In episode 14, the last episode of 2010, The Genre Traveler chats with author (and TV producer) Darren Campo about his books in the Alex Detail series. Along the way we discuss the virtues of Pluto, colonizing Venus, utopian vs. dystopian science fiction, how working in television can help you write a novel, adding plausibility to your science fiction, the role (and importance) of collaboration in traditional publishing, the rise of the non-trilogy series and good writing habits. Darren also makes some good suggestions about books you might want to read for inspiration.
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Duration: 30:44
File Size: 35.2 MB
You can listen to a snippet here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDnQDyXKJpY
Mentioned in this Episode:
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Hayden Planetarium Central Park West and 79th Street New York, NY 10024-5192 (212) 769-5100 |
Pluto
First discovered in 1930 by Clyde W. Tombaough, Pluto was once considered the furthest planet from the sun. In 2006, the planet was demoted to “dwarf planet.”
- NASA’s mission to Pluto: pluto.jhuapl.edu.
- Scientists decide Pluto’s no longer a planet: www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14489259/ns/technology_and_science-space
- Why Pluto is No Longer a Planet: www.universetoday.com/13573/why-pluto-is-no-longer-a-planet
Venus
Venus is the second planet from the sun and it’s bright spot in our sky is called both the Evening Star and the Morning Star.
- Facts and Figures: www.aerospaceguide.net/planet/planetvenus.html
- Magellan Mission to Venus: www2.jpl.nasa.gov/magellan
- Colonization of Venus: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colonization_of_Venus
Clones and Cloning
- Cloning Fact Sheet from the Human Genome Project: www.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Human_Genome/elsi/cloning.shtml
- Definition from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloning
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Total Recall This 1990 film directed by Paul Verhoeven and starring Arnold Schwarzenegger was inspired by Philip K. Dick’s short story “We Can Remember It For You Wholesale.” For this and other science fiction works that inspired films, check out Reel future. The Stories that inspired 16 classic science fiction movies. I read it in August of 2004 and promise you’ll find in illuminating. |
Utopian vs. Dystopian Science Fiction
I wrote this short post about this topic in my Examiner.com column as the Long Beach Speculative Fiction Examiner.
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The Dragonlance Chronicles series by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman |
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Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card |
| Hyperion by Dan Simmons |  |
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The Hero’s Journey, Joseph Campbell This concept was mentioned in Joseph Campbell’s book, The Hero with a Thousand Faces. |
The Shannara Series by Terry Brooks
For more information about Darren Campo:
- Website: darrencampo.com
- On Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Alex-Details-Revolution-By-Darren-Campo/263700330727
For previous episodes go here.
