sci-fi - Author W. Scott Harral

While living in a moon colony sounds plausible, as is described in Moon Luck by Scott Harral, there are issues people will have to face because of physiology.

Humanity can trace their origins back to many spots in the continent of Africa before they spread across the face of the Earth, becoming the apex species and essentially dominating the food chain. This is not an exaggeration; some of the most inhospitable places on Earth, like the Sahara Desert, the heights of Everest, and many others, have been inhabited by humans—there’s even a permanent settlement in Antarctica, which is considered to be one of the coldest areas on Earth. Such is the spirit of exploration that exists in the collective consciousness of humanity.

The Next Frontier: Space

With this in mind, there is now a question of where the next frontier is—and all answers seem to lead to outer space, which is the principal setting of most science fiction stories. This is not without standing. Humans have already developed the tech necessary to transport other humans off of Earth, and there have already been unmanned missions to other planets within and without the solar system. Yet, while a lot has been happening, there are only a few dozen active astronauts, and actually establishing proper human settlements is only still a theoretical dream.

The Possibility of a Moon Colony

While manned operations to space are seen as wonderful voyages akin to sailing on a ship, the reality is far more dangerous. Extended stays outside of Earth, the place where humans evolved to accommodate themselves, can bring many challenges; a lot is already known, and a far larger number are unknown. Therefore, learning how to live in the conditions of space is important to know before humanity can ever launch a plausible colonization program on other planets.

The only place that humanity currently has the greatest chance of colonizing is its closest celestial neighbor, the moon.

Human Physiology and the Lunar Environment

Living on the moon sounds like a dream come true for a lot of people, but that is because they have not considered what problems may arise when human beings are taken out of their natural habitats and pushed to alien environments. Living in a moon colony sounds plausible, as is described in Moon Luck by Scott Harral, but there are issues people will have to face because of their natural physiology. That is because the atmosphere and the geology of the moon are quite harsh and entirely different than what is present on Earth. For starters, there is no water on the moon, and there is no working atmosphere.

Here are the most pressing issues people will face when living on the moon:

The Strength of Gravity. On Earth, if you fall down, you are pulled down by the gravitation pull of the Earth. But on the surface of the moon, gravitational forces are only a sixth compared to that of Earth. This means that if there is to be a working moon colony, people have to forcefully adapt themselves to living with a significant reduction of muscle and bone mass.

For the body to properly acclimate to strong gravitational forces, the bones, and muscles have to strengthen themselves simply to keep humans standing upright—without this natural pressure, the bones and the muscle quickly weaken and, as a result, humans living in a moon colony might begin to shrink, which leads to the prevalence of osteoporosis, a disease that makes bones fragile and vulnerable to breakage.

Radiation Exposure. Although the atmosphere of the Earth has seen better days compared to the moon’s, it is simply a highly advanced filtration system that sifts the more harmful effects of the sun’s radiation, allowing the planet to safely take in the sun’s rays. The moon, on the other hand, has little to no atmosphere. This means that its ability to protect people from the sun is non-existent, which will lead to higher rates of skin cancer and other diseases for people living in a moon colony.

Circadian Rhythm. Because humans evolved on Earth, they are more attuned to the day and night cycles there. But for people living on the moon, their circadian rhythms are greatly disrupted. This is because a day on Earth lasts 24 hours while a day on the moon lasts for almost 720 hours.

History’s abundant with the greatest heroes and figures that have set examples of greatness. But these leadership lessons may come from someone you might not expect – a villain.

Yes, you read it right. We will share valuable leadership lessons from a fictional villain from one of the biggest science fiction franchises in the world. He is a faceless overlord clad in a black cape and hiding behind a mechanical helmet. He is known for his eerie breathing and hissing quite a few times.

A vast Empire army leader, Darth Vader, has superior power, influence, and intellect to obliterate the Rebel Alliance. Saving the most iconic reveal in history (we all know it), Darth Vader was a multifaceted fictional character who is universally loved despite being evil personified in the Star Wars franchise.

This might also sound like an exaggeration, but Darth Vader might have pioneered character development, as he eventually turned against the Empire and saved his son. His legacy of being a well-rounded character earned him a lasting legacy that will be remembered for all generations.

Leadership takeaways from the most “evil” villain

Darth Vader’s influence didn’t grow out of nowhere. While he may not be an ideal example because of his strongman leadership style, it doesn’t mean we have nothing to learn from. Disregarding all his atrocities, here are some of the crucial leadership lessons from Darth Vader.

Be assertive.

No one is born a leader. They are made and molded into someone with the right amount of ambition and compassion. By moderately demanding the best from your team, excellent results are possible. The thing about Darth Vader is that he makes things clear to everyone. He doesn’t want to make changes when unnecessary to prevent the swaying of others’ minds around him.

Darth Vader has also mastered the art of negotiation. He craftily increases the rewards he wants as a show of dominance. He is an example of a leader who should send a clear message without mixed signals. By being clear about what you want, you can avoid further complications in reaching your target.

Pick a side that will benefit everyone.

Choosing your most trusted allies can be an impossible task. At the same time, it can be a recipe for complications. The book Moon Luck by Scott Harral is a story of astronauts living on the moon and doing their best to work as a team. However, they eventually developed animosity towards each other. After all, familiarity breeds contempt, and a rift can break apart even the closest of friends.

Keeping the right people that not only work well with you is crucial, but so is inspiring loyalty to them. It would be best to establish enough influence to make people stay by your side. In the case of Darth Vader, he helps maintain a solid rapport in the team so that they remain focused on the bigger things.

Authenticity is attractive.

The biggest cinematic reveal in history was in Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back. When Darth Vader admitted to being Luke’s father, it solidified the concept of truth eventually unfolding no matter the circumstances.

In the same way, a leader must always be truthful to their team and practice what they preach. There must be a good balance of authenticity and authority when leading people to where you want them to be. Be wise like a serpent yet innocent as a dove.

This also rings true with keeping promises.

Despite being the evilest person on the planet, his authentic attitude towards keeping his promises is well-known. He acknowledges that there’s something greater than himself while still upholding his militaristic beliefs. Darth Vader helps manage expectations by not overpromising and still delivering.

Recuperate when you can.

Even a villain like Darth Vader needs rest on occasion. He goes to his meditation chamber to relax without his armor on. Leaders still need to recover their energy from carrying significant responsibility. Only then will they continue to lead efficiently and in their best condition.

Take advantage of necessary resources.

Leaders can’t do everything alone. They might still move forward by doing so, but having another set of people to do the legwork will take you miles. It won’t hurt your pride to ask for help beyond your circle and use the proper leverage to get things done.

For example, when Darth Vader needed someone to find the Millennium Falcon, he could’ve searched himself or left it to a few Stormtroopers. Instead, he outsourced someone else and ultimately accomplished the task given. True leaders know they’re not always good at everything and will need someone to do things sometimes.

In Moon Luck by Scott Harral, he explores the initial stages of what lunar habitation might look like while still presenting a compelling sci-fi thriller.

Living on the moon has always been a cultural aspiration for the whole of humanity, with mentions of men on the moon and lunar rabbits dating back at least a thousand years. There have been plenty of modern stories about moon habitation, like Moon Luck by Harral and Artemis by Weir.

Who doesn’t want to live on the moon? Out there in space, looking at the great blackness of the universe around the planet Earth. And jumping really, really, really high because the gravity’s so much lower there as compared to here.

Doesn’t that just sound like a wonderful future?

Almost everyone from every corner of the world has thought of the idea–of what it would be like living on the surface of the moon. And the hold of the idea on humanity’s collective unconscious hasn’t waned, especially since the moon landings and especially now that NASA has announced its intentions to create a permanent moon base by 2030. Perhaps living on the moon won’t be so far-fetched soon.

What Needs to Be Answered for Successful Lunar Habitation?

But before you get to packing and googling for tickets, what are the issues with building a base on the moon?

Remember, the conditions on the moon are entirely different from living on Earth. There’s no arable land, no obvious source of water, no animals, no atmosphere, etc., just to name a few.

Here are the main issues with living on the moon:

What Powers Everything?

For any society to function, there needs to be power. When humans first established the earliest civilizations, power was limited only to pure labor, the energy of hard work, and domesticated animals. When civilization progressed, and technology grew more sophisticated, the rushing waters of rivers were used to power mills; then, it was steam to power the earliest engines. When oil and natural gas were discovered, they powered better engines and generated electricity. Now, there are machines that can harvest the power of the sun, the wind, the waves, and more. Without power, a civilization stagnates.

On the moon, there are few sources of power that do not include what the settlers already brought with them. The only consistent source of energy would be that which comes from the sun: solar power.

Perhaps the lack of an atmosphere will make it easier for settlers to capture solar energy, but there are still issues with storage and other minutiae. Although nothing concrete has been determined, just the discovery of a solution is highly beneficial for any future planned settlement on the moon.

Where is the Living Space?

Another important requirement for a successful civilization is the territory, the space where the people will live, work, etc. Although the moon has large tracts of unclaimed land, it is not the best, to say the least. Because of an absence of water and vegetation, most of the moon’s surface is covered in rock and dust, which made the Apollo 17 astronauts’ eyes water and throats sore after contact. The absence of an atmosphere also makes the moon quite vulnerable to meteorites and radiation.

If there is to be habitable space on the moon, it would mean relying on sealed housing that allows for protection against radiation and the recycling of breathable air.

The establishment of a moon base would require taking advantage of prefabricated structures and modular systems for quick and easy installation. This is without considering the difficulty in laying out plumbing and water systems (although there might be further achievements waiting in the future).

How to Grow Food?

The most important aspect of maintaining civilization is food. You might have power, and you might have land, but without food, all of that crumbles into nothing the minute everyone starves. From a specific reductionist point of view, the progress of civilization can be seen as a journey toward increased food productivity. Nations can only prosper with a growing population of workers, you see, and the only way to facilitate that growth is through adequate food production and distribution.

Remember the earlier point about the power needed for civilizations to function? Human beings need the power to function, too, and, as far as anyone can see, that power comes from eating food.

Luckily for any potential lunar base, there have been strides to establish methods of growing food in space and conditions similar to the surface of the moon.

Every year, there are discoveries and efforts in science and technology that make habitation on the surface of the moon ever closer to reality.

Photo by Min An

Science fiction as a genre challenges reality and experiments with possibilities. For instance, Scott Harral’s glimpse into the near future as we inhabit the moon highlights a currently-impossible occurrence of people living on the moon.

Science fiction is a well-loved genre because it gives its audience a reason to anticipate a future, especially when living in the present is deemed unbearable. It ignites their imagination to soar and perceive beyond the limitations of their physical world and consciousness, giving them a magnificent experience beyond their reality. Science fiction draws its concepts around the world’s what-ifs, exploring them and allowing people to experience these possibilities.

Science, technology, and people may all have unlimited potential if duly explored, and science fiction takes on the responsibility of doing so. With themes and concepts beyond reality and practicability, science fiction dwells on potential more than the actual.

However, to be great, science fiction must still have some sense of reality. While it tackles lines that are difficult to believe, it must still have something that helps readers ground themselves to believe in its existence or occurrence. In between unfeasible ideas like flying cars, space exploration, and time travel, people would be more interested if the story allowed them to consider reality with these existing. From these what-ifs, people should be moved to question what if the world is this way?

Whether it be an in-depth explanation of how these came about or a thorough equation that might explain why they happen, science fiction concepts should still have a touch of science for them to be effective in catching the audience’s interest.

The Science in Science Fiction

As a basic science fiction rule, the scientific component should play a significant role, if not the story’s focal point. After all, what separates science fiction from fantasy or general fiction, all dealing with the unthinkable, is the former’s science element. While it’s still fictional, “science” still precedes its name, making it a fictional genre sprinkled with or based on scientific concepts.

However, does this immediately merit that one must be competent or, in any way, have the scientific expertise to write a believable and gripping science fiction? Or can they do with a made-up science element to their story?

When asked what science fiction means, the literary field naturally divides the science component into two different perspectives. It’s typically defined as fiction dealing with the influence of actual or imagined science on humans and society, emphasizing the existence and non-limitations of what science is for this genre. As long as there is an exploration of any scientific element, either hypothetical or factual, in the story, it can be considered science fiction.

However, it must be stated that for one to even make-up science, one must still have an inkling of what it is, especially regarding the concept they’re writing about.

How Much Science Does One Need?

Writers don’t need to be knowledgeable about every aspect of science to write science fiction. They’re writing a story, not a textbook. Instead of studying science, in general, they must only be familiar with the field they’re writing about.

For instance, looking at Scott Harral’s Moon Luck as an example, it’s evident that the story’s main point isn’t plausible. People can’t live on the moon. They have tried and failed a couple of times. However, Harral’s glimpse into the near future as we inhabit the moon provides enough explanation, especially on technological matters, making the whole point of the book believable and realistic.

Scott Harral isn’t a scientist nor someone who’s traveled on the moon before. This makes him not a science expert but simply someone enthusiastic about the concept. He only wrote a compelling story on the moon and space exploration because of research rather than on years of scientific background. Before going deep into the lore he built for his book, Harral presumably studied the moon and all the related concepts to write about concretely.

When writing about time travel, one must learn about the basic concepts of time and its theories. They must know about this to make their story, in some way, plausible and authentic. While science fiction is still fiction, it must still be research-focused to avoid having readers raise their eyebrows and scratch their heads when reading the story. This makes science fiction believable: ample research on the concepts tackled, not educational or scientific expertise and experience.

Photo by Pixabay

Building a lunar outpost has long detained humanity’s imagination. What would be the benefits to society that moon exploration could bring?

Are Earth’s endless biodiversity, fresh air, and the stable average temperature getting you down? Ever wanted to drop everything and set off to a place where life is nonexistent or more straightforward? Then take that 238,900-mile jaunt to the solar system’s launch deserted destination: The moon.

Sounds heavenly? Unfortunately, it’ll take much more than a simple rocket trip to achieve lunar paradise. And the first people to set up shop on the moon probably won’t be building vacation homes and resorts —as of now, NASA wants to create what’s a gas station for future trips to Mars.

According to astronauts, the moon’s lack of a genuine atmosphere does have somewhat of a “pseudo-atmosphere” called an exosphere. This is a magnetically suspended mix of particles and gasses stirred up from the lunar surface by the solar wind. But the elements that make up breathable air float around the moon at tiny concentrations compared to Earth. Taking a deep breath would be just as deadly on the moon as in the vacuum of space.

There’s also the issue of gravity: the moon is only about 1/6th of Earth’s. Given what people know about the effects of long-term weightlessness on astronauts, lunar residents would have to take precautions to keep healthy. Exposure to microgravity on the International Space Station (ISS) has been shown to accelerate bone and muscle loss and create cardiovascular issues because working against gravity is part of what keeps our bodies fit. That’s why astronauts on the ISS spend hours a day exercising to compensate for their absence. While the moon’s lack of gravity isn’t quite as extreme, experts say living long-term in any environment with reduced gravity could be detrimental to human health.

Despite these problems identified during the moon explorations, people continue to look for ways to live on the moon. Here are the reasons why:

Enhance engineering and technological capabilities. The moon presents numerous exciting engineering challenges. It is an excellent place to test flight technologies and capabilities, life support systems, and exploration techniques to decrease the risks and increase the productivity of the future mission. Humankind’s journey will provide everyone with the first experience of living and working in another world, allowing people to test advanced materials and equipment in space’s temperature and radiation extremes. People will learn how to best employ robots to explore remote locations, support human tasks, and gather information in potentially unstable regions.

Medical Researchers. Keeping astronauts healthy in a higher-radiation and lower-gravity environment than Earth is a vital challenge for medical researchers. The potential advantages to all humans are tremendous in terms of preventing and treating bone and muscle loss and some cancers. Other advances in medicine will follow!

Exploration of the moon’s resources also creates new business opportunities for technological innovations, applications, and utilization of new resources. There were minerals found on the moon that are called lunar minerals. Mineral resources are significant because these minerals exhibit a wide range of industrially important electrical, optical, magnetic, and catalytic properties.

A base for further exploration. Finally, establishing moon outposts enables adventurers and explorers to extend settlement and investigation to moons and planets beyond Earth. There is a whole universe of unknowns waiting for humanity to investigate!

Sci-fi novels such as “Moon Luck” by Scott Harral narrate the story of astronauts living on the moon for extended periods. It is also the story of the astronaut scientists and astronaut explorers as they grow plants on the moon, explore and find mineral ores, conduct experiments and research, and develop animosities and close relationships. When one of the base’s senior members dies in what seems to be an accident, the story follows the trail to discover the actual perpetrator, leaving us with the question: Is it murder if it happens on the moon?

Why do you think humanity should journey to the moon and ahead?

Moon exploration is a global undertaking. It provides a shared challenge that requires investment by many nations. Success in one’s journey to the moon and beyond requires the involvement and preparation of every scientist in different fields of expertise, such as; planetary scientists, engineers, medical researchers, physicists, chemists, mathematicians, mechanics, materials scientists, architects, doctors, communications and safety specialists, computer programmers, and many others. So be part of the journey as this would benefit the future generations of humankind.

Photo by Lina Kivaka

Science fiction is fantastic, made plausible through the backdrop of science.

Sci-fi typically deals with themes such as futuristic science, contact with extraterrestrial beings, time travel, alternate universe, etc. Mysteries are usually solved scientifically or with scientific reasons. Familiar characters in a sci-fi novel include aliens, robots, a time traveler, a scientist, and so on.

Murder mysteries have so many moving pieces that have to fit together perfectly. There must be plausible clues, compelling suspects, and a satisfying but unexpected ending. Adding new technologies—like spaceships and time travel—and alien species who may have unusual abilities, science fiction murder mysteries take both genres to a new level.

Many readers like a mystery because life is mysterious, and story-telling exists to help us figure out how to live. Secrets help us figure out how to deal with the unending avalanche of unknowns in our lives (probably not directly, unless you deal with dead bodies a lot).

Some people say that mysteries are famous because people like puzzles. Well, I want a certain kind of mystery, but I’ve never been a puzzle person.

In science fiction especially, the “who has done it” can quickly become a “what has done it.”

Here is the list of the six science fiction murder mysteries everywhere, from the moon and cyberspace to outer space.

All Systems Red by Martha Wells. Murderbot wants to do is watch its favorite shows, keep its humans from killing themselves, and avoid uncomfortable social situations while surveying an unfamiliar planet. That last goal proves tricky because somebody else is out to destroy the survey team, and it’s up to the contracted robotic security guard, Murderbot, to stop them.

Philip Dick’s Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? This 1968 novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep pins on Rick Deckard. He is a bounty hunter tasked with killing a bunch of androids who have escaped to Earth. Despite the mission’s dangerousness, Deckard needs the bounty money to purchase a real-life animal, the status symbol, and replace his crappy electric sheep.

Leviathans Wake by James S.A. Corey. Humanity has colonized the solar system—the Moon, Mars, the Asteroid Belt, and beyond—however, the stars are still out of reach. Jim Holden is an officer on an ice miner. When he and his crew stumble upon The Scopuli, they find themselves possessing a secret they never wanted.

Kate Mascarenhas’ The Psychology of Time Travel. The world would know three of their names. Four women scientists made the first time travel machine, but when one of them has a nervous breakdown, she’s thrown off the team. Her contributions are lost, and history moves on. Ruby knows her grandmother, Barbara (or Granny Bee), was part of the team, but when Granny Bee receives a newspaper clipping about a murdered woman from the future, Ruby fears it’s her grandmother. She decides to figure out what will happen and how to stop it. The story is told from shifting perspectives, exploring how the possibility of meeting your old and future selves might impact your state of mind.

Richard Morgan’s Altered Carbon. It is hard to solve a murder mystery when humans can switch bodies. Like in a video game, some people can “reset” after being killed. Plot-wise, the book is different from the Netflix series based on it—despite its multi-episode length, the latter has less time for world-building.

Moon Luck by Wayne Scott Harral. Over the years, more active stations will be located permanently on the moon. Will humans be prepared when the time comes? Harral’s Sci-Fi and mystery book, Moon Luck, is a great read! It is the story of thirty astronauts living on the moon for extended periods. The author generated an engaging story through thoughtful character development, in-depth research, and a creative storyline. Something truly unique to this book is because of its details in advanced technologies and makes some exciting leaps into the future. This is a genre that people would hesitate to read at first glance because of nowhere to be found: settings of the moon, cyberspace to outer space; however, as they read further, it would tickle their interest as it is combined with mysteries that touch on solving a puzzle or a crime.

Will life be the same without science? Can the world survive without technology’s advancement?

If there is one thing that is consistently progressing in this world, that is the constant progression of science and technology. The existence of science and technology and their impact on human life and this world are present and evident everywhere and anywhere. The cup of joe you have every morning results from scientific experimentation finely tuned by technology.

The shoes and clothes you wear result from what science and technology can do to dress up men. The food you eat, the books you’re reading, the vehicles you’re riding on, and almost anything that makes life convenient for an individual is products of science and technology.

This tells how essential are the function and use of science and technology.

Moon Luck by Harral is a book that exemplifies the benefits of science and technology. Author Scott Harral tells the story about 30 astronauts residing on the moon for purposes of carrying out experiments and research, with a twist of suspenseful plot in the form of a murder mystery. The book is a one-of-a-kind science fiction, using science and technology at the core of the uniquely created mystery plot.

Overview of Science & Technology

Although people often regard these two words as having the same meaning, there’s a distinction between what is science and what is technology.

Science has a practical definition. Science is commonly described as a structured study of the natural and physical world. The study involves a methodology of objective observation, measurement and data, investigation, and experimentation.

Science is a quest for knowledge. When people started getting curious, asking what, when, why, who, where, and how, that’s how science as a branch of study started to evolve. For this study to progress, it needs tools to support its research, findings, and conclusion.

This is when technology comes in – which leads next to the meaning of technology.

From the above understanding of what science is, anyone can say that technology is already the application of scientific knowledge.

Role in Life’s Progress

The book Moon Luck is a good case in point that depicts science and technology’s roles in people’s lives. People could go to the moon by combining these two pieces of knowledge. Individuals were able to calculate and plot how people would be able to survive life in outer space.

Even within just the Earth’s surface, miracles are already taking place because of the efficient utilization of these two studies. From the building infrastructures people inhabit to the meals and dishes they eat to the healing sustenance such as drugs and medicines that can overcome sickness and prolong life, this world is already a basketful brimming with science and technology.

Because these so-called “miracles” are the answers people have been seeking throughout their lives.

Technology can create those dream homes if people want to live in comfortable and convenient houses.

If people want to go from point A to point B in the shortest amount of time, science could help formulate a plan for it to come true, and technology can create fast-moving modes of transportation.

And if a person wants to communicate with someone on the other side of the Earth, it can be done so fast and efficiently – not to mention at a lower cost!

The role that science and technology play in life’s progress is a problem-solver. They make things easy and convenient for people. They provide the answers that are seemingly impossible to solve. They offer solutions to challenging problems.

In short, science and technology made this world a habitable place.

What would the world be without science and technology

Unimaginable. If famous Italian astronomer, physicist, and scientist Galileo Galilei didn’t insist back in the 1500s that the world is round, everyone would have been scared to travel the globe for fear of falling off from a “flat-surfaced earth.” Suppose Isaac Newton didn’t get hit (supposedly!) by an apple in the head; people would have no idea about the law of gravity or physics or the explanation why things fell coming from the top and not from the bottom.

Conversely, if Benjamin Franklin didn’t endeavor to fly a kite with a key attached to it during a thunderstorm, everyone would still be in the dark ages without electricity.

A world without science and technology is like getting lost in a jungle without a map or in the middle of a vast ocean with no compass or anything to guide you in the right direction. A world without science and technology is a life without meaning or purpose since no one has risked the chance to find answers to their questions.

Ultimately, the only way for life to progress and advance is through the push of science and technology.

Have you ever noticed how some of the most science fiction novels that make it out to the mainstream are typically those that seem very realistic?

These novels are commonly grounded on reliable scientific concepts that make their audience ponder the “what-ifs.” What if these events become true? Or, what if this is already happening without us knowing. Some of the key factors in a science fiction ground the story in reality, making it believable and understandable.

This is one of the many charms of science fiction. Its possible realism makes people reflect on themselves and their relationship with the world. It helps them make sense of their mistakes and explore and see fault in their behavior concerning the issues experienced by the world. For instance, in movies about eco-catastrophes, people may reflect on how their behavior and habits can affect the world and bring possible consequences. If not for its entertainment value, this is perhaps one of the reasons why realism should be highly considered in novels.

Why do people enjoy watching science fiction, even if they include catastrophic and scary themes?

The concept of realism focuses on creating an illusion of reality in your media. If a novel, for instance, is labeled as realistic, its concepts should have a clear reflection and association with the real world. If this makes sense, people want to experience the excitement or catastrophe science fiction has to offer without actually experiencing it. And realism in the media puts the audience into this world that the author (or director for movies) has created, which makes it so popular.

It’s been solidified that somehow people can be so curious about morbid events. Humans, as curious beings, like placing themselves in other people’s shoes, especially if this involves rather tragic circumstances. This instinct can be associated with people convincing themselves that they would never end up in these situations. If they do, they can protect themselves and survive. This unusual fact can explain why most people remain so invested in horror movies, despite being easily scared and even paranoid afterward.

This inclination has been programmed in them since time immemorial. This can be explained at the anatomical and psychological levels by how their brain functions. Being scared is reflected in the brain the same way as excitement is. This means that if people are faced with scary events, their brains can mistake it for excitement, which is why they mostly continue to anticipate or look for a stimulus that induces this emotion.

This implies that one of the ways to make a science fiction novel catch people’s interest is by making it realistic and with a theme that can stir people’s emotions. And as an aspiring writer, who aims to write great and gripping science fiction novels, you need to find ways to improve your writing skills. Here’s how you can do it.

Utilize existing or highly debated creatures and technology

There is a reason why most dinosaur and alien movies never fail to catch people’s attention. For instance, dinosaurs have been known to exist a long time ago, and how they behaved is something people are generally curious about. On the other hand, aliens are the center of the debate about their existence. Therefore, writing about them can create debate and discussion, which can help boost your book’s publicity.

This is what Harral’s sci-fi and mystery book offer. While Moon Luck doesn’t have aliens or highly dangerous predators in it, this novel tackles the curious case of moon travel. Whether or not humans can survive days on the moon has consistently been something that scientists and citizens alike have pondered the possibility of. This is why movies about this concept can quickly become blockbusters in today’s society.

Study physics and science

Just because you’re writing science fiction – with capital fiction – it doesn’t mean you can write whatever your heart and mind want. You still need to bank it on some realistic components if you want your events to seem plausible. With this, learning is still required. But this doesn’t mean you need a degree and fluency in the language of science. This only entails that you should have done ample research before you write anything involving science. For your novel to be believable, it needs to have any sense of reliability and validity.

Consider building your world around existing ones

While there’s something very unsettling about the dystopian world, creating your sci-fi world on something closely similar to the current society is even more dramatic. This does for your audience only amplifies the realism, adding even more possibility to your narrative. Perhaps in making this, you’re adding more dread to your story with the heightened plausibility of whatever catastrophe you place your characters into.

When it comes to writing science fiction, the sky’s your limit. The world becomes rather liberating, and you can devise whatever mechanism to help make your world as exciting as you’d like it to be. Realism isn’t necessary, but it does impact your story. What’s great about writing science fiction is that anyone can be a master of it with a bit of planning and wit.

The legacy of the SF is conjured by the extraordinary vision for the future, which is the epitome of the genre. The genre’s golden age dates back from the mid-1930s to the late 1950s after Pulp fiction became a sensation in 1920. Over time, Sci-Fi became a constant in the lives of today’s generation.

Why do we read science fiction?

Perhaps more than any other fiction genre, Sci-fi is often written with a social purpose or a goal. Writers in this genre often bewail the vanity of trying to predict the future in their more metafictional works. Instead, science fiction is written to caution against the horrors of war, death, and other humanistic dilemmas that glorify human ingenuity. Like Moon Luck by Wayne Scott Harral. The book not only focused on the typical gest of science fiction but also explored the other dimensions of the human mind. Mr. Harral’s insight isn’t like the other. His imagination overflows with brilliance and enigma, which would set you on fire and reread it. A kind of book which demands critical thinking and reflection; a clear example of how science fiction must be read.

Furthermore, Science Fiction readers must seek something reflective, stimulate motives, and rebuttal the reality. So really, why do we read science fiction? The most straightforward answer is escapism: being into a more fun world than humdrum reality. To in the situation where you can reflect while being amazed by the imagination poured by the writer. Something worthy of your time.

But, when did it all begin?

The great spectacles of every era lie in its imaginations. During the time of the Post-Socratic age, the fiction of the people heavily relied on myths and astronomical phenomena, and it continues during the time of the Pre-Socratic age, where thinkers such as Philosophers, Mathematics, Astronomers, Doctors, Legislators heavily relied on the systems that forged their thoughts and approach in the discipline.

The cosmology of the ancient times handed ideas that were essential for the upcoming eras, especially in astronomy. Most of the modern concepts stemmed from the concepts of ancient Greek Cosmology. Ancient Greek cosmology started from Miletus in the fifth century, a city on the coast of the Aegean Sea.

As one of the most robust cities during that time, it thrived in its various postulations. Moreover, the city is well-known for its scientific, philosophical, and literary, and all came from Milesian schools. It is where it all began; the revolution of thinking thrived and prospered. The Milesians understood that it could change their world as they pondered it through reasoning and direct observation. The so-called empirical replaced the earlier narrative with an understanding of how the world came from nothing into something and how it works. But that doesn’t mean that the tradition of imagination vanished – other genres seriously came to being within this new progression of human thinking. Some thinkers that went from the Milesian School developed even more different and sophisticated approaches to observation beyond experimental by opting for an imaginative attitude through the creation of hypotheses. It was the physicist Thales who manifested this. Thales, Anaximander, and Anaximenes, three of the seven sages of ancient Greece, undoubtedly changed the course of their time. These three Milesian thinkers were the builders of the discipline of cosmology, soon unifying philosophical thinking in pre-Socratic times and scientific theory. A new system of thought started in the cosmos.

The most incredible imagination known to have inspired the science fiction genre was One Thousand and One Nights. Other dated back to medieval literature, where the idea of a being heavily inspired the thinking of that time as the creator of “God.” Another was from Proto-science fiction from the Enlightenment and Age of Reason era. In the 19th-century, the transitions and the system of thought began to flourish. Shelley’s Frankenstein was a notable book during that time. In this year also, H.G Wells wrote his two books: The Time Machine and the Invisible Man.

The Early 20th century is the birth of Pulp Fiction and modernist writing. During this era, science fiction became well-known to the mass audience. The birth of mainstream publishers paved the way for the genre to reach its golden age. Many writers wrote magnificent and thrilling works of fiction, and people consume every ounce of words on paper. The spread of cyberpunk to other parts of the marketplace’s ideas marks the beginning of the contemporary age of science fiction. Above all, cyberpunk has influenced films, anime, and the emerging medium of video games.