How to Write Science Fiction and Fantasy
Orson Scott Card
This award-winning classic provides invaluable advice for every sci-fi and fantasy writer interested in constructing stories about people, worlds and events that stretch the boundaries of the possible and the magical. Learn what is and isn't science fiction and fantasy, where your story fits in the mix, how to build, populate, and dramatise a credible, inviting world, how to structure a successful story, where the markets are, and how to reach them and get published.
£7.19^* - save 20%

Worlds of Wonder
How to Write Science Fiction and Fantasy
David Gerrold
The definitive introduction to writing science fiction and fantasy. A step-by-step guide for budding sci-fi and fantasy writers, who will gain insight into the craft as well as practice techniques that will immediately improve their writing. Includes examples from numerous classic books and films.
£10.39^* - save 20%

Writing Science Fiction and Fantasy Television
Joe Nazzaro
"If you've got any interest at all in TV sci-fi, and especially if you've got any ambitions to write the stuff, buy this book." - Dreamwatch Magazine.
£11.99^* - save 20%

The Science of Science Fiction Writing
James E. Gunn
Reflects on the science fiction writing process and how to teach it. The book presents the ideas the author has shared with his pupils over his long teaching career and includes advice on how to get science fiction work published.
£8.45^* - save 9%

The Mammoth Encyclopaedia of Science Fiction
George Mann
This encyclopaedia is the most up-to-date, concise, clear and affordable guide to all aspects of science fiction, from its background to generic themes and devices, from authors (established and new) to films. Science fiction has evolved into one of the most popular, cutting-edge and exciting fiction genres, with a proliferation of modern and classic authors, themes and ideas, movies, TV series and awards. Arranged in an A-Z format, and featuring a comprehensive index and cross-referencing system, this book is the most accessible and easy to use encyclopaedia of its kind currently available.
£7.99^* - save 20%

Writing Fantasy and Science Fiction
Lisa Tuttle
This book begins by looking at the many different kinds of novels covered by these genres, then moves on to look at ideas, world-building, language, structure, short stories, writing for children and finding an agent. The author examines co-authoring and includes examples of correspondence between authors charting the development of a story. This book provides authors with a real insight into how publishers work, and contains illuminating interviews with editors.
£7.99^* - save 20%

The Encyclopaedia of Fantasy
John Grant, John Clute
An essential purchase for anyone who's serious about fantasy. Those who are serious about horror will also find it an excellent reference. There are many entries on horror movies and the better-known horror writers. You'll also find carefully written definitions of horror, dark fantasy, supernatural fiction, gothic fiction, psychological thrillers and weird fiction.
£13.99^* - save 30%

The Encyclopaedia of Science Fiction
John Clute, Peter Nicholls
This book is more than merely an encyclopaedia of SF; it is a comprehensive history and analysis of the genre. With over 4,360 entries and 1,300,000 words, this is a jam-packed sourcebook on science fiction authors, books, sub-genres, movements, and history. A great resource for fans and writers.
£17.50^* - save 30%

Time: a Traveller's Guide
Clifford A. Pickover
The author takes readers to the forefront of science as he illuminates the most mysterious phenomenon in the universe - time itself. Is time travel possible? Is time real? Does it flow in one direction only? Does it have a beginning or an end? What is eternity? These are questions that Pickover tackles in this stimulating blend of Chopin, philosophy, Einstein and modern physics, spiced with diverting side-trips to such topics as the history of clocks, the nature of free will and the reason that gold glitters. By the time we finish this book, we understand such seemingly arcane concepts as space time diagrams, light cones, cosmic moment lines, transcendent infinite speeds, Lorentz transformations, superluminal and ultra-luminal motions, closed time-like curves, and Tipler cylinders. And most important, we will understand that time travel need not be confined to myth, science fiction, Hollywood fantasies, or scientific
speculation. Time travel, we will realise, is possible.
£7.99^* - save 20%

The Writer's Guide to Fantasy Literature
Philip Martin
From Dragon's Lair to Hero Quest.
£9.58^* - save 9%

Borderlands of Science
Charles Sheffield
How to think like a scientist and write science fiction.
Only £4.39!^*

Aliens and Alien Societies
Stanley Schmidt
A good overview of the basics of realistic science fiction aliens. As much a guide to the mechanics of writing about aliens as to the physics and psychology of designing them, the book contains some good insights. The chapter on alien languages is interesting and there is a comprehensive and valuable bibliography.
£10.16^* - save 10%

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Publishing Science Fiction
Cory Doctorow, Karl Schroeder
Offers advice on how to get a science fiction novel or short story published, including tips on the basic elements of science fiction, getting an agent, and signing a contract.
£9.58^* - save 9%

Conceiving the Heavens
Creating the Science Fiction Novel
Melissa Scott
Aliens, spaceships, life on Mars, other worlds, cloning, coming back from the future, new species - science fiction pervades our imaginations and increasingly ourselves. But how does an author write these stories so that they are believable and meaningful? The author shares her techniques and insight to help would-be science fiction writers turn their ideas into workable stories. Topics discussed include: the need for good writing - not just good ideas; the specialised technique necessary for science fiction writing; characterisation, settings, invented languages and research; training to think 'what if?'; exercises and mind games to expand imaginations; artistic intention and responsibility; writing science fiction as a profession and being a professional at it; problems unique to the science fiction field; and a glossary of science fiction terms.
£9.32^* - save 9%

The Science of Aliens
Clifford Pickover
If extra-terrestrials ever landed on Earth, they would find us extremely strange. Their first intimation of our existence might well be a Super Bowl broadcast or a stray transmission from the Playboy channel. But, of course, they might seem equally strange to us. How strange? Their senses could be entirely different from ours - they might see in the infrared or hear radio waves. What would aliens look like? An intelligent octopus-like creature is certainly plausible. What about odd numbers of limbs - a three-legged alien with three arms and three eyes? What about an entire planet of immobile, silicon-based trees that communicate with each other via electrical signals? Could a giant interstellar cloud be alive and intelligent? Could creatures live at extremely high pressures and temperatures? And which of these many possibilities would be similar enough to us that we could communicate with them, or they with us? Would they have any interest in abducting us?
£8.47^* - save 9%