Science Fiction

Not so much a blog this time, as a warning.

A lot of sf writers, most notably Russel T Davies the head script writer on Doctor Who, will tell you that the first rule of science fiction writing is that there are no rules. You basically make up whatever you want. The characters don't need personalities, all they need is a big space ship. The aliens don't need to be interesting, just something toy companies can engage with. The plot doesn't need to make sense, you can simply write down the first thing that comes into your mind and run with it.

Well, I hate to shock you, but NO NO NO NO NO! Science fiction isn't just writing down a load rubbish you think eight year olds will think is cool! It does actually have to make sense, within the realms of the universe you have set up. In science fiction, things are justified, at the end of the day, by logic and science, not whimsy and manatees with idea balls. All powerful villains cannot be conquered by human admin temps without a basic knowledge of starship regulation, and cannot work a hyperdrive without at least reading the manual first, even if they have superhuman intelligence due to a mind melding process. It just wouldn't happen.

The entire point of science fiction is that it is supposed to make sense. Sure, it is based on hypothesis and probabilities, but that's just it. You can't set up one thing and do another. You can't say that only the red button will launch a photon torpedo, only for the hero to find a secret blue button that does the same thing at the end of the story. It's just a cop out. If you write yourself into a corner, then go back and re-write, don't just power through with nonsense. Where is your pride? Save all the nonsense and ridiculousness for your next fantasy novel, unless you are writing a new series of Bucky O'Hare or something. I think that might be the only place that bonkers science fiction actually works.

You've been warned,
Matthew Rain