1. Introduction
2. Essentials of Science Fiction and Fantasy: 4-Theme Exploration
3. Author Spotlight- Orson Scott Card
   1. Key Strengths of Card’s Writing
   2. Lessons for Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers
   3. Conclusion
4. Writing Exercise: Theme and Character Exploration
5. Essentials of Science Fiction and Fantasy Summaries
6. Conclusion

Introduction

Welcome to August Authors of Tomorrow! I hope everyone had a great July and got in some good writing. What post from July did you find most helpful? Let me know in the comments or through the contact page!

Last month’s posts completed our Narrative Complexity and Creativity section of the year, so you can look forward to more on Genre Fusion and Unique Elements of Science Fiction and Fantasy for the next few months. We’re going to explore some sub-genres and finish our Alien Species series.

Today you’re going to learn about the fourth essential of Science Fiction and Fantasy, theme exploration. Theme is sometimes marked as a high-concept field, but it’s something we can infuse to our stories to leave the readers thinking more after they’ve closed the book.

Also, get ready to learn about one of Utah’s well-known authors, Orson Scott Card. The author of Ender’s Game has also published over 100 books. Learn more below!

Essentials of Science Fiction and Fantasy: 4-Theme Exploration

Why is your story important? What does it talk about?

These are often the questions writers face like the barrel of a loaded gun as they try to figure out the themes to their story. While many will say not to sweat it, authors often find themselves sweating the questions from potential readers, agents, or publishers.

Science fiction and fantasy offer a rich environment to explore complex ideas that provoke thought and conversation between readers. Theme is defined as a subject or topic in a work of art, in your case, your book. There’s a reason it’s called the craft of writing.

Anyway, with that in mind, let’s look at why theme exploration is an essential of science fiction and fantasy.

Science fiction and fantasy often grapple with larger questions about the nature of existence, the role of technology, and the fabric of society. Though authors often veil these in magic systems and advanced technologies, you’ll often find that if you look between the lines of text you’ll find the theme.

This subliminal questioning of what is good vs evil, or where does technology become good or bad? Readers will naturally choose a side, but we hope that as we explore theme it takes the book from entertainment to a reader questioning if their side is right.

We want to make our readers question the themes because it engages them more than anything. How many people have you heard of fighting over what movie or book was better? Or who the best character was? Often what these fights, debates, squabbles, or whatever you want to call them, address, is theme. The side they fight for is the one that means the most, or resonates, with the reader and their belief system. I’ve always believed that you find what you’re looking for. You’ll naturally be drawn to themes that align with where you are in the moment. That’s why it’s challenging to branch out to books that fall outside your usual selection. You may not like a book, not because it’s bad, but because the themes don’t resonate with you.

Without the themes, science fiction and fantasy would risk becoming superficial or lacking substance that these readers often crave.

Another thing readers crave is a solid story. Without theme, you’ll often find you’ve lost the connective tissue that binds the narrative into the body of the book. Including theme tells your readers that there is a purpose for every word in your book as you work through the plot to carry them on that journey. And the great thing is, people will love your book more for it, even if they don’t understand why.

With all of that in your mind, I hope you understand a little better why theme exploration is an essential element of science fiction and fantasy novels. Your willingness to explore the larger questions, weave the smaller questions into the narrative, and write with a purpose will propel your novel ahead of the rest. Challenge your readers to analyze and have critical conversations about the world around them and the possibilities that lie beyond.

Author Spotlight- Orson Scott Card

Orson Scott Card was born in 1951 and is an American author known for science fiction and fantasy. Card achieved fame with “Ender’s Game” (1985) and its sequels. The Ender’s Game Saga has now reached sixteen novels, thirteen short stories, and 47 comic issues. “Ender’s Game” and “Speaker for the Dead” were both awarded the Hugo and Nebula awards.

Notable works include the Ender Saga, Alvin Maker series, and standalone novels like “Pastwatch” and “The Lost Gate”.

Key Strengths of Card’s Writing

Character Development

Orson Scott Card is known for his skill in designing complex characters, and Ender Wiggin is a standout example. Card places more emphasis on the psychological journey of his main characters rather than advancing the plot. His characters meet many challenging moral and ethical dilemmas that influence their growth and make them question their intentions. This approach adds conflict to the story, making it more interesting for readers as the characters work towards their goals. The result is a cast of memorable individuals whose personal journeys are as compelling as the wider narrative arcs they inhabit.

Exploration of Moral Dilemmas

In my mind, “Speaker for the Dead” was the best at presenting moral dilemmas, from unique family situations to who really gets to decide what species live and die. Card challenges the reader at every turn of the page. He also brings up the issues of cultural differences and how those influence interaction and understanding. The Pequeninos try to honor one of the humans they trust with a ritual, but the humans see it as something much worse. Card uses moments like these to encourage his readers to think critically about right and wrong.

Throughout the Enders Saga and many of his other books, Card explores themes of leadership, responsibility, and consequences. Card does a great job of ensuring every choice made is followed by a consequence.

Lessons for Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers

Orson Scott Card does a great job of creating relatable characters in fantastical settings. He does this through making these otherworldly characters feel human. The Hive Queen may not be easy to relate to, but once you understand her and her purpose, it becomes clearer why she makes certain choices and sacrifices. By exploring the Pequeninos culture and interactions, you can learn how to create an alien race that is relatable yet unique from humans.

Orson Scott Card’s books offer valuable learning opportunities for those who want to write science fiction and fantasy. His novels expertly blend imaginative worlds with relatable human stories and thought-provoking ethical questions. Card’s ability to balance thought-provoking ideas with engaging storytelling offers valuable lessons in crafting compelling science fiction and fantasy stories.

Writers can learn how to create immersive fictional worlds, develop complex characters, and explore deep themes by studying his techniques. Card’s storytelling skills, genre-blending, and ability to evoke emotions make his work a great example for writing captivating speculative fiction.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Orson Scott Card’s enduring legacy in science fiction and fantasy literature offers valuable inspiration and guidance for aspiring writers.

His skillful combination of intricate world-building, complex character development, and exploration of profound moral dilemmas has earned him prestigious awards and a dedicated readership spanning generations. Card’s work shows that speculative fiction can be intellectually stimulating and emotionally resonant, challenging readers to think critically about ethics, society, and the human condition.

For writers aiming to create compelling narratives in these genres, Card’s novels provide excellent models on how to balance fantastical elements with relatable human experiences, develop memorable characters, and address weighty themes without sacrificing entertainment value.

By studying Card’s techniques and storytelling approaches, authors can learn to expand the boundaries of their craft, creating science fiction and fantasy works that not only captivate but also have a lasting impact on their readers.

Writing Exercise: Theme and Character Exploration

• Choose a contemporary social or ethical issue that interests you (e.g., artificial intelligence ethics, climate change, cultural misunderstandings).
• Create two characters from different backgrounds or species who have opposing views on this issue.
• Write a short scene (500-1000 words) where these characters interact in a science fiction or fantasy setting. Your scene should:
  • Introduce a moral dilemma related to your chosen theme.
  • Show how each character’s background influences their perspective.
  • Explore the consequences of their differing viewpoints.
  • Avoid explicitly stating the theme; instead, let it emerge through dialogue and actions.
• After writing the scene, reflect on the following:
  • How did you balance world-building with character development?
  • In what ways did you make your non-human character relatable?
  • How did you explore the theme without being heavy-handed?
  • What potential consequences might arise from this interaction?
• Optional: Extend the exercise by writing a follow-up scene showing how this interaction affected one or both characters’ growth or changed their perspective.

Practice exploring themes, developing characters, and presenting moral dilemmas with this exercise. These are important elements in science fiction and fantasy writing, as discussed in the post about Orson Scott Card’s techniques.

Essentials of Science Fiction and Fantasy Summaries

• World-Building and Why We Care
  • Maintain consistency and immersion within the rules and logic of the world you’ve created. Ensure that the details align with the established world-building elements to avoid breaking the reader’s suspension of disbelief.
  • Create a detailed and immersive world that influences the plot, characters, and themes. Well-developed world-building can enhance conflict, character development, and reader engagement.
• Character Development and Connection
  • Develop well-rounded characters to emotionally engage readers and provide a lens for experiencing new worlds. Complex inner struggles, emotions, and unique perspectives make fantastical elements feel real.
  • Use characters to provide different perspectives and experiences, enriching the reader’s immersion in the fictional universe.
• Plot Structure
  • Plot structure is a key element in science fiction and fantasy writing. It helps build the world, develop characters, and keep the story flowing smoothly. It gives readers a cozy and familiar reading experience, even in unusual or magical settings.
  • Try different plot structures to find what works best for their storytelling style, like Save the Cat or Three-Act Structure. When a plot is well-structured, it adds tension, conflict, and resolution to make the reading experience more satisfying and memorable.
• Theme Exploration
  • Science fiction and fantasy let writers tackle complex ideas and provoke thought among readers, exploring larger questions about existence, technology, and society in a thought-provoking way.
  • Well-crafted themes in a book give purpose to every word and can make the story more appreciated by challenging readers to analyze and discuss the world and future possibilities. This leads to more engaging and memorable works.

Conclusion

As we explore science fiction and fantasy writing, we’ve learned from Orson Scott Card’s masterful techniques. We make our stories more meaningful by including deep and thought-provoking themes. Card’s approach serves as an inspiring example for aspiring authors, reminding us that the true power of these genres lies in their ability to challenge readers’ perspectives and spark meaningful conversations. Strive to balance engaging storytelling with deeper thematic resonance, creating works that captivate and leave a lasting impact on your readers. And as always, keep writing, keep learning, and become an author of tomorrow.

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