Review: Putting the Science in Fiction edited by Dan Koboldt

Title: Putting the Science in Fiction
Series: n/a
Edited by: Dan Koboldt
Source/Format: Bookish First & Writer's Digest Books; Paperback
More Details: Nonfiction; Writing; Science
Publisher/Publication Date: Writer's Digest Books; October 16, 2018

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Synopsis from Goodreads...

Science and technology have starring roles in a wide range of genres--science fiction, fantasy, thriller, mystery, and more. Unfortunately, many depictions of technical subjects in literature, film, and television are pure fiction. A basic understanding of biology, physics, engineering, and medicine will help you create more realistic stories that satisfy discerning readers. This book brings together scientists, physicians, engineers, and other experts to help you: Understand the basic principles of science, technology, and medicine that are frequently featured in fiction. Avoid common pitfalls and misconceptions to ensure technical accuracy. Write realistic and compelling scientific elements that will captivate readers. Brainstorm and develop new science- and technology-based story ideas. Whether writing about mutant monsters, rogue viruses, giant spaceships, or even murders and espionage, Putting the Science in Fiction will have something to help every writer craft better fiction.Putting the Science in Fiction collects articles from "Science in Sci-fi, Fact in Fantasy," Dan Koboldt's popular blog series for authors and fans of speculative fiction (dankoboldt.com/science-in-scifi). Each article discusses an element of sci-fi or fantasy with an expert in that field. Scientists, engineers, medical professionals, and others share their insights in order to debunk the myths, correct the misconceptions, and offer advice on getting the details right....

Since I first read the synopsis for Putting the Science in Fiction, I knew I needed to read it. I already like science based nonfiction like one of my recent reads, Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker, so this one was right up my alley. This book is comprised of a collection of advice written by experts in their given field. And I just have to say that it’s awesome to have so much information that can be a great help with developing technology and environments for science fiction, fantasy, or any type of story, all in one place.

Putting the Science in Fiction was a great book. Arranged in short chapters and separated into relevant sections—like Gnome Engineering: It Never Ends Well, and Things To Know For When Skynet Takes Over—it tackled a wide range of the common misconceptions about science across a number of subjects. There was everything from labs, genetics, medicine, biology, and even telescopes just to name a few. There was mention of zombies, Star Trek, and Star Wars among others. It also pointed out who got what right—or who got something as accurate as possible—with the information available at the time the book or movie was written or produced. Such as chapter 12—The Science of Jurassic Park by Mike Hays—where Hays discusses the “good science” of Jurassic Park as well as the creative liberties that Crichton took, i.e. “less hard science.” But it doesn’t stop there. There were so many useful facts to be found in Putting the Science in Fiction.

Overall all, I’m more than happy that I have a copy of this book to keep on my shelf. As such, I recommend it to just about everyone—writers, readers—anyone looking to have some of their questions about habitable atmospheres, nanotechnology, and space flight answered...

Disclaimer: this copy of the book was provided by Bookish First and Writer's Digest Books for this review, thank you!

Music Monday (63): H.E.R.

   Rules:

• Music Monday is a weekly meme hosted by Lauren Stoolfire at Always Me that asks you to share one or two songs that you've recently enjoyed. For the rules, visit the page HERE 

Breana: This week, I'm listening to some recent music by H.E.R.. I listen to H.E.R. off and on and was glad to see some new music show up on my feed. And I have to admit that I like what I'm hearing. I'm now a total fan of the EP I Used To Know Her: Part 2, which was released on November 1, 2018. One of my favorite songs from the EP is Fate. Fate is a really beautiful song that I love...

My second pick this week is Carried Away by H.E.R.. It's from the same EP as Fate, and I love it just as much.... 

What are you listening to this week?

The Friday 56 (142) & Book Beginnings: Putting the Science in Fiction edited by Dan Koboldt

The Friday 56 is a weekly meme hosted by Freda's Voice where every Friday you pick a book and turn to page 56 or 56%, and select a sentence or a few, as long as it's not a spoiler. For the full rules, visit the the page HERE

Book Beginnings is a weekly meme hosted by Rose City Reader that asks you to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you're reading.

Synopsis from Goodreads...

Science and technology have starring roles in a wide range of genres--science fiction, fantasy, thriller, mystery, and more. Unfortunately, many depictions of technical subjects in literature, film, and television are pure fiction. A basic understanding of biology, physics, engineering, and medicine will help you create more realistic stories that satisfy discerning readers. This book brings together scientists, physicians, engineers, and other experts to help you: Understand the basic principles of science, technology, and medicine that are frequently featured in fiction. Avoid common pitfalls and misconceptions to ensure technical accuracy. Write realistic and compelling scientific elements that will captivate readers. Brainstorm and develop new science- and technology-based story ideas. Whether writing about mutant monsters, rogue viruses, giant spaceships, or even murders and espionage, Putting the Science in Fiction will have something to help every writer craft better fiction.Putting the Science in Fiction collects articles from "Science in Sci-fi, Fact in Fantasy," Dan Koboldt's popular blog series for authors and fans of speculative fiction (dankoboldt.com/science-in-scifi). Each article discusses an element of sci-fi or fantasy with an expert in that field. Scientists, engineers, medical professionals, and others share their insights in order to debunk the myths, correct the misconceptions, and offer advice on getting the details right....

Beginning: "Stories require a delicate balance between too much and too little world building. Authors must always know more about their fictional setting than the reader, but the story needs only the information necessary to make the reader believe it is real."

56: "Jurassic Park pushed the limits of the fledgling molecular biology knowledge base in the late 1980s.

Comments: I received this book from Bookish First for review. I like this book a lot. My beginning comes from How to ask an Expert by Eric Primm, and my 56 is from The Science of Jurassic Park by Mike Hays on page 49. 

What are you reading this week?

The Spider Bride...

It’s finally October 31st. So, to start off this post I just have to say Happy Halloween! I actually planned ahead for once, and as such, had this post in mind as far back as the middle of September. And today, I’m finally going to talk about the second October related watercolor project I tackled: the Spider Bride. This is the other painting that I mentioned briefly on my Watercolor post for the witch redo. And I’m so excited to finally talk about this one. There’s no history behind this piece, and it came about kind of spontaneously.

The Process...

Around the time I was working on the witch painting, I did a quick sketch of another idea that I got out of the blue. I didn’t put too much effort into it, because at the time, I was just trying to parse out a general idea of it before I forgot. And ultimately, it didn’t fit with what I was trying to do with the Witch. So the idea landed on a different page, and that’s where it stayed until I decided that I also wanted to paint it. The Spider Bride is one of those sketches that happened to be good to go without too many alterations from the original version. Off to the side of the initial sketch, I played around with the option of doing a gothic cathedral inspired background. However, I ultimately abandoned that idea early on, because I didn’t like how it even appeared alongside the initial sketch for the Spider Bride.
When I mentioned on the Witch post that the color combinations for both paintings complimented each other, I honestly wasn’t kidding. I don’t know why, but I just didn’t go very dark with my color scheme. And the same thing applies for the Spider Bride. Once I started painting, my original warm/dark tones were tossed out the window in favor of the cooler tones I’m currently a fan of.

The final painting…

A couple of close ups...

The Witch and the Spider Bride side by side. From this view, it’s easier to see how the colors complement each other...

So, that’s about it for today. As for my next art related post, I’m planning to share some of the pages from my current sketchbook; although, I don’t know when that’ll appear on the blog—because I want to amass more pages so it’s not a post with one or two things. Anyway, I hope everyone has a great Halloween!

 Supply List...

Sakura Koi Watercolors

Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils

Artist Loft Level 2 140lb watercolor paper

Gelly Roll white gel pen

Music Monday (62) Halloween Edition: Bobby (Boris) Pickett & Flyleaf

   Rules:

• Music Monday is a weekly meme hosted by Lauren Stoolfire at Always Me that asks you to share one or two songs that you've recently enjoyed. For the rules, visit the page HERE 

Breana: It’s time for the Halloween edition of Music Monday! So my first pick for today is Monster Mash by Bobby (Boris) Pickett. It's a classic. And I had to mention it before October was over.…

My second pick is What’s This performed by Flyleaf for the Nightmare Revisited album. I’ll always love the original soundtrack for the Nightmare Before Christmas, but the Revisited side is pretty cool too. I love Flyleaf’s cover of What's This. Of course, the lyrics are the same, but the way the sound was rearranged to suit Flyleaf’s style is awesome….

What are you listening to this week?