ellison. He dedicated the novel to "Cordwainer Bird", the pen name Harlan Ellison uses when he does not want to be associated with a television or film project.

Bova was the President Emeritus of the National Space Society and a past President of Science-fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA).

Bova went back to school in the 1980s, earning an M.A. in communications in 1987 and a Ph.D. in 1996.

Bova has drawn on these meetings and experiences to create fact and fiction writings rich with references to spaceflight, lasers, artificial hearts, nanotechnology, environmentalism, fencing and martial arts, photography and artists.

Bova was the author of over a hundred and fifteen books, non-fiction as well as science fiction. In 2000, he was the Author Guest of Honor at the 58th World Science Fiction Convention (Chicon 2000).

Hollywood has started to take an interest in Bova's works once again, in addition to his wealth of knowledge about science and what the future may look like. In 2007, he was hired as a consultant by both Stuber/Parent Productions to provide insight into what the world is to look like in the near future for their upcoming film "Repossession Mambo" (released as "Repo Men") starring Jude Law and Forest Whitaker and by Silver Pictures in which he provided consulting services on the feature adaptation of Richard Morgan's "Altered Carbon".

http://us.macmillan.com/author/benbova

Reviews

[Brent · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although the title threw me at first, this turned out to be one of the better books on writing that I have read. A lot of writing books are good as far as they go but often leave you wondering things like:

"How do I apply this to a robot?"
"Or a vampire?"
"Or a transdimensional shape-shifting robot vampire?"

But the author handles all that and a lot more, in depth.

Important takeaways:
* No matter if it's aliens, apocalypses, or apemen, all external conflict exists to highlight the internal conflict. Even science fiction is utlitmately driven by human emotion.

* Use emotion vs emotion shorthand to help keep track of your character's inner conflict.
Obedience vs Justice
Ambition vs Self doubt
Loyalty vs Love

*Casual name drop, "Oh, and by the way, I wrote a book this one time, The Winds of Altair, you might not have ever heard of it. - OR - Just possibly, it might be that one book you read as a kid that blew your mind and forever hooked you on science fiction. That book you have been beating yourself over the head about, trying remember the title, or the author, or ANYTHING MORE USEFUL THAN THAT IT HAD SOME TELEPATHIC SIX-LEGGED TIGERWOLVES IN IT."

(Sound of frantic key-clicks setting the all-time speed purchase record on Amazon)

Bottom line: Time well spent.

[Nick Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not sure I'd recommend this book. First of all, I'm not sure if I'd recommend Ben Bova. He's from a bygone generation of hard-science writers, and I don't think emulating him will get you far today. He includes three short stories in this book, which I skipped most of because I don't much read short stories anyway. There's actually a lot to skip: The short stories, the exegesis of the short stories, and the section on marketing from before the internet age. That's half the book.

The other half is extremely variable, ranging from thoughtful to needlessly prescriptive to banal. It suffers from the scourge of all books on writing, which is that sometimes a lovely series of paragraphs will boil down to, "fully flesh out your setting," or, "think about your characters' lives so you can make them real." Not bad advice, but pitched a little low for someone who's been writing for a while. There are some real nuggets though, if you're willing to sift. Plus, as a major added bonus, the book is written in a jaunty, readable and sometimes even funny style. So I learned a little, and also had a little fun.

[Jonathon · Rating 3 out of 5]

A really engaging read but I found it too rigid and prescriptive, especially in its tendency towards hard science fiction and discouraging pretty much all other subgenres of science fiction and speculative fiction. I generally don't read "how to write" books because they usually just try to sell hard-and-fast formulae and, while it was a really interesting read, this book is no exception. I did really like the idea of Bova shedding light on the 'construction' of stories, which apparently many writers fail to grasp? I think in bringing my attention to this notion I can be more conscious of story construction with my own writing, it's just a shame it hadn't all been delivered in a less heavy-handed and proscriptive way. Nevertheless, a really interesting and quick read for the budding (hard) SF writer.

[Joe Vasicek · Rating 4 out of 5]

This writing book is a bit dated, but still useful. Unlike other writing books like Bird by Bird or On Writing, which tend to meander a lot, this one is very efficiently structured, with each section breaking down the advice in a particular area (plot, character, etc) into numbered bullet points, presenting a short story to exemplify those points, and discussing the story in light of each point to critique how well it worked, and how it could have perhaps been done better.

Ben Bova is probably a better editor than writer, but he definitely knows what he's talking about, being the editor who discovered Orson Scott Card and who succeeded John W. Campbell at Astounding/Analog. Most experienced writers should already be familiar with much of the advice that he gives, though there are a few nuggets that make it worth reading anyway. It's probably especially useful for those who don't have much experience writing science fiction, and want to get into that. Some aspects of the genre have changed considerably over the years, so the advice given here probably isn't sufficient to get into science fiction today, but it is still quite relevant and useful.

[Jaime · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting and informative read. It was fun to see the breakdown and background of the included stories and how they related to the topics being discussed.

[Geno Conte · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off, did you realize Ben Bova discovered George RR Martin and Orson Scott Card?? I would listen to ANY advice he offers, and this book offers plenty. Bova presents each topic, shows an example of it in one of his own short stories, and finally discusses ways to put the topic into practice. So, you get a how-to and a short story collection in one book. Who could complain?

[Eoghan Odinsson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ben Bova has amazing credentials, and really delivers with this book. His advice is eminently practical and easy to understand. Bova gives detailed advice, then illustrates it via a short story, which is then further analysed to ensure comprehension.

Fantastic resource!

[Tim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bit outdated

[Larry · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a useful book.

Bova presents the very basics of writing, in very simple language, using his own stories as illustrations. He lays out a theory of Character, Background, Conflict, and Plot; presents a story, and then discusses how that story shows the theory worked out in practice. The theory section has a checklist, the practice section reviews the checklist.

You probably won't enjoy the stories--I didn't. I had to go back and force myself to read them and look for the points he illustrated in the practice section. It is just as well that the stories are not overly enthralling, because the reader can more easily study them dispassionately. They do, in fact, illustrate the points Bova is trying to make.

You can tell that Bova was an engineer. Checklists, structure, rules (or at least, rules of thumb) -- these seem like the the essence of engineering. Bova provides guidelines for how to avoid mistakes that will sink a novel, but simple engineering will not produce great fiction. A writer must be like an architect. A good architect must be enough of an engineer that his building will not fall down, but enough of an artist that the building is beautiful.

This is a book about the craft of writing, and helpful to that extent. I think you'll want to read other books about the art of writing.

[Isaac Lyman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Never have I been so annoyed by a book that gets so much right. Alternately, never have I been so enlightened and improved by a book so full of garbage.

50% of this book is spot-on advice that will immediately improve your writing. The other 50% is unmitigated bullshit. I can’t recommend it to new writers because they won’t be able to tell the difference. But if you’ve been writing and submitting for a few years already, it’s absolutely worth a read. It shouldn’t be your first or second book about writing; maybe it could be your fifth.

Bova’s inclusion of his own short stories, and the subsequent chapters where he flatters them unflinchingly, is maybe the worst (and best) part. They’re not good. (Okay, one of them is good.) However, they’ve all been published, some of them anthologized, because as mechanically painful as they are to read, they all have good bones. They’re great stories told very poorly, and I think there’s an important lesson there for genre writers who’ve spent their whole lives learning to write well: none of it matters unless the story is good. And Bova knows what makes a story good. I have no doubt he was a standout magazine editor.

This was the right book at the right time for me, as bothered as I am about the uneven content, and I’m glad to have read it.

[Eugene Galt · Rating 3 out of 5]

First, we should remember what this book is about. The clue is in the title: It is about writing science fiction that sells, by someone with a demonstrated ability to do so. It is not about writing great literature that students will have to read for English class two hundred years from now. Also, it is for the novice writer; established writers, if they bother to pick it up at all, will do well to skim much of it.

The author steps us through the basics of character, background, conflict, and plot. He helps us avoid the pitfall of making the idea or the world-building the only thing. He reminds us that it’s the writer’s job to make the reader live in the story and tells us how to do that; too many novice writers take it for granted that the burden is on the reader.

However, his advice has problems. For example, he contradicts himself by dismissing many sub-genres of science fiction. You may love those sub-genres, or you may hate them, but whether they sell is not up for debate. Also, he ignores the issue of diverse voices.

Finally, some of his advice has aged poorly. His advice on marketing to the publishing market is out of date. He emphasizes demand for sub-genres of which there is now a glut.

[Robby McAlpine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ben Bova is a seasoned and accomplished expert in science fiction writing. So any book about the craft of writing from Bova will be helpful, insightful, and practical to the aspiring author.

Bova includes three of his own short stories to illustrate his points, and the dissection of each one was interesting and practical.

That being said, parts of the book are out-of-date (it's from 1994, after all), such as the marketing and publishing advice. Self-publishing and e-books aren't mentioned because (obviously) neither existed when the book was first written. Which is actually humorous, because in the book, Bova comments that "hard" science fiction -- his preferred genre -- doesn't always stand the test of time when technology catches up to what was previously speculative. Same goes for publishing/marketing advice, it would seem.

I would still recommend this book, despite the dated parts. It's an entertaining read, practical without being dryly technical, and made me want to write more, not less.

[Alejandro Sierra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sinceramente no conocía a Ben Bova antes de leer este libro, salvo de algunos cuentos en algunas antologías del género. Fue una agradable sorpresa saber que su filosofía coincide con la mía: La Ciencia Ficción es una literatura de ideas que estimula el pensamiento crítico. También es muy interesante conocer el punto de vista de un editor con mucha experiencia y un conocimiento amplio sobre el medio. Empieza analizando cuatro aspectos básicos del cuento: personajes, fondo, conflicto y trama y por cada aspecto nos comparte y analiza un cuento. Después dedica un par de capítulos a ahondar en el tema de la novela. Finalmente, trata sobre la mercadotécnia y las recomendaciones para publicar. El libro salió exactamente antes de la era de la Internet, en 1994, pero la parte de escritura creativa de Ciencia Ficción dura sigue siendo vigente.
Me quedo con la intención de leer más de este autor y convertirme en un lector más crítico, con más herramientas para analizar y entender cómo se hacen los mejores textos de Ciencia Ficción.

[Catherine Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

This guide is wonderful, and it doesn't only apply to science fiction or to speculative fiction, for that matter. It works for all types or writing.

The author gives examples, in his own writing, of the elements he has reviwed in the previous chapter, and after the sample, he gives a detailed description of how those elements worked in the story, making the theory even clearer. What a great way to explain. The easy-to-apply checkpoint is a plus for a quick recap.

There are tips for writing a novel, taking into account all the elements that work for short fiction, tips on finding a publisher and an agent to sell your novel, and even tips on marketing.

A complete, easy-to-understand guide for writers. No matter what level you are in your craft, if you are a writer, or want to be one, you should read this book.

[DoodleBug · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nuts and bolts guide to the craft of writing science fiction from the viewpoint of a master of the genre.

Unfortunately, the advice on agents is completely outdated. (See Kristine Kathryn Rusch's blog.) The advice on marketing short fiction was also a little outdated. (See Playing the Short Game by Douglas Smith.)

The skew seems to be because of an entrenchment in traditional (i.e. corporate) publishing which has become, at the top level, a toxic environment for authors. (Again, see KKR's blog.) In the mid-levels, if you're lucky, it's still possible to find a good publisher, but for most new authors, the route will be self-publishing, which Bova failed to mention even once. This lack of industry awareness, coming from a long-time author, is disturbing.

[Pachyderm Bookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

I used this text at university during my first semester in a creative writing class as a freshman. A bare–bones, no-frills guide to "writing science fiction that sells;" details on character development, plotting, dialogue, and creation of setting as a thematic framework for novel or story. Many other similar books exist today rehashing the same rules for writing in this genre, as they have withstood the test of time and ever-changing cultural milieu in this ever-changing literary landscape.

This volume might receive honors as being the first of it's kind for achieving the above when it was originally written. My paperback copy also used a different cover.

[K. Queen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is decently helpful and certainly comes from a credible source. There’s lots of valuable advice and fresh ways of thinking about the broad elements that go into speculative writing.

That said, the chapters of short stories were dull and hardly helpful to me, and when the advice shifted away from technical approaches to writing and onto the lifestyle of a writer, it was clear that he had a limited perspective that failed to account for the diversity of writers and personalities out there.

So, it’s a useful book but should be kept in perspective.

[Patrick J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am new to writing fiction of any sort. I am a fan of the "hard Science Fiction" genre.
The first 20% of this book may be off-putting. It presents a formulaic style of writing an SF story that appears to have been successful for the author when he was editor of Analog magazine in the early 70s. Use the pieces that still make sense.
The last 80% of this book is much better. It is full of useful information about writing entertaining fiction, and hard SF, in particular. Much of the advice I had heard elsewhere, but hearing it again, from the perspective of a successful SF author and editor gave me a practical perspective. His discussion of the creative process and working life of a writer sound more from the heart than Stephen King's.

[Fritze Roberts · Rating 3 out of 5]

OK, I admit that I skimmed this one and would like to go back and actually read more of it. I read the parts pertaining to sticking points in my own writing, and it was helpful.

What's different about this as a craft book is that it includes complete short stories and discusses how to successfully approach one or another aspect of writing. If you're looking for something that analyzes good writing in SciFi, this is it.

This is another one that I got used on AbeBooks.com.

[Alex Barrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an aspiring writer, this was the book I needed to read. Orson Scott Card’s book is also excellent, but I enjoyed Ben’s book a little more. I also like how Ben includes his own short stories to highlight certain writing skills. (By the way, all of his short stories in this book were fantastic). I am looking forward to reading more Sci Fi from Mr. Bova. Excellent, 5 stars without question.

[ياسر · Rating 4 out of 5]

The greatest advantage of books is that the steps are well defined, making them easy to track and comprehend.
He included four short stories. For each story, he explained the concept he was trying to write about in the previous chapter, elaborating on various elements such as character, background, conflict, and plot. Although the book may be a bit old (1994), I believe it remains useful.

[Amina Elidrissy · Rating 4 out of 5]

a very useful book about how to write science fiction from a very experienced sci-fi writer
highly recommended for anyone interested in writing sci-fi or even a well crafted story

[Sheila Jenné · Rating 3 out of 5]

Had some interesting insights. Very out of date on some things, especially the publishing advice.

[Jennifer Anderson · Rating 2 out of 5]

He doesn't follow his own advice. Too much exposition in the short stories he used as examples, then tooting his own horn. DNF'D half way through.

[Rob Crooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like all books on writing, it's important to know what to take away and what to question. Going into this book with that mindset meant I got a lot out of this non-fiction work. I recommend it.

[Ray Heinonen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ben Bova wrote a good guide for aspiring science fiction story tellers. Keep it simple. Follow some tried-and-true formulas. And, work hard.

[Paul Hosler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ben Bova is the best

[J. Martin, III · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found it odd that Dr. Ben Bova does not claim to be a scientist. There are three great short stories in this book. Bova explains plenty of technique and the book is worth reading, even if for entertainment only. Not everyone has been or is an editor or part of a space program, yet Bova still encourages us to craft stories with appropriate technique, giving us both confidence and advice. I enjoyed reading this book and plan to utilize the techniques mentioned soon enough, if I have not already. It mentions a free writer's workshop in the end of the book where authors can submit and review stories.

It is always an interesting notion to consider the writing of such experts as Bova, especially when they explain literary devices and their opinions. The text of this book actually explains a few notions of what makes great stories stand out among others and is not a total biography. I am thankful for this text and will probably read it again or at least re-read the end-chapter summary key points and consider the techniques with my own pursuits in writing.

Great work.

[Janett Wawrzyniak · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ben Bova is the author of more than eighty futuristic novels and non-fiction books. He has been an editor and executive in the aerospace industry. Taught science fiction writing at Harvard University and has expertise in high technology and numerous areas.
This book is a practical guide in construction techniques for writing fiction. The special requirements in the science fiction field are demanding. It is vital, exciting, and offers a close and immediate interaction between readers and writers. This book divides character, background, conflict and plot into three parts. With examples this shows how theoretical ideas were handled in an actual story. Then chapters on background, conflict and plot: theory first, then a short story, followed by a chapter on practice using the story as illustration. Then the different demands writing makes on the novelists, and how challenges are met. Next is preparation and the writing task. Marketing novels and short fiction, followed by ideas, style and other successful storytelling techniques. This book is a path of putting information into neural wiring that is basically unchanged. Homer, Goethe and Shakespeare used these techniques. I see this book as the fabric of successful writing, never simple or mechanic. This book offers valuable instruction, and would be perfect as a reference in a personal library. I own a copy of this book.

[Nick · Rating 3 out of 5]

I find myself somewhat irritated throughout this book by the constant proscription. Throughout the entire book Ben Bova is saying "this is the way it is done, this is why, do not do it any other way. Ever."

I always find that this attitude is somewhat limiting and always, I repeat always, guaranteed to get me offside. Because of this, I got a lot less out of the book than I could have.

That aside, Ben Bova is certainly in a good position to make the claims that he does; he is a successful and talented writer, experienced editor and married to a literary agent. He has had the opportunity to closely examine every part of the industry and if you can get past the preachy attitude, he has a lot of excellent advice to give anyone interested in writing science fiction (or writing at all).

I would heartily recommend this book to aspiring writers, but like all books of advice, take with salt.