《How to Write Stories People Will Love》Question 84: Writing about future technology
Advertisement
asks: I'm writing a science fiction novel that plays off in the 22nd century with high technology. How do I know what to use as new objects since its almost a hundred years from now? I don't want my ideas to sound off or impractical. How can I describe new tech and objects in that era?
Some fiction known as "hard science fiction" is very much into scientific accuracy. The future technology in the story has to be grounded in existing scientific principles. The Martian is a good example of this, and was written by a software engineer who also a enjoys studying space, physics and orbital mechanics for fun. He knew what he was talking about.
If hard science isn't your thing, then you don't have to worry about scientific accuracy. The story can be more about the plot rather than the technological details. The less you know about how something works, the vaguer you want to be about the details of that tech. You are, after all, writing a story and not a reference guide.
I once read a romance that was set in a sci-fi world. They shot "laser guns" and traveled in "space ships". All the future tech was very generic. It was extremely weak as a science fiction story, but it was a romance above all else. Readers who want romance don't usually need a lot of sciency stuff.
Tons of science fiction authors make up their own technology. Star Trek had transporters, complete with their their own set of terminology for parts and mechanisms. Dune had space travel made possible by some esoteric material called "spice". Sci-fi video games have "plasma weapons" that simply work like normal guns, only with energy shots instead of bullets. They don't attempt to explain how they work, they just assume scientists figured it out and this is how it is.
Advertisement
I think a nice balance is to take existing technology that people are familiar with and "improve" it somehow. Like stun guns that emit sound waves instead of electricity. Or cars that levitate instead of drive on wheels. Or jetpacks that use antigravity mechanisms instead of fuel combustion. The tech will be familiar to the reader (we already know what guns, cars, and jetpacks are) but they will seem future-like by not functioning exactly as they do today.
For a good balance of light sci-fi and YA plot, read The Lunar Chronicles, or at least Cinder, Book 1 of the series. You get a good sense of the technology of the time without having to tangle with technical terms. What made that series popular were the characters and the plot. If you write a good story, people can forgive any scientific weakness it may have.
Advertisement
- In Serial1672 Chapters
Sylver Seeker
After fulfilling the duty all arch necromancers are tasked with, Sylver Sezari was not expecting to ever wake up again. But he did. And after crawling his way back into the land of the living, he’s alive once again. In a strange land, a strange time, and with a strange floating screen in front of his new face. Either through plan or chance, he’s alive again, and planning to enjoy himself to his heart's content. -The story isn’t grimdark, but it’s not all sunshine and rainbows either. There will be lighthearted and positive moments, as well as some sad ones. That being said, it’s a whole lot more light than dark. -This is a LITRPG story. Chapters are published every 2 days at 21:00 GMT. Author’s note:-It can get very GORY. I’m somewhat desensitized to gore and violence. So while the story isn’t full of gore for the sake of gore, it can get a little too descriptive.-The MC is a necromancer, so corpses and decay, and all the things that come with it, will be mentioned from time to time.-I’m a huge fan of Egyptian, Slavic, and Greek mythology, so expect quite a bit of that. That said, so much is altered, you’ll be hard-pressed to guess how exactly it is being used.-Despite being ‘immortal’ the MC can die. In the event he does, the story doesn’t end, simply time skips forward. Which in some cases is going to be worse than just dying.-I love plot twists, as much as I love red herrings and Chekhov guns. Deus Ex Machina’s not so much. Cover: https://angshumandhar.artstation.com/projects
8 283 - In Serial10 Chapters
Human Spawn
The land of Erros is reliant on the Dome for survival. The Dome brings with it cites from dystopian or apocalyptic timelines of Earth that are infallibly filled with valuable resources and technologies that are necessary to gain an edge over one's competitors. While often incredibly dangerous, many view these cities as treasure troves, where anyone can gain a fortune or die trying. Ezra awakens in one such city with no memories of her own and nothing to her name. She has to escape from the city that birthed her before the Dome consumes it all. And that's just the easy part. Follow Ezra as she adventures through Erros, makes friends, steals loot, and unravels the mysterys of the Dome.
8 102 - In Serial6 Chapters
Kazan - The Hero No One Wanted
Shall it be witnessed that a hero came in times unneeded and from a world towering over us, it will mean an alliance with all races to battle this unwanted invader. A hero it will not be called, for these are dark invaders that are written in prophecies old. A hero may be called upon by the energies of humans and demons, but a dark invader is limitless with unforeseeable power... - Maximilian II, Jade Iron Emperor. I have seen it all now, a god is just like the rest of us if stripped from all power. So there isn't a need to be afraid any more, as I will take your place after you leave. So promise me you will return home. - Elianora Hexasy, God's Child. It has happened...a miracle fell upon our lands. - Sophia Alfinedia, Nature Queen. Anti-hero protagonist with a few screws loose, and a plot that will take itself seriously to the very end. Chapters this month: 6/30
8 199 - In Serial10 Chapters
Aethernum—Cradle of Yore
Diary Number 999, year I-don't-care, location home. Parenting. Of all I've found clear answers except for this most mundane topic. And not for the lack of trying. My library, so humongous my good friends told me one after the other there is no book it doesn't contain helped little. There are crumbling tomes of ancient magic, vocabularies depicting the evolution of the magical language itself, grimoires and holy bibles of cults long past, rows and rows filled with scrolls bearing the efforts of my magical research, contracts, diaries, letters and more. But parenting? There was none. Yet a struggle nearly every member of the Races is not foreign to. I...must have lived under a rock. Across aeons no less. What a humbling revelation.
8 140 - In Serial17 Chapters
Li'Kyes the Scaled Hero [HIATUS]
REWORK UNDERWAY: READ REWORK ANNOUNCEMENT FOR MOREBlake and his class were unfortunate when a trip to a nearby country went wrong, and they lost their lives. But as luck has it, instead of going to the Spirit Realm, a God offered them to reincarnate as heroes in his world. The only condition was for them to fight the Cataclysm.Follow Blake in this new world with magic and swords, as he prepares to fight for what's right and just. Or will he?*MATURE WARNING*This series will contain mature language, swearing, sailor's talk, blood, gore, torture, etc. So please read it at your own discretion. Might also contain sexual content, either being sex scenes or sexual innuendos. (Not entirely sure, but we will see.)(Hey guys, my first fanfic novel thingy, just wanted to try it out. Will be releasing more chapters if my motivation drives me to. Hope you enjoy.)Ps. WIll add more tags as I'm sure they will fit. For now these will do, since I know they will fit the story.
8 186 - In Serial98 Chapters
Ryujin Imagines (gxg)
requested 💗Female Reader Imagines with Ryujin of ITZY 💞Requests are always open! No smuts or personal imagines allowed ❤️Happy Reading!Started: 11-20-20Completed:Highest Rankings:♡ #1 in itzyimagines ♡♡ #1 in preferencesandimagines ♡♡ #5 in imaginesandpreferences ♡
8 212

