American - Author | October 6, 1950 -
Only a knowledgeable, empowered and vocal citizenry can perform well in democracy.
David Brin
DemocracyEmpoweredWellOnlyVocal
Why must conversions always come so late? Why do people always apologize to corpses?
PeopleLateWhyAlwaysApologize
When I begin a book, I inevitably discover many things along the way, about the characters, their past histories and the political intrigues that surround them. This discovery process is vital, and I would not prejudice it by deciding too much in advance.
PastBookProcessPoliticalToo Much
There's no doubt that scientific training helps many authors to write better science fiction. And yet, several of the very best were English majors who could not parse a differential equation to save their lives.
ScienceBestTrainingBetterDoubt
The worst mistake of first contact, made throughout history by individuals on both sides of every new encounter, has been the unfortunate habit of making assumptions. It often proved fatal.
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She had called in the debt that parents owe a child for bringing her, unasked, into a strange world. One should never make an offer without knowing full well what will happen if it is accepted.
ChildParentsWorldStrangeKnowing
Self-righteous people can talk themselves into forgetting they are part of a civilization. They can then feed on that culture, bringing it down. It's happened many times in the past. It could happen to us.
CulturePastPeopleDownTalkUs
Predicting has a spotty record in science fiction. I've had some failures. On the other hand, I also predicted the fall of the Berlin Wall and the rise of fundamentalist Islam... and I'm not happy to be right in all of those cases.
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One of the rules I try to follow is that normal people are going to be involved even in heroic events.
PeopleRulesTryEventsFollowEven
My first duty to write a gripping yarn. Second is to convey credible characters who make you feel what they feel. Only third comes the idea.
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My education and background thoroughly inform my writing.
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I like to be surprised. Fresh implications and plot twists erupt as a story unfolds. Characters develop backgrounds, adding depth and feeling. Writing feels like exploring.
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