《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 Serial525 Chapters
Netherworld Investigator
Beneath the peaceful façade of the modern world, an undercurrent of shocking crimes roils in the underbelly of society. Follow Song Yang, the last Traditional Coroner of China, as he navigates through this underworld of violence and debauchery, and uses seemingly common everyday objects like an umbrella, squid ink, and magnets to hunt down serial killers, sexual predators, real-life vampires, necrophiles, and others who prey upon the innocents and hide behind the fog of supernatural mystery. There is no mystery too enigmatic for Song Yang to solve, and there is no depth too deep for him to venture into to uncover the truth!
8 317 - In Serial475 Chapters
I Said Make My Abilities Average!
When Viscount Ascham’s House’s eldest daughter, Adele von Ascham, became 10 years old, she remembered everything with an intense headache. Her previous self, Kurihara Misato, 18 years old Japanese, lost her life when trying to help a young girl, and then she met God… A somewhat capable person burdened by the many expectations of the surrounding people, Misato, who couldn’t live as she wanted, pleaded to God. “In the next life, please make my abilities average!” Yet, somehow the story is wrong! The girl with 3 names, being careful to not accidentally become a S-rank hunter, lives normally. I mean, I’m just an average, common girl. No, seriously. Thank you for reading updated novel I Said Make My Abilities Average! @ReadWebNovels.net
8 207 - In Serial7 Chapters
The Whispering Blade
In the blink of an eye, Ezra Nyx’s life changes forever. As an ordinary college student that only wants to get by, he he doesn't have high expectations of his future, but one night, he experiences something life-changing. He now knows something that no one else does, humanity is not alone. Unknown forces are finding their way to Earth, making it their little playground. Follow Ezra’s journey as he navigates through all the chaos and becomes more than he ever thought he could be.
8 203 - In Serial22 Chapters
Don't Drink The Gene Juice
If you could turn into any creature, that'd be awesome... wouldn't it?Seth had been hoping for a fun rest of his senior year of high school. He was going to go on dates, go to parties, and maybe even actually pass his classes.But when he and his friends decide to have some fun on his friend's birthday, things don't really go how they expected.Now, what seemed like just a one time bit of risky fun, may threaten to ruin Seth's whole life.And it's all the gene juice's fault.Highest ratings#1 Genetics#1 - transformation#1 - tf
8 89 - In Serial9 Chapters
Fili x reader(ALL)
This is where I put my collection of Fili x reader that I have first written and uploaded to my Tumblr: http://hobbits-hobby-jess.tumblr.com/*I AM STILL IN THE PROCESS OF UPLOADING STUFF HERE FROM MY TUMBLR*
8 122 - In Serial159 Chapters
Michael jackson picture book
This picture book can vary from hot and sexy pics to pics of him being simply a cutie .Mainly him just lookin like a whole snacc tho 😩
8 69

