Ray Bradbury. 1974.

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 "Science fiction then is the fiction of revolutions. Revolutions in time, space, medicine, travel, and thought...Above all, science fiction is the fiction of warm-blooded human men and women sometimes elevated and sometimes crushed by their machines.  So science fiction, we now see, is interested in more than sciences, more than machines. That more is always men and women and children themselves, how they behave, how they hope to behave. Science fiction is apprehensive of future modes of behavior as well as future constructions of metal."

 

Project Overview:

First, we will dive into science fiction short stories and novellas from around the globe.  We will study these masterful works carefully in order to learn the many skills needed to successfully write our own science fiction short stories.  These skills include literary concepts such as theme, setting, characterization, personification, and point of view, along with world building, crafting characters, writing effective dialogue, writing descriptively, developing an engaging plot, and understanding verb tense.  

 

Your task does not end here.  You will also be challenged with incorporating astronomy concepts into your story, while keeping your story exciting, engaging and character focused. After studying model texts, learning writing techniques, and drafting our stories, we will engage in multiple rounds of critique in order to produce a polished final product. We will showcase our short stories by reading excerpts at an exhibition just before Spring Break!

 

Our Readings:

“There Will Come Soft Rains” by Ray Bradbury

“There Will Come Soft Rains” Poem by Sara Teasdale

Binti by Nnedi Okorafor

 

Our Products:

Anthology of Astronomy-Inclusive Science Fiction Short Stories

Public Readings of Short Story Excerpts

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