Widgets and Wizards: The Art of Science Fiction and Fantasy
Instructor: Mark Edwards
Science fiction and fantasy are sister genres -- at
their best both focus on the impact of the fantastic or otherworldly on the
human experience. These genres tap into
a sense of storytelling wonder and mystery.
At the heart of fantastic fiction is the question, "What
if?" What if we could
teleport? What if vampires really existed? What if we had a pill that made everyone
happy?
The writer of speculative or fantasy stories has a
distinct set of challenges, the most obvious of which is how to make the
unbelievable believable. This course
will explore the elements of writing otherworldly fiction through readings and
analysis of genre classics and current fiction, by developing "what
if" speculative and supernatural concepts through research, and through
writing stories in either genre.
Because these genres are wide ranging -- fantasy
includes horror as a subcategory, for example -- readings will be assigned
based on the student's focus and interests.
There will also be exploration of current SF and fantasy markets as well
as focus on avoiding genre clichés.
The writing of the fantastic requires careful
plotting, unique perspectives, and imagination.
Focus on these elements will help with the practice of any genre of storytelling.
Course Outline
Fiction
submissions can be short stories, parts of stories, or sections of a novel.
- First submission
What if? exercise -- 1-2 pages.
First fiction submission. 8-10 pages.
Story responses to 4 stories from one of the Anthologies. 2 pages.
- Second submission
Second fiction submission. 8-10
pages
Responses to 4 stories from one of the Anthologies. 2 pages.
- Third submission
Third fiction submission based on one the What if? exercis. 8-10 pages
Responses to 4 stories from one of the Author Collections. 2-3 pages.
- Fourth submission
Fourth fiction submission -- rewrite of an earlier submission.
Response to two of the novels.
2-3 pages
Anthologies -- (you'll be choosing one of these to read
stories to respond to, for submissions 1 & 2)
Some of these are out of print, but there should be plenty
of used copies on Amazon for reasonable prices.
If you can’t find them let me know.
The Science Fiction Hall of Fame, Volume One
editor, Robert Silverberg
The Arbor House Treasury of Horror and the Supernatural
Editors, Pronzini, Malzberg, Greenberg
Editors, Pronzini, Malzberg, Greenberg
Masters of Fantasy
Editors, Carr,
Greenberg
Arbor House Treasury of Science Fiction Masterpieces,
Editors, Silverberg, Greenberg
The Oxford Book of Fantasy Stories (Oxford Books of Prose)
editor, Tom Shippey
Author
Collections (pick one to read for
submission 3)
The Rhinoceros Who Quoted Nietzsche and Other Odd
Acquaintances, Peter S. Beagle
Howard Who? Howard
Waldrop
The Avram Davidson Treasury, Avram Davidson
Black Book, A.S. Byatt
Think Like a Dinosaur and Other Stories, James Patrick Kelly
I Am Legend, Richard Matheson
The Dog Said Bow-Wow, Michael Swanwick
Dreamsongs, Volume 2, George R.R. Martin
Saffron and Brimstone: Strange Stories, Elizabeth Hand
The Essential Ellison, Harlan Ellison
Novels (choose two
to read for submission 4)
Doomsday Book, Connie Willis
Last Call, Tim Powers
Carpe Jugulum, Terry Pratchett
Men at Arms, Terry Pratchett
Lords and Ladies,
Terry Pratchett
Illumination, Terry McGarry
Deep Six, Jack McDevitt
Mother of Storms, John Barnes
Coraline, Neil Gaiman
Little Big, John Crowley
Old Man's War, John Scalzi
Towing Jehovah, James Morrow
The Dreaming Jewels, Theodore Sturgeon
A Wizard of Earthsea, Ursula K. LeGuin
The Shadow of the Torturer (The Book of the New Sun), Gene
Wolfe
The Last Unicorn, Peter S. Beagle
