Things that scifi writers do that you hate?

[Phrynne]

David wrote: "I remember a book (female author, I can’t remember any more than that) where every woman who entered would be described (from head to toe) by what she was wearing."

A male author does that too. Robert Jordan. His favourite word is slender.

[Doc]

David wrote: "Melinda wrote: "I remember reading an obscure book (fantasy, not sci-fi) where it described not just what everyone was wearing, but what everyone was eating. I think it was "Game of..." what's th..."

Heraldry is one of my interests, so I enjoy the minutiae, if they do them right and in the British conventions I know something about. As with most anything else, writers can certainly go into too much heraldic detail for the vast majority of their readers. Going into it lightly, however, such as saying that the protagonist's device is a gold lion on a blue field, can enhance the story without cluttering it.

[David]

Doc wrote: "Do not use utilize, I say, use use."

I have an irrational repulsion to the word “nostrils.” “Nostril” is okay (while not a personal favorite) but if you’re talking about both of the little buggers, why not just call it your nose (nose)?

[Baelor]

Handwave away any sort of religious/philosophical belief as archaic vestiges of a pre-scientific society while blatantly presenting particular societal structures, etc. as preferable for reasons that are not empirically demonstrable.

For examples read Arthur C. Clarke.

[David]

Because Clarke’s Three Laws are whimsical, he probably thought his reference to them was also whimsical.

I can’t imagine anyone pushing the self-reference button harder than King.

[Trike]

Brenda wrote: "Or porn that -- oh, well I guess that's not a problem."

Kind of the opposite problem, isn't it? "Stop with the characterizations already! Order a pizza and take your clothes off!"

[Trike]

David wrote: "Because Clarke’s Three Laws are whimsical, he probably thought his reference to them was also whimsical.

I can’t imagine anyone pushing the self-reference button harder than King."

He's practically Ouroboros at this point.

[Matthew]

Wooden desk can be dealt with with one simple phrase. Rank Has It's Privileges. You wouldn't expect every officer to have a wooden desk but a Captain or Admiral could manage it.

Back in the early 80's I got to visit the USS Enterprise during a visit to Sydney (US Navy, not Starfleet) and was shown around the Captain's cabin which had a wooden desk, and also the pilot and lower officer cabins which had only metal desks. Captain's cabin also something like 6 to 7 time or more larger than junior officers.

[Matthew]

Kenneth wrote: "I think wood is fine. Except in cases where you're an exile fleet with no world to go to. Where'd you get the wood from? Wood is also heavy. That's why it isn't used on airplanes. Not a factor if y..."

Except certain woods are used on luxury aircraft. So money and power can override other considerations.

[Matthew]

Pete wrote: "Kenneth wrote: "Wood is also heavy. That's why it isn't used on airplanes. Not a factor if you stay in space, but if you enter an atmosphere, the additional weight will tax your propulsion system i..."

Don't know if any one has advised you before this but the story is The Cold Equation by Tom Godwin.

[[deleted user]]

Matthew wrote: "Kenneth wrote: "I think wood is fine. Except in cases where you're an exile fleet with no world to go to. Where'd you get the wood from? Wood is also heavy. That's why it isn't used on airplanes. N..."

And there's always the "Spruce Goose."

[[deleted user]]

Ken wrote: "Matthew wrote: "Kenneth wrote: "I think wood is fine. Except in cases where you're an exile fleet with no world to go to. Where'd you get the wood from? Wood is also heavy. That's why it isn't used..."

Don't forget the de Havilland Mosquito, justly nicknamed 'the wooden wonder'.

[David]

Trike wrote: "Ouroboros..."


Following your "porn" comment, that is so not the image of Stephen King I want rattling around in my head.

[Trike]

David wrote: "Trike wrote: "Ouroboros..."


Following your "porn" comment, that is so not the image of Stephen King I want rattling around in my head."

LOL

[Jim]

Al wrote: "For some reason, I've gotten sensitized to the word, "whilst". ESPECIALLY in science fiction. It was a form of "while" that was waning a century ago and sounds pretentious today.

As an editor, I won't allow it prose (unless it's in dialog and makes sense there). ..."

A lot more common in parts of the UK, I habitually use it in speech and even semi-technical writing

[Joe]

Deus ex machina. Terrible plot holes and easy solutions to complex problems.

[Melinda]

Jim wrote: "Al wrote: "For some reason, I've gotten sensitized to the word, "whilst". ESPECIALLY in science fiction. It was a form of "while" that was waning a century ago and sounds pretentious today.

As an ..."

I have several non-American friends who use "whilst" in normal speech, but I personally can't use it with a straight face. I also find it funny when Brits talk about living in a village. To me, a village is what medieval peasants live in. Then again, British people laugh when we Americans talk about "pants," and one of my ESL students in Poland--this cherubic-looking little 11-year-old, innocent as a bird--came up one day and asked me for a rubber. He clearly wanted an eraser, but it took me a minute...

I love these little differences.

[Jesikah]

In SF, there seems to be far too many female protagonists who are emotionally sterile and masculine in nature or sex kittens that kick ass. UGH.

[Jim]

Melinda wrote: "I love these little differences. ..."


Me to Melinda. Then you get Australian English and South African English, and a whole heap more.

[Doc]

Jesikah wrote: "In SF, there seems to be far too many female protagonists who are emotionally sterile and masculine in nature or sex kittens that kick ass. UGH."

Here be dragons. This is an area that could cause a deal of discussion.
You seem to imply that men are emotionally sterile--and that sex kittens are not.
But I digress.
I suspect that female action characters are harder to write than male ones, especially for male authors.
As a male reader I look for action, effective, satisfying action, from action protagonists, regardless of their gender.
David Weber's Honor Harrington is one of my favorite military SF protagonists. Have you read any Honor books, and if so, do you find her too masculine or sterile? I do not.

I have certainly gotten tired of the au courant Hollywood action women, 105-pound, 5'2" women who can lay waste to any 10 special forces operators who happen to be near, or pick up a sword for the first time and defeat gaggles of trained warriors, all without breaking a perspiration.

In a way, our two complaints are saying the same thing: Get real!

[Ken]

Get real indeed. In all sense of the spirit of it, is my one most prominent complaint.

[Jesikah]

Doc wrote: "Jesikah wrote: "In SF, there seems to be far too many female protagonists who are emotionally sterile and masculine in nature or sex kittens that kick ass. UGH."

Here be dragons. This is an area t..."

Oh goodness! No, I was not trying to imply that males are emotionally sterile :-( (or sex kittens for that matter.) My sincerest apologies. I was strictly speaking from a reader's POV on desiring more relateable female characters / heroines in SF.

Let me attempt this again: I would personally like to see more female characters in SF who are strong but not afraid to externalize emotions or lose touch with their feminine spirit. Re Hollywood action women...YES! This is partially my point.

I am not familiar with Honor Harrington, but I will look into those books and get back to you on my opinion :-) Thank you for the recommendation.

[Doc]

Jesikah wrote: "Doc wrote: "Jesikah wrote: "In SF, there seems to be far too many female protagonists who are emotionally sterile and masculine in nature or sex kittens that kick ass. UGH."

Here be dragons. This ..."

Jesikah:

The first of the Honor books is On Basilisk Station. You may find her more non-feminine than your ideal, but I think the Honor books are good writing. They marked the beginning of a quite successful career for their author, David Weber.

Listopia includes a number of lists dealing with female fantasy and SF characters: https://www.goodreads.com/search?utf8...

The lists may give you a lot more of what you don't want, but I think they are a good place to begin to see what is available.

[Jesikah]

Doc wrote: "Jesikah wrote: "Doc wrote: "Jesikah wrote: "In SF, there seems to be far too many female protagonists who are emotionally sterile and masculine in nature or sex kittens that kick ass. UGH."

Here b..."

Thank you, Doc :D Very kind of you! I'll check out the books.

[David]

I think most people (men included) desire what they think they’re supposed to desire. If you (as a male) think that other males are attracted to little fly-chicks, they you’ll look for a little fly-chick. If women want to see more assertive female characters, but men want to see little fly-chick, then you end up with Buffy. There are other options, but they take independence and (sometimes) imagination. Culture (I would include books here, at least potentially) should show you varied options and broaden your tastes. Of course it doesn’t, but that’s the fault of media, not culture.

[Al "Tank"]

Jesikah wrote: "In SF, there seems to be far too many female protagonists who are emotionally sterile and masculine in nature or sex kittens that kick ass. UGH."

Have you read Anne McCaffry's "Drangonflight"? Lessa definitely has tons of female traits (almost a romance-type heroin), but courage and determination as well.