Science, History and Writing for Trek

[VulcanMindBlown]

How much do you have to know, in terms of science to write for Trek? It seems like these guys who write for Trek are experts, and they should be, because it is science fiction. I heard that Christopher L. Bennet has a Bachelor's degree in Physics and History. How much is based in fact, speculation on the future, and pure fiction?

 

[wayoung]

They had/have / will have consultants who are experts in various scientific fields, like any project (cOP productions hire police, military hire military, baseball hire baseball...), but the writers themselves will be hired for their writing ability, not being physicists. And whenever scientific truth gets in the way of the story, the story takes priority - again, like any piece of art. Basically the experts, for the most part, are there so the producers can say they hired them. Something like Interstellar is pretty rare in how much impact the experts had on the production.

BTW, a bachelor's degree does not make you an expert.

 

[Greg Cox]

You don't need to be a scientist to write for STAR TREK; you need to be a writer.

As it happens, I have a bachelor's degree in chemistry, but I figured out quickly that I was more interested in science fiction than real science. (I was a pretty mediocre chemist, to be honest.) In hindsight, I wish I had taken more English courses.

When it comes to writing, it's all about doing your homework. If you're writing a submarine thriller, you read up on submarines. You're writing a mystery novel, you read up on exotic poisons and forensics. You're writing a pirate novel, you read up on sailing and the Spanish Main.

But you don't need to be a pirate to write a pirate novel any more than you need to be scientist to write science fiction.

(VulcanMindBlown: Nice meeting you at the convention this weekend, btw. Hope you had a good time and enjoyed the panels.)

 

[Christopher]

Honestly, my history degree has been more useful in writing SF than my physics degree. Fiction is more about ideas and people and interactions than facts and figures. I do feel that researching the setting is important, regardless of genre -- getting a solar system and a galaxy mixed up in a science fiction story is no more acceptable than making Paris the capital of Italy in a historical tale. But anything you don't already know, you can learn by reading books or talking to consultants.

 

[The Old Mixer]

In hindsight, I wish I had taken more English courses.

You didn't miss much. [/englishmajor]

 

[Kor]

I would think that a degree in the hard sciences would be more directly applicable for writers of hard science fiction.

Kor

 

[Greg Cox]

I would think that a degree in the hard sciences would be more directly applicable for writers of hard science fiction.

Kor

But even there one might well ask: which of the hard sciences? Unlike in the comic books or on Gilligan's Island, most "scientists" are not experts in every science, from microbiology to quantum physics. So being, say, a chemistry major is not going to help you much when your ship is caught by the gravitational pull of a quasar, or when an alien virus is transforming your crew into centipedes.

What's more important, IMHO, is learning how to research any topic, be it exoplanets or medieval trade routes.

I'm actually writing a fantasy novel about Mother Goose right now and, trust me, I can tell you more about Mother Goose than you ever want to know . . .

 

[wayoung]

I'm actually writing a fantasy novel about Mother Goose right now and, trust me, I can tell you more about Mother Goose than you ever want to know . . .

Isn't that just ducky.

 

[Greg Cox]

You didn't miss much. [/englishmajor]

Hah. For what it's worth, I generally got better grades in my English courses than I did in my Math and Science course, so of course I stupidly majored in Chemistry because that seemed like the more "practical" thing to do. But I did manage to squeeze in some Shakespeare and Dostoevsky, plus a very useful course in "Writing Commercial Fiction" taught by a professor who also wrote hard-boiled murder mysteries on the side.

And if we're talking education, I got a lot out of the Clarion West SF & Fantasy Writing Workshop back in '84, where my instructors included David Hartwell, Norman Spinrad, Vonda McIntryre, and other Trek luminaries. That six-week workshop was arguably more valuable than the four years I spent in chemistry labs.

 

[Sci]

I'm actually writing a fantasy novel about Mother Goose right now and, trust me, I can tell you more about Mother Goose than you ever want to know . . .

Isn't that just ducky.

I must cry fowl, sir!

 

[WebLurker]

I'm actually writing a fantasy novel about Mother Goose right now and, trust me, I can tell you more about Mother Goose than you ever want to know . . .

Interesting. Does the book have a title and a timetable for release yet? I'd be curious to take a look at it when it come out.

 

[Dayton Ward]

As a writer, you just need to know where to look or who to call when it comes to information or research. I get contacted all the time by fellow writers asking about something pertaining to information tech or military subjects, because they know I have knowledge and practical experience in those areas.

A lot of us tend to approach Christopher on matters of science, as a) he's knowledgeable in that field and b) able to convey it to those of us who aren't.

Mack's my goto guy on matters of mixology, etc.

 

[Greg Cox]

Interesting. Does the book have a title and a timetable for release yet? I'd be curious to take a look at it when it come out.

THE LIBRARIANS AND THE MOTHER GOOSE CHASE, due out next Fall. It's a tie-in to the LIBRARIANS tv series.

Thanks for asking!

And, yes, I've also been known to pick Christopher's brain when it comes to hard science . .. and obscure Trek lore.

 

[WebLurker]

THE LIBRARIANS AND THE MOTHER GOOSE CHASE, due out next Fall. It's a tie-in to the LIBRARIANS tv series.

Thanks for asking!

No prob.

Never actually saw anything in the Librarians franchise (was vaguely aware that the TV movie series had a TV show, but I thought it was all canceled and dead now). Is your book one of those things a Librarians newbie (or someone with access to Wikipedia) could pick up and read without getting lost? (All I know about the franchise is that people try to find Indiana Jones-style artifacts with great powers before they fall into the wrong hands.)

 

[Greg Cox]

No prob.

Never actually saw anything in the Librarians franchise (was vaguely aware that the TV movie series had a TV show, but I thought it was all canceled and dead now). Is your book one of those things a Librarians newbie (or someone with access to Wikipedia) could pick up and read without getting lost? (All I know about the franchise is that people try to find Indiana Jones-style artifacts with great powers before they fall into the wrong hands.)

Actually, the third season of THE LIBRARIANS is shooting as we speak, so the franchise is alive and kicking. And my first book for the series, THE LIBRARIANS AND THE LOST LAMP, comes out in October.

As for accessibility, I probably spent more time restating the premise in Book 1 than in Book 2, but I like to think that Book 2 still works as a standalone novel. As with, say, a STAR TREK novel, it probably helps if you're already familiar with the characters, but I'm making a point to reintroduce any major characters or concepts as they come up. "The Back Door allowed the Librarians to travel to anywhere in the world in a single step," that kind of thing.

And I'm keeping well clear of TV show's ongoing story arcs, so you don't have to be up to speed with the latest episode or anything like that. And you seem to have the basic idea down already: the Librarians are out to track down ancient relics and knowledge to keep it from falling into the wrong hands.

You can probably guess what THE LOST LAMP is about . . .

 

[WebLurker]

Actually, the third season of THE LIBRARIANS is shooting as we speak, so the franchise is alive and kicking. And my first book for the series, THE LIBRARIANS AND THE LOST LAMP, comes out in October.

Cool. Nice to hear that it's still around.

As for accessibility, I probably spent more time restating the premise in Book 1 than in Book 2, but I like to think that Book 2 still works as a standalone novel. As with, say, a STAR TREK novel, it probably helps if you're already familiar with the characters, but I'm making a point to reintroduce any major characters or concepts as they come up. "The Back Door allowed the Librarians to travel to anywhere in the world in a single step," that kind of thing.

And I'm keeping well clear of TV show's ongoing story arcs, so you don't have to be up to speed with the latest episode or anything like that.

Sounds good. I'll have to see about taking a look at them then. Thanks for letting me know.

And you seem to have the basic idea down already: the Librarians are out to track down ancient relics and knowledge to keep it from falling into the wrong hands.

You can probably guess what THE LOST LAMP is about . . .

This, maybe?

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[Greg Cox]

^ And you have it in one.

I was actually amazed to discover that neither the TV series nor the original TV movies had done Aladdin's Lamp yet . .. .

 

[WebLurker]

^ And you have it in one.

I was actually amazed to discover that neither the TV series nor the original TV movies had done Aladdin's Lamp yet . .. .

Well, there are a lot of stories and legends about interesting artifacts, so I suppose you could do a lot of stories without exhausting the entire list.

Out of curiosity, was doing the Aladdin's lamp your idea, or did the publishers ask you use that as the basis of your novel?

 

[Greg Cox]

Well, there are a lot of stories and legends about interesting artifacts, so I suppose you could do a lot of stories without exhausting the entire list.

Out of curiosity, was doing the Aladdin's lamp your idea, or did the publishers ask you use that as the basis of your novel?

That was my idea. I binge-watched the movies and episodes again and noted that the Arabian Nights was relatively unexplored territory where the Librarians were concerned. Then I ran the idea by both my editor and the TV people before developing the idea further--just to make sure that the TV show didn't already have an Aladdin's Lamp story in the works.

And, just to bring us back on-topic, that's when I started seriously reading up on Aladdin, The Arabian Nights, Scheherazade, medieval Baghdad, etc. Which is what a writer does, even if they only took one course in Middle Eastern Civilization in college many, many years ago . . .

Same with Mother Goose.

 

[Laura Cynthia Chambers]

Back to topic, I think you can fudge some things if your story is more about the characters than the science. Right? The thing I like best (as a fanfic writer) is being able to invent names of stuff, places, people, etc...

I think I would enjoy contributing place names, names of future meds, cultures, etc to a show.