This is topic What makes good SF/F. in forum Books, Films, Food and Culture at Hatrack River Forum.


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Posted by Primal Curve (Member # 3587) on :
 
Plausible motives.
 
Posted by Kama (Member # 3022) on :
 
elves.
 
Posted by blacwolve (Member # 2972) on :
 
No cliches, or at least, clihes that don't feel clichish.
 
Posted by Scott R (Member # 567) on :
 
The right oven temperature.
 
Posted by Da_Goat (Member # 5529) on :
 
Either excellent character development, or no character development. Anywhere in between is terrible.

[ January 01, 2004, 05:10 PM: Message edited by: Da_Goat ]
 
Posted by Princess Leah (Member # 6026) on :
 
Really cool aliens.
 
Posted by Lalo (Member # 3772) on :
 
Gratuitous sex.
 
Posted by Kama (Member # 3022) on :
 
Alien and elven sex.
 
Posted by :Locke (Member # 2255) on :
 
A world that isn't ripped off from Tolkien or Star Wars/Star Trek. Something that hasn't been seen before.
 
Posted by Tresopax (Member # 1063) on :
 
The same thing that makes any fiction good - an interesting story, with characters I'd like to meet in real life and issues that matter to the me
 
Posted by Eryn (Member # 2190) on :
 
murders pyschos suspense and plenty of sex
 
Posted by kwsni (Member # 1831) on :
 
torture.

Ni!
 
Posted by Starla* (Member # 5835) on :
 
Voluptuous women warriors and scantily clad sorceresses...

BTW---I'm selling my entire Mercedes Lackey collection if anyone's interested. I only read one book, so all of them are brand spankin' new.

Aside from dust and 9 years worth of yellowing.
 
Posted by JonnyNotSoBravo (Member # 5715) on :
 
Michael Whelan book cover art...

No, not really but they are pretty to look at...
 
Posted by ae (Member # 3291) on :
 
The lack of the label "SF/F" on the cover.
 
Posted by UofUlawguy (Member # 5492) on :
 
Two things: an original and imaginative world-vision with lots and lots of depth, and good writing.
 
Posted by Teshi (Member # 5024) on :
 
Characters who are cool, human and balanced at the same time.
 
Posted by Scott R (Member # 567) on :
 
I'm sticking with the right oven temperature.

[ January 03, 2004, 11:13 AM: Message edited by: Scott R ]
 
Posted by WheatPuppet (Member # 5142) on :
 
Good fantasy is made by low-magic settings. Good silly fantasy is made by an ultra-high-magic setting.

Good science fiction is either talking about how the technology works when it matters to talk about it, or to never talk about it at all and make the technology beleivable enough for readers to assume it works.
 
Posted by Kama (Member # 3022) on :
 
Alien and elven sex in the right oven temperature [Eek!]
 
Posted by Princess Leah (Member # 6026) on :
 
Scott R must like Ray Bradbury. [Smile]
 
Posted by eslaine (Member # 5433) on :
 
The same thing as in any good fiction:

Good characterazations, preferably ones that you can identify with.

A plot which engages your interest and is internally logical.

Vivid imagery, whether visual or other sensory.

A clever writer who is always a step ahead of you, instead of behind you.
 
Posted by Dagonee (Member # 5818) on :
 
The best way I ever saw of describing it: “Real toads in a made-up garden.” I can’t give it attribution because I heard it from my 12th grade English teacher about 15 years ago.

His other favorite saying is if you mention the shotgun on the wall when you describe the room, it better go off before the end of the story.

he was big on characterization and implicit promise.

Dagonee
 


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