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For Writers: Alien Politics

Boris alien

FOR WRITERS Today’s writer topic comes from QSFer Justine Bonczek: How do ya’ll create/translate politics – a very human framework for organizing society – into alien/magical societies? Do you take what exists in human history and tweak it, or do you start from the ground up to create something new? Curious minds want to know! Join the chat

Worldbuilding Week Day Three: Politics and Culture

Worldbuilding Week

Welcome to the second annual Worldbuilding Week at QSF. We’ll talk about all aspects of building a world for your story, including languages; alien/magical races; history and timelines; culture and politics; sex, marriage and reproduction; and tools and techniques. It should be a lot of fun. Today we’re talking about culture and politics, and Lloyd A. Meeker will be our moderator. Here’s my take: There are really only two over-arching questions for you to answer in your world-building task: 1) How is it different from the familiar world? 2) How is it similar to the familiar world? Very often a … Read more

Political Speculative Fiction

Star Wars Senate

It’s the US presidential election (for nearly another 5 months god help us), but do you like to read books with a political angle? This can be other planetary or inter-pack or species. Does the backstabbing double dealing of Washington or Alderon get you hot and sweaty or make you want to blow up a planet? Any great stories with strong political themes that you’ve loved? Writers: This is a reader chat – you are welcome to join it, but please do not reference your own works directly. Thanks! Join the chat

WORLDBUILDING WEEK: Day Four – Navigating Culture & Politics

Worldbuilting Week

Welcome to the first annual Worldbuilding Week at QSF. We’ll talk about all aspects of building a world for your story, including languages; alien/magical races; history and timelines; culture and politics; sex, marriage and reproduction; and tools and techniques. It should be a lot of fun. OK, so you’ve come up with your very own language for your new world. You’ve chosen the most awesome-ever aliens or magical creatures to populate it. And you’ve set up a timeline for your history/ Now you have to build the culture that they’ll live in. Some things to consider – what kind of … Read more