Book Nook: Science Fiction Books

 Science fiction books are among the most popular types of books for readers.  They rank number 4 in popularity in fiction books.  And their popularity continues to increase especially during the lockdown.  I had a chance to interview Amazon bestselling author, Terry Persum, to get his thoughts on science fiction books.

Why are sci-fi books so popular?
Terry Persun: This is a multi-level question with multiple answers. I’ll try to hit on what I think are the highlights. At the beginnings of sci-fi, I suspect the attraction was to young men interested in the sciences and where it could take you. We’ve all read about the technologies and capabilities that have moved from science fiction into science fact. My own novel, “BIOMASS: Rewind” that takes 3D Printing into the future (rather than clones) is a tech-forward novel that is getting closer and closer to being true. The edge of science fiction and science fact is an exciting place to be. Another key aspect of science fiction is that they can be anything. By this I mean, you can write a science fiction romance (think “Tarzan” and “John Carter of Mars” by Edgar Rice Burroughs as early examples), you can write mysteries (think “The Andromeda Strain” by Michael Crichton), and thrillers (James Rollins’ Sigma Force books are all fantastic thriller reads—any one of them!). Science fiction novels not only take you out of your present location (most often), they can take you into any genre you’d like. Popular equals “something for everyone,” in this case.

Has this changed over the years?
Persun: Oops. I think I partially answered that in Q1. But, it might be interesting to note a wave, if you will. In the beginning, a lot of science fiction was written and edited by scientists or science enthusiasts and were consider “hard” science fiction. Over the years, we’ve seen many books that didn’t depend as much on the “factual” science, which was termed soft science fiction, and then there is fantasy, which is outside what a lot of science fiction fans will even read. Today, with the advent of professional author who are exploring the field, all this has merged—depending on who you read. Some fantasy novels explore science and some hard science fiction novels include fantasy. The breadth of the field is what keeps it active and fun.

What got you into writing science fiction?
Persun: My older brother. When I was growing up, he was reading Isaac Azimov, Arthur C. Clarke, Edgar Rice Burroughs, etc., as well as all the science fiction and fantasy digest magazines like Analog and Fantasy & Science Fiction. Those were the books that were in our house and I learned to love them—which led me into getting my engineering degree and into writing about technology as a freelancer. In addition to this, as far back as I can remember I wanted to be an author. I write comic book scripts when I was in grade school and started my first book when I was twelve. I also wrote short stories at the time. So, which came first the chicken or the egg, the love of reading science fiction or the writing of it? Well, I’m convinced they were borne together somehow. I’ve never questioned either’s place in my life.

Do you believe writing science fiction is more difficult than writing mysteries or romance?
Persun: As I mentioned, science fiction incorporates all those other genres—based on how much science is relevant to the storyline. But to more thoroughly answer your question, I don’t think writing is easy on any scale. I understand most of the science I use in my novels (and still make mistakes, which I take full responsibility for), so weaving that into a mystery doesn’t seem difficult to me. It’s the mystery piece, the nuances of that genre that are more difficult. Yet, someone who firmly understands how to write a mystery might have trouble with some technology they want to include. And, of course, as any writer can probably tell you, rewriting is where you find out whether your first draft needs a little work or a lot of work.



MM: Which of your science fiction books is your favorite and why?
Persun: Ah, the age-old question. I’ll answer this as I’ve heard other authors answer it: they are all my children. I write them and send them out into the world hoping they can survive on their own. Having said that and having raised three children, they each have their own personality. Part of the reason is that I’m very curious about a really broad spectrum of subjects. (Something many people don’t know, so this is an exclusive: I actually have a scientific explanation for why the shapeshifters in my “Doublesight” series of fantasy novels can shapeshift. I’ve never told anyone that before, but I had to create that connection before I could move forward with the novels—there are four in the series.) Personalities of the novels, then: I’ve already mentioned “BIOMASS Rewind” (which won the Book Excellence Award for science fiction in 2019). Other books include “Cathedral of Dreams” which is my exploration of a dystopian/utopian world. To explain, the utopian world inside New City is supported by an outside world that hasn’t progressed since New City was created. My novel “Hear No Evil” is a space opera where political aspirations are enhanced and motivated by the discovery of the first intelligent alien species in the galaxy. I also have a techno-thriller series comprising of “The Killing Machine” (nanobots inside the body) and “The Humanzee Experiments” (chimpanzee/human hybrids). All these books and more are based (sometimes loosely) on science that is available now. You can find all my novels on my website (www.TerryPersun.com) or on my Author Page on Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/Terry-Persun/e/B004NV8Q4Y?ref).



MM: What is the biggest misconception about science fiction books? Why is that?
Persun: The biggest misconception I notice is that science fiction is a single genre. As mentioned above, authors have explored every other genre within the realms of science fiction, including literature, (check out Joyce Carol Oats’ “Hazards of Time Travel”).



MM: If people have never read science fiction books before, how can they find one they'll enjoy?
Persun: Ask friends, might be my first suggestion. The greatest marketing for any author is word of mouth. Second might be to use terms that are familiar when searching Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Google, etc. For example: science fiction mystery, science fiction romance, science fiction thriller, etc. Look for a genre you already enjoy and you’ll get a taste for what science fiction can do with the subject.



MM: If people are aspiring writers, what should they know about writing sci-fi books?

Persun: I think this goes for all books, no matter the genre: research your facts and double-check them. As I mentioned, I’ve made mistakes, which is embarrassing in the least. Make sure you know the place, the people, the technology well enough to use it. Yes, for fiction, you can make a lot of stuff up but only as long as it’s based on enough facts to make it appear plausible. I’ll say that even though I write in multiple genres, writing science fiction allows me to explore all those genres in one place if I choose to.